2025-01-24 - Know Your Neighbors: Silver Brook's Beer, Billiards, and Board Games Night

On the other table is a large plate of pieces of pastry wrapped around something' the label says 'sausage rolls', and under that 'MEAT' underlined three times, just so everyone knows. Fred's busy with the tail end of a bag of ice and the last of the beer coolers, sorting out a layer of cold so the drinks don't get warm. "Only thing worse than American beer is warm American beer," the Englishman grumbles, then slants an amused look over at Viktor. "Think we're about ready, or is my arse hanging out in the breeze?"

Phineas comes in with a tray of tacos in one hand. He is wearing a gray sweatshirt with the hood up and sunglasses to his face, Light blue jeans, and brown boots finish what he is wearing. In seeing the hosts, he lifts a hand in greeting. "Hey." A slight smile on his features.

Is he nervous that he might be one of the first ones here? Maybe. Maybe not. He tries to play it off by figuring out where to put the tacos. It's street tacos with shredded beef. Onions, jalapenos, and cilantro are available for those wanting to add to the tacos.

Jaime Kelly arrives with a large platter of deviled eggs. They are unlabeled. He figures if you can't tell it's an egg, you probably deserve whatever you get from eating them. He wanders up and sets those down on the table. "Amen to that," he says at Fred's grumbling about warm beer. And then he's going straight for a sausage roll. One of those gets grabbed and then he goes for one of the cold drinks. He's dressed in a pair of faded jeans, work boots, and a white t-shirt with a blue and grey flannel over it that is left open.

"Ehhh, just a bit of crack," Viktor replies, giving his roommate a lopsided smirk. "Switch over to maintenance as a plumber, no one'll even notice." And then a second later, he adds, "Thanks for the help with the kegs. Been awhile since I hauled one of those anywhere and I forgot how heavy the damned things are."

There's probably a few other things that he's forgotten, too, like waters and soda for the people who don't drink, cards for anyone who does want to label their food, napkins. But isn't that part of what potlucks are about? You bring one thing. Someone else is supposed to sign up to bring all the other stuff. That's the deal. At least there's a power strip for people who brought crock pots, and a Bluetooth speaker that's set up but not playing anything yet.

"Hey, man," he tosses out as a greeting. To Phineas? To Jaime? Unclear. Maybe both. "Put stuff wherever." And then, "I'm Viktor. This is Fred. Kat is... still upstairs, I think?"

Fred turns to lean against the wall and grin over at Viktor. "Wanker," he accuses his roommate, but he sounds amused rather than upset. "No problem. It's what you put up with me for, isn't it, shifting the heavy stuff?" One of Fred's hands goes behind the curtain to the window sill, and retrieves an already-open can of Guinness. "There we go. Much better."

The new arrivals get a nod each and a little wave. "Hi, folks. Make yourselves comfortable. And please, for the sake of my sanity, someone pick some sort of music or we'll end up listening to bleedin' polkas all night."

Declan makes the short trip to the other apartment building toting a large bucket of fried chicken. Did he cook them? Absolutely not. Is everyone here thankful that he purchased them instead? Absolutely yes. Similar to Phineas' get up, he's also wearing a dark hoodie with gray sweats. This is just a meet and greet, no one's trying to woo or impress anyone here, right?

He smiles to those already inside and spots the table of food, making his way there to deposit his completely heartfelt addition to the potluck. "Hey there," he offers collectively in that Northern Irish accent of his.

Phineas puts his tray of tacos in one of those chafing dishes and sees it's not lit. "Uhhh do you just set a match to that burner or what?" Laughing as he says that and offers his name to the group as a whole. "Phineas. Parker and I are on the first floor." Once he's done with that, he moves to mess with the music. Something hard and with drums starts playing. "How's that?" He says this to Fred. "Better than polka?" A wave to Declan in spying him after he made the music choice.

Fashionably late is not in Roman’s lexicon, especially when food is involved, so he isn’t all that far behind the others coming in. Had he taken the elevator instead of the stairs, they have have even shared the life down. He is dressed comfortably, graphic tee shirt, baggy jeans, and sneakers. Dark hair pulled into a small ponytail.

He comes in carrying his own foil covered tray, giving warm smiles to those that have already shown up, “Heya neighbors.” He greets, Hawaiian accent evident, but he is easily understandable. “Please no polkas.” He goes to set his tray of chicken satay skewers down on the table, before giving a look over what other edibles are on display.

Joey Kelly shows up with a cooler that is balancing a sleeve of paper plates with the little divider and a paper skein of napkins that might be immediately identifiable to anyone that works in dry goods storage or food service: these probably 'fell off the back of the ferry'. Joey's kitted out in some loose jeans and a black t-shirt under a flannel today and his usual RAF (resting asshole face). His tone is somehow more amicable than his eyebrows "Heeey I didn't see anyone up or plates so I got some stuff for us in case. Also got more ice." can't have too much.

"Jaime," he introduces himself from around a bite of sausage roll and then nods toward Joey and says, "The one that looks just like me but grumpier is Joey." With a cold drink snagged, he finds himself a spot to post up and devour that sausage roll while he watches everyone else arrive. There's a salute from the bottle as intros are made every so often.

"Hey," Viktor protests, albeit mildly, about the polka comment from Fred. "You haven't bitched about Gogol Bordello since... the last time I subjected you to Gogol Bordello." Which was probably about three days ago. And fortunately not today, with someone else seeing to the Bluetooth speaker.

One hand reaches into his jeans, fishing a lighter out of his pocket. Viktor is apparently a smoker, but can't be bothered to invest in anything fancier than a cheap plastic Bic. It's wiggled in Phineas' general direction, as an offer to either light the burner or toss the lighter over so he can do it himself. "Yeah, you just pop the lid off and light it up. Keep your fingers out of the goop inside or they'll catch." Goop. It's a very technical term.

"Gotcha." Phineas moves back into Viktor's direction for the lighter. He also puts his sunglasses to the front of him. To see the burner better and to be careful of the goop. It takes him a few minutes, but he pops that baby's lid off and then takes a moment to put the lighter closer to the goop, keeping his fingers out of the way to the best of his ability. Once done, he hands the lighter back to Viktor.

"Thanks for the plate." This is said to Joey as he starts to plate what food to be found here. A little bit of everything, and then he grabs a canned beer. He has no preference for what he's drinking.

Fred grins at Viktor again, and if all his canines are a little larger than they are for most people, well, strange things happen around the Isles. "Was Gogol Bordello the one that sounded like someone's cat getting strangled, or was that someone else? I'm sorry, I have a hard time telling those bands apart." There are solo cups, but the Englishman's obstinately drinking straight from the can. Then again, given his can says 'Guinness', it's a fair bet that the contents would eat through the solo cup. Phineas gets a thumbs-up when the music starts playing, though.

Fred turns his attention to the gathering at large then, along with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you all, folks. Viktor reminded me it'd been a while since we did this last and there've been a lot of new people moved in, so we figured we'd have a little get-together to say hello. I'm Fred, also known as 'That wanker in Security', but you can call me what you like as long as you don't call me late for dinner."

Roman looks up from where he is looking at the pierogis oddly. Another thing that isn’t in his lexicon, Polish food. “I’m Roman.” He will grab a plate and load up, starting with the potato and cheese filled dumplings.

“Good choice.” He says when the music fills the room. “Right back at you.” He says to Fred. “I can’t remember the last time we had one of these.” He’s been around since right after opening. He didn’t go to those other ones, for reasons.

There's a glance over toward Fred when he mentions security, but it's only a brief look before he gives a bit of an up-nod. "Only been here a little over a month now. Mostly been working and getting used to the new site, passing out after. Just sort of starting to get out a bit more, meet some folks," Jaime says as he finishes off his sausage roll and goes over to put some pierogies in his plate as well, offering a grin to Roman, topping them off with a bit of onions and sour cream.

"Or Shirley. Definitely don't call him Shirley," Viktor mutters, shaking his head at Fred as he takes the lighter back and tucks it into his pocket. It's an old reference, an old joke, the sort of thing that either everyone will get or everyone will stare at him for making.

The fried chicken from Declan, the chicken satay from Roman, they all get accepted with a wave of thanks as they're added to the table. The napkins from Joey, though? Yeah, he'd forgotten those, a realization that dawns on him a smack of his palm his own forehead. The 'duh' does not get said, but it also doesn't need to be. "Ahhh, crap. I knew I forgot something. Thanks!" And then there's a blink as he looks from him, to Jaime, then back again. Twins, obviously. And he's probably seen twins before (who hasn't?), but there's something about the furrow of his brow that suggests a deeper realization, something he's digging for. "You're the new guys in construction, right? You might wanna chat up my friend Kat when she shows up."

When people are talking about when they arrived, Phineas says, "Been here since June of 2023." One of those that likely got hired in the first round of employees.

Finding a couch to claim, he settles in to eat and drink but still within conversational space. Blue eyes go from one to the other as if to put these faces to memory. He picks up a chicken leg to start eating. He puts the chicken down and lifts up his can of beer. He forgot about the red solo cups, even if there is a song about that.

Fred's eloquent response for Viktor is two fingers upraised, with the back of his hand towards his roommate; he's not looking at Viktor when he does it, though. "Twenty-twenty-two for both of us," he says. "We both arrived while the place was being built." He slants an amused look at Viktor before drinking some more Guinness. "It's not a bad place to be, although a lot does depend on what tricks you end up learning. If it suits you, it's better than great. Wish I'd been able to pull some of these stunts earlier in life, I tell you."

