003

[ectopportunism]

[Action- Greased Lightning Garage ]

[Pete's at work, impatient ever since receiving his proton pack. He can't wait to take it over to Ray's so that he, Ray, and Egon can start discussing business. He figures if he makes one hard sell today on a used car, he can cut loose a little early. Maybe you're a coworker who's noticed him looking at the clock one too many times, or maybe you're looking to buy a car today...]

[Action- Around Town ]

[After work, Venkman picks up his proton pack from home and is heading for Ray's when he begins to wonder if the thing even works. He flips it on, pulls the wand out from its holster, and aims for a nearby tree. A bright beam is shot out, scorching the side of the tree and peppering the thing with small flames.]

...It's still in one piece? I'm good.


[Action- Ray's House/1127 Taylor Road ]

[He's knocking on the door rapidly.]

Let me in, Ray... before I'm arrested for arson!

Comments

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

[uh oh, full name basis. stormy weather's ahead.]

That I'm pessimistic. Peter, you know we can't afford to be seen out of line here.

[he catches the pack and approaches with his Zippo, leaning down to light Peter's cigarette.]

Don't just try to be a little more careful. Do it.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

[He inhales on the cigarette as the other man lights it, then takes it from his mouth and exhales.]

You worry too much. No one was hurt. It'll be alright... Is there any beer leftover from last time I was here?

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

I think we have some left. I don't think Miss Ciel drinks, so she doesn't mind me keeping it in the fridge. [he scurries into the kitchen and checks said fridge. lo and behold, there's a few cans left from a six pack he and Venkman all but demolished the last time he was over. he grabs two, not really intending to drink much right now because he was really looking forward to that bear claw and tosses one over to the other man.]

Are you feeling okay? Aside from the squirrel evisceration, I mean.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

[The Bakery was closed okay. He catches the can with his free hand, placing his cigarette back into his mouth with the other so that he can open the thing.]

I'm fine. You? You seem a little uptight.

always gotta use this icon when you use that one.

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

It's called being concerned. Trust me, if I was being uptight, I'd tell you not to use your Pack at all.

[time for couch floppage.]

I just...don't want anything else to happen. Three is a powerful number; I don't want to see it go any lower, that's all.

Bros 4eva

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

Concerned? Who are we talking about here?

[He chuckles a bit, taking a puff on the cigarette and exhaling before gulping down some of his beer.]

How do you figure that would happen?

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

Well, you. Wasn't that obvious?

[he frowns, watching the way Venkman downs his booze. he's in one of those moods, isn't he. might as well go back in and get the rest of the six pack.

when he comes back from the kitchen, he drops the other cans. he takes one for himself but doesn't open it, instead rolling it between his hands.]

Between the psychotic police force and the ridiculous things they and the rest of the town have been throwing at us, like the aliens? [SHRUG] Call it a hunch.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

That's not what I meant. [He took a long drag from the cigarette and then pushed it into a nearby ashtray.]

Last I remember, I was the one rescuing you from aliens.

[CHUG A LUG]

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

Then what?

[likewise, he continues smoking his until it all but burns to the filter. he's not in a chainsmoking kind of mood, so he just puts it out when it gets to that point.]

I never really thanked you for that, did I? [pshaw, who needs gratitude?] B-But you're lucky nothing bad happened to you! What if you had been kidnapped, too? What if we weren't able to find you and your clone -

[he stops, trailing off with a troubled look on his face.]

...All I'm saying is that we were lucky. That's all.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

I just meant that you're talking about me. It's me, Ray... Pete. You have nothing to be concerned about.

[He sighs heavily and then tosses back his beer, finishing it and crushing the can in his hand.]

Yeah, lucky. [He kind of shakes his head, but catches himself doing it and stops. He reaches for another beer to occupy himself with.]

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

I'd be just as concerned if it were Egon or Winston. [but Winston isn't here. is it selfish to be a little sad because of that?] Don't tell me what I can and can't be worried about.

[it's not firm or mean; just a gentle reminder. Ray watches Peter's body language, notices the head shaking with some surprise, and sits back against the couch.]

...Were you worried?

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

Forget about it, Ray. [He snaps the second beer open.]

How was your...uh... toaster project coming along?

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

[well...that's that. time to change the subject.]

...It was going fine, but now that we have the Packs back, there's no use for the parts. Spengler and I used some components to convert the Pack chargers; we have enough left over to do the same with yours if you'll let us. Aside from that, I used the remainder of them to add the finishing touches to my prototype Ecto Goggles.

We're definitely going to need more parts if we're ever going to even think about putting together positron collider.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

What kind of parts? [He took a gulp of beer after saying this, then lifted his hand to his mouth to conceal a blech.]

Anything I can snag?

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

Mainly a vacuum pump, aluminum sheeting, and several car batteries. I guess I can focus on building the Van der Graff generator until then, but...

[he shrugs.]

...Unless you manage to make off with several cars without anyone noticing, it's going to take a while before we start seeing results.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

How many is several? Are we talking grand theft auto, here?

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

[...yeah, he's not going to dignify this with an answer, so have some coughing instead.

very unsuspicious coughing.]

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

[Have a semi-stern look, although it turns into more of a smirk.]

...Ray.

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

Only a few. Three, tops. No one will miss them.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

[Another swig of beer.]

Oh good. That's doable. I was worried that you would be contracting kleptomania in the near future.

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

[...who says he hasn't?]

We're always running low on supplies at the garage. [he says that with an edge of sheepish guilt.] I'm just happy that the guy who owns it is either too lazy or too droned out of his mind to care, much less notice.

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

I've got news. The employees aren't the only ones stealing from it. I caught some kid, earlier today.

[He shrugs, taking another drink.]

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

[news to his ears.] ...Really? What were they taking?

[sosghosts.livejournal.com]

Tools, scrap metal.

Sounds like competition, Ray. Step up your game.

[pkeccentric.livejournal.com]

Gee, it's like people think they're at a grocery store. [and he'll admit, he does feel a little pang of jealousy. thankfully, he squashes it before it has a chance to develop into anything past that.] I hope they have a good reason to need those. Did you stop to ask why?