ZombieCleo

Oakhurst Mayor.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Hello! I'm Cleo, and i work as a farmer in Oakhurst. I came here to uphold my family's heritage, but things have taken a weird turn...I hope i can survive it this time.

(Admin has watched cleo's pov, spoiler warnings for all episodes. I watch eps right as they come out and tag spoilers for a day after. I'm very open to shipping of any kind! Asks are open and welcome to anyone!! I tend to not interact with ocs much but go for it!!Sorry if this is ooc sometimes i am trying my best) (THIS BLOG IS NOT ABANDONED! come chat whether it's post canon/aus/anything i'm always down)

[thecouncilofdumdums]

HI HELLO

can i nominate myself as a n1 v!cleo fan

my credentials:

-im the host of the only rp blog of her i know (@zombie-cleo-farmer)

-i wrote fics about them

-im literally writing a manifesto of her character based on everything they say and do in the series + added lore

-my favorite dynamic is brickduo (legundo and cleo)

oh finally! more cleo participants!! ur in!

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Someone just entered the Castle.

They look around at the grand entrance hall for a moment before walking around the table. The only thing they have on them is a satchel, no real weapons to be seen. There was a loop on the back of their shirt that could have held a long, polearm weapon, but they don’t have it on them at the moment.

They didn’t feel the need to, not when visiting someone who they saw as trustworthy.

“…Hello? Cleo, are you home?”

@anonymousglassofwater

Cleo comes into the room, trying to hide the stake in their belt. "Who's there?"

[anonymousglassofwater]

They stop, turning towards Cleo with a friendly smile.

“Hello. Sorry, if this is a bad time. I’m Water, if you care to know. I simply came to ask if you had any extra blood bottles that I could have.”

They gesture towards the grand doors of the Castle, towards Oakhurst.

“I’m not a vampire myself, but one of my close friends is, and he’s run out of the blood he has already stored.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo relaxes at the words, turning around with a simple "Follow me."

She arrives at a large room, full of chests. They open one up, getting a significant supply of bottles and placing them in a bag. "That should be enough for a few days. You and your friend can come here for longer if needed, we have spare rooms for travellers. Where is he?"

[anonymousglassofwater]

“Back at town… you know him too, but I’m… not sure what your relationship is with him at the moment.”

Water took as many as they could carry, very appreciative of Cleo’s generosity.

“Thank you for this. We don’t have any animals around, as you probably know, so this is the only real way he can feed. I’d offer myself but… I don’t taste good, I’d assume. A species thing.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Water isn't really optimal for vampires." Cleo's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll come with you. If I know him, then I want to make sure he's okay."

[anonymousglassofwater]

“He’s… resting at the moment. At least, I hope he is. He’s running on two hours of sleep and coffee fumes at this point…”

Walter chuckles a bit at the comment about water not being good for vampires.

“I can assure you my blood is not made of water, Cleo. Probably would be too sour or something.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I've seen weirder things. Lead the way, please. Or at least tell me who he is." Cleo looks worried

[anonymousglassofwater]

“…It’s Doc. Or, Soldier, I should say.”

They look down at the bottles instead of at them.

“He’s… going through some things. I don’t know if it’s split-personality or just severe regression… but he’s acting like himself one minute changing the next. I’m helping as much as I can, trying to gain or regain his trust… I might be getting somewhere with it actually. I’m happy if so.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's face falls almost immediately. "How is he alive. Why is he alive."

[anonymousglassofwater]

Abolish wasn’t involved. Abolish wasn’t involved. Abolish wasn’t involved.

“…a book. Much like the cure ones.”

They really didn’t know how to explain it to them. Cleo looked distraught. They could at least, they guess, give their own reasoning.

“Doc… he’s my Dad. Not biologically, but he adopted me a while ago. I’ve never had a real family before, he, Abolish and Potato are the only real ones I’ve had… and… are you aware of what a shapeshifter is?”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm aware." The voice is short, and clipped. Cleo's face is a carefully painted mask of indifference.

[anonymousglassofwater]

“Then you know why I need him back. He’s one of my constants.”

They mess around with the bottles a little bit before closing their bag.

“…thank you for this, Cleo. I mean it.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm coming with you." Cleo's voice leaves no interpretation.

[anonymousglassofwater]

Water sighs, a little tired. “Alright… you’ll have to get his permission to enter, I think. He owns the house even through I live there… I don’t know if my word will work for that.”

They turn and walk out of the room, looking back at Cleo to follow.

“I’m sorry this is how you found out. Although, I don’t know what a better option would be.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You could've warned me before reviving the man i killed." Cleo follows nonetheless.

[anonymousglassofwater]

“That’s why I tried to avoid his name.”

They walked out of the castle, following the path they took to get there. They could fly back if they wished, it honestly would have been faster, but Water was still learning. They could hold a form of an animal they’ve seen for probably about two minutes, but then they needed to turn back.

Besides, they find walking to be more relaxing. It’s what they did for so many years before coming to Oakhurst.

Travel. Walk. Meet new people. Move on

But this time they couldn’t move on.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, because that makes it so much better. Leave everyone else in the dark and hope your passion project doesn't go wrong." There's a sliver of worry, in Cleo's voice, and not necessarily for Legs.

[anonymousglassofwater]

“Trust me, I’m aware that things could easily go downhill very quickly. But I am nothing if not stubborn, Cleo, and Soldier… other than when he first came to front, he hasn’t attacked me or anyone else. I call that a victory.”

