neverstudied | DEERINGTON

[Honesty, the only reason Jessie isn't doing this by video is in case Venkman HAS lost his marbles and he freaks the hell out about the talking doll. She learned that lesson from Will, burn her once, Deerington.]

Hey-howdy-hey. This is your afternoon check-up call to see how your noggin's doing.

My brain's seen better days.

[It at least sounds like Venkman knows who she is. He rattles off:]

My name's Peter Venkman, your name is Jessie, I'm on board this hellhole with Ray Stantz who is currently in the process of going crazy faster than I am, I'm a Ghostbuster, and my fellow Ghostbusters are Egon... Egon Spengler, and Winston Zed- something. Zeddemore? That sounds right. And Janine. Last name started with an "M"? ... And I think I'm from New York.

[It's like he's trying to recite from a memorized script, and flubbing half his lines.]

I'm also Lorenzo Fink, son of a rich asshole businessman. I blacked out for a while earlier- about three hours, I think- and snapped back out of it in the middle of a conversation with some socialite at the Bistro. No damn clue what I was talking to her about.

[She listens patiently, letting him rattle off the names of people she mostly doesn't know but has memorised for his benefit. ]

Melnitz. I think that's her last name. Janine's, I mean. And yeah, you're a Ghostbuster from New York. Which sounds pretty crazy, but then I'm a sentient ragdoll from the nineteen fifties, so I reckon I've got no place to judge.

[That other stuff is worrying, and good lord she hates Deerington for doing that to him.]

Probably fancy person stuff. [She doesn't know, she wasn't designed for the upper-classes in mind. In the interest of keeping his mind on the real:] Do you remember Slimer?

Melnitz... Yeah. Janine Melnitz. Secretary. And hey, I'm a sentient human being from the 1950s. We're not that different.

[Sure, Venkman lives in the 80s, but he definitely wasn't born in the 80s.]

Whatever it was, it wasn't important. She wasn't from Deerington, so it was just- me talking with someone who isn't even real.

... Oh my God. How did I forget Slimer? Are you kidding me? [He sounds almost terrified by the realization, and it'd be almost comical if he weren't so serious.] Ok, wait. Hold everything. [Venkman starts to ramble, mostly talking to himself and sounding more and more unnerved the longer he speaks. It's hard to tell, but it sounds like he's moving around- pacing back and forth as he struggles to recall details.] The first time we met Slimer was at that... the hotel, I don't know what it was called, and he was stuffing his face at the buffet tables and sliming up the honeymoon suite. And we... caught him, and then he got out, somehow. How'd he get out? It was after the thing with the dogs. The- Gozer. After Gozer. No, wait, he got out before Gozer, because of Dickless, but we met him again after. And Winston adopted him. No- shit, Ray adopted him, and named him Slimer to get on my nerves.

[The most important part of this revelation is the fact that Venkman can't remember how Slimer wound up deeply entangled into his life, but he absolutely remembers Walter Peck's nickname.]

I guess we're not, huh? Go us. And true, she's probably a... ghost or imaginary or whatever the heck the townsfolk are.

[Take your pick, Venkman- she could be literally anything. Except probably not real. She's gonna let him rant away because if he's ranting, he's remembering, which was kind of the point to the whole exercise.

She's also adding "Dickless" to the list of insults she'll probably never say out loud, but would think pretty dang hard when she's mad. Good job, Venkman, teaching the Disney character fantastic insults. When he finishes, she lets out a soft, awkward chuckle. ]

Sorry. I figured that'd get a rise outta you and you'd remember a little more. Looks like I bet right on that one. He doesn't sound real annoying though, my heart goes out to you.

Not a ghost, I don't think. I mean, I can't tell for sure without a PKE Meter- and these people could still be spectral in origin- but I don't think they're the actual ghosts of the dead people on the Titanic. They wouldn't be able to manifest in such a tangible form indefinitely.

[Look at him, actually knowing things for once.]

Thanks for that. I think. And he is annoying- we haven't known what a full fridge looks like in years. Eats us outta house and home. Slimes up everything he touches. Covers me and everything I own with ectoplasm. It's a nightmare.

[Venkman's now too busy being disgusted over Slimer to be concerned about the fact that he almost forgot Slimer. Hooray!]

...I'm gonna take your word on that one. Don't know much of anything about ghosts.

[Aside from the occasional cheesy horror movie they watch while the Anderson's are asleep, anyway. She'll bow to his superior knowledge, here.]

Why does he even need to eat, that's what I'd be asking. But I'd probably not enjoy all my stuff being covered in slime, either. It don't sound like a good time. But sounds like you're stuck with him.

[It's okay, buddy, BE MAD about the gross nightmare, it's better than forgetting everything. ]

I know, I know- believe me, I know. But he's some kinda gluttony spirit, we think, so he's just always hungry. Forever.

