2025-03-09 - Roommate Brunch Musings

For the most part, things have been quiet in the park. Well, despite talks of soul mate bunnies, perhaps, among other oddities that have begun to happen. Byron's been keeping track of all of the weirdness ever since he'd arrived last summer. He finds the whole thing rather fascinating, if more than a little odd.

After February's passing and most of the bunnies have been either paired or whatever the heck happened to them, he's seated on the couch in the rather small living area of his shared apartment space, with his laptop on his lap. The television is on as well, but he doesn't seem to be watching it all that much and it's just there for background noise and set on some random news channel at a lower volume. On his laptop, he has one window that's observing parts of the park through their security cameras, just curiously checking what's goin' on. There's another window open as well and that's focused on Seattle news.

Byron himself is dressed in a light colored dress shirt and tie with navy slacks and dark socks to match. His navy jacket to match his slacks are hanging on the back of a chair at the kitchen island. If anything, he looks as if he's ready to head out at any sign of... well anything. He's always antsy for work, but there's not many dead bodies that show up at the park. Woe.

Garrett only arrived a few months ago and while he isn't a horrible roommate, he's rarely home. He likes to walk the park and get a feel for the people and everything else going on. Also his job is nebulous without defined hours so he comes and goes at the weirdest of times. Still he does his chores and keeps the common area clean.

Today is Sunday and even a work-o-holic like Garrett takes a break. Besides the weekends are more popular with the park and even he gets tired of the crowds. He's dressed down in a pair of grey slacks with a knit polo shirt. When he emerges from his bedroom, his hair is still a little damp and there are small patches under his eyes. Spotting Byron he raises his hand. "Afternoon Byron. Working hard or hardly working?" He questions as he slides toward the kitchen.

"Good afternoon!" Byron greets without looking up at Garrett at first as he starts to type something out. Eventually, he'll turn up to look just as he's about to say, "Or is it good morning for you?" That much is a joke as he's not sure if Garrett had just woken up or not. It is Sunday, so he can't blame the guy for sleeping in. "Oh!" He says, noticing the patches and he even vaguely gestures their way, "You're one of those." Whatever that means. "That's always interesting to me. People interested in skin care. It's cool. Because, boy could I tell you how badly aging damages the skin." Says a guy with his doctorate.

"You could say I'm doing both. There's not much for me to do really," He says, setting the laptop down onto the small coffee table before him, "but they keep me on the payroll anyway." That's said with a shrug as he leans back against the couch. "What about yourself? Pulling another all-nighter with research?"

"Oh I've been up, but I was getting some work done this morning before I showered. It's a good way for me to separate my day. A quick little reset so I can move on to other things." He calls out from the kitchen, which is quickly followed by a popping sound, like the popping of a cork from a glass bottle. "One of whats?" He asks before returning from the kitchen with a mimosa. It's brunch somewhere! "Oh this?" He points to his eye stickers. "My gran didn't look a day over fifty, and while some proclaimed it was witchcraft, she just knew how to take care of her skin. She didn't have any grand daughters so she passed that knowledge to me. I plan on following in her footsteps."

"Yeah I do think it is a little odd to have someone here to investigate death. Not that it won't happen because I'm sure it does, but isn't it kind of asking for it? Maybe I'm just superstitious." He settles into a near by arm chair and shrugs. "Something like that. I'm still working on my next book so I had some edits to do before sending it off for another round. How about you?"

Hearing that cork pop sound does get a rise of a brow from Byron, his gaze peering out in that direction now. "My sister used to bring back a ton of those things and just full on face masks." He says, keeping up the conversation. "She'd have me try some out sometimes and in truth, it did feel pretty damn good afterwards." Adding in, "But hey, if you've got great skin, do everything to protect it, you know. And that's nice, bonding over skin care with your gran." Though when he says it, his brow furrows, because he finds it amusing.

"Hmm... I also have a..." The man's head tilts to the side as he ponders on his next word, "keen sense of... I don't know. Like when something happens, something magical, I'm pretty good at figuring what's going on or where it's coming from. So maybe that's the real reason they keep me on the payroll. That and I'm got good investigative skills. Maybe they're trying to figure things out around the park." He then adds, "Like... that shipwreck some folks are diving down to see soon."

"Oh right, your books. That does sound exciting. Uh me?" Byron looks around, "I look into things that people say are happening around the park. I do some research here and there. All I can say are things seem to be ramping up for some reason."

"Those are nice when you're traveling, but I prefer a jar of it myself. It's a little less wasteful. Also everyone looks horrifying in those, but I suppose it adds to the appeal." Garrett nods his had as sips his mimosa and gestures toward his face. "I was blessed, what can I say? But genes only go so far, so I have to keep up on it."