Roman grins back at Jaime, or down at him, he's grinning back no matter. As Jaime soups up his dumpling, Roman auwes, and does the same. He wondered what those were for. He's learning things today.

Not trusting himself to eat while standing up, Roman goes to set his plate down on the table "July 2023." probably the same wave that Phineas was hired on. He goes over to look at the beverage selection while asking the brothers, Joey and Jaime "Construction? Over at the Lost whats its name?" if that was already mentioned, he missed it.

"Oh yeah?" Jaime asks Viktor as he's liberally applying a dollop of sour cream on his pierogis. "Why's that?" Kat in construction?" Which also confirms that he is who Viktor assumes he is at the same time somewhat tangentially. He glances over toward Fred then and asks, "Oh yeah? What tricks did you get?" curiously.

He moves out of the way so that Roman can do up his own pierogis. "Onions and butter, real good on them," he comments before confirming, "Yeah. We're building the Lost City. Kind of the Lost Giant Hole in The Ground at the moment. But it'll be a city at some point."

Joey nods to Phineas, "No problem." Grabbing a plate for himself he says "Gogol Bordello was, but also kind a great. They played my old place a few times." The pierogis go on the plate with sides to follow. When Fred mentions his position and Jaime fills in the rest there's a silent nod of agreement from him.

Looking to Fred he wonders, "What kind of stunts?" Looking to Roman picking at the pierogis also he says "Yeah like Lost...Island, Lost City, Lost n Found. We're looking for it. It's under a lot of dirt and trees right now." There's a flicker of amusement to Jaime, "Yeah Kelly Brothers Moats n More. We're making a killin out there."

"Oh, god," Viktor mutters when he realizes they're inadvertently doing the whole name, occupation, hire date thing. He blinks once, then twice, and then starts to laugh as he adds, "Are we doing an icebreaker for the Mandatory Work Fun? Is that what I dragged you all to? Go around in a circle and tell everyone what your secret superpower would be if we weren't all already telepathic and walking around with tails hanging out the back of our pants."

Of course, he doesn't seem to have a tail. Not a visible one, anyway. There are a few scales visible underneath the edge of the beanie he's still wearing, even inside where its warm. The comment is made as he moves over to a keg, hitching up his jeans before crouching down over it fill one of those aforementioned big red cups mostly to the brim with the black lager. A quick jerk of his head at the keg seems to be an invitation for everyone else, a non-verbal 'Anyone want a beer?' to the room in general.

"Nah," he says to Jaime (or is it Joey?), while he's still crouching. "She's a singer. Was working on writing down that weird song that always seems to be playing when weird things happen. She followed it around a bunch of the islands and found a point where there was...," he trails off for a second, pausing as he searches for the right words. "A resonance? Almost like a non-verbal echo of it back to her, down in the tunnels on Spellbound. Was wondering if someone might have access to old building plans when they were putting them in place." The other twin gets a quick upnod at the mention of Gogol Bordello.

A brow is raised as Phineas listens to Viktor talk. He looks a little paler than the usual human is supposed to look. Otherwise, there is not much difference in looks for him in what he got gifted during New Year's.

He's gone to quiet as he eats. Sometimes, things are learned when one stays quiet. This is what he banks on. A thumbs up to Joey in response to his comment to show he heard the other twin. But there is more chicken to eat.

Having no idea who this Gogol Bordello person is besides some kind of musician, Roman just listens without comment to that bit of the conversation that goes around the room. "I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of place the Lost City is going to be, and what kind of acts it will have."

"I think he may mean the voodoo that we do, when we have been around long enough." he says to Joey, but he himself isn't really sure. Not being much of a beer person he grabs one that says hard cider on it and hopes for the best. The chastisement of Viktor on the topics of choice has him laughing "I mean that is the one thing we know for sure we all have in common."

Jaime snorts at Viktor and says, "Fuck that." He is not doing the mandatory ice breaker. "I'm gonna need way more beer if we're doin' that shit." He demonstratively drains the remainder of the one he's got and goes for a second one. He does nod a bit though when Viktor mentions the song. "Heard it that one time it came over the speakers. Didn't think much of it." If he got anything unusual, it isn't visible. He just looks like Joey.

"Some sort of sunken temple thing with snakes and gators and stuff. Boat ride. Some sort of climbing rope bridge obstacle course thing.." he mulls over what he's seen of the plans and then glances at Joey in case he has more to fill in.

"Pretty sure god's got nothing to do with it," says Fred drily to Viktor, before looking to Jaime and Joey. "Well, let's just say that I'm my own K-9 unit," he says, grinning again; those exaggerated canines of his really stand out in that particularly wolfish grin. And then the grin eases back to normal, bright and warm and friendly. "Comes in really handy sometimes, I tell you."

"There's something else we all have in common, though, Roman," Fred grins. "We all live in this building, and we're all at a potluck. I mean, that counts for something, right?"

A laugh erupts from Phineas when he hears Fred talk about how they all live in this building and are at this potluck. He says to the Englishman, "That is fair. I see no lie in it." Taking another look around. He likely has seen all of them roam about this building with quick waves of hellos in the past. Now, he can put names to these faces.

He is now working on eating some deviled eggs. Those are his favorites, and he indulges in them.

There's a sweeping gesture, including a bit of a slosh of his drink, towards the keg at the mention of 'way more beer' being necessary. "Hey, if these don't get drained, it's either gonna be me hauling them back to the mainland half full, which sounds like a pain in the ass, or me and Fred getting sloshed up on the second floor. And I'm not in the mood to hold his hair back for him, so have at it." The Brit's two fingered salute finally gets returned with a middle finger from Viktor, before he straightens back up.

Joey looks to Roman and tilts his head, "Right now it's a lot of clearcutting. Roman yeah? Yeah I can keep you up on that." He boggles and says, "Everyone seriously has shit going on with them? I did not have feeling bad for an HR team on my bingo card for 25. This sounds like a nightmare to manage for liabilities on paper."

When asked about the setup for the Lost City he says "Yeah pluming team's going to have fun. Like immersive environment stuff. No idea if they'll get real gators but as it's cold here I'm going to guess something's getting worked out but it feels like building some Temple of Doom stuff. I'd say it looks like it's pretty cool but right now it looks like breaking ground in winter. I'll like it better when we get to the foundation though."

Looking to Viktor he wonders about the tune and says to Jaime, "See I told Doug that wasn't a Muse song." Taking another bite he finds a place to park that's nearish Fred for right now. "So what kind of dog we talkin?"

The obstacle course mention grabs Roman's attention immediately. "I'm down for an obstacle course." he does look like the athletic sort, he has the build for it, and the height for basketball. Though he has never touched a basketball in his life. "Not sure about the snakes and gators though." That's for future him to worry about.

"Yeah, we all live here, don't think anyone wants to know how all doors on floor 300 have faces on them." in the wood grain pattern of course. Not actual faces. Roman cracks open the hard cider and takes a sip. The face he pulls says it all, but he will drink it anyway. He is the youngest in the room, he probably hasn't developed his beer buds yet.

"Clearcutting is where the remove all the trees and the undergrowth, yeah?" A lot of that gets done where he is from because of volcanoes. "Eventually, I don't know of anyone that doesn't have at least a small something." as for liability, he has no clue how that works. He just hopes it does.

Fred's grin only brightens at Viktor's return of the hand gesture. "I'd call you an arsehole, but you'd only agree," he says to Viktor, then nods to Joey. "Yup. We've all got shit going on with us. I'm a standard-issue landshark when I feel like it. Mate of mine casts illusions. Another one can screw with sound. And then there's the guy who can talk to animals, the woman who can wander through peoples' dreams, we got the whole shebang. There's even a guy who can pull rabbits out of top hats, and that's just weird."

"Pretty sure the snakes and gators are going to be fake," Jaime opines. "But the obstacle course looks pretty real." He pauses. "No snakes and gators in that part." Animatronic or otherwise. "As far as I know."

He forks some pierogi into his mouth and chews as he glances from one person to another, listening in on the conversation. There's a vague snort at Joey at the mention of a Muse song.

Jaime squints over at Fred when he mentions someone pulling rabbits out of top hats. "Someone's gonna have to buy me dinner before they pull me out of any damn hat."

Phineas grins when he hears Jaime's comment and shakes his head.

"Yeah, there is quite a variety of people here with their gifts." That is what he is calling the magic found on the islands. "But hey, it works somehow. I am looking forward to seeing this new site being built and what is actually in it." He pops another egg as he chews after saying that.

Viktor snorts once, though it's hard to say whether it's at the comments about rabbits or just the fact that 'Time is Running Out' comes through the Bluetooth speaker not long after the crack about swearing it wasn't a Muse song. Apparently, even Spotify has sense of humor about the weird things that happen on the Isles of Wonder.

"Even if they are fake," Viktor says, "It doesn't mean they'll stay that way. I was walking to my shift last week when half the horses on the carousel over on the Midway decided to go for a stroll. Watched one of them walk right up to a guest and shove its nose into their popcorn to get a good whiff. They eventually all went back to where and how they were, but legal might want to rethink animatronic gators if they're going to start coming to life and sniffing around for snacks."

