Lyra’s features fall with a disappointment that’s sincerity is difficult to gauge, chaotic bedhead swaying with the shake of her head. It’s not a far reach to figure that the animals are far from being most of the park’s residences’ favorite sights — unfortunately, the same can not be said for Lyra, who has seemed to grow an attachment to the creatures that is either helping or worsening the issue of them being on the grounds. “They’re just misunderstood. It’s not their fault Striker won’t take the time to get to know them.” As if they were new neighbors and not pests wreaking havoc upon people’s lives and homes. “He’s stubborn as a mule, that one.” Be it the unexpectedness of their actions or the mere fact that Lyra’s still only partially awake, she’s left halted on her hand built porch, brain taking a moment to actually process the fact that the other had moved past her and into her home. It’s a chaotic and colorful array of pieces that had clearly found their second or fifth home, nothing that had come straight off the shelves of anywhere but a thrift store, pieces fixed or shaped into a new life by her hands. Even as Lyra slips out of her boots to better reveal the colorful wool socks adorning her feet, it’s clear she’s perhaps just as much an extension of the home as it is of her. “Chocolate chips, strawberries, blueberries, pomegranate…can you put pomegranate on pancakes?” Luckily for the stranger, if there was one thing that Lyra had, it was a sweet tooth that kept things of such a variety readily on hand; most times spent in the solitude of her home included the femme snacking on something of sort. “I mean…it is a fruit.” Her feet lead her into the kitchen, glancing over her shoulder and offering a wicked grin. “What is it that your heart desires?”
their own trailer was far removed from the art piece of their neighbour . pj’s own was littered with tacked posters , ones for punk shows or with blown-up feminist quotes , or the sleeves of records they had fished from the bargain bin of at feel good . it wasn’t much , but it was home ; their childhood bedroom had bare walls , bare floors , and only functional decorations , as per the request of their father . free from beneath his thumb , the younger lei was able to litter their surroundings with mementos , regardless of practical use . “ you think , with a little conversation , they could be friends ?? “ they questioned , stifling a giggle , “ i mean , they kinda look the same . i wouldn’t be surprised if those guys were replaced with six-foot-tall raccoons . nobody would even notice . “ their freckled nose scrunched and a hoarse chuckle ripped from their throat . although their interaction had started with hostility , whether it was directed at lyra or not , park-ji had quickly warmed up ; the way to their heart was , and always had been , through food . “ pomegranate ?? i mean , i’ve never heard of pomegranate pancakes , but maybe it’s french . who are we to judge ?? “ as interesting as it sounded — was ‘ interesting ‘ the correct term ?? — they pondered for a moment before settling on the ol’ faithful : “ chocolate and strawberries . “ leaping up onto one of the tiny worktops , pj swung their feet and gazed around the trailer before faltering , eyes blown , their palm flying out , fingers elongated . “ i’m pj , “ they introduced , “ can’t believe i forgot to say that . i swear , i’ve been here for three years and i barely know anybody . if i disappeared the cops wouldn’t know who to ask , “ and with a history of alien abductions , it wasn’t far from the realm of possibility that park-ji would be beamed up , leaving only a circle of burned hay in their wake .