Week 1 [Day 1-Day 3]

[calloperators]

[After a long stressful day like this has been, maybe you want to curl up in bed and try to sleep this whole thing off, or maybe you stay up all night desperately trying to find a way out of this town. Whether it be asking the cops for help, trying to steal a car, or just simply trying to walk out of town, you will unfortunately find your attempts to escape fruitless.

Even with it being obvious something strange is going on, no one has shown their face yet to even hint that they're the ones behind it. And you have no idea if or when they will.

However, in the very least you have a whole town to explore, and at the start of each day, and the beginning of every night, no matter where you are, you'll suddenly hear a radio crackle to life. Whether this is comforting or unsettling? Well, that's up to you to decide.

Just have a good time and try not think about the letter you got earlier, okay?]

< LOCATIONS | REGAINS | TAKEN >

[ DAY 1 (SUNDAY) || NIGHT 1 (MONDAY) || DAY 2 (TUESDAY) || NIGHT 2 (WEDNESDAY) || DAY 3 (THURSDAY) ]
((OOC: Welcome to Week 1 of Hotline! As you can probably tell by the fact that Day 2 and beyond are frozen, we will have no grace week so we can get right into the murder!

And if you want to investigate the town, you just need to write INVESTIGATION in your header! Have fun ;) ))

Comments

[gether]

[Ray grins from ear to ear.]

I'm not lying, the real thing is here! Let me show you.

[And Ray just freaking grabs Venkmans hand to drag him to Polybius.]

[neverstudied]

[There's something very familiar about the hand in his, and there's a moment where Venkman can't think about anything except how warm it is. He squeezes it, briefly, light enough that Ray might miss it.]

How'd you know it's the real one? People've made tons of mockup versions of what they think it looks like.

[gether]

[If Ray notices, he doesn't let on.]

I can just feel it, you know? My heart tells me this is the real deal.

[A pause, before Ray sheepishly responds.]

I feel like your partner and I would get along. I hate to admit it, but I've been scammed by those people before.

[Ha ha...

Oh! Here they are!]

See? Doesn't this look just like the real thing?

[neverstudied]

Great. You'd get scammed together and go broke together.

[Venkman looks the Polybius cabinet over with a critical eye.]

I mean. It definitely looks like some of the versions I've seen people make. Can't tell ya if it looks like the real thing or not.

[Still... Venkman can't deny that the energy around this machine feels different. His heart begins to beat a little faster, the air feels a little colder, and while he doesn't look at his arms to check, he's pretty sure he's getting goosebumps. Venkman really wishes he had a PKE Meter right about now. Or Egon.

... It's weird, but it almost feels like the cabinet is alive.]

Have you tried playing it?

[gether]

[Ray, meanwhile, is positively beaming]

Not yet! But I can try it right now and see how it effects me!

[:D]

[neverstudied]

[Ray's getting a look.]

That's... probably not a great idea.

[He's not sure if he should stop him or not. Venkman'd rather not have the guy he's been flirting with get wildly fucked up from a video game, but at the same time... how else could they even be sure this is the real thing?

And at the end of the day, he doesn't know this guy too well yet. Doesn't even know his name. It's not like he's one of his actual partners.]

[gether]

C'mon, what's the worst that could happen? If I start showing symptoms, I'll just stop with the definitive proof that this is the real deal?

[He grins innocently at Venkman.]

[neverstudied]

I dunno, man. [A beat.] And even if you start having a reaction, could always be a sort of placebo effect- you expected the symptoms, so you got 'em.

[Eventually, though, he relents.]

Fine- just don't say I didn't warn ya.

[gether]

I'll be fine, don't worry!

[Ray pops in a quarter and begins playing the game.

Well the game sure does look... like Polybius. Ray seems very intent on playing but he soon gets a game over.]

Aww dang... lemme try this again.

[Ray digs into his pocket for another quarter... and then dies quickly again.

This might be a cycle if you don't stop it, Venkman.]

[neverstudied]

[Venkman just kinda watches this for a bit. Idly, he realizes his joke from the other day came true- if this could be considered a second date[and if buying batteries could be considered a first], Ray is the one paying.

Eventually, though, he does have to speak up-]

Any symptoms yet, aside from being bad at the game?

[gether]

[Ray gives Venkman a Look. It was clearly meant to be a glare, but he's smirking too much to pull it off effectively.]

