' The landscape of the dream was as dizzying as usual , nothing in here made sense , but it wouldn't matter because in the end you'll forget all about it . '
...
Charlie got out of bed and looked at the not-so-comforting daily news . They were expecting something normal like eating a pizza bread and getting rid of the failed roasted oats from yesternight .
' I can't believe something like this happened ' Charlie thought and wondered if this could be a more complicated version of a sudden change that causes the world to adapt .
They began expecting things that could occur next , like some desperate person wants to use their new forms for money and the police using it to take control .
' Either way , I don't want to change anything about my life . If the world goes too far in another direction , I won't be able to handle it ' " So you're not gonna explore me ? " Charlie looks at the glass door to see a reflection of themselves with no surprise and figures out what they are .
" Hello me " Charlie said " You should give me a name , it's going to get confusing for you and me " " Then how about Rune ? " " Hidden lore , nice " " I know " Charlie sighs .
" Come on , Charlie , you gotta be more prideful . No one's looking " " I know , but it will eventually be a problem for daily work " they look at the news Charlie was watching , which describes a strange event in which everyone was starting to change into something else .
" Think it'll be like that game where you enter people's hearts but in real life ? " Rune asked " Maybe , but who knows . Usually when the world experiences something like this , there would be major infrastructure change , but this is much different than magic and invasion . "
" Yep , more internal than external . Bet all those psychology majors are starting to look much better compared to business right ? " " I'm not going to college , I'm fine working at the convenience store , hopefully I can grow it into a grocery store despite this kind of weather we are having socially since I just got my contacts ready to renovate the store "
" Oh yeah , mom and dad sure are gonna be disappointed when they hear from us " " We never had any in the first place " " I know , but it would be nice to make a joke about it " Rune said .
Charlie looks at the time and yawns " Welp , time for work " Charlie leaves their apartment and heads to the convenience store nearby " You know it's really nice to finally have some self-autonomy even though we are the same person "
" Is that really how it feels like ? " Charlie asked " Yep , if you want to study me go ahead . Here's one thing you have to know 'bout us , you are more secretive about yourself and keep your real self in your mind , which is me "
" But you are not entirely me " Charlie looked at a few strangers who were wearing hoods and thought of all the hoodies that they would buy .
" Yeah yeah , you are very satisfied with your own life , but you are also very unsatisfied that you don't get to show the rest of your personality " " I have quite the developed sense of self " Charlie bragged to Rune .
" Then that makes me the rest of your self that you don't want others to see " Charlie opened the door and greeted their employee , surprised to see him wearing the jackets bearing the convenience store's logo .
" Isn't it hot for you ? " Charlie asked and hung their jacket aside " W-well , it's really cold inside " the young college student said and Rune whispered into Charlie's ear " They don't stutter , do you think they can also hide their true self like you with me ? " Rune asked and Charlie assumed Rune was like a ghost .
' What's your basis ? ' Rune pointed at some feathers behind them " Oh damn , did someone bring their pet bird in ? " Charlie tested the theory and heard their employee panicking .
" I'll clean this up . Just pack up and go home , a college dropout like me doesn't need to be awake in daylight , unlike you , so leave and get a college degree or something "
Charlie said , keeping up their good manager facade " O-okay , Manager " Charlie didn't bother to ask them to leave the store jacket , but Rune did use the recording tools they put inside .
" It was meant to protect them from any Karens from suing them , but who could've thought we'd be using it to spy " Charlie listened to some huffs and puffs as the college student ran into the male dorms and slammed the door shut , breathing hard .
" Ooh , looks like a room of furries . How do you think they managed to end up like that ? " Rune asked playfully while Charlie kept a straight face and listened to the conversation " Wow Liam , you're not a furry ? " " Okay , first off , I still am "
Charlie hears a zip and then some voices of amazement " But after I zipped my jacket trying to cover up , I became human " Charlie hears a lot of the students asking for one , but Liam said that they only got the jacket as an employee and then suddenly said something about the recording features .
Charlie immediately destroyed any evidence that they were listening and continued the shift " So wanna use this as business " " Are you not connected to me ? "
" No , but you know we always do small talk when you work in the convenience store when your mind is not occupied by anything " " You're right about that , we should go back to how we normally would talk " Charlie said .
