[006] - video (cw: drugs?)

[pkemeter]

[everett didn't you just post a thing like two weeks ago? shh this is important]

[Around 8 AM, a livestream gets posted to the network. There's some amount of fumbling as Egon tries to get the camera to stay still. When the PokéGear finally stabilizes, Egon takes a step back, adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat. Ray Stantz can be seen in the background with an excited expression on his face, as well as a Parasect resting on a nearby counter. A small chunk of the mushroom lip looks as if it has been cut off, though the Parasect doesn't seem to mind this.]

Good morning. I'm Dr. Egon Spengler, and I am here with Dr. Raymond Stantz and Amanita the Parasect to understand the affects of the mushrooms growing on a Parasect and/or Paras.

[He picks up a chunk of mushroom from behind the camera and holds it closely to the camera. The cap appears to be pink with dark yellow spots on it, while the gills appear to be a dark brown color.]

Now, as we know, this fungus enters an almost parasitic relationship with a Paras in its early life, and upon evolving, completely overtakes the host and acts as the "brain" of the entire creature. If the mushroom is removed from the Parasect, the creature ceases movement entirely. These mushrooms release poisonous spores, but these spores can be steeps and boiled to remove their toxicity and are used in some traditional medicines.

[He places the mushroom next to Amanita, who barely reacts. She simply continues to stare unblinkingly at the wall.]

Today, we are going to be observing what effects these mushrooms have upon human beings upon being ingested in their base forms. Our hopes is that these fungi may be able to mitigate physical pain. We will be recording this in order to further analyze whatever data we collect after the experiment has concluded. Ray and I will both be ingesting approximately 500 milligrams of fungi each.

[Egon picks up his piece of mushroom, and Ray does likewise. Ray grins, giving Egon a thumbs up.]

You ready, Egie?

Ready.

[They both eat the mushrooms and wait for the effects to settle in. The initial reactions are quite boring, with Egon droning on about fungi reproduction and how mushrooms have been used in medicine in his dimension and Ray playing with Amanita and occasionally interjecting his tidbits and facts into Egon's lecture.

About an hour later, however, things have...definitely changed up a little.]

Ray. [Egon stares down at Amanita, holding her gently in his arms. The mushroom crab makes a chittering noise.] The fungi think your hair looks nice, and they want to--

[Spengler trails off, still staring at Amanita. Ray glances over at Egon, surprised.] Want to...?

[No reply. Ray lets out a groan, sprawling across his seat.]

Spengs, I'm upset. Why won't the mushrooms talk to me like they talk to you?

They love me more. Maybe if you spent as much time cultivating spores as I did...you'd learn.

[It's amazing neither of them have died yet from their stupid science shenanigans.]

Comments

[neverstudied]

[Jodie doesn't look happy, but she tolerates being held for now. She eyes Venkman with a look that makes it very clear that she'll be making him brush her fur back into perfection later.]

Ok, first of all, still can't die in this dimension. Second of all, please don't TRY to die in this dimension.

[Kirby reassures her son, gently chittering. This is someone very important, though you can't let the humans know about him.

A purple haze wafts out from the stone, slowly forming a more solid form. The Spiritomb stares down at the baby Mimikyu, and makes a soft noise of delight. Purple tendrils reach out for them.

Kirby takes one of the tendrils in her own. This, she says, is your father.]

[ghoststanning]

But what if I wanna, Venkie? What then?

[Please save Venkman.

Ray's Mimikyu, meanwhile, is estatic to meet her dad. She makes a delighted hissing sounds and instantly goes to wrap her shadow arms around the rock.

Hi dad!!! She loves you.]

[pkemeter]

If you jump off a cliff, do the lemmings follow....

[He trails off, frowning and knitting his hands together. That's not right, is it? What was the saying, again...?]

Don't dead people become Pokémon in this universe? We could see if Ray could become a Pokémon by means of death.

[Meanwhile in non-crisis land, Michael shimmies behind Kirby, but carefully watches the rock swirl and take form. Tentatively, he reaches out a single tendril in greetings towards the Spirtomb.

But he thought he only had three dads...?]

[neverstudied]

[Your dad situation is complicated, Kirby explains. You have Secret Dad, who is your biological dad. You have your Trainer Dad, who will be raising you. And you have your other two dads who will... also raise you, but they're not as important. The two of you are lucky- by living here, you'll have me, your secret dad, and two extra dads to care for you. Your other siblings will likely only have their trainer around, and no extra dads.

The Spiritomb listens to this explanation quietly, instead focusing on hugging one child and gently holding the shyer one.]

Please no attempted murder while tripping. We're still on a livestream.

Do either of you remember how long this high is supposed to last? I gotta know how long until you're both back to your normal levels of stupid.

[ghoststanning]

[The Mimikyu is curious at this. "Secret" dad? Why's he a secret? She knows he's here and he's holding her, after all!

Ray looks confused, and starts counting on his hands]

Ffffff... forever?

[pkemeter]

[......Woah. That's a lot of parents. The Mimikyu falls silent, watching his sibling. He partially agrees with her, but doesn't want to actually voice that out loud. He does appreciate being Held, though.

Egon also frowns, scratching his head and thinking it over.]

Well, considering the half-time of the.... [A pause.] ...chemical...I...believe this should end in...five minutes?

[He checks his watch and just. Stares at it for a few moments before shaking his head.]

I'm not sure.

[neverstudied]

Cool. I get to choose between five minutes and a fucking eternity. Personally, I think I'd really like to have only five more minutes of trying to keep you guys alive, but I have a feeling that's not gonna be the case.

[The Spiritomb answers- he's traveling with your other dads, but they don't know it yet, and he's not sure how they'll react when they find out- he's not sure if he wants to be caught, but he also doesn't want to be sent back to the Ruins. He wants to travel the world...]

[ghoststanning]

You never believe m-

[Ray suddenly stops, and a horrified look grows on his face.]

Guys.

I have to tell you something. I think I'm going to die if I don't say this.

[Ray spaces out for about a minute, before he continues.]

I'm in love with you guys.

[The Mimikyu pats the rock. She's sure her dads will love her! They love her, after all, so why would they hate her dad?]

[pkemeter]

[Michael, on the other hand, is more than inclined to keep his purple dad a secret. He doesn't want anything bad happening to any dads. Avoiding conflict is the way to go, right?

...At Ray's comment, however, he stares directly at him. Something at the back of his mind gently reminds him that they're still on camera, but right now he's way too out of it to really comment on it. He holds Ray's hands and says with the gravity of an elected government official:]

Words are incapable of expressing my undying love for you despite the fact that everything seems to be melting around us.

[...Oh my God, his voice is cracking for some reason?]

[neverstudied]

[Venkman rolls his eyes a little, and unlike these two idiots, he's very aware of the camera. But trying to explain that to them is too much of a chore right now, so he just settles for kind of muttering under his breath-]

I love you too.

... Egon, please sit down.

[Spiritomb explains that he's not worried they'll hate him, exactly, it just feels like it'll be awkward at this point to try to announce his presence after several weeks of traveling with them, and he's just. Avoiding that for as long as possible.]