neverstudied | Victory Road IC Inbox

I know. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna blame you for it. [Said teasingly.]

Please don't shoot yourselves for science. Again.

Should've known you'd pick a bug. My egg should be hatching soon, too-

[Aaaaand that's when the other name hits him. Venkman reels back a bit like he's just been physically hit.]

... Oh, you cannot just drop that name down in casual conversation like there's nothing weird about you saying it.

[Egon stares at his partner, clearly puzzled.]

What do you mean? Sir Vincent Wigglesworth is the leading expert in insect hormones and metamorphosis. It is only appropriate to name such a creature after him.

[Doc starts driving Wigglesworth towards Venkman's other Pokémon and clicks her claw. Howdy. Can y'all tell her what's goin' on, here?]

You... You named your bug Sir Wigglesworth. Not even just Wigglesworth, which is bad enough, you knighted this little bastard.

[He's trying. So hard. To not just lose his shit.

Rue lowers his head to sniff at the approaching duo. He's still not great at dealing with other Pokemon, so Jodie speaks up for him- Trix wanted to play with the cats, so she and Rue are supervising.

Nermal looks up from the flower he's batting at and meows a hello. Trix settles for nodding shyly and shuffling a little closer to Rue.

Tarantula continues to chill on Egon's shoulders, purring loudly.]

Of course. Why wouldn't he be knighted? His namesake was.

[A pause. Egon frowns, then helpfully adds:]

Again, the Venipede's full name is Sir Vincent Wigglesworth.

[Egon carefully lifts Tarantula off his shoulders and sits down, placing her in his lap. He squishes her cheeks and holds a paw in each hand, idly running his thumbs over her Beans™.

Doc taps Sir Wigglesworth so he stops, then hops off onto the ground, skittering closer to Jodie, keeping her distance from Trix. She clicks her claw excitedly--y'all know what a good old fashioned Clauncher draw is like? They don't have to use real moves, but they can pretend.]

Sir Vincent Wigglesworth-

[That did it. Venkman's head is in his hands as he starts laughing.]

You- it sounds like a five year old named it-! Sir Wigglesworth is what a toddler would name a worm they found on the ground. You realize that, right?

[Tarantula mewls softly and tries to knead Egon's hands, her claws carefully sheathed.

Jodie tilts her head, curious. A Clauncher draw?]

[Yeah! A Clauncher draw! Doc holds up her bigger claw, demonstrating how she can click with it. See this? She can usually shoot other Pokémon with it in battle, but sometimes it's fun to see who can draw their claws the fastest. She observes Jodie for a moment, her antennae waving about. Maybe she can use her paw, instead.

There's a long pause as Egon frowns deeper, allowing Tarantula to kneed his hands. Eventually, a look of dawning comprehension appears on his face.]

Oh. I see. [A beat. In an almost petulant tone, he continues:] Just because it sounds that way does not mean that the name does not belong to a proficient and intelligent scientist. It's a perfectly suitable name.

[Sir Wigglesworth, however, does not take the laughter quite as graciously. He turns to Venkman, his antenna twitching with irritation. He skitters over towards Venkman, head low to the ground as he forms a ball and rams right into his leg.]

[Ohhh! Jodie nods, and gets into a fighting stance.]

Are you gonna give that speech to every single person who ever hears you say your Pokemon's name, because I promise you, no one in the world is gonna take it seriously-

[It's a hit! Venkman yelps, pulling his leg up onto the couch and glaring down at the bug.]

Hey! It's not my fault no one will ever take you seriously.

[Doc nods. Right! So they're gonna walk a few steps back, and when someone else says to draw, they'll draw and see who "hits" first. She pauses, then notes that it might be best if they don't stray too far, since they're seein' who's gonna touch first.

Sir Wigglesworth chitters angrily, then wanders back over to Egon, eyeing Venkman with ire. Egon pats him on the head, then gets right back to playing with Tarantula, patting her paws together.]

Well, no. But they'll take him seriously as soon as he establishes himself as a threat. [Like Egon in high school, when he blew up a warehouse.] Isn't that right, Sir Wigglesworth?

[Sir Wigglesworth squeaks in agreement.]

[The Vulpix's tails swish, almost like they're wagging. She turns around and begins to take a few paces back, like Doc said. Nermal, Trix, and Rue watch intently.

Tarantula could care less about what's going on behind her because she loves Egon so much and she's so happy. She leans up to lick him on the nose.

As for Venkman, the sound of the bug's name is enough to start another laughing fit.]

... Yeah, okay. Sure, Egon- whatever you say.

[Once Doc and Jodie have taken a few steps back, Nermal yowls. Draw!]

[The sound just barely leaves Nermal's mouth when Doc immediately spins around, drawing her claw and pointing it right at Jodie. She taps her fluff very gently. Did she win?

Egon, still frowning, holds up Tarantula and waves a paw at Venkman.]

Just so you know, you have disappointed-- [Gestures to Sir Wigglesworth and Tarantula.] --all three of us.

[Jodie barely even has the chance to spin before she feels the tap, her paw barely raised. She yips her congratulations- that was so fast! Can Doc teach her how to move that fast? The other spectators are just as impressed.]

Oh, please. Tarantula doesn't care, she'll just agree with anything you say.

[Tarantula accepts being held and gestured around, still purring. She loves her dads so much. So, so much.

... Is she glowing?]

[Doc nods, clicking her claws with delight. Absolutely! It just takes practice, after all. When you're startin' out, it may seem impossible, but focus on improving a little every day and you'll get it!

Of course, her encouraging speech is interrupted when she notes the glowing out of the corner of her eye and turns to face it, confused. Egon has noticed it, as well, and frowns, holding Tarantula closer to him to inspect her.]