Fred pauses halfway through lifting a devilled egg to his mouth when Jaime speaks. His grin turns absolutely wicked, and then he's doing his level best to wear an innocent expression. "Right," he says. "The snakes and gators aren't real." He bites into the egg, then nods. "Snakes and gators. Not real." And then he's retreating from the food again, taking a pierogi with him. "Yeah, don't look at me for pulling rabbits out of hats," he says. "I'm just a part-time landshark. My best magic trick is making alcohol and food disappear." One pierogi, it seems, is actually three, two snaffled beneath the palm of his hand while he took one obvious one.

Fred does blink at Viktor, though. "Huh," he says, sounding thoughtful. An echo of that wicked grin's still there, and growing slowly. "Now there's a thought. What's considered really cute, here?"

Jaime lifts his beer, pauses, and then lowers it as Viktor mentions that the carousel horses just started wandering around. Then he considers the gators and snakes and shakes his head, "Above my pay grade."

He finally takes a swig of that beer and falls quiet, glancing over to notice Fred's very wicked grinning and shakes his head with a laugh.

"I make a really stinkin' cute rabbit," he opines, if he does say so himself. Then adds, "Still not jumping out of any hats."

"Fake snakes and gators." he echoes, that's a relief to Roman, he can handle fake reptiles a bit better than real ones, especially the alligators. "That would have to be a pretty big hat." to have Jaime pulled out of it, or a really small Jaime. Or apparently a rabbit Jaime "That makes a lot more sense." as if turning into a rabbit makes any sore of sense.

"I heard about that one." He says to Viktor. "The guests were talking about it the rest of the day. Wish I would have seen that myself." but he was at Venture Cove doing his own job.

He takes another sip of the beer, the face isn't as intense this time. He is going to have to eat to washing the hard cider down. Which he does focusing on his food while the conversation of friendly neighbors goes on around him.

Phineas has seen many things since coming to the islands and starting work at the park. But those that can transform into animals always intrigue him. There's a squint given to Jaime as he tries to figure that out and shakes his head. But he's caught on that Fred might be a shapeshifter, too, but he isn't one hundred percent sure.

He addresses the group in general. "How does that work? I mean, how do you change from a human to an animal? Is it instant or what?" He takes another swig at his beer and picks up a taco.

"It had something to do with that music again," Viktor says, as he finally starts to fill his own plate. There's a bit of everything that goes on there--chicken satay and a few pierogi, a taco and a pair of deviled eggs, a sausage roll and he even tears open one of the bags of chips. Seems like the man can eat. "Sounded all watery this time, though it's not like I heard the rest of it to know. That's just what some people there mentioned."

As for turning into animals, well, he doesn't really have much comment to add to that. Maybe the lizard scales at the edges of his face are as close as he can come to transformation. Either way, with their vaguely metallic appearance, it's definitely not the world's worst case of eczema. So he listens, looking between a few of the guys in the room who can, apparently, sprout fangs and fluff.

Fred nods to Jaime. "Understood," he replies. "Although we could do one hell of a double act." And then he's shrugging to Phineas. "Dunno," he says. "I'm not really in a position to keep an eye on how it works, when it happens. All I know is that me and my clothes suddenly become a grade-A landshark. I try not to do it in front of people, though, just in case. That seems like asking for trouble."

Another pierogi does a disappearing act, down Fred's throat. "These little wotsits are great, as always, Viktor," he says, waving the last one he acquired at his roommate before vanishing that one, too. "Thanks for bringing them!" And then he's smiling over at Jaime. "The eggs are good as well. Thanks!"

Joey looks to Fred and says "Well real gators would help the geese out of everything but I don't think they'd get on with the cold. They're lazy. Just don't walk into them." Both eyebrows go up and he asks "Nooooo shit they wandered right off the damn platform? The big chicken too?" Looking back at Jaime he agrees, "Sounds like Mechanical's issue."

Turning to Fred and Phineas' discussion he finally asks, "Yoooou grow a track suit? What do you mean land shark?"

Jaime shoots a grin over at Fred and says, "I'm game." Because why not? Though when Phineas asks how it works and Fred demures, Jaime just holds out his beer and says, "Hold this." Because Jaime is very much a 'hold my beer' sort of guy. Once he's not holding onto anything, he gives Fred a thumbs-up about the deviled eggs, rolls his shoulders, and then just seems to collapse down like origami.

It's nearly instantaneous. One moment, there was a dude, and the next there's a dark brown and lighter tan rabbit just chillin' there where Jaime had been standing. His nose twitches.

There's a glance to Fred for his answer, and Phin is nodding in response to it. But Jaime is thrusting his beer in Phin's direction, and he takes it. He has no clue what is going to happen next. And when it happens, Phineas is gobstopped.

Looking at the twin that is still human that would be Joey, "You can do that too? Am I allowed to pet him or what?" He doesn't know if there is a rule book, so hence the ask. He's all about consent, but that rabbit is cute, and Phineas is not immune to it.

"Varenyky," he supplies for Fred, probably not for the first time. Which is definitely not 'pierogi', even though they're definitely what most Americans (and, y'know, anyone who is Polish) would call pierogi. "I'll pass your review on the family 'whatsits' on to my grandmother the next time she calls." That same lopsided smile appears on his face that was there before.

It's followed by a quick snort and a swallow of his beer at the carousel being mechanical's issue. "Don't know about the chicken. I was in the mechanical closet after the first few horses walked off, giving the calliope a good kick to see if that'd get it started again." Apparently, Viktor's one of those mechanical people who are likely to get stuck with the problem, and the kick is a tried and true method.

Jaime turning into a rabbit, though? That gets a bit of a head tilt, even if it's not the first time he's seen someone transform like that.

Fred blinks at Joey. "Landshark. You know, savage thing that's all teeth? Also known as a standard-issue K-9 unit. Whacking great long-haired Alsatian." And then he's smiling. "Sorry, I keep forgetting that other people don't know the shorthand and the TLAs." But then there's a rabbit, and Fred looks down at it with a smile. "Stinkin' cute, alright," he agrees. "I assume that if you don't want fuss, you'll let people know before you sink your teeth in and kick 'em, right?" And then to Phineas, "You're allowed to pet him if he allows it. If you get bitten, though, I reserve the right to laugh my arse off."

He nods to Viktor, then. "Varenyky, that's it. Thanks. Say hi to your nan for me."

<< Try it and find out. >> Jaime challenges Phineas, his voice clear in the other's head as he reaches up with a back foot to scritch behind his ear a couple of times before it drops to the floor. The tone is clearly amused and definitely not hostile.

Joey watches this but shakes his head 'no' watching his twin's origami act. "Yeah I can't do that." The look is quick to Phineas who asks if he can pet his brother. The answer comes simply, "Well if he bites you that means no. That's between you and him." It's still mesmerizing, but also as it stands, a Jaime discovery.

Joey shakes his head. "Dunno that term, no. That sounds amazing. To me a landshark is an asshole with a business card and like three burner phones."

Phineas moves Jaime's beer can to a spot that won't get knocked over. Is he surprised that there's a voice in his head now? No, not really. He's probably seen and heard that in action.

Yes, he's seen co-workers be animals, but this is the first time he has seen someone transform right before him. "Okay, you all are witnesses." It looks like he will take a chance and pet the dark brown and tan rabbit that is Jaime. He did catch that the one in his head was amused. He crouches and doesn't attempt to pick up the rabbit. That might be asking too much, and he did not buy Jaime dinner. He figures petting is good enough. His hand goes to the backside of the rabbit. No rough or sudden moves. He's gentle in his touch.

"Wow. This is amazing." He's in awe. "You. Wow." He sounds very much like a school kid and has been out of school for years.

"Danny'll let you give him a good ear scratch when he's walking around on all fours," Viktor says to Phineas, when it comes to the concept of petting their fellow employees when they're in small, fuzzy, non-human shapes. "Guy with all the dogs, runs the Leash-Free Flea Circus. Though if he's got the pack with him, you'll be walking off with a name you didn't ask for. Last I heard, they dubbed me Always Has Cheese." This is delivered with a deadpan, his mouth pressing together to form a thin line right after.

Whether or not Fred is up for a belly rub when he's got paws? Well, that's up for Fred to answer, while he's still in human form.

Jaime does not, in fact, bite Phineas, or kick him. He just sits there as he's pat patted, ears twitching a little and swiveling in the direction of the voices of the others as they talk. He is indeed, very rabbit-like, soft fur and all. And he seems more entertained by Phineas' reaction than anything else, as far as a rabbit can look entertained. << Did you just pat my ass? >> Of course, he can't resist the teasing. Phineas can likely hear the smirk mentally.

Fred watches the bunny and the Phineas with a smile that has a wry hint to it. "You're not wrong," he says. "It's absolutely bloody amazing, is what it is. From the inside, too." He slants a look at Joey, then. "Sounds more like a loan shark, to me," he says, sounding dubious.

"Always has cheese," he grins at Viktor. "Right. Goodness knows what I'll get christened." But most of his attention is on the bunny. To be fair, it is stinking cute.

Chuckling Joey shakes his head taking a drink, "I am absolutely not a witness. Sorry man." Also, because he's not going to ever testify against his brother likely anyways. Looking to Viktor Joey listens to the details of the story of Danny who doesn't ring any direct bells which does not matter when the story is good. When Viktor gets to 'always has cheese' he chuffs, "Shit you might be the richest man in the room. Good cheese isn't cheap. I respect that."

