#roon ramble

[oonanoodle]

Ok seems like Twitter is just straight up broken so Uhmm. Great.

If you knew me from lobsterrocked on Twitter hi

[cpericardium]

Disco Elysium Ending Spoilers

Man I can't understand players who are disappointed by the identity of the murderer.

I keep seeing people be like "he's just some random communist guy" but that's the point. Harry spends the game running around Martinaise learning the politics and history of Revachol, finding the weapons cache and hideout, studying bullet holes in walls. And then he finds this forgotten island communist. A war remnant unable to let go of the past and running entirely on spite and phasmid fumes. A dude who is known only as the Deserter because he let his decision to desert define him and has in a sense deserted society as well. He admits outright that he's lost hope in a revolution but won't reintegrate, choosing instead to bitterly spectate the rest of the world going around him (with particular focus on the people he hates). He's a communist without a community. Yet for all his borderline fetishistic level of ideological commitment, for all his posturing about theory, he ends up killing a man out of a simple selfish, apolitical impulse. Ties into the game's themes perfectly. It's fitting. It's so fitting. It could only have been him.

[hypocriticaltypwriter]

Hiii I just wanted to know something, if Chrysta was an animal what would she be? I definitely have no particular reason for asking this…no reason at all.

OooooO! Good question Starla! Hmm... I'd have to say either a doe or an otter suits her! Whatever you'd prefer 😉 👀👀

[flaylore]

THE ANXIETY OF HAPPINESS ROON

"I never really had a family, I don’t care for it. Growing up it was sorta like… I just kept being called a genius all the time, it was exhausting you know? That’s all everyone sees. ‘Pilot this, pilot that!’ People want to… put these expectations on you, the thing is when you’re just seen as one thing you don’t get to be anything else. So, you should be grateful! This supposed great genius is envious of you."

The Anxiety of Happiness Roon reveals him (?) from the past, right before his debut, where he and machiroons meet for the first time, until one unlucky encounter disrupted their final time spent together.

Summary:

Flayon shows us a surprise, revealing a machiroon cradled in his arms. It can talk and mimic other people

Right as he concludes the machiroon’s introduction, his eyes flash to a swirl pattern, as he says:

“I love you guys. I love you a lot.”

As he thanks the viewers, the stream comes to a halt as the screen swaps to monochrome, and abruptly glitches

Once the screen clears, we see Machina Flayon appear with an armored machiroon

He’s confused on what he’s holding–questioning if these are supposed to be his “fans”–but doesn’t question it any further

Claims he’s never really had a family, neither does he care for it. Yet, he wonders what it’d be like to have one

“I just kept being called a genius all the time, it was exhausting you know? That’s all the world sees. […] People want to ..put these expectations on you, the thing is when you’re just seen as one thing you don’t get to be anything else.”

A glitch noise plays along with some ominous music, all while he begins choking on something in the background

Seems to be hurting him a little before he continues

He continues talking like normal, getting a little angry when asked if he’s okay

“[…] I don’t pilot the R-TRUS for nothing! Who the hell do you think you are, even?”

Talks to us a bit more, says that we can say nice things but it won’t have any meaning

“Do you think that you can just come into my life and change things just because you say a nice thing? Where’s your proof that you’ll be different?”

Suddenly the screen turns black and white, his (?) eyes swirling and frowning as the screen continuously glitches

He(?) starts talking again, his tone now envious and spiteful. Complains about how “he” pisses him off

“Is that how people like you cope with things? You only have one path.. you have no idea what it’s like to be nothing, to have nothing. Expectations? You’re lucky to even have those. When no one expects anything of you, no one notices you, no one loves you.”

The screen glitches and turns black, flashing back to Flayon talking as if nothing happened

Says that this stream was quick, only lasting for 2 minutes

Begins to ramble about when he was younger

Notably, his eyes start to swirl and his tone changes

Says he doesn’t remember people supporting him this much, nor does he remember being wanted

“[…] it’s very nice to be wanted so thank you very much for supporting me.. okay?”

He asks us if we’re okay with being in “this form” (inside the armor)

The screen glitches as he finishes his sentence

His eyes swirl again as he claims to protect and love us a lot, then once again when asked if all we love is him

“You love me right? Good, only me!”

[exaltatuss]

"While cases of planetary eradications do happen from time to time, something in rapid succession as what we're experiencing now certainly should merit concern." Mei pointed out, her arms crossed. "And this one source was going about with it like hot knife through butter."

"Already ahead of you. I've been trying to come up with something on my way here. Suppression is gonna be difficult. Trying to reason with whatevef is doing this is probably unlikely. Though these are just my speculations."