"Oh that is useful. If you wouldn't mind I'd like to talk about that power sometime. I'm trying to chronical what powers are showing up, or abnormalities in physical appearances. I'm sure that's very helpful to those who pay us. I hope the shipwreck proves useful, I know there are many people looking for answers."

"That's what I've hard. I know a lot of people curious to what is going on." With a pause he shrugs his shoulders. "My books are okay, it's mostly just folklore stories. Nothing you can prove, and nothing at all like what is here."

"I wouldn't say horrifying?" Byron has to laugh at that. "Maybe once the trend started, but now I think people are more used to it. I mean, come on, it's not different than wearing a mud mask or avocado on your face, right?" He's all a-grin either way. When he's forced to look at his roommate's face, his brows go up at first, this look of amusement on his own features now, "You certainly were blessed. Can't argue with that. And you're out here being, what, a writer and a researcher instead of..." He shrugs, looking back at his laptop briefly, "An actor or model or something along those lines. I should hook you up with Serena.." He explains, "My model sister. You might be able to have a side job doing photoshoots."

His eyes lift when Garrett mentions abnormalities in physical appearances, "There's a lot of that going on right now. People with wings. With tails. Odd eyes. Strange hair. Skin color. You name it." As for the shipwreck, unfortunately for Byron, there is nothing of use from it, alas. Not so far anyway...

"Oh right, folk lore." He then has to laugh, "What? Do you mean like ghost stories and stuff?" When he asks this, he's grinning widely, eyes fully on Garrett now.

"Well not it's not different, it just looks like people are wearing a Hannibal Lector mask and I expect them to start talking about fava beans or something. But yes people have shoved items on their face for years in hopes to stave off aging. I thankfully haven't shoved a whole avocado on my face yet." Garrett says thoughtfully as he thinks of all the products on his bathroom shelf.

"There is. I met someone who had the ability to change their appearance, I was a little jealous. My skills are hardly flashy, and everyone thinks I'm just another one of the employees." He takes a long sip of his drink before he continues.

"Ghost stories are a little different. I'm more looking into mythological beings and magical places that never really existed. Mostly heresay, but it's strange how some of those stories still effect people today."

"Well, it's not a whole avaco--" Byron starts to say, but then he has to think about it. Are you they using an entire avocado on their face? "Maybe it is a whole avocado..." That's spoken with a crease of his brow, because what a waste of a good avocado!

Then Garrett mentions a very interesting sort of power. "Shapeshifting, you mean? Hmm... I think I've seen someone do that once before. It is pretty cool, but why would you be jealous about that?" There's even an arch of his brow when he asks, eyes on the writer, "What would /you/ want to look like?" At the rest said, he nods slowly, "Mine are hardly flashy too and I prefer it that way." He says of his power.

"Ahh! So not ghost stories." Byron then leans forward a bit, rubbing at his chin, "So what do you think of this place? Why does this place have magic attached to it? And did it always?"

"It probably would be! I haven't done it myself, so maybe you can stretch it a bit. Either way that's not a texture I want in my face, but on a taco."

"Yes, this included size as well as hair and clothing. I was very impressed. He is one of the ice skaters and I am sure that comes in handy when he's doing his job." When Byron asks he shrugs his shoulders. "Sometimes it's nice to blend into a crowd! Not that I have groupies, but imagine if I did. if I could change my face I could still go to the store."

"I mean there are some, but I feel like those are it's on genre. I focus on creatures and cryptids, but that doesn't mean I haven't come across my share of ghost stories. Why do you have one?"

"What's wrong with the texture of an avocado?" Byron has to wonder now. "It's a pretty nice texture if you ask me."

Here, he just has to smile and laugh a bit, "Just put on a pair of sunglasses and a hat. And dress down some. People will never notice." There is a slow nod when the ice skater is mentioned, "Yeah, that would be pretty cool. I mean, it would be cool if you could... what's that cartoon... anyway, just change your clothing, or what your clothes look like? And maybe your hair, and get rid of the bags under your eyes, to make you look presentable? Now /that/ is the kind of power I'd want. Wake up, shower, brush your teeth and forget changing, just use your power to... Hologram! That's it. Uh... I think it was Jem and the Holograms or something. Just change your clothes, hair style. Make you look good whenever you need to."

Shifting in his seat, Byron tilts his head as he consider this, "Cryptids, huh? I'd ask if you'd found any yet, but..." He shrugs, "Magic exists, so why not cryptids, right?" Though when he's asked if he has any ghost stories, his brows lift and he just smiles, "I'm sure we all have our own stories. Urban legends. A friend of a friend... of a friend stories." He then concedes with a gentle lift of his shoulder and a lone nod, "Yeah, I got one."

"It's just weird. Great on the tongue but imagine washing it off your face." Garrett makes face and shakes his heaad like he is trying to shake off the avacado bits.

