neverstudied | Victory Road IC Inbox

[Venkman tenses up briefly when she tightens her grip-]

Please don't crush me like a boulder, I don't wanna get stuck in the hospital again.

[And yelps in surprise as he gets dropped back into bed. He sits up after a few seconds, frowning up at her.]

... Hey, wait a minute. She's not doing the- the double brains talking over each other thing anymore.

She is not. I believe in the evolution process, she may have somehow reabsorbed the secondary brain and thus amplified her psychic abilities.

[The Reuniclus hovers in place, opening and closing her hand digit by digit, watching as she does so. She goes to pick up a discarded shirt off the ground, stretching it between her hands and folding the fabric over itself. Egon goes to sit down next to Venkman on the bed, watching as Kölliker explores having hands. She seems to be humming an unidentified tune--something she made up herself, perhaps. The abstract feeling of warmth and curiosity overlays Venkman and Egon's thoughts.

Egon leans against Venkman--a habit.]

It seems like only yesterday she was a singular psychic cell learning quantum theory.

At least she won't be screaming and crying and putting herself in time out anymore.

[He watches Ko, idly thankful that the shirt is one of Ray's and not his. An odd smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, which only intensifies when Egon sits beside him.]

Remember when Ray called me, crying, to tell me she'd said her first words?

[Venkman tilts his head, leaning against Egon's shoulder.]

They really do grow up so fast, huh?

I do, yes. Approximately four months is a highly impressive rate of growth for such an advanced psychic being.

[Kölliker tries pulling the shirt on over her arm, sticking a finger out of one of the sleeves. She giggles.]

I recall the first time she met you--well, you in Ray's body--she gained quite an impression of you. [A pause.] Though, the swearing didn't help much.

[Kölliker casts an impish look at both of them, then goes right back to picking up clothes and trying to fit them on her.]

Truly, the time spent in this dimension so far has been...a very interesting experience.

Hey, you know how I am with kids. I don't really think to monitor how I talk around 'em. [He shrugs a little.] Not like anyone at the carny ever did, either. Not the best influence there.

[Venkman looks over at him for a moment, his expression carefully neutral.]

Interesting in a good way, I hope.

[Egon doesn't turn to face Venkman immediately, still absorbed in watching Kölliker. He then looks at Venkman, a mildly surprised expression on his face.]

Of course. Why would it not be? Barring the occasional mishap or grevious injury, this dimension has provided us with far more resources and unique modes of research.

[He rubs the back of his neck, glancing down at his shoes.]

The company is appreciated, as well.

Not like mishaps and "grievous injury" don't already follow us wherever we go, regardless of the dimension.

[A beat.]

You still miss your version of home, though.

[It's not quite a question, and not quite a statement, either.]

[Egon doesn't respond to the statement. At least, not right away. He just watches as Kölliker hangs some socks off of her ears and waggles her fingers, showing off for her dads.]

Very impressive. Do you mind helping clean up the living room? I can give you cake afterwards.

[Excited, Kölliker bobs her head up and down in the approximation of a nod and zooms off. The sound of glass tinkling can be hear from the other room.

Egon folds his hands together on his lap, a pensive expression on his face. He speaks slowly, as if struggling to come up with the words to match his thoughts.]

If I'm being frank, I am...not sure what to feel towards the possibility of one day slipping back to my home dimension with no recollection of this one.

[Venkman smiles for Ko, but once she leaves the room, his expression becomes guarded. His own words are deliberate and careful, and he doesn't look up at Egon when he speaks.]

Yeah. I'm not a fan of it, either. Even though I miss everyone back home- Winston, Janine... and the other you.

[Egon pauses, tapping his fingers against each other. He doesn't actually seem that bothered about Venkman bringing up the other dimensional Egon. However, he's still too dense to pick up that something is up with Venkman.]

They'll likely come in time, though there's no guarantee that they'll come from either of our dimensions. [He pauses again.] If another dimensional version of you, Ray, or myself arrive in this world, I would look forward to examining the differences that exist between each dimension.

[Meanwhile, Kölliker can probably hear all their thoughts, if she's not too distracted in the other room. But whether this occurs to either of them....]

Mhm.

[He's... faintly disappointed that Egon's not getting it, but not surprised. It's not like he's sure what he'd do if Egon figured out what he was concerned about, anyway. Venkman knows he's being selfish, and probably expecting way too much out of Egon.

Still.]

I'd hope there's a lot of differences between me and your universe's version of me.

[As for Kölliker, Venkman's in his own head too much to even think about the fact that she could be peering in as well.]

[Observing people and their thoughts and emotions is always much more interesting than cleaning up. Not that she'd do anything with the information besides filing it away under the "Interesting" label of her brain, but she's definitely Listening In.

Egon tilts his head, frowning lightly.]

From what I can observe alone, there are a multitude of differences that exist between the two of you. For example, your enthusiasm and interest in trains, as well as your interactions with others, such as your college peers. However, I would still like to do experiments regarding brainwave frequencies and perhaps DNA samples to obtain a comprehensive understanding of these differences.

[He's still quite oblivious and speaking from a purely clinical perspective.]

It's quite interesting how two separate people born under similar, if not identical circumstances, can have such different experiences throughout their lives.

Edited 2019-03-27 16:20 (UTC)

[A bit of the tension leaves Venkman's shoulders as Egon speaks, and Venkman shuffles a little closer to him. After a moment, he tentatively reaches out and clasps Egon's hand in his.]