They give a little laugh. “Probably because I had him stuck in bat form for about five minutes, made him sit down for the remainder of the hour, and just slung insults at each other for the full duration. Made us both tired.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Soldier?" Cleo seems confused.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[medea-vsmp]

"You could hear me?"

A girl steps into view, looking a bit disappointed in herself.

"God, I'm getting sloppy. It's been SO boring here since the curse was broken"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiles, but their eyebrows are furrowed. "I think it's nice to get some quiet, for once. Do you want to come in? I have tea."

[medea-vsmp]

"Quiet is overrated, but I will take you up on that offer."

She pushes the door a bit further open and quickly pulls her hand away from the iron handle. She pretends nothing happened but it's clear that it hurt.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo takes a step forward, pushing the door open for her. "Are you alright? I've never seen a vampire be weak to iron.."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah! I'm fine, it's fine."

She steps inside and shakes out her hand a little

"Not a vampire though"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Please tell me you're not Bigfoot. I know at least two people that would be insufferable if you were actually Bigfoot."

[medea-vsmp]

"Ew, no. That guy's a creep. No, I'm a fae, the name's Medea. May I have yours?"

She flashes a smile that looks just a bit too perfect to be human

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. "No, you can't. I'll make you tea, though."

[medea-vsmp]

"Damn, worth a shot. Probably should've tried that BEFORE telling you I'm fae."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Probably." Their face darkens for a second. "If you try that with Pearl, I will end you. Tea?" The smile is back on, as if nothing happened.

[medea-vsmp]

She lets out a giggle and takes the cup handed to her.

"Thank you. Quite protective of your, what was it you called her that day? Puppy?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Well. We don't talk about that. She's my roommate. We've been rebuilding together since the curse was lifted."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh my god, they were roommates! ...sorry, that reference won't make sense for a while."

She leans back against a wall and crosses her legs

"I've talked with Pearl, she's quite... fond, of you."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I...I'm glad she is. She's my family." Cleo is slightly flushed at the words.

[medea-vsmp]

"Seems to me like you both want more than that"

She mutters, words half hidden by her breath

"So h-OH MY GOD, KITTY!"

Her eyes light up and she kneels down to Oscar's height

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What did you-Yes, that's Oscar. He's very lovely, and brings us mice sometimes."

[medea-vsmp]

She holds out a hand to Oscar, waiting for him to come closer on his own

"Oh! ...this isn't a normal cat. You've got a little immortal on your hands"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh? We-He kind of revived by himself, so we weren't aware of his exact... situation. But I'm glad he gets to stay with us for eternity."

[medea-vsmp]

Oscar meows at her, sounding rather annoyed before running off

"Ah, he says I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Oh well, he'll be fine."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Can you talk to animals? I'm sorry, I don't know much about anything but vampires, and faes were only ever mentioned in stories."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah, not like they have much to say. It's always "food, tired, threat? Not threat. Food? Too tired, go sleep" pretty instinctual. Though Oscar seems more...advanced."

She glances down the hall Oscar left through, then looks back at Cleo.

"I can do a lot of stuff, but there are...downsides. I can talk to animals and shape shift a little, then there's the typical name stealing stuff. But I can't tell a direct lie and iron burns, obviously."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I always knew Oscar was the smartest of them all. He'll outlive me and Pearl both." Cleo raised their eyebrows at the list of powers. "That seems.. inconvenient. Were you turned?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Turned? No, silly, fae are born like this. We travel back and forth between here and the fae realm with fairy circles. Most of them don't like it here, but I find it...entertaining in this world."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"There's another wo-" Cleo stops, and takes a sip of their tea in resignation. "Shelby is going to have a field day with this."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh I'd be happy to take her!"

She flashes that too perfect smile again

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You can take other people in your realm?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Mhm! Just step in a fairy circle and you'll be there!"

She bites her lip, as if trying to keep her next words from escaping

"just a few consequences"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"... Whatever Shelby tells you, do not bring her into dangerous realms that might turn her into God knows what. I actually like her."

[medea-vsmp]

"It's not THAT dangerous, she wouldn't get HURT"

She rolls her eyes

"But I'll leave her alone"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Thank you. Don't you have to stay hidden anyway? Like most creatures."

[medea-vsmp]

"Well...I'm supposed to. But...it gets awfully lonely after a few hundred years of solitude. Besides you and Pearl and I haven't spoken to someone in...uh...I can't remember how long"

Her ever present smile fades, she starts to fidget with her skirt while staring down at the floor and avoiding Cleo's gaze.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo stays silent for a while, in thought.

"...Do you want to stay with us?"

[medea-vsmp]

She looks up with an expression that is a mix of shock and denial

"What? But...you got your happy ever after, why would you let me come in and ruin it? You get to be with Pearl and Oscar in your castle, just the three of you, you get your happy ending. You barely know me, I'd just mess it all up"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't have to live in the castle ; or even Oakhurst. We've been thinking, with Pearl, about finding vampires to rehabilitate here. You need company, and to meet new people, and Shelby would be overjoyed to meet you. She could help you in your travels, and you'd bring vampires you find here, to us."

[medea-vsmp]

"I dunno...I wasn't supposed to talk to ANYONE in this world, I'm really not supposed to meet anyone. Even talking to you and Pearl has been...risky. And I wouldn't want to take up space that you need for your vampire rehabilitation."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You're free to do whatever you like. I'm not holding you up here, but I'm not forcing you out either. But Pearl and I would be happy to get some company sometimes, and you clearly want to explore."

