2025-01-05 - Favorites

The first show of the day, at 10:30 is past, and the clean up crew is in the seating area doing what they do best. The other crew, those that take care of the aquascape and the creatures that live in it are also around doing what they do best. And Roman, what is he doing. Well not what he does best. He is sitting on the edge of the tank, the area where the performers sit to talk or sing to the audience when a show is going on. There are several areas like that around the periphery of the tank.

As he sits he hydrates, sipping water from his re-usable water bottle, swishing his colorful tail in the water. A large towel is draped over his shoulders, and his shimmering coral hair (today's color choice) is held back with a wide stretchy headband.

The gate to the area is closed so wandering guests can't just walk in and see what is happening. And thankfully the decor and such prevent any looky-loos from seeing anything should they try to peek through the gate bars. He has already waved away the stage crew to help him up and out, but for the moment he is fine resting here before the next show starts at 12:30.

From under the water, Roman feels a tug at his tail. Not long after, a smiley Ruby fish appears. While she does not have a beautiful mermaid tail, patches of pink and blue scales are visible in the sunlight on her legs, torso, and shoulders. A school of colorful fish follow her, dodging between her legs and arms as she moves. "Stop it. I fed you guys already," she giggles, waving the fishies away.

"Hey!" She smiles up at Roman, Pulling herself onto the ledge at the end of the tank to take her break. She'd already checked on most of the animals, and there wasn't all that much for her to do but observe until the 12:30. "I like today's flavor," she says, admiring the coral quaff.

The tug on his fin has Roman leaning over to peer into the water at Ruby with his usual mega-watt grin. As she pulls herself up beside him, he scooches over to make room for her. "Kaikaina!" he greets cheerfully in return, using the Hawaiian word for both younger female sister/cousin. Family is a big deal where he is from and everyone you know is called cousin, auntie/uncle, grandma/grandpa, etc. Ruby quickly fell into that with Roman and his family when they met as teens.

He does a hair flip and the compliment "Thanks. It was between this or that sea green. This won. It stands out in the water more." he hands over the bottle of water sitting on the other side of him "Hydrate or die straight." he tells her with a laugh. "Have you picked out your favorite yet?" he gestures with a head nod toward the water to indicate the schools of fish that swim around her feet and his fin.

Ruby beams when he greets her. She can recall the first time he'd called her that, and now it was one of her favorite things. There was just something special about feeling like you belonged in someone else's circle, and Roman had been generous with Ruby over the years.

"Maybe sea green later this week?" She suggests. "I feel like the color would bring out your eyes," She smiles. "But yeah, I can see your point... you might look bald from the cheap seats," she nods towards the bleachers.

There is a roll of blue-green eyes when he hands her the bottle, but she does accept it and take a swig. "Could never," she tells him. "They'd never let me work in silence again." Yes, Ruby could talk to the fish. The conversations were usually short and repetitive due to their limited cognitive abilities, but no, they would not forget if she picked. She does lean in close and whispers as softly as she can, "It's Fredrick." Fredrick was a mandarinfish with a habit of following Ruby wherever she went. He even helped sometimes by scaring out hard to get to creatures she needed to check on. He was an excellent assistant, for a fish.

...color in your eyes... gets a bright laugh as Roman turns to her, eyes wide as the irises shift through the rainbow of colors "But which color?" he asks in curious amusement, before his eyes settle out their natural near black. There is an au weh sound from him and a hand flies to his hair "Ay no. Not bald." like most people with wavy hair like him he has a love/hate relationship with it, but baldness is still a nightmare.

Roman leans over to peer into the waters depth, watching the fish a few moments "Is Frederick that one?" he points to a fish that isn't Frederick "That one?" not him either. He is not fish savvy. He can only recognize a few of the various types of fish. Clown fish, obviously, blue tang, of course. Parrotfish, and some eels, but that's the limit of his fish ID skills "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Ruby rolls her eyes. "You know what one," she laughs. His abilities were gorgeous, but she'd told him a thousand times now that her favorite version of him would forever and always be his natural state. He was perfect.

"No, that one isn't him," she says, and dips her fingers just below the waters surface and wiggles them. Sure enough, the little mandarin fish races to greet Ruby, not unlike a dog. "I've considered smuggling back to my apartment. We've really bonded," she sighs happily. She smiles over at Roman and mouths thank you for keeping her secret.