Curious he asks, "Who brought the tacos? Good work." Looking back to Fred he answers, "Loooot of property dealers man. Very little difference to be honest. All of em assholes." Shaking his head he points to Jaime-Bun and asks Fred, "Sooo you do this too? but not a bunny. That's so wild." Looking to Phineas and Roman and then Vikor he waits to see if there are any more of the fur, fins, and fangs crew among them.

If Phineas could glow that is likely what he is doing right now. But nope, he didn't ghost out. He's sort of paying attention to the others, but his attention is fully on Jaime when he hears that remark about touching his ass in his head. Phin laughs and grins at the rabbit. "Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't. At least I did not pull you out of a hat."

When asked who brought the tacos, Phineas's attention was caught. "I hope you like them."

Phineas is part of the ghost crew and will not turn into fur, fins, or fangs. "I'm gonna have to meet this Danny and try this out." Uh oh. Laughing again as he takes some more pets but then stops so Jamie doesn't get sick of Phineas touching him.

Jaime doesn't seem to mind. He just sorta chills there for a few more moments. But, as entertaining as it is to be a rabbit and to poke fun at Phineas, he hops back after a few and transform back into people-shape which is essentially the same in reverse. He just seems to unfold almost instantaneously and is back just as he was not too long ago. "Fair," he says to Phineas as he reaches for his beer and reclaims his plate. Then he asks Viktor, "The dogs name you that or something?"

He is then loading his plate up again, this time with a taco. He seems to be going through the various offerings one at a time.

"I'd put money on them barking 'One of us! One of us!' until you sprout a tail," Viktor retorts with a grin, inadvertently confirming Fred's ability to shape change. And then he finally, finally, flops down into one of the chairs to sprawl with his plate of food and shove a deviled egg in his mouth. No bites. It goes in whole. "S'good," he comments to whoever made them after swallowing most of it down. Unfortunately for Viktor's conversational skills, that happens to be the one person in the room who can't really talk right now.

"I can't do the whole Animal Planet thing. More the 'be my own twin' bit," he adds, gesturing with his beer cup between Joey and Jaime-the-Rabbit. "Except, you know, actually not."

"Ah, yeah, property dealers," Fred grimaces to Joey, then nods to Jaime. "Good moves, man." And then he's grinning at Viktor. "Maybe, maybe not," he says, then drinks a little more. There's a beep from something at his waist and, before looking at it, he downs the last of his can.

Two seconds later the can's in the bin and he's checking his phone. "Bollocks. Got a call-out," he says. "It's been fun, guys, but I need to take off. Have a good night!" And with that Fred's heading for the lift at a run, with a can of beer in each side-pocket and a suspicious amount of food acquired by passing quickly along the table, once.

Joey nods as Viktor shares his weird-cool thing and a small smile forms. "Yeah that was a trick I could only pull off once and I liked the result." He stops drinking to ask the thought chewing on him about that, "Does it hurt? Like when you split in half? That's some sci-fi level shit there." Though he's not effusive he is curious for the old hats here to share.

Phineas gets the comment, "Do it. Put cheese in your pocket." Looking to Fred there's a concerned look. "Shame you can't tell them to come here. Luck man."

"I can do that," Jaime tells Viktor. "I just gotta remember his passwords. Or borrow his badge." He flashes a grin, knowing full well that's not what Viktor meant. But he's a brat, as has been established. He lofts his can in a farewell salute to Fred as the man hurries off, "Good to meet you! Let's talk a dual act sometime!" One can only imagine how that might turn out. But Joey's got the important question -- does hit hurt? "Figure not, right? No more than folding up into an origami animal right?" He hopes.

"Later, Fred!," Viktor calls out after him, shaking his head slowly. Call outs. Even worse than when he gets a phone call from the new tech two hours after his shift ended, asking how something held together with electrical tape and a prayer actually works. "And yeah, the dogs named me that, 'cause if if I've got a job on the Midway, I'll bring 'em a snack. Not the expensive stuff." Which twin was it who accused him of being the richest man in the park? Joey. Maybe. "Just those protein snack packs with the egg and the pepperoni and the cheese cubes. Keeps the pups happy and generally out of the way and not climbing all over me while I'm messing about with wiring."

The question about splitting in half does make him furrow his brow for a second, then another. Eventually, he shrugs. "It doesn't really hurt. Definitely feels strange, though. And it's exhausting. But I guess that kind of makes sense. Cram two days of living into one and you're gonna crash out sooner or later."

Joey shakes his head and says with some approval, "That stuff's gold." Food ranks as its own currency. There's a chuckle shaking his head enjoying the hell of of the tacos. Good job, Phineas there.

"Seems like that wouldn't be like... a casual thing you wouldn't notice. You able to talk to yourself or is it like me and Jaim where you're just two dudes and people just assume you know everything and are telepathic and shit." That Jaime actually is telepathic now is besides the point as the assumptions clearly predated the park.

Jaime grabs a couple more tacos and then his drink and wanders over to settle into one of the chairs, slumping there comfortably with a couple napkins tucked in at his side just in case his tacos decide to go rogue. "Yeah, guess that makes sense -- the tiring part." He nods a bit and says, "Still that's a damn neat trick." He smirks a little bit when Joey mentions the whole telepathy thing. "Wonder if I got that just to finally prove people right."

Phineas took a few minutes to wander out of the room. Probably had to go visit the bathroom or something with all the beer drinking he's been doing. When he notices that the others have found seats, he picks up another drink to consume. A good thing he doesn't live that far from here. But really, who is counting as he settles in a seat and hears Jaime's last words? "That is cool, though, that you can speak to a person in their head. It is like a secret code or something."

"Just two dudes that can walk around talking to myself, carrying on a conversation like it's no big." A beat passes. "Though I actually am telepathic." And another one, in which he gives Jaime an upnod, like there's some sympathy there in them both being telepath. "And it would've been nice if someone told me the back of my hair looked that stupid, like, ten years ago."

But that beat then becomes a more thoughtful pause before he adds, "It's different when you mash back together again and both sets of memories are there. Same day from two different angles, kind of like looking through a kaleidoscope if I've been hanging around too close to myself. If I've been in different places, it's not as confusing. More like two days, same calendar date." He shoots Phineas thumbs up after pointing at his half-finished taco.

Joey considers Jaime's guess, "Ya know, maybe? Anyone know how this Darwin's grab bag stuff works yet? Like how it's all doled out or whatever?" Not that Joey can apparently do any of the things Jaime can, but unlike Viktor and other Viktor they really are two different people. In all honesty to Viktor he admits, "Yeah I wouldn't be responsible with that. That sounds amazing though."

Looking to Phineas he points to the spread, "We did not eat everything while you were out but we might if you don't get another plate and come back over."

Jaime tucks into his tacos, taking a few bites and carefully navigating them to try not to explode taco filling everywhere. It is a challenge, but clearly one that he is up to. He can't help snicker a little as Joey mentions not being responsible with the ability to bilocate. "You can't be responsible with an actual twin either, let's be fair." As for how they get chosen for what they can do, he shrugs his shoulders.

He nods to Phineas and says, "It's handy when I'm a rabbit. They're not known for their conversational skills."

"I mean, sometimes I use it to plow through backed up work tickets," he says to Joey. "And sometimes I use it to spend a sunny day at the skate park, or to go to the Spookeasy with some cute tourist that isn't gonna be here in a week, 'cause it's not like the park's paying both of me, you know? But how it happened? I have no idea. I wish I did, 'cause there's got to be some kind of logic to how it all works, right?"

He hopes. He desperately hopes, and there's a bit of a twinge in his brow as he says it that hint at just how much he hopes there is. "But what about you two?," he's looking between Joey and Phineas now. "You've both been quiet about it, while Jaime here's been playing show and I've been playing tell."

Phineas grins at Joey at the talk of getting more food. He picks his plate back up and goes for the things he missed the first time around, such as those potato dumplings and the chicken satay. He chuckles as he listens to Viktor, even at the table, scanning to see what food is left.

"Glad you guys are enjoying the tacos. It's one of my favorites." Once he is satisfied, he finds his seat once again. His comment to Jaime, "Makes me wonder how those who have that animal-changing gift communicate if they don't have telepathy. Do they do charades or something? That wouldn't be any fun. But then again, I guess if you and a friend turned into a rabbit, it would be the same language without the telepathy. Phineas is over here overthinking. He's just going to try one of these dumpling things and goes quiet now.

"Oh me?" Pointing to self, "I play with shadows and become a ghost." He laughs about it. "Sometimes, can even talk to our friends."

Joey actually smiles for once, and it's wide to Jaime, "It's true. That's- that's fair." He goes to drink and just stops to chuckle before choking. "I mean there's got to be some sort of logic to it Viktor. I didn't pay that much attention in school but science said nature's got rules and shit for everything. I'm guessing this is more of that on some level."

To the question he shakes his head, "Ain't noticed a damn thing so far. I got nothin that I know of. How bout you, Tacos?" He looks back to Phineas and arches an eyebrow, "A ghost." He ponders, "Like your body hits the ground like a dead fish like that Lock & Key kid and you float around or-?"

Jaime studies Viktor as he mentions using the ability to plow through tickets, or to spend a little time doing two separate day's activities at once. "I could definitely see having some fun with it. I don't think I'd give'm two day's worth of work either. That's just asking them to start expecting it."