But Ray loves him, so... [His voice softens, his tone going from bitter to fond in a matter of seconds.] Yeah, we are stuck with Slimer. It's hard to say no to Ray, y'know? Unless he's trying to do somethin' that'll definitely get us killed. We drive around a glorified hearse 'cause he thought it looked cool. We live in a firehouse because he liked the pole.

Sounds pretty tragic, if you ask me. Always hungry and never getting full.

[She's guessing, anyway. She's never been hungry in her entire existence. What does that feel like?]

I think denying Ray anything would be like saying no to an excitable ten-year-old. Or a puppy. You just can't do it. [Because he's an adorable man-child and she really does love him. Despite everything, it gets a snicker out of him.] A firehouse and a hearse. That's... one heck of a combo you got there.

You can say no to him, but he gets this look on his face like ya just kicked him. I just can't do it sometimes.

[Ray's got Venkman wrapped around his finger, and they both know it.]

The hearse is at least on-brand. We technically are transporting the dead... Just that they're in traps, not coffins. Also, it's got modified emergency lights and sirens on the top. Cops used to try to ticket us for 'em, but Ray designed this little laser that vaporizes tickets as soon as they're placed on the windshield. Most cops're too afraid to bother anymore.

[He sounds extremely proud of this. Also, hey, that's a pretty specific thing to recall.]

... Thanks for this, by the way. The calls. I appreciate it.

[They aren't fixing Venkman or stopping him from going crazy, but they are helping, he thinks.]

...You know, I think it says a lot already that I don't find any of that even a little surprising. I guess after a while, the cops in the city just leave you guys do your own thing. Probably more trouble trying to get you in line than it's worth.

[Better leave the ghost hunters do their ghost hunting and keep out of harms way.]

Don't mention it. I'm just glad I can do something. Heck, it makes me feel better, too.

[Because she gives a shit about you Venkman, too bad for you, that sort of thing's for life with her. And she's practically immortal. ]

Well, they leave us alone with Ecto. Some of the braver cops do what they can to get us tossed in jail. There's one guy, Frump, he loves getting on our case- accused me of attempted manslaughter based on circumstantial evidence, came upstairs into our rooms just to threaten me to my face about it.

[He is never not gonna be bitter over that one.]

Yeah, yeah. Just- thanks, Jane.

[A beat. Then, a sharp intake of breath-]

Jessie. Jessie- I meant Jessie. It's- the username, I was looking at the username and I just- sorry.

[He doesn't sound so sure about that.]

Edited 2020-01-18 23:44 (UTC)

[Oh. Ow. That fucking hurt. ]

[After a short pause, she's back.]

It's... fine. [It's not.] I knew what I was getting into checking up on you.

[That his descent to forgetting was inevitable and all she could do right now was stem the wound.]

So long as I can keep you remembering stuff from home as long as I can. That's what matters.

[Jessie can't see it, but Venkman scrubs at his face with his free hand. He lets out a ragged sigh, and when he speaks his tone is apologetic.]

I know. I'm still... [He trails off. It's not like he can just sit here and apologize endlessly about it. He fucked up. She knows. Now they're both depressed. That's life.] ... I don't think you've told me that much about your home. I know there's four of you toys here- and I met one of 'em earlier this month. The cowboy. Haven't had the pleasure of meeting the others.

[Derailing? Yes. But Venkman's genuinely curious, and maybe switching gears and talking about Jessie can help. Maybe he can cling to memories of other people better than his own.

And maybe talking about her own life will keep Jessie's mind off of worrying about him, for at least a minute.]

[At least Jessie's tone turns a little lighter. She loves her little family and will always talk about them happily.]

Woody. That's the cowboy. He's my brother. We're merchandise from the same TV show and everything. Hope he wasn't too rude, he's not got the best social skills, but I promise he's a good guy once you get under all the layers of sarcasm.

[She loves Woody a lot but he's also a crotchety, snarky asshole sometimes. She gets it. ]

There's Bo- but she's not really out all that much, I'm sure when she decides to reveal herself, she will, but that ain't for me to choose. [Because god forbid, Bo deserves some say in this. She tries her best to keep her friend on the down-low as much as possible. ] She's one of the best friends I've ever had, though- a real tough cookie.

The fourth one is Buzz Lightyear. He's an astronaut. He's a real sweetheart, loyal as anything. He's- [she hesitates to try and find the right combinations of words to explain just how much Buzz means to her, but as always comes up short] I'd be lost without him. He means just about everything.

[Oh, good. That was a good decision. At least Venkman's still capable of making those. He relaxes a bit listening to Jessie talk, trying to commit all of this to memory.]

Merchandise, huh? For a kid's western show, I'm guessing? Sounds like the kind of thing I'd've loved when I was little.

[This is a lie. Venkman is stupidly obsessed with westerns and would watch Woody's Roundup religiously right now as a grown man. But he makes fun of Egon for watching Murray the Mantis, so he's not about to say that out loud.

When Jessie starts talking about Buzz, he smiles softly- knowingly- to himself.]