Cue her thinking things through again.

"We could try blitzing it, but that'll leave us out of steam later on. Stalling won't help either, considering how powerful it probably is."

"You know you can just say that most of the ideas you have in mind are met with factors that doesn't lean much to our favor, right?" Roone pointed out, deadpanning in response to the ramblings, too.

"I'm pretty sure that energy signatures that monstrous would eventually garner Universal Government attention. So me getting myself involved is most likely gonna be warranted and of no consequence, y'know?" She pointed out. "And even if I didn't jad myself involved now, I bet they'd have sent me as part of a response team sooner or later, too, anyway."

"Hm. The energy's source seem to be advancing alright. But I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any destination in mind. At least not yet, based on the sporadic pacing. Probably getting held up by a few species every now and then, but immediately stomping them afterwards." Roone pointed out.

"Having that source arrive here in Remnant would definitely prove catastrophic. Hell, I wouldn't let it near Dracorex either if I'm still in charge of that planet."

"That's another allied race wiped out." Delta stared having made it too from Voidal, as if she was sifting through some reports. "Guess you guys are here for the same reason. Anyway, what I've gathered from scouts so far before they got killed off was that whatever is the source of this is not only hard to destroy, but also 'vaguely-reptilian'."

"I think this is something we wouldn't want to step foot here in Remnant, Voidal, or let alone any other places we know of."

[doodlboy]

Y'all ever get in a mood where somebody's like "Stay positive!!😊😊😊 Don't be sad!!😘😘Self care!!!💅💅💅" and you want to throw them out a window?

[fridgewitch]

PLEASE someone make an Animal Crossing room designer, I am BEGGING you. All I want is to make cute little rooms without the stress of a mortgage and also buying an entire game console.

[kyunsies]

guys i only have 446 out of 3000 NCLEX questions to complete now WOOT WOOT 

[ikari-cat]

This was probs one of best meals I've had in college so far ✨❤😄✨

[sp-ud]

Gugjfnvns

[milomeepit]

@ literally any of my rp buddies

Please

Need distraction

Aaaa

[pocketwatchofmycroft]

akala ko ba disente ba't may tang-ina ang nakita ko? For real tho, "a concrete platform, didn’t attended any debates, tax evader, faked his college diploma" where did you get these? Si Senator Santiago na nagsabi na estudyante niya si BBM sa law school, paano siya nakapag law kung fake yung diploma? He did attend a debate, but the problem is wala sa inyo ang nanood 'nun kasi "SMNII lang" sounds to me, you're peddling fake news.

Anon, 'sorry' dahil ramble yon. May halo yong frustration kaya hindi 'disente.' Di ko nga alam na may sinabi akong disente ako hahaha? If I offended you in anyway dahil sa mura ko, then pasensya na. And no, I'm not peddling fake news.

To answer your question, I meant na 'pineke' (exaggerated ok fine sorry) niya ang diploma niya sa Oxford University.

Oxford University confirmed na hindi nakagraduate si Marcos Jr. pero nabigyan siya ng 'special diploma.' Despite these confirmations, Marcos Jr. insisted that he did finished in the institution.

"According to the university's Information Compliance Team, Marcos "did not complete his degree, but was awarded a Special Diploma in Social Studies in 1978."

"We can confirm that a Ferdinand Marcos matriculated at the University of Oxford in 1975 to read for a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. According to our records, he did not complete his degree, but was awarded a Special Diploma in Social Studies in 1978," the university said in an email in response to ABS-CBN News' inquiry.

It added that a special diploma is "not a full graduate Diploma."

Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/27/21/oxford-confirms-marcos-jr-failed-to-get-degree

Concrete Platform. What, 10 pesos na bigas, Daycare center for solo parents, Unity unity unity? Lol. Palapag kung meron educate me nalang.

“Sa aking palagay, lalo na yung solo parent, yung single parent. Nagtatrabaho pero may inaalagaan na bata. So ang pagandahin natin ang support ng daycare center natin (In my opinion, especially among solo parents who work and have to take care of children, we should improve support for our daycare centers),” Marcos said to a single parent during a town hall session with sectoral representatives in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat on Monday, March 28.

Payag ka ba na 'pagandahin' ang daycare center ang plano kung solo parent ka? In what way na 'pagandahin' ba yan?

Source:

Okay, he did attend a debate, sa SMNI lang, which some of his supporters professes how brilliant, and credible it was, sure ok. How about sa iba? I understand ang pagtanggi niya sa GMA. Pero bakit kahit Comelec Organized na debates, ayaw? Gusto hingiin in advanced ang format at questions?