"I'm guessing they don't, like regular animals. They probably just change back if they really need to. Or do some classic Lassie, did Timmy fall down the well? style shit."

But the mention of playing with shadows and becoming a ghost gets a narrowed look, but Joey asks the question that's on his mind so he waits to hear what the answer is.

Lala arrives what you could call quite late. Not even fashionably, because when she wanders into the lounge, having spotted the drinks and such laid out through the archway, she lifts a hand to wave. "Oh, hey." Seems the forgot when this thing was meant to be, and it's a happy accident, a takeaway bag in hand, that she showed up with the potluck still going.

"Hey, neighbors," says the Southern woman from up on 6. She wears her long grey hair in twin braids, a pair of sunglasses from earlier tucked into them. She isn't bundled against the cold, so the bag she has must have been a delivery she had in. Dressed in a skirt and cami top, grey with black patterning, she's definitely not cold ready. An unzipped hoodie is worn over it, oversized and ruining the look entirely. Her gaze slides across Vik, Joey, Phineas, Jaime, back to Joe, back to Jaime. She finds a seat to drop down in and thumps her takeaway container onto her lap, crinking a clamshell container out of the bag.

"Engineer," Viktor murmurs, in reply to the comment about science. "Science is all I did in school, though as the saying goes: the difference between science and just screwing around with explosives is writing it down." He reaches up to run his fingers through his hair and gets met with a handful of beanie, instead. He pulls it back down again, even though it's only knocked a little bit loose by the gesture.

Turning into a ghost, though? That has him looking thoughtful. "You should definitely talk to Kat. She's up on six," he says to Phineas. Though the comment comes almost exactly as one of Kat's roommates walks into the room. "Hey, Lala. Grab a beer. Grab some food." A chin lifts towards the table laden with pierogi and satay, tacos and sausage rolls, deviled eggs and chips. A couple of ice-filled coolers still have beer in them, and there's two mostly untouched kegs.

Phineas looks back at Joey since he asked a specific question about his ghost magic. "I float. Not for long. Maybe a few minutes at that. Then I get hella tired and want to nap for fifteen minutes. That kind of thing. I chalk it up to being the tour guide who tells ghost stories, so why not make it believable?" A slight grin when he says that.

He also heard what Jaime told him, and he was nodding for the answer. "Okay. That is fair." He is learning new things today. He's also been paying attention to Viktor mentioning how he splits in two and stuff. Lala catches his attention, and a hand is raised in greeting. But then it is back to Viktor, "Yeah, Kat, in 6. Gotcha. Maybe I'll knock on her door one day."

"You float?" Joey is stuck on this. "So you just hover? That's like flying how you ghosting?" He points vaguely directionally to the big island they work on, "Guy on that scary sidewalk," he means the Boo'edwalk, "that draws ghost people apparently. I'd say haunt him and see what happens."

Looking back to Lala there's a murmured, "Suuup." Given to her adding, "The tacos came out pretty good." Good neighbours give taco tips. Looking to Vik he faintly smiles and looks back to his brother, "Viktor said we're not scientists. No lab coats for us."

Lala pops open her order and pauses. The burrito there is massive. Unconscionably large, and covered in a spicy scented red chile sauce drizzled in queso. "This is not..." No what she ordered. "Got the food covered. Anybody want a piece of a steak and bean burrito?" She cuts it open to look before she puts it aside and rises to find a drink. "Thanks for the tip," she says to Joey. Is her burrito ridiculously large? Yes. Does she still drop by the table to grab a drink and a taco and survey the other offerings? Yes.

"Make sure it's after noon if you do," she says to Phineas. "Two of us work overnights." She glances back, "Can I get anyone anything while I'm up?"

Jaime is remarkably quiet for a wee bit as he eats his tacos. They must be good tacos. A smile is offered to Lala when she arrives but his mouth is full so for the moment it's just the smile and a vague wiggle of his current taco in greeting. Then he glances over at Joey when he proclaims them not scientists according to Viktor and snorts just a little bit. "Mhmn," is what he manages around the taco that he's eating.

"I guess so?" Phineas says this to Joey. "I haven't really paid attention to what I am doing because half the time, I have no idea what I am doing. It's like boom, this is interesting. Guy on Boo'edwalk? There are a few artists there, right? Got a name? I can try, but I don't know how good I'd be in that."

When Lala offers a piece of her burrito, Phineas lifts his plate up, "Sure. That sounds delicious." Nodding when told what time to come knocking on the sixth floor.

It's not that there's a wrong time to arrive within the window of the party's ongoing status, but Katrin must have meant to arrive earlier, given the hasty manner in which she departs the elevator with an ice cream bucket full of snack sized Halloween candies dangling from her left wrist. There's a range of everything, across multiple brands, putting Sour Skittles neck-and-neck with Sour Patch Kids, Twix, Snickers, Peanut Butter Cups, and an assortment of flavoured suckers. Deeper down, more budgeted varieties might be found, including rolls of Rockets.

But she slows her pace as she steps round into the lounge where the music can reassure her that things are still hopping, and adopts something altogether more care-free in the way of subtly crooked smile. She's in a high-waisted pale-plaid skirt and a crop top, cinched by ties at her waist; the front, depicting a Ouija Board and some outlet branding. She, as promised, has not brought her guitar along to pester those gathered with any of Oasis' or John Meyer's greatest hits. She takes a moment, wandering to the tables for a place to set her bucket down, to let her attention sweep those presently gathered; making note of familiar faces, and new ones.

Looking to Jaime he asks, "The dude from the diner, Noel? Noah?" Looking to Phineas he says He is at something called the Specter Pen and draws dead people." He's at least wrong but close enough on the names to still find places.

He gives an upnod to Katrin as she follows Lala in "Hey." So loquacious this one. Looking back to Viktor he says "Well I don't die, or turn into animals, and I retired from splitting in half again but that's pretty cool. I think we're all covered if there's a home invasion or need to move someone up three flights of stairs."

Lala returns to her seat with a plate of a few items and a cup of some bev or another. She cuts off one end of her burrito after putting that down, and carefully forks it over onto Phineas' plate. "There you go. I'm not sure how spicy that'll be, but it smells fantastic." She settles in and cuts the other end off the burrito to fork it onto her plate, leaving a couple servings yet in the middle section up for grabs in case anyone gets an inkling they might like to try it.

"Speak of the devil," Lala says, spotting Kat and her candy. "Hey yourself," Lala returns to Joey, a little smile before she follows up with, "Do you ever move furniture for beer or bourbon?"

"Noah," Jaime says to Joey when he asks for the name of the guy from the diner who works on the Boo'edwalk.

He then eyes the bucket that Katrin brings with her and abandons his now-empty taco plate to get up and steal a handful of candy with a flash of a grin. "Right on time! Dessert!" He then says, "Hey, I'm Jaime, that's Joey." He gestures.

With a grin in Lala's direction he says, "I totally move furniture for bribes of booze of varying types." What? One twin has got to be as good as the other when it comes to hauling furniture, right? He's not going to pass up an opportunity.

"I didn't say you weren't scientists," Viktor points out after taking another sip of his lager. "I said the difference between science and screwing around with explosives was writing it down. Just get yourselves a little notebook. Scribble down 'used potassium nitrate; explosion was purple this time' and now it's an experiment. Educational, even." Has he used this excuse before? He has used this excuse before. No question about it. "No lab coats needed."

If he's got more to say about the splitting in half remark? It's reduced to a snort and a pull of his attention to Katrin's arrival. "Hey, KitKat," he calls out, shoving over in his seat to make space for her. "Grab a plate, grab a beer. You missed Fred and Roman...," he's looking around for a second, then another. "Wandered off somewhere. Danny didn't show."

There's a wave to Katrin when she enters, and a quiet thank you from Lala when she shares her burrito with Phin. "Thanks for the warning." In lieu of how spicy the burrito might be.

Glancing from Joey and Jaime when they tell him Noah's name. "I already ran into him, but I'll keep that in mind." It is said in Joey's direction. Joey has given him ideas for future pranks. But right now, this burrito is calling his name, and he's gonna answer it.

Katrin lifts her hand to about shoulder height for a wave in return to Joey's greeting - a gesture that's extended, with a swivel at her hips and a flash of a brighter smile, to the room at large; including Lala, Jaime, Phineas, and Viktor when she catches their greetings. She doesn't have the sharply honed nail extensions on that sometimes enchant and terrify patrons of the Spookeasy. But, the Keebler elf ears and the steady swirl of ice-fog and smoke that is the grays of her irises are more the genuine side effect of magic, and less to do with a costume. She has her VANS skate flats on, today, rather than any of her heels - robbing her of what extra inches in height she might have otherwise gathered.

With her bucket of candy set in place amidst items that took actual effort and time, she steps away from the candy upon Lala's reference to her. "Devilish, maybe - but not the devil," she quips, her tone a quality of warmth and self-amusement. "Kat," she replies, with that same chirpy cheerfulness to Jaime. "And I figured candy was the safest option. For the building's sake." Like her cooking is something to fear - some product of a curse.

