Marcus Lurelo PhD (maybe) { Season 1 episode ? }

Marcus Lurelo PhD (maybe) { Season 1 episode ? }

The smoke alarm went off at 6:42 a.m., which is not a time I recognize as real. Riley was already in the hallway when it happened. Jamie came out of the bedroom holding a shoe like a weapon. “Marcus,” Jamie said calmly, which was worse than yelling, “why does it smell like toast and fear?” “I am conducting an experiment,” I said from the kitchen floor. Riley blinked. “Why are you on the floor?” “For safety,” I said. “And perspective.” There was, technically, toast. There was also a bowl of water, a notebook, and a single oven mitt laid out like evidence in a crime scene. Jamie looked at the setup. “Are you… trying to make toast without heat?” “I was seeing if intention played a role,” I said. Riley rubbed their face. “Marcus.” “Yes.” “That’s not how anything works.” “That’s what they want you to think,” I said, and immediately regretted the phrasing. Jamie turned off the smoke alarm. “Okay. New house rule.” I sat up. “I don’t respond well to sudden governance.” “No experiments before 9 a.m.,” she said. “No floor-based science. And absolutely no phrases that start with ‘they.’” Riley nodded. “Also, if something requires an oven mitt, you must inform a supervisor.” I raised my hand. “Who’s the supervisor?” They both looked at me. “Not you,” Riley said. This is how it usually goes. I don’t mean to cause concern. I just… test reality in small ways. Low stakes. Household scale. I want to know where the edges are. Riley wants to know where the light switches are. Jamie wants to know why the cabinets keep changing. We coexist. Later that day, Jamie handed me a sticky note. It said: MARCUS — DO NOT SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I stuck it to the fridge. For guidance