Well, I haven't died or gotten a heart attack, so that's a good sign. No signs of seizures, but I never was susceptible to them in the first place...

Oh! I guess I'm getting a bit of a headache, that's a good start!

["good start"]

[neverstudied]

[There's a hint of a frown when Ray mentions dying.]

Maybe this really isn't a good idea. I mean, if this game really does mess you up-

[If someone really wanted an easy target to murder...]

We can come back to this later. Maybe you'll be able to actually play this game properly and stop wasting quarters if you warm up with some others, first.

[gether]

[You angst, Venkman, but Ray's just sad about not playing more cursed games.]

Aww, but I think I was starting to get good at it!

[He really wasn't.]

What should we play, then?

[neverstudied]

[Continuing the trend of me only allowing Venkman to angst if the circumstances are at least a little dumb.

Venkman looks around the arcade for a bit. He hasn't been in this part of it before- which is why he hadn't seen Polybius until Ray pointed it out. A lot of the games are unfamiliar to him.

But finally, out of the corner of his eye, he spots it. His jaw drops for a moment.]

Oh my God.

You have got to be kidding me.

[gether]

[Ray’s eyes positively light up when Venkman points out the game, immediately forgetting about the cursed game.]

No way! I didn’t know this existed!

[Ray runs over to examine the game, seeming to muse to himself before he starts frowning.]

Huh, that’s weird.

[And then, to himself but definitely loud enough for Venkman to hear:]

Is that supposed to be me...?

[neverstudied]

Ugghhh. The gameplay on this thing is attrocious, I-

[You can almost hear the record scratch as Ray's words actually hit him.]

... Can you... repeat... that?

[gether]

This guy.

[Ray points right at, well, the picture of Ray on the corner.]

I can’t figure out who else this is supposed to be. But he looks nothing like me.

[He smirks as he looks back at the picture, and points at the one of Venkman.]

Please don’t tell me that’s supposed to be Venkman. I was going to theorize that they weren’t allowed to use our likeness, but with how Peter looks, I guarantee you he had a hand at this.

[And then he looks right at the real Venkman.]

He looks more like you than anything.

[What an idiot.]

[neverstudied]

[Venkman looks like he's about to have a fucking stroke.

There's a part of him that wants to scream. For a few different reasons. He can't believe this. He shouldn't believe this. This guy- he's gotta be fucking with him, right? It's a joke, a stupid joke that's way sicker than he thinks it is, because Venkman's been driving himself up the wall looking for Ray everywhere, and this-

But God, wouldn't it be fitting for them to have both been so fucking stupid as to miss the obvious right under their noses? Isn't it just like the universe to do this to them?

Universes. Oh God, if he's right- it's universes.

Very slowly, Venkman crosses the room to this stranger, and, standing in front of this stupid Ghostbusters arcade machine, he clasps the other man's hands in his. Hard. And stares into his eyes.]

I need- I need you to tell me something. Right now, ok? i should've- God, I've been so fucking stupid, I should've asked you the other night-

Tell me your name. Please. Don't- don't fuck with me, ok, tell me the truth.

[gether]

[Well

That’s unusual.

Something in the back of Rays brain realizes that something is up, and he quickly eyes the arcade cabinet. He’s an idiot, but he’s not stupid. Something strange is going on, he’s not sure what, but something is going on here.

He is momentarily distracted, however, when he realizes that he never gave this man his name.]

Oh god, did I not tell you my name? Sorry, I really should have told you the other day.

I’m Ray Stantz, nice to meet you!

[neverstudied]

[He's about to lose his shit but he can't, not yet, because he has to explain, he has to-]

Ray.

[Venkman lets go of his hands in order to cups Ray's face, and when he says Ray's name, it sounds like a prayer- reverently spoken, and more than a little choked up.]

Ray, I need- I need you to listen to me, ok? When you were in college, and your parents died in that plane crash, and Spengs was being stupid and didn't know how to help and kept insisting on that Bermuda Triangle shit, who- who was the one who separated you two when you clocked him, and helped calm you down afterwards?

Who did you let cheat off you for years in college 'cause he didn't have any other chance of passing his classes, especially after his mom died when he just fell the fuck apart? And- and when you two got fired as professors for the first time, and the second time, and the other dozen times, who quit and went wherever you two decided to move on to, 'cause he couldn't fucking think of a life without you guys?