[medea-vsmp]

"Gods, I would love to explore the world, but...that's just not in the cards for me. I'm stuck in Oakhurst. I can send little messages out but that's it, and I don't really know anyone out there so that's useless. ... I'll think about your offer, but maybe talk to Pearl before inviting me to live with the two of you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I will. Either way, you don't have to hide in the woods anymore. There are a lot of houses to move into, and if you can't be a roommate, maybe you could be a neighbor."

[medea-vsmp]

"I'll think about it, thank you. This really means a lot to me, especially from someone who just met me. My interactions with people in this realm don't usually go so well"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I've had enough mistrust in my life, and you don't seem like a bad person. I'm glad I could be a good experience." Cleo smiled.

[medea-vsmp]

"I should probably go now, thank you for the tea. Talk to Pearl about the invitation and let me know what she says."

She hands Cleo a bracelet, it's gold with purple gemstones and a pink flower design in the center

"If you need me, just press this three times, right on the center."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Clro takes the bracelet with care. "Thank you, Medea. I look forward to hearing from you again."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[medea-vsmp]

"You could hear me?"

A girl steps into view, looking a bit disappointed in herself.

"God, I'm getting sloppy. It's been SO boring here since the curse was broken"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiles, but their eyebrows are furrowed. "I think it's nice to get some quiet, for once. Do you want to come in? I have tea."

[medea-vsmp]

"Quiet is overrated, but I will take you up on that offer."

She pushes the door a bit further open and quickly pulls her hand away from the iron handle. She pretends nothing happened but it's clear that it hurt.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo takes a step forward, pushing the door open for her. "Are you alright? I've never seen a vampire be weak to iron.."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah! I'm fine, it's fine."

She steps inside and shakes out her hand a little

"Not a vampire though"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Please tell me you're not Bigfoot. I know at least two people that would be insufferable if you were actually Bigfoot."

[medea-vsmp]

"Ew, no. That guy's a creep. No, I'm a fae, the name's Medea. May I have yours?"

She flashes a smile that looks just a bit too perfect to be human

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. "No, you can't. I'll make you tea, though."

[medea-vsmp]

"Damn, worth a shot. Probably should've tried that BEFORE telling you I'm fae."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Probably." Their face darkens for a second. "If you try that with Pearl, I will end you. Tea?" The smile is back on, as if nothing happened.

[medea-vsmp]

She lets out a giggle and takes the cup handed to her.

"Thank you. Quite protective of your, what was it you called her that day? Puppy?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Well. We don't talk about that. She's my roommate. We've been rebuilding together since the curse was lifted."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh my god, they were roommates! ...sorry, that reference won't make sense for a while."

She leans back against a wall and crosses her legs

"I've talked with Pearl, she's quite... fond, of you."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I...I'm glad she is. She's my family." Cleo is slightly flushed at the words.

[medea-vsmp]

"Seems to me like you both want more than that"

She mutters, words half hidden by her breath

"So h-OH MY GOD, KITTY!"

Her eyes light up and she kneels down to Oscar's height

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What did you-Yes, that's Oscar. He's very lovely, and brings us mice sometimes."

[medea-vsmp]

She holds out a hand to Oscar, waiting for him to come closer on his own

"Oh! ...this isn't a normal cat. You've got a little immortal on your hands"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh? We-He kind of revived by himself, so we weren't aware of his exact... situation. But I'm glad he gets to stay with us for eternity."

[medea-vsmp]

Oscar meows at her, sounding rather annoyed before running off

"Ah, he says I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Oh well, he'll be fine."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Can you talk to animals? I'm sorry, I don't know much about anything but vampires, and faes were only ever mentioned in stories."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah, not like they have much to say. It's always "food, tired, threat? Not threat. Food? Too tired, go sleep" pretty instinctual. Though Oscar seems more...advanced."

She glances down the hall Oscar left through, then looks back at Cleo.

"I can do a lot of stuff, but there are...downsides. I can talk to animals and shape shift a little, then there's the typical name stealing stuff. But I can't tell a direct lie and iron burns, obviously."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I always knew Oscar was the smartest of them all. He'll outlive me and Pearl both." Cleo raised their eyebrows at the list of powers. "That seems.. inconvenient. Were you turned?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Turned? No, silly, fae are born like this. We travel back and forth between here and the fae realm with fairy circles. Most of them don't like it here, but I find it...entertaining in this world."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"There's another wo-" Cleo stops, and takes a sip of their tea in resignation. "Shelby is going to have a field day with this."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh I'd be happy to take her!"

She flashes that too perfect smile again

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You can take other people in your realm?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Mhm! Just step in a fairy circle and you'll be there!"

She bites her lip, as if trying to keep her next words from escaping

"just a few consequences"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"... Whatever Shelby tells you, do not bring her into dangerous realms that might turn her into God knows what. I actually like her."

[medea-vsmp]

"It's not THAT dangerous, she wouldn't get HURT"

She rolls her eyes

"But I'll leave her alone"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Thank you. Don't you have to stay hidden anyway? Like most creatures."

[medea-vsmp]

"Well...I'm supposed to. But...it gets awfully lonely after a few hundred years of solitude. Besides you and Pearl and I haven't spoken to someone in...uh...I can't remember how long"

Her ever present smile fades, she starts to fidget with her skirt while staring down at the floor and avoiding Cleo's gaze.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo stays silent for a while, in thought.

"...Do you want to stay with us?"

[medea-vsmp]

She looks up with an expression that is a mix of shock and denial

"What? But...you got your happy ever after, why would you let me come in and ruin it? You get to be with Pearl and Oscar in your castle, just the three of you, you get your happy ending. You barely know me, I'd just mess it all up"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't have to live in the castle ; or even Oakhurst. We've been thinking, with Pearl, about finding vampires to rehabilitate here. You need company, and to meet new people, and Shelby would be overjoyed to meet you. She could help you in your travels, and you'd bring vampires you find here, to us."

