calloperators | TEST DRIVE

TEST DRIVE

> Hello, you have reached the 1-800-HOTLINE Test Drive. We are currently unable to take your call. Whilst we put you on hold, feel free to play around for a while...

***

Waking up
Where the hell were you last night? Maybe waking up in an unfamiliar bed with a blacked-out memory isn't so unusual for you, but that buzzing in your head is. The phone beside you rings with a 7:00 AM wake-up call, and a message left behind:

Go downstairs, to the lobby. Meet the others. Don't get attached, and don't mention this call.

The AC is busted and in this hot summer, you probably won't want to stay in your room forever.

What's new, Pussycat?
Of course, there's much more around here than just the motel. Stepping out and hitting the town will give you plenty to do. There's stores aplenty, but that's nothing to say of the good residents of the stores; your friendly neighborhood bodega cats. They're content to laze around the aisles, though the more playful sorts may swat at your wayward accessories as you pass by.

Don't mind that they seem to disappear - and reappear - with a blink. That's just something cats can do.

Hungry?
Of course you are! There's plenty of places to eat here, but why go to some no-name joint when you can go to McDonalds? They've got burgers, they've got fries, they've got McPizza, and they even have a playplace! ...Though you're probably too old for the ball pit.

Regardless of what you order, if you even order, the cashier presses a small toy into the palm of your hand. Don't you feel a pair of tiny eyes on you?

McMurder
For fuck's sake, someone only went and killed a guy in the McDonald's parking lot. Maybe his head is smashed in under that chicken mask, or maybe you'll want to check? You could do the right thing and work out who did this, or you could make off with his baseball bat. The choice is yours.

Night life
What good's a city that goes to sleep? When the sun goes down, the lights go up. The city becomes aglow with every colour of the neon rainbow, with bowling alleys, nightclubs, karaoke bars, arcades and soon-to-be-extinct roller discos competing for your attention until the sun comes up. You're here, there's no curfew, it's time to make the most of it.

Wildcard
Have something else in mind? Go wild, and party like it's 1989.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No one's dyin' right now that we know of.

[But Ray's right. Or at least, he's got the right idea. Venkman takes a long sip of his beer before answering.]

I'll go first. I need to be a bit drunker to hear you sing.

[He's teasing, of course.]

[Well fine! Ray's going to tease you back in that case.]

And you want me to suffer by having to listen to you sing while I'm sober?

[He takes a sip of his own beer as he lets Venkman get control of the karaoke machine.]

Excuse you, I have the voice of an angel. Perfect pitch and everything.

[He sticks his tongue out at Ray before turning back to the machine.]

Lemme see... No, no... Got it! Hey, remember when I sang this to Spengs and tried to get him to dance with me and he got all freaked out?

[He got freaked out because he was holding a beaker of dangerous chemicals and Venkman nearly made him drop it, but. Details.

As for the song itself...]

[Ray chuckles at that, remembering the moment.]

I'm still amazed you didn't get any chemical burns from that.

[Still this was nice and Ray can't help but start singing along too.]

Years of practice in dancing with people and not having either of us drop our beer.

[Speaking of, he reaches one hand out to Ray and looks at him expectantly. Dance with him. Dance with the idiot.

And when Ray joins in with the singing, Venkman laughs, cutting off mid-lyric.]

Still not drunk enough, Ray.

C'mon, Pete, I'm not going to sit around and let you have all the fun!

[Still, after taking a quick swig of his beer, Ray happily takes Venkman's hand so they can dance around the room.

A person died recently but it's fine.]

[Hey, Ray's smiling and happy so that means Venkman's doing his job. Operation "Keep Ray From Thinking About The Dead Man" is a success thus far. He gets back to actually singing, grinning like an idiot.]

/I... I got to be your friend now, baby... And I... would like to move in just a liiiittle bit closer.../

[He pulls Ray close, kissing him softly while threading their hands together.]

[Ray laughs into the kiss, already starting to feel the affects of the alcohol.

He's still going to continue singing though fuck you Venkman.]

/All I know is that to me, you look like you're lots of fun. Open up your lovin' arms, watch out, here I come/

[That's fine- Venkman doesn't actually mind him singing, all jokes aside.

