neverstudied | Victory Road IC Inbox

[Venkman's spent a good 90% of the train ride just staring out the window like an excited 5-year old, watching everything pass them by. Every once in a while, he speaks up to give Egon train facts until Egon sufficiently indulges him long enough for Venkman to shut the fuck up again.

He's got his own eggs wrapped up in a jacket in his lap- the Meowth egg closest to his chest. It's a far cry from Egon's efficient system, and it'll be hell to try to juggle them all in his hands later, but it's fine. Ray can help carry them.]

Mhmm. I wonder if your petri dish in the fridge- the one full of sewer gunk- grew anything. Not that you'll really be able to tell any of it apart.

Should be hatching today- these guys are supposed to take a few more days, but I read that keeping eggs around Pokemon with the Flame Body ability hatch faster, so I've been getting Bond to sit with the eggs whenever I can.

[The egg in question wriggles again, and Venkman puts a hand on it. It's warm to the touch, and he smiles a little.]

Regardless, it's still an excellent micro example of the biodiversity of the sewer systems.

[Egon pauses to close his notebook and tuck it into his bag. He's nearing the last few pages--he'll need to remember to buy a new one, maybe copy down the scientific things. He'll keep the other for...reasons and emotions he's not entirely willing to acknowledge out loud.]

I'll have to study Bond's abilities further with regards to how it plays into the egg energy theory, but that can wait until later. [He checks his watch, then carefully pats the egg sitting in the pouch.] Do you mind waking up Ray? We'll be pulling into the station in a few minutes.

Edited 2019-02-19 05:38 (UTC)

Sewer biodiversity, crab germs, and Ray's blood...

I think it's got something to do with her body temperature- she's a fire type, after all, and the process speeds up when she's in close proximity to 'em.

[He leans over and gently shakes Ray's shoulder.]

Hey, Sleeping Beauty. You wanna rejoin the land of the living, here?

[... No response. Venkman doesn't seem deterred.]

C'mon, Ray, I know you're not that tired.

[Hmm. Egon idly glances up at Venkman, rubbing his chin with his thumb.]

He did stay up approximately an hour later than usual last night. He might just be catching up on whatever sleep he missed.

[...Still. He knows it's not ideal to drag a sleepy Ray immediately off the train--that might just make him grumpy. Egon carefully gets up to poke Ray gently.]

Ray. We're almost at Goldenrod.

[Still no response. Egon tilts his head to the side, a confused expression forming on his face as he glances over to Venkman.]

[Venkman frowns. Ray's not usually a heavy sleeper. He shakes Ray's shoulder as he speaks.]

Ray, one've your babies is hurt.

[Still no response. Venkman's frown deepens.]

There's a ghost outside- class 7, nasty looking bastard.

...

Ray, I'm dying. ... Ok, Egon's dying too. We're both dying.

... Winston's here. So's Janine. ... They're also dying?

Ray?

[He chews his bottom lip.]

Ok. Egon, is- is this weird to you too, or just me?

I--

[He hesitates. Egon's expression has slowly gone from confused to mildly horrified as Venkman continues to speak. He leans down to pick up Ray's wrist and feel it for a pulse. After a few moments of silence, he says--]

Well, he's...still alive, I think. If that's any relief.

[He falls quiet again, eyebrows furrowing as his breathing becomes just a little faster--enough for Venkman to notice. Maybe this Ray's a heavy sleeper. But that wouldn't be analogous with his previous observations, and he's made quite a lot of those about both of his partners.

After a beat, he lifts Ray by the shoulders to try and prop him up in a better sitting position.]

Should we hit him?

[Venkman laughs- breathlessly and humorlessly.]

Yeah, ok, the fact that he's not fucking dead is like the bare minimum of good, that makes me feel so-

[Egon's last comment snaps him out of his growing panic long enough to just. Give him a Look.]

Egon.

No electric shock or whacking him unless it's a last resort. We're not that far gone yet.