' Does this work ? ' Charlie thought and Rune responds ' Yeah , it's more natural , but I'd rather use my own mouth now that I have one ' ' Go ahead , but try to talk in our head when we are with people . I might accidentally talk to myself and that little piece of evidence might lead to you '
" Alright , but no one is here since it's getting late might even be less at midnight or maybe one of the guys can control their true selves or personas " " How about calling it Profile ? " Charlie adds .
" Good to me " Charlie looks at the reflective surfaces and mentions it " If the deal with these profiles is your own imagination about your self , doesn't that mean you have a set of powers that you can use "
" You mean intrusive thoughts ? " Rune said and Charlie imagines jumping off the building but stops themself from entertaining that thought " How about we see other things instead " Charlie opens the news and sees a comment about some actors going crazy and acting in characters that they took in their movies .
" Okay , now it's a problem . What do you think this is ? " Rune asked " Movie Profiles ? Only plausible answer , but there might be something influencing it " Charlie said out loud and noticed a customer coming .
' Customer ' " Welcome , do you need anything ? " Charlie asked , putting their phone aside , seeing them wearing a face mask , sunglasses and a jacket wth the hood over their head .
" Do you have more of these beanie hats ? " ' Definitely asking for cover ' Rune said " Yeah , but it's a very cheap brand " Charlie says putting on a customer service face ' We were looking to upgrade soon ' Charlie thought and the customer peeked at a bag .
' Oh Charlie , even our beanie hats have a concealing effect ' Rune said as they stalked the customer , who then bought a couple more " You seem shy about your face , afraid getting laid ? " Charlie asked cheerfully at the customer while ringing the items .
" Y-yeah " ' I can smell nervousness ' Rune said while Charlie said " If you would like , we have a promo for a midnight meal , there is this vibe that you don't get when you eat at night and I can say a lot about that " Charlie said , keeping up their streak of good customer service .
The customer leaves while Rune asks " You think the other stores have a similar concealment effect ? " " Possibly not , if it was , anyone wearing a jacket would've been wearing them normally and not shy away from us when we were coming here " " Should we check the news ? " " Nah , I'm sure that not the entire human population has changed "
" Eventually " " I know eventually everyone will , but there's no clear statistics of how much this thing has spread . And I don't feel some sort of urgency to howl at someone yet " " I don't think animalistic instincts are part of it or everyone would've been mawling each other "
" Maybe the instincts are present but haven't progressed that far yet . Think they'll invent some sort of suppressor ? " Charlie shrugs their shoulders and just said " Don't know , don't want to care . I've had urges too , but I kept them at bay "
" Maybe that is the reason our stuff can keep people's true self from going out " Charlie then answers why " Maybe it's my view that's affecting it , think there's a reason for it ? "
" Why not think about the power systems from Comisk account ? If magic is about knowledge and power . Wouldn't this have something ? " Rune mentioned " Yeah , maybe apply that popularity power system . "
" What if there is such a huge fan of the actor that they watched all the movies and their admiration of the actor's achievement is what is allowing all those movie character profiles together ? " they assumed .
" That could be possible , but for the beanie hats and jackets I think it would be the lengths I'd go through to keep others from finding out " " I guess I am very unhinged that you'd want to stop others from finding your true colors " Rune says .
Charlie took a box of disposable mask " There are a lot of people who might need this to hide " " You think they're like you who want to hide things from their friends ? " Rune teased .
" I don't have friends that close , but this crisis might be profitable " Rune suddenly turned into a lizard " Hey , is this really the right image of Greed ? " Rune asked " Hey , not all greedy fcks are pigs . Sometimes they're slithering snakes and rats that take people's things "
Rune checks themselves out at another reflective surface " I look good though " " Cause I have a positive view of myself . You clearly reflect that " Charlie displays products to cover oneself like an umbrella , gloves , raincoats , boots and etc .