She seems to respond to the name that Viktor has used for her as well - the product of some additional familiarity that has her lift her chin and look his way as he makes room. "On it!" she declares. With an 'aww' in addition, for having missed the familiar name among those given. She picks up a plate, and starts to peruse, nabbing a little bit of everything where she can - and a whole taco, burrito, and sausage roll where division might be messy, as well as a double take at the pierogi that resilts in a double helping, with equivalent fixings. Beer will likely be picked from, last. She bobs her chin along with the music as she goes. She could, apparently, eat.

Lala grins right back to Jaime. "Perfect. I need you number." She unlocks her phone and sliders it over for him to add himself as a contact should he so wish. Once Jaime gives the intros for himself and Joel, she studies his face first for a bit, then Joey's, no doubt attempting to catalog the differences so she can tell who's whom when she sees them again in the wild. "Lala, Kat my roomie," she thumbs to the goth-leaning lady with the candy bucket. Granted, Viktor already said her name, but reiteration always helps.

"That has yet to be seen," Lala says, a smile turned toward Kat.

Joey says to Viktor, "That sounds easier then." Looking back to Lala he answers at the same time as Jaime, "Yes. Absolutely." And Jaime has the rest of the answer. That." Looking over to the candy bowl he asks, "Almond Joy?" He points, "That's Phineas and I'm going to guess you met Viktor." As he and the roomie seem familiar. "Where you two working around this place?"

When Joey introduces him to Katrin, Phineas nods. Can't say much when one's mouth is full. But he's still here as he retrieves that can of beer he had been nursing earlier.

Once his mouth is clear, he tells Katrin, "Looks like a good candy bucket." But yes, he will finish his food before sweets, even if this is his second plate.

"Oh, I'm definitely not a scientist," Jaime assures Viktor with a shake of his head. "As much as I am all about the scientific theory of fuck around and find out.. I don't need a coat or a notebook for that. Lala gets his phone, which he unlocks, and opens to the contacts. "Just put yourself in there, text yourself, whatever." He assumes he'll get it back at some point."

"Candy is always an excellent option," Jaime opines, whether one can cook or otherwise. He grabs another handful 'for the road' and heads back over to his chair, throwing an Almond Joy at Joey as he passes by before collapsing back into the chair that he's claimed for himself.

"You're right to be on your guard with this one," Viktor says to Lala, letting his head loll back against the couch for a second, leaving him staring down the length of his nose (bump from being broken at least once) and all. "If stories are to be believed, she managed to set a pot of water on fire. That's got to be some sort of hell power right there, burning water." Nevermind that 'stories' were delivered as testimony from the devil(ish) herself.

He shakes his head, then adds what's probably a more helpful comment. "If you need an extra set of hands dragging heavy shit up to six, just ask. I was already conned into helping Kat when she gets around to buying real furniture." His red solo cup is lifted in an unnecessary gesture towards her where she stands over by the table, but he's drained enough of it down that it doesn't slosh this time. A flit of his eyes shift over to the twins, then back. "All fees and boozy bribes negotiated separately." He's not going to horn in on Jaime and Joey profiting from the beer and pizza economy, even if he's already on the hook with one third of Apartment 605.

"Hey - devilish, until proven the devil, okay?" Katrin fires back at Lala and Viktor with a soft chuckle; like this is a universal right written up in the legal codes somewhere, for her to conveniently call upon. "And I didn't set the water on fire. I boiled it down and the pot got a little-" she pauses, like she needs to find just the right word to describe it. "Molten drippy." Her plate is rather weighed down by the time she gets to the selection of beer. When she fills a red solo cup with some Devil's Blood, she really isn't helping herself beat the infernal allegations. She grins at Lala for the extended provision of her own helpful mover. "It's a long con. Mover on retainer," she decides, then and there.

At the question of Almond Joy, she squints and then nods gently, like she's almost certain. "Might have to dig for it-" she starts to say, before a snack sized package of just that sails over from Jaime. "Definitely," she clarifies - she knew it all along. "I'm a lounge singer," she claims, in reply. "Mostly over at the Spider Walk." She looks to Lala for her own answer before turning the question back over to Joey with a singular, "You?" She steps back from the table of food, balancing her heavy plate in one hand and her red solo cup in the other.

Lala takes up Jaime's phone and tappy taps the screen, long nails clacking lightly on the glass. She puts in her contact as Lala 605, pretty straightforward in the contacts there. A quick text is shot off to her own phone, which goes off with a little werewolf howl as her text alert. She returns the phone and takes up her own, retreating to her chair to dig into the fare she both brought and sampled from the selections available here already.

"I only just got over my water fire days," she says, after Vik shares that about Kat. "And that's only because I discovered it's safer to microwave or order in." Or let someone else cook. "There's a reason we had to replace our toaster twice." She coughs to cover a laugh at the phrase 'molten drippy'. It's... not that successful a cover.

"I know a chef, so we might be safe a couple times a week if he responds to bribery." She hmms and holds up a hand as she finishes a bite, then says, "Radio SPL, after midnight."

"Tour guide over at the Boo'd walk." Even if Phineas starts at the Court Portals first. "Twilight Mysteries. Guests enjoy themselves even if things got weirder after New Year's Eve."

He is almost done with his burrito piece, and he's looking at the table where the candy bucket is as if deciding what chocolate he will consume.

Joey looks impressed. It's not every day he meets folks with gigs and stuff. "Construction. Currently excavation. We're working on the new area buildout." Taking a drink he says "They rejected our request to be called moat masters." Ruinous betrayal, clearly.

"Water...fire days?" The plate, now clear is set down and he pivots to Lala and waits for more. When teh story is not divulged he asks, "Go on?"

Jaime doesn't look particularly threatened when it comes to the beer and pizza economy. The more the merrier as far as he seems to be concerned, nodding in Viktor's direction when he seems willing to also contribute to the moving assistance team. He sets the pile of candy down in front of him, arranging it by type. Then apparently starts with his least favorite first, tucking the reese's cups closest to him, coveted, protected.

He accepts his phone back from Lala with a dip of his head and tucks it away again. "I can make.. a couple of things, without it being a total disaster." He gestures vaguely at the deviled eggs, "And I can follow directions." Which is the only reason they turned out as good as they did. Oh, are we doing job descriptions again? "Construction over at the Lost City. Diggin' holes and puttin' stuff in them."

"Sounds flat out Sisyphean. Dig a hole, fill it. Dig a hole, fill it. Push a rock up a hill, again," he mumbles before straightening up enough that he can swallow down a few gulps of his beer. "At least when I worked electrical, you'd sometimes zap yourself with 200 volts and then you'd taste colors for a few hours. Made for an exciting day."

Technically, he still works electrical--just with a few more words slathered on to his title to make it nice and complicated. But has he said that? He has not actually said that. It's a realization that hints with a squint, along with the fact that yeah, what they slap on his HR file doesn't really do much to explain how he earns his paycheck. "Electro-mechanical technician. Basically if it's a machine controlled by something with wires and it breaks, it's my problem."

"I made the varenyky," he admits. He means the pierogi. Apparently, they were not store bought.

The corner of Katrin's lips twitches a little higher when she overhears the werewolf howl of Lala's text notification, apparently amused by the choice. "So I'm in good company," she says, of Lala's recovery from water-fire days. "And, hey - good omens - we're already pooling resources." This, she relates with a wink. The handy provision of an engineer and a chef, to be sufficiently bribed for their help or guilted otherwise. She collects occupations as she lingers for a moment, with her plate and her drink - and she cants her head to get a look at Phineas, lifting said drink to him at the reference to being a fellow Boo'edwalk employee.

Her hair is helpfully out of the way of both drink and food, styled into a very long, single loose braid. Her elfin ears are all the more visible for it - not that they'd be very easily hidden, the way they jut out from either side of her head.

"Not rocking 'moat masters' is a huge missed opportunity," she says, sighing with a faux graveness concerning this sad reality. And she smirks, at Joey's inquiry into Lala's own water fire days. "I'm great at giving directions," she claims, after Jaime. "But there's no promise they'll be good or even helpful," she adds, as a quip before finally making it to the chair that Viktor has made room for her on. She drops into place with ease, despite her 'heavy' haul, bumping more hip than elbow. And there's a snorted little huff of a laugh at Viktor's variations on digging and filling holes. But she keeps her unhelpfully immature sense of humour to herself as she digs into her collected buffet. Varenyky included.

After awhile Phineas moves out of his seat to throw away his trash and recycle his can. A hand raised in good bye. “Catch you all later. I’m on the first floor if you need me!” He doesn’t wait as he takes a handful of chocolate with him as he hums a song about ghosts walking with him. Weirdo.

"And they're really good," Jaime opines on the topic of the varenykypierogipotatodumplingythingies. Then he shrugs and says, "At least we're putting different things in the holes than were in them before we dug'm?" That's something, isn't it?

Then he nods to Katrin and says, "It's a good title. Gotta love a little alliteration." He shrugs his shoulders to Katrin and says, "But will it be an adventure? Might be worth it anyway." He seems willing to risk it. When Phineas goes to head out, he lifts a hand in a wave and says, "Have a good one."

Lala glances up from her plate when Joey asks after the fire and water thing. She glances over at Katrin, who doesn't know this about her. Neither does Rosemary. "Sometimes... things go a little sideways in the kitchen. Screaming hot pan, drowning it in water. Accidentally knocking the toaster in with it. Sparks. Metal melty smells. Steam." She waves a hand. "Best not investigated deeply." She's smiling again when Kat says they're pooling resources. "Best way to do it!"

