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

[yousayyes]

Gnuhh-! [Is the sound that croaks out of Winston's throat before he instinctively dives forward, throwing an arm out in front of Peter in a clumsy attempt to shield him from the incoming gremlin.]

[Ouroboros, on the other hand, does not make an attempt at self-sacrifice in this moment. Instead, he takes this as an opportunity to get the hell out of dodge. Crawling between its owner's legs, it slowly starts to make its getaway from the room, leaving the two humans behind to deal with this wild cat on their own.]

[neverstudied]

[Congratulations, Winston! You have one(1) whole Galar Meowth attached to you! Her forepaws wrap around his arm, and the creature yowls as she starts to rabbit-kick at his wrist.

Venkman watches this happen from his vantage point on the floor- still vaguely hungover, barely awake, and deeply confused.]

Where'd that thing even come from?

[Once he has a moment to comprehend the fact that his partner is currently under attack, Venkman lends a hand. He grips the Meowth by the scruff just before she can bite down. The cat stiffens, her grip relaxing just enough for Venkman to safely extract her. The Meowth howls indignantly, beginning to pinwheel her limbs in an attempt to lash out at anyone or anything within reach.]

[yousayyes]

[The second Venkman frees his arm from the cat's clutches, Winston pinches his forehead and takes a couple deep breaths, attempting desperately to claw back some long-lost composure. ...it's safe to say that whatever fleeting amount of drowsiness he still had has now thoroughly rocketed out of his body and been replaced by a sharply throbbing migraine.]

Okay. You hold onto it. I'll go check out the corner it was creeping in. See if there's any clues about where it came from. [Winston grunts, shifting onto his hands and knees on the carpet.] ...or at least anything I gotta clean up...

[Crawling carefully towards the spot in the shadows that the Meowth jumped out of, Winston thinks he's going in to the lion's den anticipating the worst.... but somehow, he manages to get an eyeful of something even worse.]

Hey... Pete. [He says in the deadest tone of voice he can muster.] ...any eggs you haven't been keeping track of lately?

[neverstudied]

I got it.

[The Meowth is absolutely furious about her current circumstances, and is making it abundantly clear to anyone within earshot. She shrieks and caterwauls, which is absolutely not helping Venkman's own headache. Still, he's got a tight hold on her, and she can't reach him. After several seconds, the Meowth slumps and goes limp, growling quietly.]

... There's the one I got on Christmas, from that legendary. [Venkman narrows his eyes suspiciously.] Why do I have a feeling you're not just askin' me that for curiosity's sake?

[yousayyes]

[At that response, Winston gives a sigh that seems to say "yeah, that just about adds up" shortly before silently scooping something from the darkened corner into one hand. He shifts on his knees to face Venkman again- presenting a small palmful of cracked eggshell fragments to his partner.]

Somehow... I get the feeling these remains of an egg have a little something to do with how our new roomie managed to show up out of the blue.

[neverstudied]

[Venkman squints at the eggshells, then at the cat. Then back at the eggshells. Then at Winston.]

... Are we sure it's not Egon's egg? Or Ray's? Or yours? Why does it gotta be mine?

[yousayyes]

...besides it being a cat? [Winston says with a wry smirk.]

Fair enough. I can't speak for Egon or Ray, so I'll give you that it could be one of theirs instead. ...but I know it's not mine, since the egg I got hatched a few days ago.

[neverstudied]

Hey, I didn't mean to turn into the resident cat lady. And are we sure this is a cat? It looks more like a fucked up hairball.

[The Meowth hisses again.]

[yousayyes]

It acts enough like a cat, at least. ...but I guess it could be this world's version of a nutria, if I squint at it sideways.

Think we should crack open a pokédex and see what it has to say about this?

[neverstudied]

[Venkman gives him a disgusted look.]

I'd ask what a nutria is, but then you might actually tell me. You goddamn English major... Just call things "horrible little rat monsters" like God intended.

[Still, his Pokegear is lying on the floor, and he snatches it up with one hand and starts inputting commands. He waves the gear over the cat and it beeps: Galar Meowth: The Cat Scratch Pokemon. Living with a savage, seafaring people has toughened this Pokémon's body so much that parts of it have turned to iron. ... These daring Pokémon have coins on their foreheads. Darker coins are harder, and harder coins garner more respect among Meowth.]

... You've gotta be kidding me.