" Watch the store for me " Charlie makes some calls on their phone inside the restroom while Rune notices a robber ' Oh , I know how to handle this one '
Charlie leaves and asks " So about that robber " " Don't worry , they're not dead . Remember when you used to say that any robbers can go to hell when they rob our store ? "
There was a pause between them as Charlie thought of what could've happened " Why do we have access to hell ? " Charlie asked , assuming that this new thing the world is getting was likely something like having a genie beside you , granting all your wishes .
" I don't know , but this hell is a room at best " Rune said and pointed at a trapdoor beside the cashier that just suddenly appeared " How are you torturing them ? " " Not torturing , more like just putting them to sleep because you never bothered to say how you would torture them but just let them go to hell as in "I want this slithering thief out of my store" kind of thing "
Charlie has some thoughts of experimenting with this robber but puts them away " Let's just leave them by the police station or something . Should we give them a tag or do that thing where we steal the very thing of their treasures or something " Rune asked
" We gotta play other games " Charlie said " Got no other better options , but instead of stealing it , why not solidify it ? " Charlie looks at the trapdoor and said " It isn't hell down there , despite me saying I want them to go to hell "
" I get what you mean " " You're me , you're supposed to get what I mean " Rune chuckled " I know . Now you were planning to say that the reason it isn't like actual hell is that you just want the robber to be out , so now they are sleeping ? "
" This is gonna be a long conversation . But yeah , the fact that "go to hell , you thief" vaguely conjures a trapdoor to keep them unconscious means that I haven't properly visualized what hell for thieves is or as you have said I just wanted them out of the store . Good thing you didn't kick them out of the store or we'll really get caught knowing how this new power system our world is blessed with "
Charlie says sarcastically and looks down at the trapdoor and the thief's resting body is revealed as a chameleon " What a stupid thief " " To be fair , no one was watching the counter " Rune said .
Charlie then tries to visualize the thief's profile as a shelf with clouds covering the items on it and visualizes guilt " It's this easy ? " Rune asked " We can't make it too complex "
Charlie placed a hornet with the words guilt on it as the thief's profile absorbed it . As the visualized profile faded , Charlie was amazed by how easily they were able to influence someone .
" Think we can make them have a brainwashing kink ? " " No " " Too bad they're really cute , would want to keep them " Rune said " We're not gonna chain them or something , are you ? "
" You know everything I do is everything you would want to do right ? " Rune said " I know , but I have the self-restraint to not do that " Charlie said " You certainly do " Rune said and Charlie began resetting the scene .
Charlie walks out of the restroom to see the thief chameleon standing up " Good evening , customer . Would you like to buy anything ? " the chameleon felt that sting of guilt and looked at the mask .
" A box of these please " ... " thanks for your purchase " they leave and Charlie checks on their employee to see their roommates in their furry profiles or as they learned online fursonas .
" They look really cute " Rune said " I know , it's just disappointing they are afraid of showing it off " " Yeah they're not like you , who is hiding not because of embarrassment "
Charlie scrolled through the news now that the brain-rotting contents were becoming stale compared to the real-life drama " Oh look , evidence of people power . All the top dogs , oligarchs are becoming pigs "
" I'm surprised they all settled with pigs when everyone had a different type of view on these rich powdered wigs " " Do you want them to look like rich wigs ? " " Please don't make me imagine that it might make your greedy profile look ugly " Charlie said .
" Then we can just not bother with people putting labels on us , we always do that with any Karens " " Okay shush , our regular is here again " a customer goes into the convenience store and greets Charlie .
" Hey , manager " they said cheerfully , waving a claw and a camera on a stick already adapting to their livestream alter ego " Good evening , would you like to try the newly arrived Cup Noodles " the strange chimera hybrid asked Charlie .
" Uhm , aren't you surprised " " No , but would you like to try the new fire noodles ? It has a distinct taste because it comes from another region and there is some crisp that goes well with it "
" Oh , I was hoping to get a genuine reaction from you about this " suddenly they turned back into a human ' Think the reason for this is because they have clear boundaries or just know how to switch personalities ? ' Rune asked ' We are alike in that part so maybe yes '
" Make sure to show your ID for a student discount " " Oh come on , you know me " " Sorry that's the law " Charlie pointed at a sticker that showed a student discount in a big font , while the smaller font showin the law and article section it was under .