And when we- we, Ray- bought the firehouse, when Egon and I first saw how god damn excited you were over the place, and me 'n Egon bought the damn thing just because we love seeing you happy and you've got us both wrapped around your damn finger- and Winston too, now, because we all love you- so fucking much-

[There's tears in his eyes, and his heart feels like it's about to burst. He rubs Ray's cheeks with his thumbs, and leans a little closer, still not breaking eye contact.]

What's my name, Ray?

[gether]

Wha-?

[He starts at Venkman's hands, ready to move away at the mention of his parents, but his hand stills.

Ray was always a firm believer in parallel universes, and had done some research into attempting to discover them. And he had already heard from others that they're from different places and times. And yeah, he had seen the sign for "Peter Venkman", but Ray had quickly assumed it was a sick joke after not seeing Venkman the entire time he's been here.

But he's hearing this man talk about things only he and Venkman would know. Either this man was really in on this sick joke, or...

It takes a moment for Ray to fully process all this, staring deeply into the stranger's eyes the whole time. He shakily places a hand on Venkman's.]

Venkie?!

[Ray looks like he's about to cry, but he stills himself. If this was really Venkman, he needed to confirm it to him beyond just saying his name. He wanted to give him definitive proof that he was Ray.]

Peter.

We... we first met in college. You approached me after class one day and said you'd pay me to tutor you. We spent so many late nights in the library studying for tests, and some nights were just trying to convince you not to drop out of college because I dreaded the idea of never seeing you again.

You were the one who introduced me to Egon. I definitely remember you talking about how much you regretted doing that with how much we talked about ghosts, but I've seen you smiling when we get really get into a deep discussions on the supernatural.

And... I remember how much I'm glad we know each other. I'm sure I would have pursued a boring career if we've never met, and would have spent my whole life wishing for more in my life.

I...

[Ray finally trails off, he's not sure what else to say that isn't endless gushing. In the back of his mind he knows that he still has some questions he needs answered, but his words are suddenly caught in his throat and he's not sure how to continue without crying. He's just so confused and overjoyed and he just wants to gush at Venkman.

But instead he opts to gaze deeply at Venkman, waiting for him to make the next move.]

[neverstudied]

[The serious, slightly unhinged expression on Venkman's face melts away when he catches the recognition in his eyes, and when Ray starts rambling it's all he can do to stay quiet and listen instead of interrupting.

By the end of it, he can't even speak. He just tugs Ray forward and crushes their lips together with the desperation of a man who was starting to worry he'd never be able to do this again, threading one hand in Ray's hair.

He breaks the kiss for a moment to speak, pressing his forehead to Ray's-]

-'ve been looking for you everywhere, you bastard-

[-before kissing him again, and again, and again...]

[gether]

[The momentary shock of Venkman kissing him quickly melts away as Ray is just so happy and relieved to see Venkman again, from another universe or otherwise.

He tightly hugs Peter as he kisses him over and over, smiling the whole time. Eventually, he breaks the kiss to look at Venkman admiringly.]

Peter, when did you get to be so attractive, anyway? I've never seen you with so many muscles?

[Ray voice: Venkman has become a twunk.]

[neverstudied]

[Venkman looks bemused.]

What? I've always looked like this- oh my God, this means I look way better than your dimension's version of me. This is the best news.

[Venkman's ego didn't need inflating right now, but here we are anyway.

... Well. Maybe his ego did need that, considering the way that one comment takes his currently-turbulent collection of tangled emotions and throws them all out the window, replacing it all with delight.

It's hard to be upset at yourself for being stupid, or scared for your life in a murder town, when your alternate dimension partner says you're hotter than the other version of you.

... Speaking of different dimensional appearances-]

You look like the guy who played Ray in the movie adaptation- Christ, why didn't I see it sooner?

[gether]

"The movie"...? Oh, you mean in your dimension they made a movie about us? And my dimension emulates your movie closely enough that I resemble the actor that plays me? That's amazing!

[Ray is positively beaming at this, but he starts looking sheepish.]

I wouldn't say that my Venkman looks way worse than you, but it'd different, you know? Especially with the muscles.

[Just keep talking about Venkman's muscles, Ray.]