Regarding sa 'SMNI lang' yan, I don't think they meant na walang kwenta yon. Of course it does have, kahit na visible kung sino pinapanigan sa 'homecourt' na yon. Contrary to your claim, may mga nanood non, anon. Kaya mas nakilala nila si Ka-Leody na naglakas loob magpakita.

Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s campaign manager on Monday, Feb. 28 said he was tasked to write a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and other presidentiables to ask about the format of the poll body’s debate ahead of time.

“Ako yung inutusan ni BBM (Bongbong Marcos)…as the national campaign manager to write a letter sa lahat ng presidentiable, at sa Comelec, na pagusapan ano ang format ng debate para kasi ginagawa sa ibang bansa, partikular sa America, na lahat ng tatakbo roon sa debate ay talagang nagusap-usap (I was tasked by BBM, as the national campaign manager, to write a letter to all presidentiables and to the Comelec to talk first about the format of the debate, just like what is being done in America, where all candidates talk ahead of time),” he said in an event in Quezon City.

Source :

Marcos Family has an unpaid taxes confirmed by BIR. Which, of course, Marcos denied.

BIR admits it demanded Marcos family for estate tax, Bongbong cries 'fake news'

In a report, the BIR said preliminary figures show the agency reached its target of collecting P2.08 trillion in 2021, beating by about seven percent the 2020 total of P1.95 trillion.

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue confirmed it sent a written demand to the Marcos heirs regarding the payment of their estate tax liabilities amounting to P203.8 billion, the political party of Manila City Mayor and presidential candidate Isko Moreno disclosed Wednesday.

In a letter addressed to Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernesto Ramel Jr., BIR Commissioner Ceasar Dulay said his office “did send a written demand to the Marcos heirs on December 2, 2021, regarding their tax liabilities.”

“We have received the copy of the letter of Commissioner (Cesar) Dulay of BIR that they wrote on December 2, 2021, urging the Marcos family to pay their taxes because this is what they rightfully owe,” Moreno told reporters in Silay Plaza shortly before embarking on a motorcade.

How much is owed, exactly? Citing findings by a Special Audit Tax Team from the BIR, the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the agency created to recover ill-gotten wealth from the Marcoses and their cronies, said that the tax bureau determined the following liabilities in 1991:

Deficiency Estate Tax Assessment against the Estate of Ferdinand Marcos in the amount of P23,293,607,638.

Deficiency Income Tax Assessments against Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos in the aggregate amount of P184,159,289.70 for the years 1985 to 1986

Deficiency Income Tax Assessment against Ferdinand Marcos Jr [for the years] 1982 to 1985 in the aggregate amount of P20,410.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/16/2167710/bir-admits-it-demanded-marcos-family-estate-tax-bongbong-cries-fake-news

Anon, kung fake news to, pls educate me with credible sources at baka magbago pa isip ko sakanya. Uh, sorry ig dahil ramble yun kanina ahshsjaj but I said what I said.

Ps. Padrop nalang din ng plataporma niya kung may alam ka. Have a good day. Wala nang liqour ban pwede na uminom.

[lovee-infected]

Yandere!Floyd Leech x reader

Note :These are two separate oneshots , requested by the lovely @minteasketches from the character prompt list ♥

♦♥♠♣

♦ : Why are you running from me , shrimpy~?

left , right , forward , backward

Floyd was always following you

No matter how many times you tried to make him either lose you or give up on following you , he never did . The more you wished to avoid him the more eager he got and the fewer privacy you had . Trying to talk him out of it was not only useless , but also made it worse : "I've got my legs to follow whoever I want , and eyes to watch whatever I wish ; so mind your own business little one ," he giggled as he said these words , but it transferred not the smallest sight of humor to you...

RIIINNNGGG

The bell rings and pulls you out of your thoughts ; you have to hurry . Class 2-D are still in the alchemy lab which means that you could make it without Floyd following you if you hurry . You quickly pick up your books and rush to the door . " Oi-(y/n) ! What's with all thi- ," your friends call but you don't get to answer . You can't , it just isn't the time .

The sound of your steps echoes through the cold , empty hallways as you run as fast as you could , not even wasting a second to look back .

You fastly turn between the corridors and suddenly hit someone , making you both fall and drop your books .

"(y/n) ! Wht the hell's with all he hurry-" Ace painfully nags rubbing his head . You want to apologize but you apparently lose the ability to talk as your words turned into meaningless rambles : "I-Ah.Um.aha-" you don't have time for that so you just pick up your books and leave Ace on the ground . You pant heavily as your chest ached in your fast run. Your body wasn't capable of running this long non-stop but you didn't care .