[The egg in his lap gives another twinge. Venkman glances at it, and holds it and the other two a little closer to his chest.]

What's- what do you think could- I know some Pokemon have, like, Hypnosis and can put people to sleep, maybe it's- something like that?

[Venkman's sentences are getting a little disjointed, and it's at least partially because Egon's getting unsettled, which is terrifying, and now they're trapped in a feedback loop of getting each other more and more nervous about what's going on with Ray.]

I--yes, there was that one game at the competition. There were several Hypnos there trying to make each other fall asleep. Or he could have eaten one of those berries at the greenhouse, or....

[He runs a hand through his hair, trying to keep calm. Focus, Egon. Think. You're good at thinking. The best. Yeah. If Ray's still alive--

He keeps his voice flat and unemotional as possible.]

There has to be a logical explanation for this. People don't just fall asleep without being able to be woken up without a reason.

[Hoo boy yeah now he hears how bad that is and it's back to mild and increasing panic.]

Edited 2019-02-19 06:51 (UTC)

Right, the- the Hypno, or maybe his Gastly, that was playing in the Hypnosis game too, right? Or it coulda been someone else at the competition, maybe someone jealous of his performance in the contest, or- no, I mean, no one even knows or cares about us being Ghostbusters, not really, so why would someone want to sabotage him, especially after the competition's already over-

[Venkman forces himself to breathe, closing his eyes. Inhale. Exhale. Ok. Fuck.]

Ok. First thing's first, we gotta get him off this train when we reach the station. We can get him back to our hotel room and figure out what to do from there.

Correct.

[Egon closes his eyes, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. As if on cue, the train begins to slow as it pulls into the station. An announcement is made by the conductor, but Egon barely registers it.

He can tell that Venkman is distressed, and he places a hand on his shoulder, tracing his thumb in circles idly as he thinks. Talking is hard right now, have to think.]

Eggs. We need to also be able to transport the eggs.

[Venkman reaches up to hold Egon's hand on his shoulder, squeezing far too tightly. The egg wriggles again.]

Fuck. The eggs. How many of our Pokemon can carry shit? I can strap a couple to Siskel and Ebert...

I--Louise is the only one that comes to mind, and he has been placed in the PC. Even if I did trust him with any sort of juvenile Pokémon, he would not be able to carry the eggs.

[He stares down at the Meowth egg. The magnet train slows to a stop, and a pleasant tone chimes. Egon seems frozen in place.]

We could--can't we--Ray's Pokémon?

Edited 2019-02-19 17:00 (UTC)

[It's a bad sign if Venkman is losing his grasp on full sentences. It's a really fucking bad sign if Egon's doing the same. Venkman tries to fight back the rising panic, again.]

None of Ray's Pokemon have arms, why do like, none of us have Pokemon that with arms- wait. The little mimic guy. Doppel!

[Venkman leans over to check the containment units at Ray's belt, and stops. A large crack has formed in the side of the Alolan Meowth egg. Venkman looks from the egg, to Egon, to Ray, and back to the egg.]

Ohhh, this is a hell of a time to be born, kid. Can you wait a few minutes? An hour?

[Another crack appears.]

Yes. If we can just release Doppel from their containment unit, we could have them carry the eggs while we carry Ray.

[Egon glances back at his eggs, as if ensuring that they aren't hatching, as well. This is fine. Everything is fine.]

At least that's one less egg we'll have to worry about. [He leans over it, putting his face right up against the shell.] Come on, we need to leave--can't you hurry up?

[Two idiots talking to an egg.]

I'm trying to tell it to go back in, and you're telling it to come on out. We're giving this baby some real mixed signals, Spengs...

[He laughs again- a little more genuine, this time, but still nervous.

Another crack forms in the egg- then, a hole. A paw reaches out-

And gently baps Egon on the nose.]

[Oh. Egon blinks, looking down at the paw currently resting on his nose. He gently raises his hand to push it aside with his finger.]

...Thank you.