Ruby pulls her hand back out of the water, and her little friend swims off to go do whatever it is fish do. "Did you go to the New Year's extravaganza?"

He playfully shoulder bumps her as they laugh together at his usual antics. He knows she prefers him in his 6'5", dark hair, dark eyed state, like he was when they met...well he wasn't quite that tall then, but he certainly shot up since those teenage years. "He is a gorgeous one. If you took him you would have to take him some buddies. He can't be in a tank all by his lonesome."

He watches the fish for a moment before it swims away. "You think I get get the props department to paint my tail like him?" he looks down at his chest and arms "With some practice I may be able to shift those same colors and patterns on my skin."

"I made a quick appearance, but I didn't stick around until midnight. I looked around for you, but with all the people..." he shakes his head "and my phone had died. I went to go someplace to charge it, and mom called, and you know my family. I had to at least say Happy New Year, to Every. Single. Person. in the neighborhood." he was related somehow to everyone that lived in walking distance of him. He loves his family, but they can be a bit much. Like every other family.

At 6'5," Roman towers over Ruby in his natural form. He is easily one of the biggest guys she's met, which made him an instant hit with her older brothers. "He is," she agrees, watching the fish swim into the deep blue. "I was thinking of making a little water tank fanny pack. He can go with me everywhere." Ruby really needed more friends.

"I think so. Can't you magic it, though?" She asks curiously. "If you can't, I'm sure someone can. I don't think anything is out of the realm of possibilities at this point," she says as she looks down at the newly formed scales shimmering on her legs. "Have you found any seemingly permanent modifications to your body yet?" Many people have reported changes since New Year's, but not everyone.

"It was really crowded. It was hard to find anyone," she adds in. "Your phone would have been useless even if it hadn't. There were so many people all blocking signals." She laughs at his lament. "Oh God, you must have been on the phone for hours. You told your mom I said Happy New Year, right?"

Roman shakes his head at that, "I don't think that is how salt water tanks work." he is no expert of course, but he does work in one and the technology to keep it running behind the scenes is way beyond his pay grade. "But if anyone can figure it out..."

"I wish I could. Imagine how cool my stuff would be if I could make other things look different." he gives a bit of a fake pout, "I can only magic myself." he follows her gaze down to her legs and the shimmery scales "I think so. I went surfing yesterday, went all natural." meaning the pre-magic looking Roman. It's been awhile since he did that. "I ran into one of the ferry captains down at the beach and he had gold patches of skin, and we got to talking about it. When I got home, I checked and I think I may be growing gills, or something." he lifts the on the side that Ruby sits, the towel falling of his shoulder to show what looks like three thin overlapping layers of light teal scaly skin, surrounded by a few centimeters of more scaled skin, a few inches below his armpit. "I haven't tried to look to see what's under them."

"No, it's not," she confirms. "But if we find the right vessel and a small pump," she squints her eyes, doing mental calculations. "It's possible, but I wouldn't put him in there for more than a few hours. Plus, he likes his freedom.... buuuuut he'd be able to finally see the world, and he has told me so many times that he's curious about life beyond the aquarium." Apparently, she's been having conversations with this fish. Just normal Spellbound things.

"How selfish of you," Rubes teases when he laments about only being able to glamour himself. "I'd finally be beautiful," she kicks her legs in the pool like a tail.

Ruby turns her gaze to Roman, tucking some wet blonde hair behind her ear as he talks. Her eyes narrow slightly at the mention of gills, and she leans in. "Do you mind if I-" She gestures to touch him in an effort to get a closer look. But even without touching him, she could see the skin and scales he's talking about. "When they are open like this outside of the water do you feel normal? What about when you stand?" Was he getting too much oxygen?

“He’s better off in the aquarium. He would be sorely upset and confused by that the world is like outside the bubble of Spellbound.” Roman has had plenty of time to get used to the fact that she can talk to fish. Now it’s just as normal as the sun rising and setting.

“Kaikaina!” There is some chastisement in his voice as he reaches over to stroke her hair “Who said you aren’t beautiful?” He won’t take anyone insulting his sister from another mister “Who do I have to smack?” He’s all give peace a chance until someone insults his family.

