victory_road | 003 / video

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003 / video

Soooooo.

[The feed starts a little abruptly, focused on an Elgyem cradled in the crook of someone's arm. The Elgyem in question makes hopeful grabby-hands towards the Pokegear, her handlights blinking.]

Got this little girl recently- from a guy called Ford Pines. She's kind of like, the closest I've come to actually trying to take care of a human baby. You know, Ray likes to call all the Pokemon we get our "children", but this one's the first that's really.. humanoid, I guess? Dunno.

But that's not- that's not what I wanna talk about.

[The Pokegear's camera zooms out a little bit to show a bit more of the whole picture- the Elgyem is cradled to Venkman's chest, and he's currently sprawled out on a couch looking exhausted.]

No, what I wanna talk about is- so, Spengs has a little psychic baby of his own, Kölliker- a Solosis. She's been learning how to speak mentally, right now she's pretty firmly in the "swear all the time" stage of development and I can already see the "terrible twos" comin' up even though she's only, what, 2 months old? And that's a liiiittle terrifying, because, uh, she can kind of read minds? And just peek into our brains and emotions, and that's the kind of power you don't want a toddler to have.

[He shifts his arm a little and looks down at the Elgyem, who's stopped grabbing for the Pokegear and instead has her little nub hands clasped together. She stares up at Venkman unblinkingly.]

And this girl- Sigourney- she's only a little over a week old, but on the day she was born she figured out how to go through our memories, and just like Kölliker she can like- read our thoughts, and emotions, and kind of manipulate them? She was able to send memories from my brain and transplant them in Egon's head, like a mental text message. It's- it's weird.

[As Venkman speaks, he idly rocks Sigourney in his arm.]

And the other day- uh, so, background, I did do a little research on this species and it's evolution after she started doing the whole "reading my thoughts" thing, and the evolution- Beheeyem- is able to just. Completely rewrite people's memories. Sometimes without them even realizing it. And I thought, ok, that's completely fucking terrifying, sure, but she won't be able to do that for a while, right?

[Venkman sucks air through his teeth and shakes his head. Sigourney, meanwhile, snuggles closer to his chest. It looks like she's falling asleep, though her eyes never close.]

Nah. Nope. Nada.

... She hasn't tampered with anything important, and I don't think she really knows what she's doing. But I was writing notes the other day about her dredging up certain old memories, and now when I try to think of what they were, there's just... Holes? [His brow furrows.] Also, I don't remember anything about fifth grade anymore. Like, I literally... don't remember being ten years old, except for summer break. I dunno what it was about fifth grade that she decided to just chuck out the window, but that's just gone now. And today she was poking around a lot at some memories I really don't wanna lose...

So here's what I'm asking.

[Sigourney is definitely asleep by now. He lowers his voice to just barely above a whisper.]

First of all, is this, like, an isolated thing? Is this sorta stuff normal for Psychic Pokemon when they're babies- just being, incredibly powerful and not really sure of how to use that power-, or are Egon, Ray, and I just really, really unlucky? Because I'll be honest, wouldn't be surprised if it's the second one. Could be some sorta, I dunno, residual effect from our dimension.

And second of all- anyone know how to train psychic toddlers to not be mentally destructive and do shit like this? Both for Sig, and for Ko when she hits that tantrum stage. I'm open to suggestions, here. Any suggestions at all. Seriously.

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I'm pretty sure the entirety of fifth grade wasn't that bad for me, either, but she wound up erasing all of it anyway.

[When Ray's economy professor shows up, Venkman shakes his head.]

That was your only really shitty professor?

[Sigourney taps into Venkman's mind questioningly, and pulls up memories of old arguments with professors; both Ray and Venkman are hit with a wave of old adrenaline and righteous anger as the younger Venkman pulls his fist back and clocks a psych professor in the jaw.]

I almost got kicked out for that.

[He sounds way too happy about it.