Which is code for I'm too sober to confess the details. She somehow walked past the potato dumplings. "The fuck you say," she says, and then she's up out of her seat going for some, plate in hand. "Potatoes are the perfect food." She spears one with a fork and it goes right into her mouth. A muffled 'holy shit' follows.

She waves to Phineas as he departs, doing her best to defeat the gorgeous lil dumpling in her mouth.

Joey says to Viktor, "Well the holes go in the ground not often uphill so we got that on em. Can't say the same for plumbing and elec." Collecting his plate he stands and sticks a hand out for his brother's to save a trip to dispose of those. He refills his cup from the tap and pokes a finger around at the candy settling on the Twizzlers and the Almond Joy there and the world's most minute box of strawberry Nerds. Those travel! Looking up to Kay he says with a glower, "I know." Moat Masters will live on.

Looking to Lala he waits for the story to unfold still. "See ya Phineas." Looking back to Lala he takes in all these points now but asks, "Was the toaster unplugged? Would hate to see your show cancelled over a Kitchenaid that's not aiding."

"Later, Phineas!," he calls out, mostly at the man's retreating back. Then Viktor visibly shifts to one side as he's joined in his seat. Sure, Kat's settling in my involve more hip than elbow, but it's like the man has just assumed he's going to catch a jab in the ribs sooner or later, all for the crime of already existing in space she's decided she'd like to occupy. He stares at her for a second, then at Lala at the description of the toaster incident. Back at Kat. Back at Lala. "Can I still call it a housewarming present if I buy you two a fire extinguisher?," he asks. It's a valid question, considering the whole point of the thing is keeping the apartment from not warming. Or, more specifically, from not going up in smoke.

The question--was it a question--about 'the fuck you say' has him blinking, then chuckling a half second later. "Varenyky," he repeats. "If you're Ukrainian. Or Russian, I guess. Pierogi if you're Polish. A bunch of other shit that translate roughly as 'shoving potatoes in your face' in the rest of the Eastern bloc. My kitchen mastery consists of Ukrainian food and the contents of a grease-spattered diner menu, and that's about it." His brows lift. "Though I've yet to melt a pan, so I guess I've got that going for me."

Katrin says something, with a hand in front of her mouth as Phineas departs. But, what mouthful that she presently has in place alters her farewell into something altogether indecipherable (aside from that, in tone, it was probably a warmly worded farewell for his departure). She chews, swallows, nodding along at the praise for alliteration. "Should get hats, anyway. Or jackets," she suggests. And she shrugs, after a brief but thoughtful look in reply to Jaime's question. "An adventure? For sure. It's like bar crawls that end in shopping cart rides through the 3AM streets. Gonna be a total gamble if you feel like it was still all worth it, when the hangover wears off," she states, wistfully, like this brand of impromptu casino game is something she might be the equivalent of a card shark at.

There's an appreciative hum for Lala's admission of kitchen chaos. Like it's something she can very easily relate to. She doesn't push or pry, there (what with throwing stones in glass houses). But she does give a bright smile and a solidly confident nod to their mutual agreement on pooling resources. "Getting to know all the best people is its own reward," she declares. Maybe because one of those to-be-bribed individuals is sitting hip to hip with her, promising the gift of a fire extinguisher.

To which she replies, "Only if you get me something fun to go with it." She points this statement smugly sidelong toward her sharer of seats. As to varenyky? "Heaven in every variety. Could still find them, out west. And, like, they can be good off a foot cart covered in sweet and crunchy stuff. But, there's nothing like the original." To that effect, she returns to hers; washing down a few bites with a trial run of Devil's Blood.

"Would you believe me if I said yes?" Lala does not look at Joey when she answers that question.

She glances over her shoulder to Kat when Viktor asks that question. She squints a little, shakes her head, and turns back to the food to snag a couple more dumplings. Her shoulders shake with silent laughter.

"For the record," Lala says, "Shopping cart rides are always worth it, whether or not you end up in a holding cell because things went sideways or not. But especially if they do." She mmhms and then returns to her seat. "Couldn't agree more about people."

Jaime looks at Katrin like she just told him he'd won the lottery. "Did you hear that, Joey?" he asks his twin. "She speaks my language." Good lord help them all. "Have you ever ridden a pig?" he asks. "Nevermind, I'm sure we can figure something out!" But then he groans and says, "Shit.. that reminds me." He gets up, gathering his candy and his phone and says, "I gotta go make a call." To the room at large he says, "People. You are all excellent and we need to do this again soon. Or something like it." And with that he is tapping his nose and pointing to Lala. "Always worth it." And off he goes.

Joey looks to Kat with a chuckle, "3am shopping carts?" he looks to Jaime with a nod as Jamie brings up the pig, and says to Kat, "I've been to that party. This is our vibe. Look, uh, if you need help moving something ever or whatever it's cool. Let us know." He takes one more Twizzler and waggles it at Lala, "Glad you won." Of her and the toaster battle. It's turn in time for the Kelly boys. "Viktor, This was badass. We'll have to catch up later."

"I'll just glue googly eyes on the nozzle," Viktor retorts. There. Fun with fireproofing. "That way it looks all crazy-eyed and like it's spewing foam all over the kitchen when you have to use it. Problem solved." Is this going to be a thing that actually happens? Yes. Yes, it is. Will he also cave and buy Katrin and Lala something 'fun' for their apartment? Also probably yes. He has the look of a man who has been harangued by the Keebler elf tucked into his side before.

And like he's seen people give Kat the look she just caught from Jaime before. A snort follows the question about a pig. "Looks like I'm the one getting the phone call about bail money," he mutters with a shake of his head and a final swallow of his black lager. "Hit me up," he calls after the brothers as they head out.

Katrin may have fallen in with just the right roommate, where kitchen dangers, food preference, and the playful regard of Viktor's fire extinguisher question is concerned - sure. But likeminded notions on non-standard shopping cart terrain, and store-prohibited use would certainly have won her over, on its own. She beams in response. But she does, at least, take the time to finish chewing before saying anything - this go around. And when Jaime joins the club, she opens her mouth to reply to the subject of pig rides - hesitates, like she's looking for a way to phrase her response in a mixer-appropriate way - and says, "Not of the four legged variety."

She sets aside her drink to wave, above her head, to those departing - whether to they're off for a call or to head out. "That kind of party is one of my specialties," she notes. With an addition of, "Will do!" For the promise of help.

There is, of course, a little huff of laughter followed by a chuckle for the googly-eyed fire extinguisher likely to make permanent residence in their apartment in the near future. "You do realize, that I'm naming him 'Littler Viki?'" she warns. Having already assigned their future safety device both a name and a gender identity, to go with his predetermined occupation. She glances Lala's away, with a clarifying question of, "We okay with Littler Viki moving in?"

Lala raises a hand when Jaime and Joey rise to leave, nodding in solemn agreement with Jaime's comment. It always is. Those two seem to know where it's at, and so Lala sits there cutting up her dumplings to enjoy in bite size pieces. Instead of going all in on each one like the first one. The better for talking without choking.

"Me too," she calls after Joey. "See you around, gentlemen." She smiles just a little more, glancing over at Viktor and Katrin. Really they seem to have quite a few things in common, which should make roomie disasters entertaining later. Good thing they just met two guys in construction, and they have a mechanical type already on standby. (Along with a classically trained French chef for foodmergencies.)

Her attention slides over to Katrin at the 'not of the two-legged' variety response, and it takes a second but she clears her throat and sips her drink. No comments on that as yet. Maybe later. "Can't have too many fire extinguishers around if they're gonna give us a working kitchen, am I right?"

Viktor promptly rolls his eyes at the threat of the fire extinguishers new name. "She's called me 'Little Viki' since we were kids," he explains to Lala. "Because she was taller than me for about two weeks when we were in seventh grade." They were not in the same grade, but he tends to forget that, defining whatever long-held memory he has by his own age at the time. "Nevermind the fact that I can just ignore her every time she threatens to strangle me, because it's not like she can even reach my neck unless I do her a solid and sit down first."

Of course, the fact that he's explaining this to Lala also means that he's basically ignoring Kat. Probably on purpose, like this is a learned method of diffusing her general 'pain in the ass'-ness. He does tip his cup in the direction of he dumplings, adding, "They're better with the sour cream. And the onions, if that's your thing." A half-second later he adds, "You on shift soon, Lala, or you off tonight?"

Katrin nods readily, in confirmation of the origin of that nickname. "Queen for a fortnight," she muses, half-jokingly for when she'd had those extra inches of height on Viktor. Wistfully longing for the days that she towered over the boy - now man - nearly a whole foot taller than her.

"And I'm pretty sure they expire-" she starts to say, following along with Lala's line of thought. She looks over to Viktor again for clarity on this point, with an upward perk of both eyebrows that might just be read as 'hopeful.' "And if Littler Viki is about to expire, and we haven't burnt down anything to warrant using him in that time: I think we can give him a proper send off. Like seeing if the whole extinguisher-propelled shopping cart thing actually works." Her basis for thinking it might is probably that Jackass trailer that repeated itself ad nauseum, some decade and a half ago. Back when Viktor, at least, was well nestled within the target demographic.