There is a shake of head. Roman never minds touching. He is a very tactile person and has no problems with people getting into his personal space. He is ticklish though. “They only open in the water.” At the moment they are closed, the scales on them seemingly acting like Velcro and keeping them sealed. “In the water they open and I can feel the water passing through them. I’m not sure if they are just aesthetic or if they are functional. I could breathe underwater before I had them.” He just shrugs “It does feel weird though.”

Rubes sighs, but he's probably right. Poor Frederick would need to stay behind. "It's a shame. I love his company. Probably the best connection I have here, outside of you, of course," it would take a hell of a fish to dethrone Roman from his spot as number one.

"Oh, no one," she assures him. "Well, I'm sure someone," Ruby corrects. She'd read the comment section of her family's YouTube videos before. Trolls were everywhere. Still, Ruby could be insecure when it came to, well, most things. But this was part of the reason she came to Spellbound! Outside of the career opportunities, it was time for the blonde to break out of her shell and experience all the things that life had to offer she'd been too busy (or isolated) to do.

She leans in, eyes narrowing slightly as she examines the slits on his torso. "I'm glad that they only open in the water. I'd be concerned about your oxygen levels if that weren't the case," she half mumbles. "I'm not sure if this is too personal, but I'd be interested in taking a small sample. You can say no." She'd taken a sample of her scales too. "I'd just like to take a closer look in the lab... see if there is anything that might give us an idea of how and why this is all happening and track any changes if there are any more... malfunctions." Like at New Years.

One of these days Roman will be dethroned, maybe not today, but it will happen. That's for future him to worry about.

"Yeah stupid someone's, whose eyes don't work right." He has seen the videos, and the comments, and was always quick to defend and offer encouragement. "Sure, sure." He drops his arm once she is done looking at the gills on that side. "Of course i have a matching set on my other side. We can head to the lab after my last show." What Ruby wants, Ruby gets. If he has anything to say about it.

Rubes mutters something in agreement. But it isn't a topic she plans to linger on long. As much as she knew not to listen to the trolls, the negative comments affected her. At one point, they'd made her quite depressed, and it's possible. However, she hadn't admitted that the trolls were a significant factor in her abandoning her personal YouTube channel altogether and stepping away from her family's channel even when she was with them. It simply wasn't worth it.

Ruby sits back up, giving him his space back. "Sounds like a plan," she says and slides back into the water. "So, how have you been liking it here?" She hadn't really asked him. "Made friends? You should meet my roommate. He's adorable."

"I am working at an amusement park, on an island, in a huge ass lake, as a merman. The only thing I would change about that is the lake part." Roman would prefer an ocean with bigger waves, but there are surfable waves, so he makes do "I should be asking you the same thing. I'm not the one that was only been working here for five months." as opposed to his 17ish months.

"Some could say I have made to many friends." he wouldn't say that though "Even made a new one yesterday. One of the ferry captains. He can even keep up with me on the waves." he met a fellow surfer "I'm game for meeting your roommate. I got a new one this morning. She is a photographer...I can't remember where she said, the castle maybe?" his previous one moved out two weeks ago.

Ruby considers this and nods in agreement. "I wish more than anything that Spellbound was on the coast. I hate being landlocked," she says. "Buuuuut, loads to love," she bumps his shoulder, he's included in that, obviously.

Ruby takes a moment to consider how she feels about being here. "I like it. I miss my family," she admits. "But it's been nice to kind of figure out who I am outside of them and the boat... not that I've had all that much time to do that between work and school, but still. The magic is also pretty cool. Being able to talk to the animals is a dream, as is being able to manipulate water," which Ruby was starting to be able to do quite well. Of course, ever practical and not wanting to ruffle feathers, she mostly used her water abilities to clean out various tubes in the tanks.

"Did you? A ferry captain?" She seems interested. She smiles when the conversation turns back to her roommate. "Just be gentle with him. He's fragile. Allergic to pretty much everything and eats Raisin Bran for breakfast, and not because anyone is forcing him. That is his preference." Which says a lot about a person.

"And you're here!" Roman uses both hands, palm up to indicate Ruby. He listens quietly as the woman speaks, his fin still lightly swishing in the water creating a few bubbles that stream upward. "I get that. I almost had to promise to go back and visit this year when I spoke to them on New Years. We should totally see if we can get vacation together and go visit!" best idea today, or yesterday since that is when he actually thought about it.

