003 / video

[neverstudied]

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.

Comments

[neverstudied]

[Venkman looks a little disappointed, but he nods. He wasn't expecting much, anyway.]

"Science-minded" is one word for it. "A little too obsessed with fungus" is how I'd call it. [He sounds fond.]

Huh. How'd you wind up keeping the whole family- did you get a clutch of eggs from the parents and just decide you couldn't part with 'em?

[a_sin_for_him]

I believe he was very fascinated by Pokemon evolution, specifically.

Something like that. One parent was mine, the other someone dear to me. We kept the eggs, but now it's simply 'me', not 'we'.

[neverstudied]

Not surprising. This Egon is jazzed about evolution, too- and hatching. Had to stop him from blinding himself while staring at the bright lights that show up when eggs hatch.

... Ah, yeah, I getcha. At least you've got the Pokemon to remember them by.

[Briefly, Venkman considers what he'll do if Ray or Egon ever disappear from this dimension, and he shoves that little thought into a corner of his mind so he can never think about it again]

[a_sin_for_him]

Wise of you, that's a good way to damage one's eyes. Evolution is much the same, I can never look directly at it.

Yes, I do.

[neverstudied]

[He snorts.] Dumbass shoved his face right in front of two eggs that were about to hatch. I distracted him in the nick of time, though. [A beat.] By kissin' him.

[a_sin_for_him]

Sometimes the most brilliant people can be the most foolish.

That's certainly one way to do it. Assuming that sort of thing is welcome...

Or I suppose even if it's not.

[neverstudied]

Yeah. They are. Real stupid, real smart, and... really great. [Venkman's voice softens, and he looks away from the screen, smiling to himself.]

Hey, don't worry. Pretty sure after fifteen years I can safely assume getting kissed to keep him from going blind is welcome.

[Sigourney shuffles in his arms and appears to wake up a little. She reaches one hand up, and her lights blink softly. Venkman appears to wince a little, though the smile doesn't falter.]

[a_sin_for_him]

Ah, I see how it is.

Fifteen years? That's a very long time to be together.

[As Lust just assumes that's what's meant.]

[neverstudied]

[And she's right!]

Yeah- though technically, that's fifteen with the Egon from my dimension, not this Egon specifically. And I... I think he's been with the version of me from his dimension for fifteen years, too? I haven't actually asked him if he's from the same year as me.

And fifteen years with Ray, too. Only three with Winston, but he hasn't shown up here, yet.

[He's pretty firm about the "yet", because obviously, Winston'll find them again at some point. There's no way he won't.]

[a_sin_for_him]

It sounds as though there's hardly any difference between your realities. Interesting.

Ray...and Winston? That's rather...unconventional, isn't it?

[neverstudied]

There are differences, but the beats are still the same. Most of the main changes we've found are cosmetic, but not all of 'em- in Egon's dimension, we got sued to hell and back and had to quit our jobs for five years, but the dimension I'm from hasn't had that problem.

[Venkman tenses up a little at the question.]

What part of it's unconventional to you?

[a_sin_for_him]

Hmmm. My world...I've experienced the same. Not as personally, but there is another world with the places and people as mine, but...different.

It's simply a human relationship configuration I've never encountered so far, and I've learned that if a thing shows up in television and literature at a high enough statistic, it's considered the 'normal'. So I assume it's unconventional?

[neverstudied]

[Venkman relaxes a bit at her explanation- honestly, even after a few months in this dimension, he's still not used to talking openly about his relationship. In fact, this conversation is the most he's talked about it to anyone in this dimension. It's hard to beat back the fear of judgement.]

Yeah, it's not- it's not a traditional set-up, especially not in our world. Or Egon's. But I love 'em all, anyway, and that's what matters.

... So, I take it you're not usually human?

[a_sin_for_him]

Tradition is simply a social construct decided on by people long ago, I don't think it really matters.

It's a bit complicated, but...it's safe to say that this life here is the only human life I know.

[neverstudied]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, tradition matters to some people, but in this case, fuck 'em.

Hey, fair enough. I know a couple people here were like, robots or whatever.

[a_sin_for_him]

Indeed.

There's quite the variety here. But we're all human in this place.

I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name?

[neverstudied]

Oh, fuck, right- I'm Dr. Peter Venkman.

I don't think I got your name either...?

[a_sin_for_him]

A pleasure, Dr. Venkman. Medical, scientific, or other?

I'm Lust. Or Miss Fitz, if you prefer.

[neverstudied]

My doctorates are in Psychology and Parapsychology; most of my work focused on human behavior.

You're-

[Lust's almost certainly seen this exact, bemused reaction before to her name a thousand times- at least Venkman tries to school his expression back to a more neutral one. He clears his throat.]

I, uh- I heard that right, yeah?

[a_sin_for_him]

Really? I find psychology fascinating. I've no formal background in it, my education lies more in biological science, but the mind is an amazing thing.

Yes, you did. My name is Lust. My brother's name is Envy. But you may call me Miss Fitz, plenty are more comfortable with that moniker.

[neverstudied]

Hey, glad to hear it. I never became a practicing psychologist- but I taught it at the college level after I got my doctorates, ran clinical trials and experiments.

... The Seven Deadly Sins, huh? Your parents must've had some sense of humor.

[a_sin_for_him]

You must find plenty to keep you busy here.

Mmm. Yes, the one who raised us thought it was quite clever.