When Ramshackle dorm finally appears in your sight you unconsciously put on a smile , speeding up your steps to get to your roon as fast as possible.

You are finally in , you look back to make sure that no one was following you ; none was there . You let out a tired sigh still panting from your heavy run as you make your way upstairs to your own room . "Grim , I'm home ! " you call for Grim. 'strange , he said that he was feeling dizzy so he won't show up in classes today...Could it be that he's still asleep ?' You continue your way thinking that he had to be asleep . Slightly you wonder if the halls are colder than usual ?

You arive at your door , hold the doorknob and push to open it , but the sight at your room makes you drop your books : "Welcome back , (y/n) ~"

Seeing him sitting on your bed Immediately sends a strong shiver down your spine , making you take a step back .

Floyd notices your terrified gaze and doesn't seem to like it : "Oh what is it ? Aren't you happy to see me ? I was quite disappointed when you didn't wait for me after the class so I thought to come here on my own"

The light in his golden pupil shines brighter than usual , lighting up the shadows in his dropped head : " My my... Why are you running from me , shrimpy~? " he stares at you, still with his head dropped ; now looking like a hunter ready to jump on his prey at any second

"Floyd I-" , a wave of storm hits you from behind and pushes you into the room , making you fall to the floor . The door of your room suddenly gets shut . Floyd stands up and emotionlessly glares at your figure laying on the ground : " Seems like you aren't gonna behave easily..." he steps closer , bringing his hand up to his shirt and slowly unbuttoning it : " So let me teach you in a better way..."

♠ : I'm curious to see , how will one drown into these waters ?

Wild waves crash the rocks loud and mercilessly ; ready to swallow anything they were given . You strengthen your steps trying not to fall at the slippery and damp ground . " Seems like you've got no way back now , my dear..." Floyd's usually playful tone is now just as cold as the ocean seems to be and his words ; the waves were rather calm compared to them

"Don't even come one step closer..." You threaten Floyd , stepping back and almost reaching the edge of the cliff . "Or..?" Floyd steps closer to you , not seemingly affected by your words : " ... what are you doing , (y/n)?"

~~~

-Floyd- ...

For some reason , he always brought the ocean to your mind . You used to resemble his golden eye to the sunshine and his green strand of hair to the seaweed . You wondered if the corals were as sharp as his teeth or waves were as wild as he was ; silly , you thought.

The way he stared at you during always made you giggle and lock eyes with him in return ; none of you broke the eye contact until the teachrs told you to . You small crush on Floyd wasn't something you expected him to return ; perhaps just a cloudy fantasy . But to think that Floyd was having the same thing for you , you couldn't help yourself . Floyd was your ocean and you didn't mind exploring over and over

But you didn't see what was coming

You didn't realize how sensitive you were to touches until Floyd showed up . You were fine with having him close , but the way he was...it didn't seem quite fine. Whenever you two were on a walk with others he walked -too- close to you , making your bodies touch . You pulled back and tried to observe the distance rights indirectly , but he always noticed : " Oi , you can just say it if you wanna avoid me," You always said that you weren't , just to make him stick himself closer . You couldn't argue .

Holding hands and unexpected hugs didn't seem quite bad , until they brought along unwanted kisses . Lips were way too simple for him , he preferred rare spots ; Specially those were hard to cover . Tip of your fingers , upside your neck and even your cheeks . No need to mention that he loved to bite and leave marks behind.

Without even you noticing , soon all school knew about your relationship . They even started making rumors on you being the first to seduce Floyd , letting him mark you as he wished and be his doll because you liked it .

Your friends next begun to avoid you as they had a new perspective on you : A slave . They didn't feel safe to have you touch them even if it was of an accident .

Floyd on the other hand , didn't care . You went him to cry , telling him how everyone saw you as a whore because- because of him . Because of him playing with you .

Like he'd ever listen...

~~~~

Your tears keep falling from your eyes as Floyd's just a few steps away from you . Even as you are trying to end it all , he won't leave you .

You can't take it anymore . You wish you could return to your old days and undone anything you'd done with Floyd before . Holding hands , locking eyes , staying close...even having him in mind .

You'd fallen so deeply for his ocean that didn't notice how deadly its waters could be . You were expecting a soft , chill hug from them , but all you got was being stabbed and drowned into the darkest left of it , until there was no return .

Floyd is right , you've got no way back now . But why ? Why is he here ? Is he going to make you suffer even more but not letting you end this ? Do you want to throw yourself off the cliff right now so he'll never again reach you or do you want him to stop you ?