"The magic is definitely the best part." Roman was introduced to the water before he could even lift his head by himself, and has never really left, being able to adapt to the underwater life, has been a dream for him, just like speaking to animals has been for her. "Yeah. Awesome dude. I'll introduce you." he makes a eww face "Raisin Bran? Really? On purpose?" there is a shrug "Takes all kinds I guess." no true judgment from him.

"I am," she flutters her lashes in his direction. There is a smile that touches her lips at the idea of making the trip down to see his family. "I'd like that," she says honestly. "I miss them." They'd embraced her with so much love and kindness, and Ruby made a point to give it back. "I sent Christmas cards to your mom and aunties this year," she tells him. "I would have liked to send them something more substantial but," she shrugs. She'd been working part time and really was only making enough to pay rent.

"Yes, really," she rolls her eyes judgementally. Who knew Ruby had it in her. "He's great. But he... he could live a little. A wild night out for Wally is more than a quarter cup of Fruity Pebbles. It's bad."

"I do too." He video chats with them frequently, but it's not quite the same. And he misses his aunties cooking especially. "I told them you really appreciated the Christmas gifts they sent you." they sent them both a few small things for Christmas, and they certainly will for birthdays as well "The cards were plenty. They are happy you thought of them. He didn't sent cards so she is one up on him. "Do you need anything? After we get the sample you want we can make a grocery run." he is more than willing to throw money at things for her.

"Looks like we have a job to do. Pull your roommate a bit out of his shell." Roman leans forward placing forearms across his his fin covered thighs "What does he do at the park?"

Roman's family spoiled her. "I want them to just adopt me, already," she jokes. Not that Ruby's family was bad. She LOVED her family! Similar to Romans, they were open loving people who took in strays whenever the opportunity allowed. Perhaps that was why they gelled so well.

"I'm all stocked," she tells him. "I took a trip to the store yesterday but am down if you need company. Otherwise, I should probably try to get some samples from wildlife in the lake. I want to see if there's been any physical changes to the fish after the whole New Years thing," she explains. There was something that wasn't sitting quite right with her about that big dome situation.

"I love a project," she smiles wide. "He is a performer, shockingly. A bard? Singer? He does something with music. He's a cutie if you're into kind of nerdy guys."

"They pretty much already have, except for all that expensive paperwork stuff." Roman assumes it is expensive paperwork, considering attorneys are usually involved. "I could say the same thing though, if I weren't working here, I would love to live on a boat, though I would probably stick the the islands." the Hawaiian islands of course.

"I don't need anything, I was going to take you." but if she is all set then now worries "Go get your samples." Roman tells her with amused affection. "Though be sure to get some from inside the bubble and outside." though she already knows that most likely. Since she is the smarter one of the two, and the one going to school for a real degree. He's just going to make his parents happy.

"Huh, a cute nerdy guy...are you calling dibs?" He asks, peering down at her curiously.

"Good, good. When I get married, I want to do it on the islands and would love a backyard wedding," she tells him, clearly joking... probably joking. She might not be joking.

"You're a smart cookie," She tells him when he instructs her to get them from inside and outside the bubble. She already was planning to, but it still made her heart swell with pride that he was invested, so she wouldn't correct him. "I'd be lost without you." She does mean that.

Ruby laughs and shakes her head no. "All yours," she promises.

“Backyard?!” Roman is aghast “I took you more for a beach wedding person.” The things you don’t know about a person you have known for years…”As long as I am your best man you can have it anywhere.” Or maid of honor, he doesn’t care about the label, as long as he is in her part of the wedding party. He would even wear a dress if he had too. Wouldn’t be the first time!

“You managed for years without me.” He reminds her, most of their friendship has been through texts and video chats, until the last five months. “Sisters before misters.” It’s doubtful Roman will actually do anything besides flirt, which he does with almost everyone regardless. And then his poor stomach is protesting its lack of food. He needs a lot of calories to do what he does!

“Love you Kaikaina, but I have to eat before the next show.” Which isn’t all that far off. He waves to the stage hands who are finishing up cleaning the stands. Two hurry over to grab him under the arms and haul him out so he can extract himself from his mermaid tail “I’ll meet you at the lab after the last show.” He has been doing this long enough that he can shimmy out of his tail quickly. And he is off, stumbling a bit, unused to the sudden lightness of his lower body. That tail is heavy! “Later!” He shoots her finger hearts as he heads into the backstage area to get dressed and find food!