I think I know exactly what you mean.

[Good job, Venkman, you won at a thing!!]

Yup. Woody's Round-Up. It was real popular in the late fifties. It was a national phenomenon and everything. Woody's got the whole series on videotapes back in the house- they showed up in his blessing basket.

[You know. If you ever wanted to watch the glory. The toys won't judge.

Oh. Well. That's sure a reaction she's going to remember. Sure is. ]

Yeah? You got somebody special?

Really? Maybe I'll check them out sometime, if you're alright with it.

[Jessie can definitely hear the barely-disguised excitement in his voice.

Conversely, his tone at her remaining question is harder to decipher- carefully even, like he's fielded similar questions enough times to have all his answers memorized.]

Hey, maybe. But a gentleman never kisses and tells, ya know?

[Not that he's ever been considered a gentleman in anything but the broadest sense of the term.

But really, he's a public media figure in the 80s. He's very used to deflecting the relationship thing. And yeah, he likes Jessie, and he's already trusted her with a lot, but full trust is hard to come by with Venkman. Not even his partners know everything that goes on in his head, and that's how he prefers it. And this is just something too important for just any friend to know about.

Until he either learns to let his guard down in Deerington, is fucked up enough by Deerington's effects to fuck up and let something slip, or he really, really trusts Jessie, she's not getting that answer from him.

Of course, she can also come to her own conclusions and probably be entirely right about them.]

Edited (writing tags in 5 minutes between classes does not equal quality writing. rip) 2020-01-22 00:00 (UTC)

We sure are. Heck, Woody would probably insist on it- make you snacks and everything. He loves that show.

[She likes it just fine, but then she's been part of the Woody's Round-Up collection for decades and the shine comes off it after you're boxed up with it for long enough. At least she doesn't seem too put out by him not telling her. ]

Fair enough, you keep your secrets. Whatever makes you happy.

[Look. Look. It took her and Buzz ten entire years to get their shit together- and if anyone had asked her about him back then, she probably would have given much the same answer as Peter has. Feelings are tricky beasts.

Of course, she will still come to her own conclusions when she hears Ray talking about him enough- but Jessie's a good, respectful friend who won't just openly point that out. Venkman is gloriously safe. ]

As soon as we're back in Deerington, then.

[It's kinda nice, making plans for the future like this. And ignoring the fact that there's no guarantee that they're not trapped on the Titanic for the rest of their lives.

And honestly, the fact that she's not pushing almost makes Venkman want to tell her anyway. There's a tinge of relief in his reply.]

Thanks, Jessie. [He even got the name right this time!] I'm glad you've got Buzz with ya. Sounds like you two are lucky to have each other. Especially here.

[And yeah, he's still a bit bitter that he's just got Ray here, and not the other two, but he tries not to let the wistfulness leak into his voice. He is happy for her, and he's grateful that he's not alone.

On the bright side, the fact that there's only two Ghostbusters here means Jessie'll probably never find out the whole sordid truth until it's spelled out for her. Sure, him and Ray is easy enough to figure out if she's observant- him and Ray and Winston and Egon, though... There's a bombshell for another day.]

You got it.

[It's nice to hope that they'll see Deerington again. Jessie never thought she'd miss the dang place, but it's for sure the lesser of two evils.]

We are! I know I'd be lost without him. Here or back home, honestly. He's a keeper.

[That sure would be quite the thing. At least toys don't tend to stress out all that much about social conventions. There's one good thing about technically not being people and that's that they don't really judge actual people all that much. ]

Good morning, Dr. Venkman. I hope you and your friends made it back to Deerington safely. For what it's worth, I'd like to extend a sincere apology for all that happened during that gathering in Rapture. I won't bother you with excuses or theories, just a sorry for behaving like a pompous, shrinkwrapped idiot.

Edited 2020-02-27 16:52 (UTC)

yea its chill we were both fucked up

sorry i was a dick

[If Venkman had been a college professor in the modern era instead of the 70s, he'd have absolutely been the type to reply to a student's multi-paragraph email with "k. (sent from iphone)".

Really, though, it's not exactly chill. Venkman hasn't had much time to really think about his actions that night, but he is fully aware by now that he got in a public argument with Jessie's boyfriend (husband? Do toys get married? Do you need a toy priest or rabbi? How do you get ordained as a toy?), and wow does he not want Jessie to hear about that. There's also the lingering concern about his mind being tampered with- albeit briefly and, now that he reviews the incident in hindsight, probably unconsciously.

But regardless, this message sounds like Buzz is willing to pretend that little incident never happened, and Venkman is wholeheartedly willing to agree to that.]

wait i didnt tell you my name did i

[How'd you get this number Buzz Lightyear]

DEERINGTON | Inbox

Voice UN: bazooka jane

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TOYS ONLY INBOX (text, UN: Ranger, forward dated to whenever)

this is not an inbox it is a toybox (un: venkman)