Victory Road IC Inbox

[neverstudied]

"Hey, this is Dr. Peter Venkman- I'm probably busy. If you're calling about something stupid done by a Dr. Egon Spengler or a Dr. Ray Stantz, I'm sorry for whatever they did. Leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

Comments

[ghoststanning]

[Ray is pointedly ignoring Venkman’s first question.]

I want you to close your eyes first.

[neverstudied]

[Venkman crosses his arms, glaring Ray down.]

You're really not inspiring confidence in me, here.

[He does not close his eyes.]

[ghoststanning]

[Oh yeah? Well get ready for whining.]

C’moooon Peter, it won’t be a surprise if you don’t close your eyes!

[neverstudied]

I don't care. I know how this goes. You're gonna make me close my eyes, and I'm gonna get a horrible ectoplasmic ball of goo shoved into my hands, and I'm gonna scream. And then your dragon's gonna come in here and try to rip my face off again.

[Whining vs whining.]

[ghoststanning]

[Okay, he needs a compromise. The last thing he wants to do is fight with Venkman again with a baby.]

Okay, I promise I won’t place him in your hands, no matter what. Do we have a deal?

[neverstudied]

[A long suffering sigh. Venkman finally nods.]

Fine.

[He keeps his arms crossed just in case, but he closes his eyes. Nermal, no longer being pet, stands up and stretches.]

[ghoststanning]

[Ray takes a moment to make sure Venkman’s eyes are closed, and then he instantly brightens up.

If Venkman listens closely, he will hear Ray quickly ask “Are you ready little guy?” Followed by delighted honking.

A moment later, Ray speaks up.]

Okay you can open your eyes now!

[Rays arms are outstretched towards Venkman, and in his arms is a little seal clown, aka Popplio.

The Popplio looks at Venkman curiously, wondering what to make of this stranger.]

[neverstudied]

[... Oh.]

Oh... My God.

[Nermal mewls up at the new friend, sniffing at him. Venkman, meanwhile, immediately reaches out to take the Popplio into his hands.]

Ray, you dick! You could've just said it wasn't gonna be something awful!

[He holds the little clown up, grinning.]

Where'd you get this guy? I've been kinda wanting to pick one up, but I didn't know where to find 'em.

[ghoststanning]

[The Popplio honks happily at Venkman and claps his hands. Hi stranger! Hi cat!!!]

I said you would like him, you jerk!

[Ray would make a joke about how he said he wouldn't give Venkman Popplio no matter what, but Venkman's joy is making him too happy to do it.]

I'm not sure, actually! I'm sure it was during that thing a week back where the space time continuum got a little confusing.

Either way, I'm not going to complain about meeting this adorable little guy!

[neverstudied]

Yeah, and you thought I'd eventually come around to like Slimer, too. Your sense of when I'll like something is a mess, Ray.

[Venkman sets the Popplio down on the couch and gently takes its paws in his.]

So you've got no idea, huh? Damn. Guess I can't get one for myself. I'll just have to steal him from you.

[ghoststanning]

[Popplio blinks in surprise. Steal?? That's bad, right? But the stranger doesn't seem like this is bad.

Ray sits on the couch and gives Venkman a pathetic look.]]

Noooo, Peter you monster. You know how I feel about merpeople! You can't take him away from me like that.

[Don't steal his merbaby!!]

[neverstudied]

It's too late. He's mine now. [He sticks his tongue out at Ray.] This is revenge for both Slimer and Slimer JR.

... Buuuut if you insist, I'm sure he'll be fine with you having partial custody.

[ghoststanning]

I would be dead if it weren't for Slimer; even if you hate him he's a valuable asset to the team!

[He will defend Slimer to his death.]

And I'm not sure how I feel about partial custody. I don't know if I could stnad not being there for him.

How about we settle for being coparents?

[He smiles at Venkman.]

[neverstudied]

Whatever you say, Ray.

[Venkman rolls his eyes, but he acquiesces, shuffling over on the couch to be closer to Ray. The Popplio sits between them as Venkman leans over to kiss Ray on the cheek.]

Fine. Though really, we've basically been "co-parenting" all our Pokemon. Mine, yours, and Egon's.

[Nermal flops down into both their laps, purring and batting at Ray's hand, desperate for attention.]

Might as well continue this thread

[ghoststanning]

[Ray gently pats Nermal, and rests his head on Venkman's shoulder.]

It's really nice, actually. I don't think I've told you this, but the idea of adopting children always sounded great to me. Not that it would ever be feasible back home.

[neverstudied]

Yeah. Ghostbusting doesn't really lend a lot of time for raising small children. Not to mention the whole, [Gestures at himself, gestures at Ray, gestures in the vague direction of wherever Egon is in this building] "you're in love with men" thing. And even if you kept that part secret from the adoption agency, Irena's told me it's kinda difficult to adopt if you're single.

At least we've got Shannon. But it's not quite the same.

[He's... Well, he's said a few dozen times that he doesn't want kids, in plenty of contexts. But honestly, Venkman's not all that sure. He just doesn't want to fuck up in raising some poor kid, and he knows he would. Sure, he's ok at dealing with them for a while, and he likes them, but he's not... responsible. He's got a temper. He's not patient. He can't and won't lump all his issues onto some child and force them to live with the consequences.

It's easier to deal with kids like Lena or Gaige- when she was here, that is- who are old enough to kind of take care of themselves, and who he can kind of keep an eye on from a distance.]

[ghoststanning]

[Like a mind reader, Ray can sense Venkman's insecurity, after all he remembers all the conversations about never wanting children. He's an idiot, but he's not so dumb that he can't notice when his boyfriend is clearly conflicted about something.

He nuzzles Venkman as he speaks.]

Well it's a good thing we're here, then. I'm sure Joker is happy to have you as a dad now.

[Joker honks cheerfully and holds Venkman's hand with his tiny flippers.]

[neverstudied]

[Venkman kisses him on the cheek again, glancing down at the Popplio holding his hand. He squeezes his tiny flipper paws.]

Joker, huh? Hope you named him after the card and not the Batman villain. Don't think he's got the right personality to live up to that name.

[ghoststanning]

I think it's a cute name for him! Besides I think he can be scary when he wants to be, right Joker?

[He lets out the cutest, squeakiest honk.]

[neverstudied]

Ah-huh. About as intimidating as you, Ray.

[He gently taps the Popplio on the nose with one finger.]

[ghoststanning]

[Joker responds with a cheery honk.]

C'mon, Pete, I can be intimidating!

[):< this is the face of intimidation.]