[He turns to look up at Venkman.]

Can you try and release Doppel from their containment unit? I'll try to facilitate this cat hatching. [He frowns. Yeah, it's still kind of weird to say that out loud. He pokes a finger at the paw.]

[The Meowth's toe beans flex at the touch of Egon's finger, and its claws dig in ever so slightly. The egg is faintly glowing.

Venkman nods, and sets his other two eggs on the seat beside him, letting Egon take the Meowth egg for now. He reaches over to grab Doppler's containment unit from Ray's belt and clicks the button, releasing the Ditto.]

Alright, hey- I know I'm not your trainer or whatever, but can you- uh- can you help us out a bit?

[Doppel smiles at first at being let out but soon frowns when they see Venkman and not their good dad.

They bubble curiously before bapping Ray in the face. Dad why are you asleep???]

[Mammals might be good actually.

Egon taps at the egg in what he hopes is an encouraging manner, then looks away as to not immediately blind himself when it explodes.

Wait. What is he supposed to tell Doppel?]

Ray's asleep. [A pause.] He's fine. Can you transform into something that can possibly carry these eggs while we help him off the train?

[Gestures to the clutch of eggs. They're gonna handle Ray. Egon reasons that, if he does wake up, he'd probably freak out less about being carried by his boyfriends as opposed to whatever Pokémon Doppel might turn into.]

[Doppel doesn’t seem convinced and still looks concerned, but they nod at Egon’s request.

They hope off the seat and transforms into a wobbly, smiling Regigigas to carry the eggs.

They’re 12 feet tall now it’s fine.]

[Holy Jesus

Doppel's head is probably denting the ceiling at the very least.]

Uh. Can you even fit through the door?

[Another paw reaches from the egg to hold Egon's hand. The claws dig in a little deeper. If Egon listens closely, he can hear a tiny kitten mewl from inside.

The egg shines with a bright, blinding light...

And once it clears, all that's left is a kitten blinking up at Egon.]

Oh--

[Oh my God.

Egon blinks, staring down at the baby. Without even any sort of change in his expression, he kneels down to try and gently scoop it up in his hands. Agh, but Ray--but the kitten--but Ray--

He ends up just giving it a pat on the head as he directs his attention back to the actual crisis at hand. Spengler goes to lift Ray out of his seat, straining to try and heft him up. Calm. Let's stay calm. There has to be something they can do.]

Give me a hand, will you?

[Venkman is temporarily distracted from this ongoing crisis because oh my god look at the little baby-]

Ohhhh my God, look at the little baby!

[... Right. Ray. Comatose. Still- ok, it's fine, Ray can wait a second. Venkman picks up the Meowth and holds it up over his head like this is the fucking Lion King. The kitten blinks down at him and mewls again, wriggling its little paws in the air. This baby has existed for only a couple minutes and has no idea what's going on, just that these are probably its parents, right? Is this how parents act? Why is there another one not moving?

After Venkman has a moment[tm] of just looking at his newborn baby, grinning like an idiot, he cuddles it to his chest and turns to Egon, sobering up quickly. He loops one of Ray's arms around his shoulder. The Meowth purrs sleepily, reaching up to bat at Ray's hand.]

[Doppel makes a delighted bubbling at seeing the new Meowth. Hey little baby!

I hope you like this giant hulking beast waving at you while they go to pick up the eggs and ooze out of the train.]

[A few people gasp and ogle at Doppel as they exit the train. Egon watches as they leave, then nods in Venkman's direction.]

Right. Let's go and trust that Doppelganger can make their way back.

[He starts walking forward, careful to keep a tight grip on Ray. Occasionally--well, more than occasionally, he'll glance down to make sure he's still alright. If being "alright" means that you're in a comatose state and can't be woken up. Or maybe when he looks down, Ray might just be blinking his eyes awake and asking what's going on, and they'll all have a laugh about it.

Except Egon. He doesn't laugh.]

You alright, Venkman?

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