neverstudied | Victory Road IC Inbox

[Venkman grimaces at the Kabuto, particularly the legs. He's gotten more used to many-legged arthropods over the months, but tolerance isn't the same as appreciation.]

I told ya the last few times, Ray- I've seen him, he's not cute, and I don't wanna see him again.

[He turns back to the TV. The Zorua in his lap stretches and yawns, blinking one eye open to watch the Kabuto. She seems quietly delighted by the fact that her trainer clearly dislikes the Pokemon in Ray's hands, and curls up even closer, leaning into his touch.]

[Ray pouts and flops down next to Venkman on the couch, still cuddling the Kabuto.]

I'm disappointed, Venkie. I woulda thought that the Wimpod would have made you like'd bugs a little more by now.

[The Kabuto trills happily, and wriggles out of Ray's grasp to look at the Zorua.]

What if she evolves and she holds resentment towards you for insulting her, Venkie? What then?

Hey, Roach is different.

[He doesn't elaborate, and instead shuffles a little further away on the couch. The Zorua, Eva, sticks her tongue out teasingly at the Kabuto. How does it feel to be rejected by your dad's partner?]

By the time she evolves, I'll have a pretty good selection of Pokemon that are high enough level to deal with that if it happens, and like me enough to actually fight for me in the first place.

[Maybe that sort of threat would work a few months ago, but not anymore. Now Venkman's got his shit together.

Kind of.]

[Ray frowns, seemingly hurt that his partner wants to scoot away from him and his little bug.

Kabuto trills sadly. He wants dad 2 to like her! She doesn't know what she's doing wrong :c]

But then you'll make me sad because I love her and I don't want you two to hate each other.

[She just met this bug last week.]

Then I guess you'll just have to suffer, then, huh?

[Eva's little fangs glint as she sneers. Who knows! If Eva's dad doesn't like him, then maybe Kabuto's dad will get rid of her.]

[Ray whines and leans up against Peter.]

C'mon, Pete, I love you, and I want us to love all our babies together. We're dads now, you know!

[The Kabuto is visibly distressed. Would that happen? Her dad seems really nice though! He gave her a cookie the other day!!!]

[... Ughhhhhh why is it so hard to say no to that face. Venkman grimaces, glancing away- maybe if he doesn't look at Ray head-on, he'll spare himself from being swayed. Not that that's ever really worked before.

The Zorua keeps taunting: just because he liked you yesterday doesn't mean he always will, you know! Soon you could be out on the streets somewhere! She seems oblivious to the fact that Venkman's resolve is weakening.]

[Ray gives Venkman the saddest, most puppy dog look ever.]

Peteeeer...

[Kabuto is practically on the verge of tears and goes to nudge up against her dad to see if he still likes her. Ray gently pats her as he continues to look at Peter.]

[UGHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Fine.

[Eva is in the middle of another tirade when Venkman reluctantly reaches over and pets the top of the Kabuto's shell. She yips in surprise and disappointment- nooo, she was about to make the weird crab thing cry...]

[The bug trills happily and moves into the touch. Yay dad 2 doesn't hate her!!

Ray smiles and kisses Venkman on the cheek.]

I won't force you to be best friends with her right now. But she's a real sweetheart! I think you'll learn to like her if you give her a chance.

[He rolls his eyes, but after a moment, tilts his head to kiss quickly Ray on the lips.]

Just don't put her in the bed with us at night and I'll tolerate her. Got it?

[The Zorua yips again, now frustrated at being ignored. When that still doesn't get his attention, she reaches up and nips Venkman on the hand- not hard enough to leave a mark, but hard enough to hurt. He winces and starts petting her again.

Elsewhere in the room, a candle stirs awake.]

[He kisses Peter back.]

Alright, but no promises if she crawls into bed because she wants to sleep with me.

[The Kabuto relaxes and goes back to settle into Ray's arms, but she suddenly sense something, and looks in the direction of the candle. Who is there??]