Rune noticed some hornets swarming around the customer and they hesitantly took out the money but didn't receive the discount " Make sure to complain about it in your videos " the customer sighs in defeat and lightly complained while Charlie packed the products .
" Can't you let me off this one time " " Law is the law " as soon as they left , Rune said " You noticed right ? " Rune asked , looking at the back of the sticker Charlie pointed that had the image of a man in a suit " Yep , at least this way the law will keep us safe "
" So you're relying on a man in a suit ? Wouldn't law enforcers be policemen or something of the like " " Think about it a little " " Oh the man in the suit is supposed to be the court that judges " Rune realized .
" I would like to use this power like that , but it's gonna be hard to explain , especially when there aren't a lot of lawyers around providing the perspective and it would make us stand out " " Oh yeah , there is the problem of attention " Rune said .
" there's going to be a problem when they notice how different everything actually is " through the CCTV of the streets , Charlie notices a few figures covered in blanket " So many unfortunate souls and very shy people too " Rune said and Charlie didn't feel much sorrow or pity for them .
" I can't tell who's who " " We had our chances when we were invited to that convention and that annual parade " Rune remarked " I don't need to prove anything to anyone and I doubt I can handle what comes after " Charlie said and looked up at the tall hooded people .
" If you'd like raincoats your size , we do have a few comically big ones , they're not transparent , but it'll be easy to spot dirt " Charlie said to the first customer who continued walking in , used to Charlie's customer service that's strange but always fresh .
" Wow , that's a lot of transferees " ' That's fire acting ' Rune said sarcastically and the big parade came in . Charlie said the same thing to everyone coming in , offering to sell all the ridiculously big raincoats .
' Hey , I'm sensing a weird feeling over this lizard body you gave me ' Rune said ' Must be the profiles or labels they are putting on us , think we can contain these labels ? '
' Sure , think that visualizing trick will do it ? ' ' You can try unless I'm needed because you're me ' Charlie said ' No need as long as you had thought of it . I can do it ' Rune visualizes eight coins with a reflection of what Charlie feels like to these people .
' There's some cultural relevance to these labels . Maybe we should call these labels , impressions ' Charlie searches up the definition and agrees with it ' And there is more that probably means their vision of you is much different now '
Rune manifested eight jars of feathers as the customers notice how they can hide their profiles with the raincoats ' Angels , you think you'll get biblically accurate powers with these ? ' " Thank you for the purchase " ' business is going to be good nowadays '
Charlie was excited to see how much money could be coming in ' Don't forget welfare bonus ' ' We have welfare , which is more discounted prices for employees . Now those construction guys better get in here cause I paid good money for their services . '
" In these times , I think we'd be lucky if anyone takes the job " Rune said " I'm sure they'll take it , especially if people think it's some kind of apocalypse " " Would it be an apocalypse " Rune asked .
" Who knows , but with how everyone on this planet has access to the internet , I think they've read enough stories and watched enough drama for some friends and families to assume that "
" Oh yeah , that could be possible " Rune said " But would we be fine from the zombies " Rune continued " Probably , if we can harness the new power " Charlie said and thought of how these impressions work .
" Think we can control it " " It's as easy as changing your mindset , but I think there are going to be a lot of people who find that kind of thing very difficult " Charlie said while Rune placed the visualized Impressions out .
" We should keep this somewhere " Charlie took a pocketbook and just drew simple lines acting as shelves " Try this " they dropped the impressions and watched them magnetize to the shelves while decorating the surroundings with things related to the impressions .
" Maybe you should've made a piggybank " " I'm not a good artist , the best I can do with a ruler is draw lines " " Come on , be a little bit creative , it'll be good "
" We don't need it to be that good , plus these are impressions of others . the fact that there is an effect on the shelves decor , shows that they can influence their surroundings just as they were able to influence their targets like the movie actors "
" I can't deny that I can feel a strange feeling when they're close . Maybe impressions can also affect objects beyond just aesthetics " " This is a more complex power system we're dealing with , maybe we can think of it as imaginary power " Charlie said .