How do you think the other Venkman would feel? If he showed up here. About this world, about me... about us.

[Still tiptoeing around the actual point, still tentatively trying to get answers for some of his concerns without outright voicing them.]

[Egon mulls these questions over, squeezing Venkman's hand gently. He then weaving his fingers between Venkman's.]

Well, I don't claim to be an expert in human emotional states, but I'd imagine he'd be...bewildered, first and foremost, then complain about the amount of bug-like creatures crawling about. Then, most likely eventually settle if he realized other Ghostbusters in this dimension, or, if he did not realize as such, would attempt to return to his dimension repeatedly. [He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.] As for our relationship, he'd probably be surprised and then make a crude remark on dating habits or any sexual topics with juvenile humor.

[And then, after another few seconds of considering this--]

Why?

Yeah, that... that sounds like me.

[Said with a hint of bitterness. Venkman squeezes Egon's hand back, and he visibly tenses again when Egon asks him the question. He answers as nonchalantly as possible.]

Just curious, I guess.

You think he'd be jealous?

[Hmmm. Egon frowns deeper. You're really making him use several hundred brain cells that have probably been neglected for most of his life, designated for "thinking about how other people feel about certain consequences". He doesn't feel great about it, for some reason, but then again, thinking about this stuff was never his forte.

Luckily for Egon, he doesn't have to think about it for too long.]

...I--

[The door creaks open, and Kölliker pushes open the door, still clad in Ray's t-shirt and various other articles of clothing slowly being absorbed into her cytoplasm. Her ears twitch as she stares at them.]

< Dad sad? Weird things? Cake? What's happening? >

[She knows what's going on, and she doesn't want to see her dads sad!]

[this is fake because you're implying egon even has several hundred braincells

Venkman flinches when Ko bursts into the room, and his jaw sets as he realizes that she's been able to sense everything this whole time. Fuck.]

Really wish that tin foil hats worked, right now...

[He doesn't deny what she says, at least. Not that it'd even work if he did.]

< Tin foil makes me stronger! >

[egon has several hundred brain cells, they're all just resting.

Anyways, Kölliker bursting into the room causes Egon to glance over at Venkman, a somewhat confused expression on his face. He takes a moment or two to realize the implications of what she's said.]

Oh.

[There's an awkward pause as he tries to formulate a question.]

Are you...concerned about the fact that I originate from another dimension?

[He's...not quite there.]

[He's trying.

Venkman, meanwhile, kind of wants to disappear right now. Or die.]

It's... the dimensional stuff is a part of it, but it's not about you. Or anything wrong with you.

[He pauses, then moves to grip Venkman's hand with both hands. Egon's a dumbass, but he's not that much of a dumbass. He's worked with and lived with Venkman for over fifteen years.

Well, some version of Venkman. And that therein lies the problem...he thinks.]

About...my dimensional version of Dr. Peter Venkman, then?

< Communication is the essence to successful science! >

[A quote, repeated back in an enthusiastic Egon-like tone by Kölliker. Egon blinks.]

...Yes, um, thank you, Kölliker.

... Yeah.

[God bless Kölliker. Her little quote gets him to laugh, and somehow, that makes it a little easier to keep talking.]

I, uh. I know it's stupid.

[Venkman thinks for a moment, trying to pinpoint what part of this mess he's willing to elaborate on first.]

Half of the stuff you've told me about the other version of me sounds like- well, me. And the other half makes me want to kick his ass. And it kills me to realize how close I am to being the kind of guy who acts like that. If I'm not already.

[Bill Murray Angst TM]

...Ah.

[A puzzled expression appears on Egon's face. Can he not see the logic behind it?]

But the fact that you do not act as such and are worrying about acting as such already separates you from various other dimensional versions of Peter Venkman who would not be under considerable stress at the thought of it. All human beings, given similar circumstances and being placed under stress, are liable to react differently. [A pause.] Such as those ridiculously biased prison psychology experiments.

[Kölliker's still watching them. It's fine, this'll be filed away in her brain as to how to deal with emotional problems in a healthy(?) manner.]

That's kinda what Ray told me, yeah. I know that I'm not gonna spontaneously become an asshole because another version of me is. But still- that's not just some random variation of me out in the multiverse- that's the Venkman you know. Or knew. Or whatever.

And I hate that you have that to compare me to. And I hate that-

[He sighs.]

God, this really isn't fair to you. I know you don't know how to fix my bullshit, and I'm not asking you to.

[Egon idly threads his fingers between Venkman's, racking his brain for solutions to this conundrum. But if Venkman's concerns aren't rooted in logic, it's hard for Egon to come up with a logical response.

Well, not difficult, per se, but not an entirely good response. He tries anyways.]

If it helps, I have not thought about comparing the two of you for the last month or so.

...How long has this been on your mind, exactly?

[Kölliker quickly grows disinterested. They're just sad, have something exciting happen! Maybe she can help somehow? Or spice things up a little, make things fun. She glances around, trying to see if there's anything she can use...

Ah! She picks up the book on trains--the one that Egon gifted Venkman on Valentine's Day--and chucks it as hard as she can at Venkman. This is sure to make this more interesting! Look out!]

It does, a bit. And, uh- this has been on my mind since I found out what your version of Venkman was like, but I've been worried about other stuff, too, basically since you figured out we came from different dimensions.

I-

[Then Venkman gets a book smacked into his chest, and he wheezes, doubling over. After he takes a moment to catch his breath again-]

Feel like I just got hit by a train.

[At least he can still make stupid jokes.]

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