What--

[And Egon nearly gets blinded by light.]

[The light spreads throughout the whole room, and Egon can definitely feel Tarantula... changing. Not too drastically, she's still very much cat-shaped, but she's growing larger- larger- what was once a 9 pound weight that Egon could easily hold up is much heavier, at least 70 pounds-

The light fades, and the Alolan Persian blinks, clearly just as bemused as her trainers.

She meows. She still has the same squeaky kitten mewl.]

[Egon definitely can't support a cat like that in both arms, and he promptly deposits her on his lap. He blinks, trying to restore his normal eyesight and is greeted by this absolutely magnificent creature. He lets out a soft, audible gasp.]

Venkman. Look.

[Said in a slightly hushed voice as he gently squishes her fat cheeks. Who's a good kitty? She is!]

You are magnificent and near perfect.

[Venkman gapes for a moment, shocked.]

... Oh my God.

[Then, much more indignant-]

I knew she loved you more than me!

[Tarantula continues to purr, curling up closer to Egon and headbutting his chin. She then rears up on her hind legs, putting her forepaws on Egon's shoulders, and headbutts him again, mewling.]

Don't be ridiculous, you can't quantify an emotion in concrete terms like--

[Oof. His glasses sort of get knocked askew by a literal panther headbutting him, but he doesn't seem to mind it. He scratches her under her chin, then nudges his Venipede.]

Look, Sir Wigglesworth. This is what evolution is capable of.

[Sir Wigglesworth gazes up at Tarantula before squeaking. He doesn't want to be a cat.]

[Another meow. Tarantula finally turns her head to look at Venkman, excited. Look! She's big!

Venkman gets up to come closer and pet her, rolling his eyes a little.]

So you do still like me, huh?

[Tarantula looks a little confused, but she purrs anyway. Of course she does. She loves her dads. She leans into his touch when he scratches her behinds the ears.

Nermal runs over, excited- you're big! He tries to also hop onto Egon's lap, even though there's not really any room for him.]

[Egon watches as Nermal squeezes onto his lap, and he uses his free hand to pat him on the head. His lap is getting a little crowded. It's fine. Doc notices this happening and scuttles over, calling for the other Pokémon to follow her. She clambers on top of Tarantula, apologizing quietly as she does so. Sir Wigglesworth stands at the ready like a guard, watching the precarious Pokémon pile.]

I never realized how many cat-like mammals are in your possession until now. Nermal, Tarantula, Garfield....

[He frowns, still scratching Tarantula under her chin. The added weight is making his legs fall asleep.]

Two of 'em are Ray's fault. But yeah. And it's about to be four. The egg I got from the Legend Seekers is a Shinx- it's an electric lion cub. Figured if I'm gonna wind up with a bunch of birds and cats, I might as well own it, seek them out on purpose.

[Nermal clambers up on top of Doc as gently as he can, which isn't much. Trix and Rue are both a little too wary to join, but Jodie pads after Doc, hopping onto Egon's lap gracefully. Hello. Hope you don't mind her joining this impromptu group.]

That's an interesting combination. I believe there's another lion-like Pokémon that is Fire type. [A pause.] The tabloids back in our parallel dimensions probably have never suspected you were...ah, a "crazy cat lady".

[Doc squeaks a little in protest, but she's thick-shelled. She can handle a little jostling. Slowly, very slowly, Egon begins to tilt backwards to accommodate for the other Pokémon and eventually ends up tipping back, lying flat on the ground. After a brief pause, he says, somewhat weakly:]

I would like some assistance, please.

Thanks, Egie. If it helps, I'm pretty sure everyone suspected you'd turn out to be a "crazy invertebrate lady".

[Aaaaand there he goes. Tarantula barely flinches, and instead just curls up on Egon's chest. Nermal and Jodie look slightly surprised, though only Jodie backs off. Nermal instead decides to try to groom Doc, licking her carapace and purring.]

I dunno, they look pretty comfortable.

So you would rather I just stay here and...do what? Decompose?

[This is Fine. He's just going to lie here. Forever. He pats Tarantula on the head, then very carefully tries to push her off. Needless to say, he's probably not successful.

Doc looks rather startled as she's being licked by Nermal, casting an odd look in her direction. They don't do that in the deep sea. What do you think you're doing, there?]

Hey, why not? You'll get to become one with the dirt and the fungi and mold. Thought that's how you'd wanna go.

[Tarantula does not budge, and instead purrs harder. Nermal tilts his head at Doc's words, curious. He's grooming you! This is what cats do with creatures they like! He stops for now, though he's still gently clinging to her.]

I don't know if you've noticed, but this hotel room does not have dirt as a means of decomposition. At best, I would waste away with my flesh still intact.

[...Ew. Morbid. He still pushes against Tarantula, audibly straining with effort before lying back down again, defeated. It's been a few months since he's done any heavy lifting, including the proton packs.]

At least come over here, will you?

[Doc taps her shorter claw against the underside of her head, as if thinking. Huh. Clauncher just kinda go picking out stuff in each other's shells. Like this! She ruffles her shorter claw into Nermal's fur, searching for any dust or bugs. She starts picking at some of the skin, causing it to flake off. Doc sneezes, her antennae twitching as she reels back.]

Ehhh, details. I can drag you outside, throw your body on a garden somewhere and let you fertilize it.

[Venkman obliges, though, lying down on the floor with his arms crossed behind his head.

Nermal winces a little at the prodding, but accepts it- this is how she grooms, so its ok! It doesn't matter if it hurts a little!

He tries to mimic Doc, gently digging his claws into the spaces between parts of her shell to pick at her.]

Edited 2019-04-28 05:42 (UTC)

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