2025-01-12 - Sunday Morning Call

Sunday mornings provide the rare opportunity for a park employee to explore the attractions in daylight, before doors open and the tourists flood in. Today's a perfect day for it, for those so minded-- fair weather, sunny skies, mild temperatures made even more appealing by the strange bubble of temperate climate that seems to pervade the Spellbound Isles.

Brandon O'Donnell is one such employee. In shorts and that faded grey hoodie, his Nikes are beating a steady pace up the Mountain Trail-- and in particular, the back access paths open only to those with IDs. It's a more challenging run than the typical jaunt around Crescent and its beaches, and his headphones are in, keeping him moving-- until something pulls him up short.

His steps slowing, Brandon opens his phone up and holds it out a few feet away, assuming a pleasant countenance despite his heightened complexion and the sweat dampening his brow. "Hey, Becky," he says, almost carefully. "Everything okay?"

Angelo's sometimes just out and about for himself- it happens. Though he's got more civilian attire on his coat's been replaced by a wool coat with a cowl back on it and some fingerless winter gloves just to keep the chill off though it's still not too bad. Being from the land of perpetual sunshine he might profess this is the second worst. There are no wings and other things right now though a faint trail of gold motes like dust shimmering in the light of a classroom window follow around him and eventually fade hitting the ground.

He's coming out of the shop popping something in his mouth that might be trail mix when his steps back him up a couple paces and he looks slowly wandering over.

With a forced smile, Brandon pops one of his earbuds out and even his walking steps slow completely. Stepping off to the side of the paved path, he doesn't look up or see Angelo approaching because whoever's on FaceTime seems to have his full attention. He must switch the call from headphones to speaker because suddenly, there's a tinny-but-loud, bossy-cheerleader voice, heavy on vocal fry and sounding vaguely emotional, coming from his iPhone.

"...you should have it, I don't want it, it just makes me think of him sitting in that corner and I can't, Brandon, I have to move on."

Brandon winces visibly, responding to the caller, "Becky, I'm trying to move on too, this is like the worst time--"

"No, no, I'm going to bring it out to you and that's that," the girl's voice goes on. "Besides, it'd be... nice to see you again."

Brandon softens at that, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "It'd be nice to see you too. We both miss him."

"We do," she says. "Thanks, Brando."

"Yeah... thanks Becky."

The call concludes just like that. Brandon, eyes still closed, inhales deeply again and braces himself against a signpost for a long moment.

Charmaine isn't a hermit, but no one ever sees her around. This morning, she's around. Not jogging, but walking. Black leggings, a well-worn hoodie with the park's logo (one of the first batch of souvenir designs from the park's opening), and a pair of new-ish sneakers show she's off-duty from whatever her duty is. Her hands are in her hoodie pocket as she walks along at a comfortable pace—clearly not a walk for exercise but for enjoyment, maybe. She spots Brandon. He gets a curious look, but the unfamiliar face and the 'clearly having a moment' posture make it seem like she's going to keep right on walking.

Until she keeps right on walking directly into Angelo, only just turning her head forward from looking at Brandon in time for the collision. "Oof! Oh, sorry!"

Angelo is still trying to determine if his memory is serving him at all correct when he's colliding with someone else while standing still. Turning his hands reach out in reflex when it is Charmaine and she's not falling over in an entire spill. The hand hovers like a guardrail with a glove on it for a moment making sure fine is fine.

The smile brightens slightly in an attempt to abate concerns of anyone being upset about this. "Heeey you okay?" He can't hear the conversation but he can see Brandon is talking to someone so waits before lifting a hand and asks curious, "...Brandon?" It's a long distance hazard guess but if it is not Brandon then the person would not turn around and no one will notice right? Maybe.

He asks Charmaine thinking back and thinking back, "Yooou are up in Castle planning? I remember you from one of the breakfasts. Hey. I didn't mean to 'bound' as a human bollard."

The sound of his name yanks Brandon out of whatever reverie he's caught in, and if the momentary startlement in his eyes doesn't show it, then the appearance of a vague and very surprised smile on his lips demonstrates clear relief. Real life. It's back and it's all around him.

"No fucking way. Angelo? Angelo Kerekes?"

Outside of his face, sweaty and flushed Brandon O'Donnell in his faded hoodie looks nothing like the rock star people tell him he is. Or was. But once in a while, it's actually nice to be recognized. As his eyes confirm the other young man's identity, that grin broadens. "Dude! What are you doing here?"