[medea-vsmp]

"I dunno...I wasn't supposed to talk to ANYONE in this world, I'm really not supposed to meet anyone. Even talking to you and Pearl has been...risky. And I wouldn't want to take up space that you need for your vampire rehabilitation."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You're free to do whatever you like. I'm not holding you up here, but I'm not forcing you out either. But Pearl and I would be happy to get some company sometimes, and you clearly want to explore."

[medea-vsmp]

"Gods, I would love to explore the world, but...that's just not in the cards for me. I'm stuck in Oakhurst. I can send little messages out but that's it, and I don't really know anyone out there so that's useless. ... I'll think about your offer, but maybe talk to Pearl before inviting me to live with the two of you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I will. Either way, you don't have to hide in the woods anymore. There are a lot of houses to move into, and if you can't be a roommate, maybe you could be a neighbor."

[medea-vsmp]

"I'll think about it, thank you. This really means a lot to me, especially from someone who just met me. My interactions with people in this realm don't usually go so well"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I've had enough mistrust in my life, and you don't seem like a bad person. I'm glad I could be a good experience." Cleo smiled.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[the-dahlia-duo]

The shadows near a window had been moving, and unfortunately for the people making those silhouettes, they weren’t very quiet. A curse word or two were heard before a hiss. A vampire—well, two.

“Hey, Cleo…?” A voice spoke, perhaps a familiar one, perhaps not. It was one that seemed so oddly familiar but you wouldn’t be able to pin who it was… hm.

A different voice probably told that first one off for—something. A sigh, then footsteps towards the front door.

“May we come in? We don’t bite, Mayor Cleo.” The second voice again, one that sounded more… confident.

“It’s just- uh… Me and Edith..?” The first voice tried. He sounded unsure, but still—you’d probably be able to recognise them now. Right, Cleo?

// ooc: teehee teehee teehee my stupid ocs I’m obsessed with again! Anyways- kept it vague since Edith and Viktor didn’t get to know Cleo that well. Edith knew them more, but ya know. Vague.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Come in, come in." Cleo says with a smile that just slightly bared her fangs. "Do you want tea?"

[the-dahlia-duo]

“Oh, of course!” Edith opened the door and held it open for Viktor. The pair hand not changed, albeit that much, since the beacons broke. “Tea is always nice.” Viktor added, smiling slightly nervously. He wasn’t good at conversations with people he didn’t know. It was fine.

“So—how have you been as of recent, Cleo?” Edith asked, glancing around the house. It was certainly a nice house.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Pretty alright, just rebuilding and resting, after.. everything that happened." Cleo placed down the tea in front of them. "Are you travellers? I've never seen you around before."

[the-dahlia-duo]

“Well, we were kinda sorta from here?” Viktor gave an… attempt. He wasn’t lying, just trying to.. get the point across.

“You wouldn’t have seen us all that much considering we weren’t ones to, uh.. get into conflict. Edith and Viktor are the names.” Edith was far from offended. She was actually happy she and Viktor had kept a low profile. Less conflict.

“Didn’t see you a whole lot myself, perhaps twice or so, so it’s alright. No hard feelings.” Edith added.

// shoulda said smth… oopsies. mb i did that when i was tired, n im doing this again whilst being half asleep:3 excuse my poor manors w greetings n stuff

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, you're welcome here, Viktor and Edith. Me and Pearl have been thinking about a sort of...vampire rehabilitation center, but I don't think you two have gotten up to anything hurtful recently." Cleo smiles.

[the-dahlia-duo]

“Oh, heavens no. We’re passing as humans, obviously, where we live now. Nothing bad goin’ on.” Edith smiled back, having a sip of the tea. Oooh, her favourite flavour. Delightful!

“Well- Edith has wanted to kill people, but I’ve kept her in line!” Viktor smiled, looking- tired. Wow, how many people did she want to kill?

“Anyhow—perhaps you could tell us more about this ‘vampire rehabilitation centre’? We do have eternity, after all.” A smile. Not one with malice, just a sweet, innocent, malicious smile.

// Edith is like 200 years old I reckon, and Viktor is kinda sorta a new vampire- so I’m his 20’s. We aren’t questioning this totally.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, well, after everything that's happened, we agreed vampires should be treated fairly. We welcome anyone willing to live here, and any vampires that our friends meet on the way-who aren't killed by Abolish-are sent here to be... taught life again." Cleo sighs, taking a sip. "I did a lot of bad things. I don't feel good about them. But maybe others like me could get a chance to live before doing the things I did."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Did he hurt you..." He said quietly, still staring at his hand, more blood trailing down his face

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's grip immediately left his face, claws retracting in favor for a napkin being held to the bleeding point. Cleo grabbed the hand Legs was staring at, covering it with their own. "He didn't. Did-Did I-?"

[doctor-legundo]

"You brought me back, the means by which you did so don't matter." He said, voice barely a whisper.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The means by which I did absolutely matter." Cleo makes sure the wound is fully healed before removing the blood from his hand with the napkin. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

[doctor-legundo]

"You did what you needed to do, Cleo, don't feel bad about it." Legundo insisted, looking up at them. There was no green in his eyes, but the red seemed softer than before.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

At seeing Legs' face fully, Cleo's eyes widen. "You're-" They laugh, lowering their head on the table. "You're alive. Oh my god. You-"

[doctor-legundo]

"I would assume that I'm alive, yes." he smiled, fixing the way his clothes fell on his body.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Forgive me for being surprised when the man i killed is sitting at my dinner table."