"I mean yeah I can do that, but what fun would that be? Granted I'm not famous so that isn't an issue but still the idea amuses me. Maybe I'll develop the power if I stay here long enough." He says thoughtfully. "Jem? I think that was a bit before my time. However the whole duel identity is amusing, but probably hard to keep track of. It would be nice to be ready for any occasion with out having to be a trunk of clothes with me."

"Nah just stories. The cryptids I read about in this country are fascinating. The idea of creatures following immigrants into the country and adapting to a new world and becoming something completely different is fascinating. If all I do here is gather more stories about local lore I'll consider it a fruitful trip. All of the magic here is exciting and watching people change into lore like creatures is an endless source of research."

"I mean, first saw... Okay, heard of the Movie, before the cartoon." Byron clarifies, before clarifying further, "My sister's interest!" Not his! "But hologram powers like that seem pretty cool. It worked a lot better in the cartoon, once we got to see a few episodes." He then adds, "Then again, it was a cartoon. Not sure how well holograms would work-- Right, there's magic in this world." And he just has to laugh.

The man then thinks, "Well, there's people who can change the color of things, so you wouldn't have to worry about wearing the same outfit, even if you were, because you could change a black jacket to tan or grey or something."

"Mine's a ghost story but, I wouldn't want to burden anyone with that." Byron then quickly states, "And I heard to speak of the dead is to bring bad luck, so..." He then lets out a sigh, "I don't need any more of that." Something catches his ear though and his brow furrows, "You think they are turning into creatures of lore?"

"Still that sounds useful. I've heard of holograms of dead performers being used in concerts, but that's just tricks of light." Garrett thinks about that for a moment. "Which is obviously what a hologram is." He laughs as he finishes his drink and sets the glass on a side table.

"Yes the skater I met could do that on a whim, I was very impressed. However having the ability to always be dressed for the occasion would be great. I guess an illusion wouldn't change the clothing, so if you were running around in your underwear, a sweater wouldn't actually help you." A thought occurs to him and he shakes his head. "Not that I would run around the park naked mind you. I'm not that sort of exobitionist."

"Well I am here to collect stories so it isn't a burden." He says before letting Byron continue. "Not that I am going to push for your story, that would be rude." There is a thought before he shrugs his shoulders. "Are they turning into them because they existed before, or is a manifestation because that is what they're thinking about?"

Byron thinks on this, "I think... I think an illusion could possibly change your attire. Make it look like you're wearing clothing." His brows shoot up now, "Or I'd assume anyway, because why not? It's an illusion placed over you. Your form, very much like a hologram. Why wouldn't someone make you, in your underwear, look as if you were wearing an expensive suit. I mean... you're going to be pretty damn cold in your underwear and I'm sure when people brush up against you or touch your suit, they'll just feel skin."

Now he looks as if he's really thinking hard on this topic, rubbing his chin at the idea. "That's something to experiment on, I think. Unfortunately, that's not my power."

Though when told that Garrett's not an exhibitionist, Byron can't help but laugh, "Noted!"

"Mmm..." He then considers, "What do we really know about magic anyway? Can't say. It's not my expertise and I'm not sure if it's anyone's expertise. It is interesting though, what all people can do. I wonder if there's a limit on what we can do or if there's no limit on magic."

"Exactly, best to just not have magic clothing and just wear teh real ones. I'll ask one of the illusionists next time I come across one. Though that might be a weird question to ask. Hello sir, are you naked or just wearing clothing?"

"I Mean, all bets are off behind the closed door of my bedroom, but that's not public." Garrett smirks.

"Very little I suppose, but we're all finding out blindly. Hopefully there is a limit, we've all seen what happens with endless power in various movies, I am sure it would be the same. Or someone would use it against other people and that's just a recipe for disaster."

"Hey, at least you're asking and not, you know, just reaching out and checking for yourself." Byron says with an amused smile.

"That, too, is noted!" He then exclaims, about the possible warning regarding what could go on behind his roommate's closed bedroom door.

This has Byron thinking, shifting in his seat on the couch, as he crosses his arms. "What's stopping someone from taking over the park? Besides having crappy magic, I guess. But imagine putting together a super team of magic users. You really could wreak havoc out there." Thinking further, he adds, "Though, there would be more of us than them. Unless, they possessed the most dangerous of powers."

"Now that I mention that, I wonder what those powers might be."

"That would be rather rude to poke someone's shirt and ask if it's real. People might begin to think I've lost touch with reality." Garrett mirror's Bryon's smile.

"Well from what I understand the powers leave you once you're away from the Island? It wouldn't be much of an army, but I could see people coming by and trying to dissect everything to figure out why it is happening and how they can replicate it. I hope this place stays whimsical, and what ever the island is doing to make people forget stays."

"Any power is dangerous if used improperly."