"You sound pretty confident that I haven't got hops. I've got gymnastic experience now - just you wait, I'll jump up off the arm of a couch to catch you," she teases at Viktor. A skillset that she, apparently, hadn't had back in the day. She follows his question of schedules to Lala, curiously. She rolls with the punches, getting her quips in where she can while Viktor goes about attempting to defuse these efforts. She sets her half-finished plate aside for now, to lean back and focus on her drink (as well as the conversation, and the music).

"So I take if you're the safety measure?" Lala may ask the question of Viktor, but it's just as easily to Katrin to verify as well. She puts her plate a bit aside, tugging her long hair over one shoulder so she's not sitting on it, then resettles in her chair more comfortably. She enjoys bites of the dumplings as they chat. "That's why we like platform heels so much," she says. "I have an extensive collection." She holds up her fork. "Not that I condone violence. Choking's only fun when it's consensual and careful."

Dumpling to the mouth, can't say anything else on that while she's chewing. "I do have to go soon, but thought I'd have breakfast with you." She glances down at her phone, clicking the screen on. "Mm. Yep, good call. I better finish up so I can change and bundle for the walk. Got a few things to sort out with my ad copy. The glamorous life," she says. It's easy to see why she's perpetually late to things.

"I bet that cart thing does work," Lala says, and her tone suggests she'd be just crazy enough to see if it does. "Just need some extra large zip ties and maybe some gorilla glue."

"If not the safety measure, I'm usually the one getting kicked in the face while boosting Oompa Loompa over here over the fence," he says drily. Is that how he broke his nose? It might be. It very well might be. Is he still bitter about that? Probably not, despite the number of times (all of two) he's recounted that story in the last month. Because for as dry as his voice is, there's a bit of a lopsided smirk coming to his face even now.

The rest he mutters down into his cup, probably all the better for hiding (half of) his facial expression at the choking comment. "But the fire extinguisher thing? That actually does work. On a skateboard, anyway. Never tried it with a shopping cart. They were harder to come by on campus, unless you wanted to haul one for most of a mile."

Katrin hums affirmatively at the titling of Viktor as the safety measure. A prideful sound that arrives appropriately as an 'Mmhmm.' Like she's particularly proud of having collected him - right up until the Oompa Loompa comment. For which she casually nudges Viktor in the side with her elbow before taking a drink. As she does, she taps the tip of her button nose with the index finger of her free hand, agreeing on either the subject of heels or that of choking that follows. Probably both, given the chuckle that escapes her and the brightly amused, squinting smile she gives for the latter. "Wearing heels at work, up on the stage - I get to feel like a giant; or, like, a human-sized person on a tavern of hobbits, right up until I step back down to earth and I return to tilting my head back to look up at peeps," she shares.

For the note of having to leave soon, she says, "We'll keep an ear out for you." On the radio, she probably means. "And when we get Littler Viki to the ripe old age of expiry - we're going to try the cart-thing." And there is an additional point to consider in what Viktor says, as she comes back around to the subject of challenges in their way. "Brought a longboard with me, but-" she trails off. "We'll have to find a way to get a cart across the ferry in the meantime." It's late that she fully processes what he said, and turns her eyes direct to him - or, up at the side of his jaw anyway.

"You already did it?" she asks. The fire extinguisher with the skateboard, she must mean. She sounds equal parts proud in this case and disappointed to have missed it.

Lala's herself tall, so she's never been on the receiving end of that flavor of teasing—not since she was quite young! She glances over at Katrin to see how she's gonna take it. It's obvious the two have known each other a long time. "Those are the risks you assume when you assist a lady." She fights a smile, finishing off her plate with lashes lowered like she's not sneaking glances between them to measure their dynamic. Amused, no doubt.

There's a suppressed laugh at a certain mutter, and then she coughs into her hand and rises. "Sweethearts, it's been lovely. Had I arrived sooner, I could have appreciated the company that much more. I'm glad I got to see both of you tonight in a food friendly social setting." She nods to Katrin at the extinguisher thing. "Lil' V will die a most auspicious death in glory, and when the time comes, we'll honor her."

"Proof of concept. No one can talk us out of it noooow." She tips her head back and wanders off to toss her disposable plate. "Have a wonderful night, you two. Text me if you have any requests." For music, she means, on the show later. "G'night." She finger-waves, grabs a little handful of candy on her way out, and turns toward the elevators. Time to go bundle up to walk down to the bookshop. Radio station's on the top floor.

The elbow in his ribs does absolutely nothing whatsoever to deter him. If anything, it only makes it worse. For the first time all night, the man is fully laughing, albeit into his red solo cup that he's using like a (terrible, barely functional) shield, complete with the wet sound of beer spilling back out of his mouth and into the pre-formed plastic. Even his eyes are going all scrunched up at the corners. It's like annoying her is on his shortlist of favorite hobbies.

"Have a good show, Lala," he replies, after a bit of coughing keeps him from inhaling his lager any more than he already has with his laughing. "Hit me up when you need someone stupid to drag something too big to fit in the elevator up all those stairs."

When she heads out, he turns and finally dares to look back at Kat, half grinning. "Just borrow one from the Tarjay," Viktor says, with borrow being a loose definition here. "If it works like the skateboard, you get better propulsion aiming it at the ground so the foam has something other than air to push against." A beat. "Like I said to Joey? Jaime? earlier, the difference between science and fucking around with explosives is writing it down. Same applies to fire extinguishers. Scribble it in a notebook and it's practically a physics experiment, even if you are shitfaced when you do it."

Viktor laughs, and Katrin can't help but smile at the sound - at the sight of Viktor loosening up beside her as he spills some of that residual beer back into his solo cup. "Can't take you anywhere," she says, with a trio of 'tsk's' to follow as she gently shakes her head. All while being completely unable to hide her own pleased amusement. And all while ignoring the fact that it's not her hosting this, it's Viktor. That look lingers for a time, even after the gesture stops.

"Same! We should probably make a habit of this," Katrin replies, where food-friendly socializing is concerned. And she does see to the subject of Lil' V's future send-off and the resolute notion that no one will be talking them, collectively, out of this with a requisite fist pump to land a little more immaturely next to the delivery of her sly smirk. "Night!" she calls after Lala, alongside Viktor's own farewell, as she departs with that handful of candy 'for the road.' The option of texting in a song request likely sequestered away for future use at the back of her mind - whether that option is to be used for good or for chaos.

"Feel like there'd be a very short list of suspects if we do that," she points out, as if anything is going to happen to the cart that they can't just return it. She blinks, thoughtfully, at the point about aiming the nozzle at the ground. She hadn't thought of that. This time, when she nudges him in the ribs, it's a companionable gesture. "Guess it's handy having an engineer on hand." And she cants her head back and to the side, afterward, to beg the additional assessment of, "Just how much fucking around with explosives have you done?"

The elbow in his ribs gets misread as a prompt, and so he tosses an arm around the back of the couch, and thus sort of across her shoulders for her to lean into. Viktor, ever-accommodating, even by accident. "Still have all ten fingers," he replies, even going so far as to wiggle the ones now draped across an upholstered cushion as a demonstration. "No comment on the toes." He had not, after all, taken his boots off when she was in his apartment.

"You going to help me clean this up, or are you going to sit there and shove more eggs in your face while I do all the work?," he asks, the tone of his question strongly suggesting he's already assumed it's going to be the latter. "I can probably leave the kegs down here until the Blackhawks game as long as I take the taps. Bring the plates and cups and stuff back down. Have to figure out the food, though."

Task failed successfully. Whether the gesture was taken as-is, or not, Katrin wholly accepts the outcome and just leans in against Viktor with the space that he makes available to her. She just has her drink in hand, at this point - so, less a collection of foods and fixings to dump into his lap, and more just the one beer, which she takes a good long sip from. Apparently, she can come to appreciate an appropriately named 'Devil's Blood,' even if the words might suggest sweetness or something spicy to some.

"Which little piggy went to market and never made it back?" she quips, like she doesn't quite believe him regarding his toes. She probably wouldn't have leapt right to the joke in that case; she might've saved it until some ancillary point of teasing where she'd be sure she could get away with it. Help clean up? She blinks and looks about, at the emptying room she was late to arrive to and the work she has unintentionally volunteered herself for. She scrunches up her nose a little. "Could divvy up the food, so long as no one comes back to claim the leftovers," she decides. Two fridges between their names. A self assigned reward that functions as confirmation: she'll help.

Rather than answer her question straightaway, he stretches out one foot to tap his sneaker against the side of her shoe. "None of 'em," he admits a second later. "They're all still there, same as always. Did break a couple, though, but that's another story." For another night, apparently.

He takes a moment to polish off his beer, then scans the table. "Ehh, just help me toss what needs to be trashed and cart it all up to my place," he says, as far as necessary help goes. It'll minimize how far they have to make it with most of the stuff, and leaves him stuck with the task of washing and returning everyone's trays, glassware, and whatever else. "I've got containers you can borrow for your half." And by borrow, this time he means steal, even more than the shopping cart from the Tarjay, because he knows he's not getting those back when her shopping list at Ruby's includes things like 'a fork', as in one, instead of 'cutlery' in general.

But even that can wait, at least for a little while. He's content to sit there until she's ready to move, so sit there he does, at least for a little while. And when she's ready, the lounge gets dutifully cleaned except for the stuff they can use again in a few days to hang out and watch the hockey game and Kat gets all the way up to the sixth floor with a bit more than half the food to fill the fridge in 605. Anything to keep her or Lala away from the stove. It's for the good of the whole building, really.