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm surprised I managed to claw my way out of purgatory." He admitted, examining his claws slightly.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Yeah, because you clawed your way out. Forgot to mention your evil alter ego, did you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Did he hurt you..." He said quietly, still staring at his hand, more blood trailing down his face

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's grip immediately left his face, claws retracting in favor for a napkin being held to the bleeding point. Cleo grabbed the hand Legs was staring at, covering it with their own. "He didn't. Did-Did I-?"

[doctor-legundo]

"You brought me back, the means by which you did so don't matter." He said, voice barely a whisper.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The means by which I did absolutely matter." Cleo makes sure the wound is fully healed before removing the blood from his hand with the napkin. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

[doctor-legundo]

"You did what you needed to do, Cleo, don't feel bad about it." Legundo insisted, looking up at them. There was no green in his eyes, but the red seemed softer than before.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

At seeing Legs' face fully, Cleo's eyes widen. "You're-" They laugh, lowering their head on the table. "You're alive. Oh my god. You-"

[doctor-legundo]

"I would assume that I'm alive, yes." he smiled, fixing the way his clothes fell on his body.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Forgive me for being surprised when the man i killed is sitting at my dinner table."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Did he hurt you..." He said quietly, still staring at his hand, more blood trailing down his face

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's grip immediately left his face, claws retracting in favor for a napkin being held to the bleeding point. Cleo grabbed the hand Legs was staring at, covering it with their own. "He didn't. Did-Did I-?"

[doctor-legundo]

"You brought me back, the means by which you did so don't matter." He said, voice barely a whisper.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The means by which I did absolutely matter." Cleo makes sure the wound is fully healed before removing the blood from his hand with the napkin. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

[doctor-legundo]

"You did what you needed to do, Cleo, don't feel bad about it." Legundo insisted, looking up at them. There was no green in his eyes, but the red seemed softer than before.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

At seeing Legs' face fully, Cleo's eyes widen. "You're-" They laugh, lowering their head on the table. "You're alive. Oh my god. You-"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Did he hurt you..." He said quietly, still staring at his hand, more blood trailing down his face

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's grip immediately left his face, claws retracting in favor for a napkin being held to the bleeding point. Cleo grabbed the hand Legs was staring at, covering it with their own. "He didn't. Did-Did I-?"

[doctor-legundo]

"You brought me back, the means by which you did so don't matter." He said, voice barely a whisper.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The means by which I did absolutely matter." Cleo makes sure the wound is fully healed before removing the blood from his hand with the napkin. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Did he hurt you..." He said quietly, still staring at his hand, more blood trailing down his face

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's grip immediately left his face, claws retracting in favor for a napkin being held to the bleeding point. Cleo grabbed the hand Legs was staring at, covering it with their own. "He didn't. Did-Did I-?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[doctor-legundo]

No words left his mouth, but he did raise a shaking hand, shaking as the Doctor's normally did, to the place where blood was blossoming, not trying to pull Cleo away, just examine the blood.

It was strange, he thought, he'd never thought he'd see blood on his hands again.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looked at the hand with something akin to fear. "..Legs?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Someone just entered the Castle.

They look around at the grand entrance hall for a moment before walking around the table. The only thing they have on them is a satchel, no real weapons to be seen. There was a loop on the back of their shirt that could have held a long, polearm weapon, but they don’t have it on them at the moment.

They didn’t feel the need to, not when visiting someone who they saw as trustworthy.

“…Hello? Cleo, are you home?”

@anonymousglassofwater

Cleo comes into the room, trying to hide the stake in their belt. "Who's there?"

[anonymousglassofwater]

They stop, turning towards Cleo with a friendly smile.

“Hello. Sorry, if this is a bad time. I’m Water, if you care to know. I simply came to ask if you had any extra blood bottles that I could have.”

They gesture towards the grand doors of the Castle, towards Oakhurst.

“I’m not a vampire myself, but one of my close friends is, and he’s run out of the blood he has already stored.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo relaxes at the words, turning around with a simple "Follow me."

She arrives at a large room, full of chests. They open one up, getting a significant supply of bottles and placing them in a bag. "That should be enough for a few days. You and your friend can come here for longer if needed, we have spare rooms for travellers. Where is he?"

[anonymousglassofwater]

“Back at town… you know him too, but I’m… not sure what your relationship is with him at the moment.”

Water took as many as they could carry, very appreciative of Cleo’s generosity.

“Thank you for this. We don’t have any animals around, as you probably know, so this is the only real way he can feed. I’d offer myself but… I don’t taste good, I’d assume. A species thing.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Water isn't really optimal for vampires." Cleo's eyebrows furrowed. "I'll come with you. If I know him, then I want to make sure he's okay."

[anonymousglassofwater]

“He’s… resting at the moment. At least, I hope he is. He’s running on two hours of sleep and coffee fumes at this point…”

Walter chuckles a bit at the comment about water not being good for vampires.

“I can assure you my blood is not made of water, Cleo. Probably would be too sour or something.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I've seen weirder things. Lead the way, please. Or at least tell me who he is." Cleo looks worried

[anonymousglassofwater]

“…It’s Doc. Or, Soldier, I should say.”

They look down at the bottles instead of at them.

“He’s… going through some things. I don’t know if it’s split-personality or just severe regression… but he’s acting like himself one minute changing the next. I’m helping as much as I can, trying to gain or regain his trust… I might be getting somewhere with it actually. I’m happy if so.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's face falls almost immediately. "How is he alive. Why is he alive."