She crawls into bed, I'm kicking her right back out and putting her in the containment unit. There's a limit on the number of creepy bugs with a bunch of legs I'm willing to tolerate in my life, and she's already on thin ice.

[The unlit candle goes still once eyes turn in its direction. But after a moment, it begins to shuffle forward again- slowly, methodically- in the direction of the couch.]

[Ray frowns and looks down at his little bug daughter.]

Well I guess I could start sleeping on the couch...

[He knows exactly what he's doing.

The Kabuto looks away when the candle stops moving. She guesses this is fine.]

[Venkman eyes him critically.]

You wouldn't. You don't have the willpower for self-imposed exile. You'd be complaining about not having one of us to cuddle within the hour.

[The Litwick draws closer- closer- and at last nudges Ray's foot with the top of his head.]

I will do it! I will just cuddle all my Pokemon to survive-

[... Huh? Ray looks down and...]

Hey little guy, what's up?

[He reaches a hand down to offer pats.

... Never mind it's a candle.]

You try that, Ray. I'll just cuddle Egon even more in your absence, and leave you outta it.

[... Oh, that thing. Venkman frowns as the Litwick taps against Ray a few more times, before shuffling backwards. The wick begins to spark, and after a moment, a soft, bluish-orange light takes form. The little flame seems to dance hauntingly, as though it's fighting to stay alit against a wind- though there's no real breeze in the apartment.

After a few seconds of this display, the Litwick begins to wander away, glancing behind it every few inches to see if the other two are still watching.

Ray might feel as though he should follow.]

[Ray sticks his tongue out at Venkman.]

You know I'm the best cuddler of us here; you'll miss me in no time.

[...Huh.

Holding the Kabuto, Ray gets up and starts following the Litwick.

How is he not dead yet.]

[Venkman, on the other hand, groans and shakes his head to clear it of the almost-overwhelming sensation to follow after the candle.]

Maco, you dick-

[The Zorua in his lap hops off and begins padding after the Litwick, as well, following in Ray's footsteps. The flame seems to burn a little brighter. Venkman stands up to follow, muttering to himself.]

Does it count as following if I'm just following the person who's entranced by it? Is he still gonna steal my life force if I'm just walking in the same direction...?

[The Litwick doesn't have an actual path it wants to take Ray- it honestly just wants him to follow for as long as possible. Preferably until Ray drops dead, though considering the fact that his trainer is already wise to his tactics, that probably won't happen.

Venkman tries to tug on Ray's arm to get his attention.]

[Ray does stop, but he whines as he does so.]

C'mon, Venkie, I'm sure they wanna show me something cool.

[Your boyfriend is an idiot.]

Ray. [Flatly.] Ray, he wants you to die.

[The light dances again, brighter, more magnificent than before. There's a moment where Venkman gapes at it, nearly forgetting what he was doing in the first place, and starts to take a step forward-

No, he can't. Venkman pinches his own arm, hard enough to snap himself out of it.]

Die...? Why would he...?

[Ray manages to snap himself out of this as he realizes what he's doing.]

Oh!

[He crouches down to look at the Litwick in awe. Luckily he's not in a trance now?]

I didn't know about this! Sure, I knew Litwicks disguise themselves as a guide to absorb people's life force, but I didn't know they could put them under a trance too!

[... He's still staring at him.]

I- uh- I dunno if it's a trance, exactly. Hypnotic suggestion? Is that different? I dunno. Just that it makes... The flames look- inviting.

[... Yeah, he's really starting to lose his grip. He blinks slowly, gazing into the fire without catching himself.]

Gee... Egon is gonna be upset if he finds us like this...

[He's barely even noticing how quickly he's losing himself to this.

The Kabuto, however, is starting to get visibly distressed by this!!! Her dad isn't reacting to her pokes and she doesn't know what to do.

She notices Venkman and wriggles out of Rays grasp, and skitters over to Venkman, gently poking at him. Dad 2, Dad is acting strange! Help!!!]

[If he notices her presence, he doesn't react. She might need to try a little harder to invoke a reaction out of Venkman, especially considering how much the Litwick's flames are dancing.]

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