He turns fully toward Angelo and Charmaine, noting the latter with an apologetic nod and saying, "Hey, sorry, I'm Brandon. This guy, though--"

There's a blush creeping up on Charmaine's cheeks as she steadies and takes a step back. "Ah, yes! Charmaine, event planner, hi," she looks at Angelo, trying to place him. There's faint recognition, but it's not enough to trigger the memory of a name. "Sorry again, I don't recall your name, but I'm pretty sure you're one of the performers?" Then Brandon is providing the name. She takes another step back, looking between the two men and looking like she's going to skirt around them to get back to meandering. She comes up short, though, when Brandon says 'this guy'. Curiosity. One of her greatest weaknesses. She quirks a brow and asks, "Yeah? What about him?"

Angelo's uncertainty faces as recognition is confirmed. His shoulders relax and the small bag of trail mix is pocketed for now. he chuckles "I'm tracking Yarble in the wild before I'm on the five. They're running a different show today at 2." As if that wasn't spelled out he says "I work one of the stunt shows while training. What're you doing out here man?"

Turning to Charmaine he helps her out, "Angelo." He looks around to keep the conversation out of earshot to not ruin the magic for pedestrians. "Cap'n Cashew when we got the ears and the wings and the whole kit and that. Just Angelo's fine though."

He does the introduction, "Charmaine, Brandon O'Donnell from the band the Silvertones. He used to work with my dad." Delighted he says "This is Charmaine, one of the miracle workers that make ass the events happen up at the big castle." He looks around with a wry grin, "Don't tell Yarble I called the other one the big castle though."

When Brandon speaks it's a rush of genuine enthusiasm. He's clearly the sort who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that openness is a part of whatever charisma he has. In this case, seeing Angelo clearly brings a warmth to his demeanor and he's more than happy to share it with both its catalyst and with Charmaine, who's barely met either of them yet-- but that doesn't prevent the easy familiarity in his manner.

"Charmaine, nice to meet you. Yeah, this guy," he repeats for emphasis, "his dad's a brilliant producer. One of the best. The whole family's got talent." Something about Yarble brings a twinkle to his eyes, as he goes on to answer Angelo, "Would you believe my folks brought me here? After... it all went down, with Ansel," he admits. "But it might've saved my life. Things are... different here."

Dryly, as if he can't believe it himself, he tells Angelo and Charmaine by extension, "I'm a knight. In the River Village Arena. Sir Tristan."

Charmaine blinks a few times, smiling warmly as the other two catch up some. "Oh! What a small world. The Silvertones? Neat." If she recognizes the name of the band, she doesn't make it obvious. She's friendly enough, but she doesn't seem the type to get starstruck or fangirl over people. Her smile wavers a bit, and she nods a few times. "Things are different here," she echoes in quiet agreement. "It's a pleasure to meet you, both of you, properly. I was just out for a walk. I didn't expect to stumble—literally—into a reunion. A little mundane Sunday morning magic, hm?"

Angelo reaches back and rubs the back of his neck with a hand. "I haven't really told anyone about that." Not that it's untrue. "Oh cool. Like the stage stuff or the jousting or-?" There's a lot going on over there. "One of our guys," He says for Charmaine's same, "Blackwood, used to go over there and clash swords sometimes. I like my arms arrached to my body." He did not go. Not yet.

Asking Charmaine he is curious, "Hey, yooou have time later we know of a birthday party in the castle I think Aisley is trying to structure for some kids she's going to be watching. Asked for us to help out. Would love to sit down with you if you have some appointment time to find out all what we need for that or if some of the ideas will work?" His tone is apologetic, "I know we're not working but are we ever really really not?"

"Jousting," Brandon confirms, experimentally rolling out his left arm at the thought. His eyebrows rise in silent shock as he does so, then tries it again, looking more and more perplexed at whatever he's feeling-- but keeping the thought politely to himself whilst Angelo and Charmaine talk shop.

Nodding along, shifting his weight and bouncing a bit while awaiting a pause in the conversation, Brandon begins psyching himself up to head up the trail again. "This is crazy," he tells Angelo. "Let's get a drink sometime and catch up." Then turning to Charmaine, he smiles and says, "Great meeting you. I might have to ask you a question about those events you put together sometime." Then inclusively to both, he adds, "I'd better keep running or I'll cool down too much."

Charmaine smiles at Angelo. "Oh, I'm sure we could squeeze something in. It's always so busy, but I know some tricks for making things just.... come together." She winks at him. "I'd love to talk about it. Whenever." She then looks at Brandon quizzically. "Cool down? It's already cool." She knows nothing about running. But she gives him a little wave to send him off.