[anonymousglassofwater]

Abolish wasn’t involved. Abolish wasn’t involved. Abolish wasn’t involved.

“…a book. Much like the cure ones.”

They really didn’t know how to explain it to them. Cleo looked distraught. They could at least, they guess, give their own reasoning.

“Doc… he’s my Dad. Not biologically, but he adopted me a while ago. I’ve never had a real family before, he, Abolish and Potato are the only real ones I’ve had… and… are you aware of what a shapeshifter is?”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm aware." The voice is short, and clipped. Cleo's face is a carefully painted mask of indifference.

[anonymousglassofwater]

“Then you know why I need him back. He’s one of my constants.”

They mess around with the bottles a little bit before closing their bag.

“…thank you for this, Cleo. I mean it.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm coming with you." Cleo's voice leaves no interpretation.

[anonymousglassofwater]

Water sighs, a little tired. “Alright… you’ll have to get his permission to enter, I think. He owns the house even through I live there… I don’t know if my word will work for that.”

They turn and walk out of the room, looking back at Cleo to follow.

“I’m sorry this is how you found out. Although, I don’t know what a better option would be.”

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You could've warned me before reviving the man i killed." Cleo follows nonetheless.

[anonymousglassofwater]

“That’s why I tried to avoid his name.”

They walked out of the castle, following the path they took to get there. They could fly back if they wished, it honestly would have been faster, but Water was still learning. They could hold a form of an animal they’ve seen for probably about two minutes, but then they needed to turn back.

Besides, they find walking to be more relaxing. It’s what they did for so many years before coming to Oakhurst.

Travel. Walk. Meet new people. Move on

But this time they couldn’t move on.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, because that makes it so much better. Leave everyone else in the dark and hope your passion project doesn't go wrong." There's a sliver of worry, in Cleo's voice, and not necessarily for Legs.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[medea-vsmp]

"You could hear me?"

A girl steps into view, looking a bit disappointed in herself.

"God, I'm getting sloppy. It's been SO boring here since the curse was broken"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiles, but their eyebrows are furrowed. "I think it's nice to get some quiet, for once. Do you want to come in? I have tea."

[medea-vsmp]

"Quiet is overrated, but I will take you up on that offer."

She pushes the door a bit further open and quickly pulls her hand away from the iron handle. She pretends nothing happened but it's clear that it hurt.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo takes a step forward, pushing the door open for her. "Are you alright? I've never seen a vampire be weak to iron.."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah! I'm fine, it's fine."

She steps inside and shakes out her hand a little

"Not a vampire though"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Please tell me you're not Bigfoot. I know at least two people that would be insufferable if you were actually Bigfoot."

[medea-vsmp]

"Ew, no. That guy's a creep. No, I'm a fae, the name's Medea. May I have yours?"

She flashes a smile that looks just a bit too perfect to be human

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. "No, you can't. I'll make you tea, though."

[medea-vsmp]

"Damn, worth a shot. Probably should've tried that BEFORE telling you I'm fae."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Probably." Their face darkens for a second. "If you try that with Pearl, I will end you. Tea?" The smile is back on, as if nothing happened.

[medea-vsmp]

She lets out a giggle and takes the cup handed to her.

"Thank you. Quite protective of your, what was it you called her that day? Puppy?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"...Well. We don't talk about that. She's my roommate. We've been rebuilding together since the curse was lifted."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh my god, they were roommates! ...sorry, that reference won't make sense for a while."

She leans back against a wall and crosses her legs

"I've talked with Pearl, she's quite... fond, of you."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I...I'm glad she is. She's my family." Cleo is slightly flushed at the words.

[medea-vsmp]

"Seems to me like you both want more than that"

She mutters, words half hidden by her breath

"So h-OH MY GOD, KITTY!"

Her eyes light up and she kneels down to Oscar's height

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What did you-Yes, that's Oscar. He's very lovely, and brings us mice sometimes."

[medea-vsmp]

She holds out a hand to Oscar, waiting for him to come closer on his own

"Oh! ...this isn't a normal cat. You've got a little immortal on your hands"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh? We-He kind of revived by himself, so we weren't aware of his exact... situation. But I'm glad he gets to stay with us for eternity."

[medea-vsmp]

Oscar meows at her, sounding rather annoyed before running off

"Ah, he says I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Oh well, he'll be fine."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Can you talk to animals? I'm sorry, I don't know much about anything but vampires, and faes were only ever mentioned in stories."

[medea-vsmp]

"Yeah, not like they have much to say. It's always "food, tired, threat? Not threat. Food? Too tired, go sleep" pretty instinctual. Though Oscar seems more...advanced."

She glances down the hall Oscar left through, then looks back at Cleo.

"I can do a lot of stuff, but there are...downsides. I can talk to animals and shape shift a little, then there's the typical name stealing stuff. But I can't tell a direct lie and iron burns, obviously."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I always knew Oscar was the smartest of them all. He'll outlive me and Pearl both." Cleo raised their eyebrows at the list of powers. "That seems.. inconvenient. Were you turned?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Turned? No, silly, fae are born like this. We travel back and forth between here and the fae realm with fairy circles. Most of them don't like it here, but I find it...entertaining in this world."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"There's another wo-" Cleo stops, and takes a sip of their tea in resignation. "Shelby is going to have a field day with this."

[medea-vsmp]

"Oh I'd be happy to take her!"

She flashes that too perfect smile again

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You can take other people in your realm?"

[medea-vsmp]

"Mhm! Just step in a fairy circle and you'll be there!"