The memories start to blur from there- Sigourney focuses on Ray's memories, but occasionally pulls in some of Venkman's relevant ones. Ray and Venkman studying together turns to Venkman trying to study alone and nearly throwing the textbook out of frustration because he can't focus-

Venkman introducing Ray and Egon causes a whole tangent of memories with Venkman and Egon, before and after Ray made them a trio- Venkman lounging on Egon's couch and trying to go over flashcards, Ray and Venkman dragging Egon to a movie theater, Egon tentatively holding Venkman's hand for the first time,

Venkman asking Ray questions he already knew the answer to just to listen to him ramble, staying up late to keep Ray company while he worked on a project, and-]

See, that would be the other reason I didn't want her digging through college memories.

[The same scene plays out again in both their minds from two different angles- Ray's perspective and Venkman's. Venkman winces.]

Why did you guys let me grow a soul patch? You shoulda told me it looked stupid.

He was the worst one. Not all of my teachers were amazing but usually I like the material enough that I can get past some of their faults.

[He playfully nudges Venkman.]

At least enough that I didn't want to punch them.

[He can't help but laugh at Venkman's soul patch comment.]

Pete, you know that if I commented on your soul patch you would just say I have no room to judge with the clothes I wear.

[Which, to be fair, is disastrous, especially on dates.

However it soon hits him that Sigourney is looping the memory again... and again...

Ray's face is practically beet red as he clears his throat.]

Uh, Pete?

Is it normal for Sig to loop memories like this?

Hey, you know how I am. It's a miracle he's the only professor I hit.

[But far from the only person he tried to fistfight in college. Just the only one with some authority.

He nudges Ray back, grinning.]

I mean, to be fair, you dressed even worse in college. ... Not that Egon was much better.

... Oh. Yeah, she does that if she finds a memory interesting. Or if we find it interesting. I told you I didn't want her messing with these.

[He grins back at Venkman, still flushed from the memory repeating.]

Hey at least we learned something out of this! [What did they learn, exactly?] Having a first hand experience with her powers can help me better understand how to control her powers.

[Still, there's only so much he can take reliving the excitement, the panic, the confused joy before it gets a little overwhelming. Ray gently places a hand on Sig's head in an effort to grab her attention.]

I think that's enough, Sig.

Yeah, Ray- we learned what we look like from the other person's perspective when we're kissing someone. Real informative.

[Sigourney tilts her head to look up at Ray, and her handlights blink something indecipherable. For a moment, the memories stop and she just looks up at him.

... Aaaaand the memory replays again.]

[Ray is just... going to gently grab a pillow and hide his face in it.]

Sig please. You're embarrassing me in front of Venkie.

[Okay maybe he's realizing now that he's kinda fucked up]

[Just because you hide your face doesn't mean either of you stop seeing the memories, Ray.]

Hey, this was your idea. Now you get to try to convince her to stop going through your memories.

I think she doesn't mind all that much about embarrassing you-

[Venkman freezes. He speaks hurriedly:]

Ray, think of something different. My notes before she wiped all of fifth grade said that the memory she was focusing on was embarrassing. Ray, try to distract her with literally anything else.

[Ray is NOT losing his memory of their first kiss on Venkman's watch thanks

Venkman gets off the couch to try to find Sig's Pokeball just in case.]

What?!

[Ray knew about that, but the implications of this just hit him in horror.

As embarrassing as this situation was, it wasn't a memory he wanted to forget at all, and the idea of him losing it terrified him.

Ray quickly tried to think of anything else, but the panic made him just think back to the kiss again.

Yeah this isn't going to work.]

Uh...

[Quick how to distract her...]

Hey Sig, do you want ice cream?

[FUCK DOPPEL IS THE ONE THAT'S ADDICTED TO SWEETS.]

[The baby is unphased.]

[Fffffffff

Ray looks over at Venkman in mild panic, hoping he would have a solution for this, before turning back to the baby.]

Please? For me?

[Ok let's try the memory thing again.