He bursts into the chorus again, and Ray will feel Venkman try to maneuver him.]

/You spin me right round, baby, right round- like a record, baby, right round, round, round.../

[Yep, they're spinning now. Don't lose your balance, Ray.]

[Ray easily keeps up with Venkman. Luckily, while he's drunk enough to be a little extra giggly, it has't impacted his balance yet

/You spin me right 'round, baby, right 'round -like a record, baby, right 'round, 'round, 'round/

[Venkman's had less to drink than Ray so far, but he's still giggling and grinning wildly. Ray's the only one of his partners who gets just as jazzed as he does about singing or dancing- Winston comes close, but Egon? Trying to get Egon to sing anything more passionate than a chemistry mnemonic is like pulling teeth half the time.

So this? This is beautiful. He loves this.]

/I want your looooo-oooo-oooo-oooove..../

[Eventually they get to the end of the song, and Ray is absolutely beaming. Ray is someone who can easily amuse himself with anything terrifying, but this is probably the most fun he's had his entire time here.

After he takes a moment to wind down from all of that, he grins up at Venkman.]

We should buy a karaoke machine for the firehouse, Pete!

[Please!]

Hey, I'm surprised you and Egon didn't buy one already, with those arcade machines. Remember that? We were all barely making ends meet, had never had a call yet, and you and Egon started lugging those things upstairs.

[He shakes his head at the thought, and finishes his beer.]

You wanna choose next?

They were on sale, Pete! How could we resist buying them?

Besides, Dana was our client around that time!

[She didn't even pay them anything because Venkman didn't find anything of note.

But sure! Ray goes back to looking over the song list, humming "You Spin Me Right Round" to himself, before he suddenly stops.

After a few moments he looks back at Venkman, beaming harder than before, somehow.]

PETE!

THEY HAVE OUR SONG!

My back has never recovered from trying to help you guys carry those up the stairs, you know. I am a broken man.

[Back to teasing.

Venkman's busy getting himself another drink when he hears the enthusiastic shouting, and it takes him a few seconds to realize what "our song" must mean.]

Oh, no.

[He tries to look horrified, but the dumb grin on his face ruins the effect.]

Say that all you want, Venkie, but I've seen you spend hours on those things.

[He knows you love those arcade machines!]

Oh yes!

[Ray puts on the song and yeah Venkman it's probably the exact song you're thinking of.]

[Venkman groans, only half-jokingly.]

Look, I love that we've basically got our own theme song, Ray, but I can't listen to it without thinking of that movie.

[And the less he thinks about that Murray guy butchering his reputation, the better!

Still, he knows Ray loves it, so he sits on the couch and drinks while Ray has the time of his life.]

C'mon Pete, even if you don't like the movie you gotta admit that the song is really catchy!

[Venkman please it's a great song!]

/When there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!/

Sure, Ray. It's a real earworm.

[He rolls his eyes.

That said...]

/If there's something weird... and it don't look good... Who you gonna call?/

[Told ya Venkman! Ray starts dancing around the room as he sings.]

/GHOSTBUSTERS!

I ain't afraid of no ghost!

I ain't afraid of no ghost!/

/If you're seeing things... Runnin' through your head-
Who can you call?

Ghostbusters!/

[He takes another sip of his beer, watching Ray fondly. He's still sitting, though...]

/An invisible man, sleepin' in your bed-
Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!/

[Ray eventually notices that Venkman is still sitting, however, and reaches his hand out to grab Venkman.

Dance with him! Surely you're drunk enough for it!]

[Venkman looks at Ray's hand for a moment, raising his eyebrows. He very deliberately settles back in his seat, finishing off his current glass and reaching for more.

You may have to be more persistent, Ray. He's not gonna let you win that easily.]

/I ain't 'fraid of no ghost... I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts./

[Ray frowns, then grabs Venkman's wrist with his free hand and pulls him up.

You WILL join him!!]

/Who you gonna call?

Ghostbusters!/

/If you're all alone, pick up the phone. And call-

Ghostbusters!/

[Venkman grins, tightening his grip on Ray's hand.

And pulls Ray down onto the couch with him, somehow not spilling his drink in the process.]

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