She bites her lip, as if trying to keep her next words from escaping

"just a few consequences"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"... Whatever Shelby tells you, do not bring her into dangerous realms that might turn her into God knows what. I actually like her."

[medea-vsmp]

"It's not THAT dangerous, she wouldn't get HURT"

She rolls her eyes

"But I'll leave her alone"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Thank you. Don't you have to stay hidden anyway? Like most creatures."

[medea-vsmp]

"Well...I'm supposed to. But...it gets awfully lonely after a few hundred years of solitude. Besides you and Pearl and I haven't spoken to someone in...uh...I can't remember how long"

Her ever present smile fades, she starts to fidget with her skirt while staring down at the floor and avoiding Cleo's gaze.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo stays silent for a while, in thought.

"...Do you want to stay with us?"

[medea-vsmp]

She looks up with an expression that is a mix of shock and denial

"What? But...you got your happy ever after, why would you let me come in and ruin it? You get to be with Pearl and Oscar in your castle, just the three of you, you get your happy ending. You barely know me, I'd just mess it all up"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't have to live in the castle ; or even Oakhurst. We've been thinking, with Pearl, about finding vampires to rehabilitate here. You need company, and to meet new people, and Shelby would be overjoyed to meet you. She could help you in your travels, and you'd bring vampires you find here, to us."

[medea-vsmp]

"I dunno...I wasn't supposed to talk to ANYONE in this world, I'm really not supposed to meet anyone. Even talking to you and Pearl has been...risky. And I wouldn't want to take up space that you need for your vampire rehabilitation."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You're free to do whatever you like. I'm not holding you up here, but I'm not forcing you out either. But Pearl and I would be happy to get some company sometimes, and you clearly want to explore."

[medea-vsmp]

"Gods, I would love to explore the world, but...that's just not in the cards for me. I'm stuck in Oakhurst. I can send little messages out but that's it, and I don't really know anyone out there so that's useless. ... I'll think about your offer, but maybe talk to Pearl before inviting me to live with the two of you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I will. Either way, you don't have to hide in the woods anymore. There are a lot of houses to move into, and if you can't be a roommate, maybe you could be a neighbor."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[doctor-legundo]

"I have control, I have control-" He said, trying to pull his face away.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's claw held onto him, causing a droplet of blood to run down his face. "Do you? You never had enough to save your son. Legundo kept you locked under lock and key for 30 years. You were never made to folow your own orders, Soldier, so shut up and take the ones you're given."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Open starter <3

It was quiet in Oakhurst. For once.

Pearl was out foraging, insisting on getting the last mushrooms of the season. Cleo had chosen to stay home, writing a few letters to Drift and Sausage. Oscar was purring in her lap. The house was mostly rebuilt, decorations still half-hung around.

Cleo felt, somewhat, at peace. It has been a few months since they managed to break the curse, and even though those months were spent mourning, they were also opportunity for a lot of growth.

Suddenly, Cleo turned their head around, hearing something. "Is anyone there?" Her hand instinctively twitched towards the stake they kept on the wall.

[doctor-legundo]

A shadow passed outside the window, tall and hulking. It seemed fast, almost too fast for the sheer bulk it clearly had. It was silent as it moved, but it broke the dull shafts of light that came through, alerting the other to its appearance. What sounded like claws ran along the side of the house, digging into stone to create a chill in the air

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo grabbed the stake off the wall, getting up from the chair. Oscar jumped off with a disgruntled moew. "Who's there?" Their senses were heightened, on full alert. Pearl wouldn't do this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I'm just a man..." the figure said in a sing-song voice that sounded nothing like it normally would. "Who's trying to go home." The nails stopped scraping against the stone.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo went quiet, trying to pin point where the voice was coming from. They took a step forward, hand gripping the stake. Their pupils were dilated, and their breaths were staggered.

[doctor-legundo]

"Now, now." More of a... normal voice for him, but he wouldn't say it like that, what was happening? "I wouldn't advise that."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Bold words from someone who's too much of a coward to come out from the shadows." Cleo took another step forward, in the direction of the voice.

[doctor-legundo]

"You just haven't found me yet." He replied with a snarl, stepping into a bit of light.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

For a second, just one, Cleo's face falls in recognition. Recognition of Legundo's face, his clothes, his voice. But it wasn't him. It wasn't Legundo. Cleo had gotten used to disconnecting the faces in front of her from the people she knew.

"What are you." Their hand flexes on the stake.

[doctor-legundo]

"I am a soldier." He said simply, jaw clenched.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And who's orders are you following?"

[doctor-legundo]

"My own."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And Legundo's?"

[doctor-legundo]

"He has no say in what I do."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"And do you have a say in what he does?"

[doctor-legundo]

"It depends on how scared he is."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's jaw clenches. "Well. What are you here to do?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Enjoy the world. I haven't been out in so long, it was very overdue."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs. "I know the feeling. Come in, I'll make you tea."

[doctor-legundo]

"Why should I trust you?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm way too old to be killing people without proper reason." Cleo moves the stake into their belt with a smile, bearing their teeth. "And you need a change of clothes. I'm not against welcoming travellers, especially old friends."

[doctor-legundo]

So they were friends, this person and the doctor. He smiled slightly.

"My clothes are perfectly fine, if not a bit battle scarred."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Alright then. Tea?" Cleo nodded to the kettle. They couldn't shake the feeling that something was _wrong_. This wasn't an impersonator, or a trick.