Ray hurriedly thinks about every other random event that happened in his life. Venkman punching the daylights out of his brother, getting fired from seemingly every college in the city, their first bust, meeting Winston, stopping the apocalypse multiple times, watching Winston play baseball for Venkman's soul. Each thought rapidly flashing through his mind as if Ray himself was quickly sorting through his mental files to see what sticks.]

[The good news is: the memories of Winston seem to catch her attention. Her handlights blink, and she begins sifting through more memories involving him.

Venkman, on the other hand, has caught onto the bad news.]

Ray- what if she makes us forget something about Winston?

[Ray breathes a sigh of relief for a moment, before he registers Venkman's worries and starts gently panicking.]

Peter, you wouldn't think she'd really...?

[And then he turns to Sig.]

Sig please, don't erase any of my memories about Winston. I love him too much.

[Venkman throws his hands up.]

I don't know! I don't know what her criteria is for- for what deserves to be erased or not, and she can still make mistakes, and this is why I didn't want you to do this.

[Sigourney is too interested in learning about Winston to notice their distress. She happily sorts through thoughts about this Extra Dad she's never met, ranging from the day he was hired to all sorts of busts involving him.]

[Ray glares back at Venkman.]

It's not my fault, Peter! I told her before she started going into my memories not to erase any! For all we know she could have listened to my request!

[Boys don't fight in front of the baby.]

I'm not saying it's your fault, Ray- no, you know what? I told you not to let her into your memories in the first place, and now- I don't want to lose anything else, Ray! I don't want you to lose anything, either! Especially not anything that fucking matters!

[... Sigourney looks from Ray to Venkman, curious enough to stop prodding around Winston memories. Dads are angry?

Hm. This is a bad memory. Her handlights blink thoughtfully.]

[Ray doesn't even notice the lights as he feels his rage boiling up.]

Well maybe if you taught her from the beginning about how bad it is to go through people's memories like that you wouldn't have to worry!

[Venkman's voice raises steadily as his temper gets the better of him, until the vast majority of the rooms near theirs in the hotel can probably hear him shouting.]

Oh, don't act like I haven't been trying. She's barely ten days old and I've been trying to figure out a solution to this problem since she hatched! What do I have to do, read from philosophy textbooks while they're in the egg?

[Sigourney taps into both of their minds, tilting her head at the sudden anger flaring in both of them.]

Maybe if you weren't letting her dig around in your head as much as she wants, we wouldn't have this problem in the first place, huh? Maybe I wouldn't be missing a whole goddamn year now and no idea if I'm gonna wake up one morning missing more- maybe I won't even recognize you or Egon! Or you guys won't recognize me!

[The anger... dissipates, all of a sudden, and Venkman just looks tired.]

I'm scared, Ray. I don't like not having control of my mind.

[Sigourney's handlights flash decisively.

...

?

Venkman looks over to Ray on the couch, confused.]

When did you come in here?

[Ray is just about to yell back at Venkman, before he admits his fear about the situation, and his expression softens slightly.]

Venkie, I-

[Then Ray blinks, and looks around in confusion.]

I... I'm not sure? I swear I was writing up some notes just before now.

Weird.

[He flops down on the couch beside Ray, reaching out a hand to steady Sigourney as he does so. Sigourney makes a grabby-hands gesture, and Venkman picks her up and holds her up.

Venkman can still feel the effects of adrenaline in his blood, but he has no context as to why. He frowns a little.]

I messaged you, didn't I? About... something.

[Distantly Ray feels... angry about something? Worried? Guilty? It's a strange mix emotion that Ray can't quite put to words, and he's not sure if he likes it.

He leans against Venkman, and gently reaches to pet Sigourney.]

I think so? I feel like you wanted to do research on something, but I can't remember what it was.

Researching something... Sounds right. But what?

[His brow furrows as he looks from Ray to Sigourney to Ray. Then back to Sigourney.]

...

Oh, goddamnit.

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003 / video

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