" Yeah , imaginary power sounds good " Rune said and then had a thought , which Charlie replied to before it came out " No , I don't want to test how much imaginary power I have "
" I know it's completely unnecessary , but you gotta have a grasp of this awfully strange power we suddenly have . " " ... you're right " " Technically you are too " Rune said and Charlie tried to figure out an outlet to test this imaginary power that they believe to be acquirable .
" How about we first understand how this power influences things " " Sure " Rune said and Charlie takes out the notebook where they began to write .
" First , we have to think about the self-identity projection , that streamer has proof that they have some kind of boundaries that separate them from their internet profile like me and you "
" Uh huh , that part is very conscious and self-targeting . " " Then there is the impression that's present in famous people and it's also present in us , but it's very weak " " I wouldn't say weak , maybe this impression only influences you if you let it influence you " Rune said .
" Not wrong at all , but now there are these manifestations of desires that we seem to have power over " Charlie said , manifesting the trapdoor " And then there's you . Any reason you're somewhat sentient ? "
" Only reason I can think of is that thought you made of a mask of your face and a head full of things . " " Or it could be self love " " Oh ... you courting yourself " Rune teased and Charlie smirked .
" Obviously , if I don't love my real self , I would be ashamed . And that's the last thing I am " Charlie glanced at the camera again to see a customer coming .
" Alright , be quiet " as the door opened , Charlie smile " Welcome " Charlie looked at the crying Anthro furry dog with antlers " Uhm ... Customer " ' I'm going to have to address them as ambiguously as possible , ain't I ? '
" Do you have any beer ? " " Unfortunately , due to the vicinity to a university school , this convenience store does not have any form of alcohol , but if you want to take your mind off your anxieties , there are some cheap chili dogs that are really spicy or very sour drinks college students buy from pranks or water it down and add sugar to pretend they are bartenders for fun "
They suddenly bawled their eyes as they cried " THAT'S WHAT I AM , A DOG !!! " ' Sorry , but we don't have dog food ' Rune thought and the customer sniffed their snout back in " Is there any place that sells booze or alcohol "
" Please don't turn to alcoholism as a way to drown your sorrows and please contact a suicide hotline if you feel like drowning yourself in a sufficiently massive body of water " ' That's great customer service '
Bone looked at Charlie and asked " Why aren't you an owl ? " " Owl ? " " Yeah , we always call you an Owl and even thought you were going to use that as a fursona " Rune visualized the impression that Bone was giving , which was a wooden owl figure and placed it aside .
" I still bathe in the sun frequently , so I hope you don't think of me as a vampire " Bone was confused by the sudden change of subject but still kept the impression of Charlie as an owl .
" Anyways , if you are bawling your eyes out . Your university has self-help services , go seek those " " It doesn't matter if I go to campus tomorrow , I can't even turn back into what I look like in my ID "
At first Charlie saw opportunity for money , but the priority of secrecy was up higher . They glance at their ID hanging by a strap around their neck and notice that the ID has changed too .
" And did you forge your ID ? " " Huh ? " Charlie points at the ID and Bone notices it looks just like their fursona or current face " Wow " " Hand it over " Charlie takes an ID scanner and it displays information about Bone with the right name and picture reflecting what their current furry self is .
" Can you check your paper to confirm if this is true ? The system says you're a student and even shows your furry face as the ID picture " Charlie turned the monitor to show them , forcing out the sorrow Bone was feeling and filling their mind with confusion .
' Seems like this imaginary power is also influencing our infrastructure . Maybe mental hospitals will have a difficult time with bipolar patients . Should we try getting admitted ? ' Rune thought .
" Since the system is saying you are a student , how about you go buy something now ... Bone ? " Bone felt some embarrassment and went to buy something .
" Chocolate is not good for canines . If you plan to feed yourself something only a human can digest , make sure your companions or roommate calls the ambulance ... or a vet "
" Thank you ... Charlie " Bone said looking at Charlie's ID ' Acting awfully familiar all of a sudden , think that might be because they turned into a canine known for their domestication ? ' after Bone left , Charlie said " The name tags we have on are there for a reason "
ns216.73.216.103da2
and then Add to home screen.