[doctor-legundo]

"If there's blood mixed in, then why not?" He smiled, flashing his teeth. They were sharper than most, to be honest, and quite terrifying.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo smiled back, pouring a bottle of blood in the kettle and heating it up. "So, what brings you to Oakhurst?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Whatever brought the Doctor to Oakhurst, and then I suppose I was revived." He shrugged, looking Cleo up and down from where he was stood.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Are you planning to stay, or go explore? I know some people who could show you around the world." Maybe Scott could give sense to all this.

[doctor-legundo]

"I don't know yet. I need to find more... people." he said it with a small smirk.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Well, there's not much else here." Cleo placed a cup of tea in front of him.

[doctor-legundo]

He took it and held it in his hands. "You seem very open to trusting a stranger." He observed.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I'm tired of mistrust. There's been enough in my life." Cleo takes a sip of their own drink. "And i've heard so much about you already."

[doctor-legundo]

"Surely The Doctor hasn't said thst much about me..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, he did. Always going on about his past, it was guaranteed to learn about who he lost on the way to Oakhurst." Cleo smiles. "Although i think you're the only one that came back."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't think he was so... open. He must trust you." He said, narrowing his eyes at the smile. "He's in here, somewhere."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo's composure drops, just for a fraction of a second, before coming back. "That's good to know. And I do hope he trusted me, since I was the one to kill him." Their hand is gripping the tea cup a little too tight.

[doctor-legundo]

"You killed him?" He asked, head tilted. "You're the reason I'm back?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo nods. "I don't really know how you came back, but I guess I am."

[doctor-legundo]

"Interesting." He nodded. "I can respect a violent type."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh, i've had a way more violent life than yours. 80 years of killing will do that to you." Cleo pets Oscar. "I think it's time to settle now, though. I won't kill unless necessary, and well, Legs was a necessary kill."

[doctor-legundo]

"I think 6 thousand is still quite an impressive kill count considering the Doctor swore off pain and violence for thirty of those years."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Oh absolutely. Don't let me diminish your exploits. I'm sure war was a very good playing field."

[doctor-legundo]

"Most I was proud of. Some I wasn't. It was far from level, though."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"I could guess. Why wouldn't you be proud of your kills? You didn't kill allies, did you?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Once or twice..."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What, a colleague annoy you too much?" Cleo chuckled, but their smile didn't reach her eyes. "Legs never mentioned any of tha-" Their face drops in a matter that seems almost too comedic to be true. "You.."

[doctor-legundo]

"i...?" He didn't want to draw up a connection for them, but he was also vaguely irritated.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"William, was it?"

[doctor-legundo]

"And his boyfriend, yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo pauses, in thought. "..Why'd you do it? I thought he was almost a son to Legs."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's hand hit the table more violently than he had anticipated. "He was my son and my son alone."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo doesn't flinch, doesn't move, at the words, or at the hot tea spilling over on her hand. "And you killed him."

[doctor-legundo]

"I didn't intend to." He snarled, teeth bared in anger.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You still watched him die by your hand, didn't you? Did his blood ever wash off?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Blood never washes off your hand. You live with it, you die with it. Some you move on from and some you don't."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Would Legundo have killed him? Would he have made the same mistake?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Maybe. Maybe he would have."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've saved William. You didn't."

[doctor-legundo]

"How do you know I didn't try?"

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Does it matter if you did? You killed him. You're responsible for his death."

[doctor-legundo]

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't blame myself."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"You don't seem like you do. Always going on about your kills, like one of them wasn't your own son."

[doctor-legundo]

"A man can be proud of a few thousand and regret two."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo looks openly disgusted. "Why would you keep killing, after him? Is that what he would've wanted?"

[doctor-legundo]

"A soldier takes his revenge where he can."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"Revenge for what you did?"

[doctor-legundo]

"Revenge for what they caused to happen."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs out. It's not an invitation ; It's a threat. "So quick to put the blame on someone else, are you? You couldn't admit you killed your son. That you watched him die, after watching him grow up. If you want to follow your own orders, that comes with the consequences. Unless you're too much of a coward for it, and you'd rather let Legs do the right thing, by cleaning after you."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier grumbled, fists clenched. "I knew him for three years and those were the best three years of my life. They set off the bomb that woke me up, they set off the rifle that dealt the final hit. It was me who stabbed him, but they did hit the final shot."

Yet you still take the blame, you idiot.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"He would've survived if it weren't for you, wouldn't he?"

[doctor-legundo]

"...yes."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo sets down their cup of tea. "Then you know where the blame resides, Soldier."

[doctor-legundo]

"I know it was shared, no party fully innocent."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"The other ones are dead. You're the one that remains." Cleo smiles. "And you call yourself a soldier. Not even willing to die for the things you care about."

[doctor-legundo]

"You are s sick person..." he said, looking away. "You are a sick, sick person."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo laughs again, sharply. "I never claimed I wasn't. I will do whatever is necessary to protect myself. However," they reach over, grabbing Soldier's face and turning it forcefully towards them, claws digging in his skin, "I protect my fledglings. You chose to take William in as a child, and you couldn't even treat him with the decency a vampire has with a servant."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier's eye twitched, chest heaving for air he didn't even need. "I did my best to save him."

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Cleo only digged in further. "Your best wasn't enough to save your son."

[doctor-legundo]

The Soldier only silently glared at them, teeth clenched in pain.

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

"What? You don't have anything to say this time? Can't defend yourself?" Cleo smiles. "Let it go, Soldier. Let go of the control you thought you had.'

[zombie-cleo-farmer]

Fun Fact: Ants declare war on other colonies, they will kidnap the larvae of the enemy and raise them as slaves

Cleo bitterly laughs. "That reminds ms of something. So eager to copy animals, are we? "