You don't know which you wanted more : Him grabbing you and throwing you into the ocean or giving you a hug and beggig you not to leave him alone

His eyes , his hair , his teeth , his voice ; his ocean . You still loved it all . But isn't that the reason you ended uo here ? Isn't that what got all from you..? You again make the same mistake and lock eyes with Floyd , wishing him to see the pain he brought you inside your eyes

" You're free to do whatever you want to , I won't mind ," he apathetically replies , taking his eyes off you and staring at the beneath of the cliff , the waters

" This cliff was long way known for its waters , just as much ad they helped fishermen to have more fishes sailed , it was feared by its deadly depth..." he kicks a small ruck with his shoes , watching it until it falls and gets swallowed by the waves :" I'm curious to see , how will one drown into these waters ?"

His words make your body mildly wheeze . Is he really about to push you...? Floyd gets to you and grabs you by shoulders . He pulls you closer to him and puts his lips on yours with desire , feeling your mouth with the taste of salt and ocean water .

He pushes himself closer to you , making you get to the edge of the clip . You tried to pull back as he was making you fall but it was no use : " I can't guarantee if you die or not , but I've always wanted to see how it feels to drown ," he whispers to your eyes before pushing you more and sucking your neck . You now knew what he was about to do . You close your eyes losing yourself between the sound of waves and warmth of Floyd's touch , drowning deeper and deeper in his ocean . He isn't even going to let you drown on your own , he would come along . You put on a bitter smile and give it a final push...

Floyd is all you see before your head goes under water

♦♥♠♣

[windwardstar]

🖊!

Ok so, this took a while to get to because my brain was not sparking any rambles.

(So instead you're REALLY going to get a ramble / insight into how my planning process works when I have so much already established in this world and never leave myself any actual notes when I write.)

So The Tea Lady (Xing Mei) She's supposedly all nice and kind and wise. Rules over Peace as her domain. Does things like usher the spirits of dead animals onto the next life and give restless ghosts a place to hang. The Lost TM find her valley and chill while recuperating before returning to the world. Usually with just a bit of time passing (No rip van winkle stuff with her... usually).

SO. WHY the fuck does she send Roon to speak to the fucking Green Dragon when he's in the middle of his oh god I'm a new god divinity is punishment soul crisis?

Like sending people to the green dragon is the kind of thing you do to haze people. The kind of "yeah, go ask that person," then sit back with popcorn to watch the show.

But if that's not enough she tells Roon to ask the Green Dragon about Deldan! (mind you this name is something that was probably lost within a century of his death. Meaning we're talking at least 400 years BEFORE the tea lady became the tea lady. SHe shouldn't KNOW this name. Nobody knows this name. Not even The Lady of the Rose who /knows everything/ knows this name. Because it's not a secret. It's just been forgotten. The only one who knows this name is the green dragon)

It's also like one of three sore spots the green dragon has.

So the tea lady goes "ask about this specific sore spot with a name you shouldn't know" and then just yeets him from the valley.

And then. The Green Dragon HELPS roon bc he mentioned the Tea Lady. But with he "she's helping you because you're one of /his/" and my brain is supplying "his= niit skaala" SO SOMEHOW Niit Skaala and The Tea Lady are familiar enough with each other to do things like help out people important to the other.

Please imagine the meme image of the dude with the paper and string conspiracy board.

There's a connection here somewhere but I don't know what it is yet. Maybe it's just that the Tea Lady has a sense of humor to match Noddle Pannrig but the reputation that Nobody would ever believe it. (except for the fact that by sending roon to the green dragon the tea lady was basically showing roon the ghost of christmas future / this is what your current path will get you, learn from the past and don't make the same mistakes.. so like sending roon to the green dragon was really the most effective route for him to come to terms with/find peace with his new existence which is what the tea lady is supposedly all about.)

I don't really know. I do know that I left off on this scene like six months ago and left myself 0 (zero) notes on WHAT I WAS THINKING. And so am now having to solve this mystery and I'm basically the "I've connected them" "you haven't connected anything" meme.

But yeah.

Meme: the tea valley is so big because it's full of secrets.

[tomeandflickcorner]

Episode Review- The Real Ghostbusters: Egon on the Rampage

Okay. So, that was a thing that happened.

The episode’s opening is really kinda trippy, because it starts with what appears to be an opening to an episode of the show, only it’s inside a TV screen against a black background. It’s a slow day at the Firehouse, so Ray is going out for a run while Peter and Winston are planning to go out shopping.  But as Slimer drifts by, a disembodied voice starts scolding his kids for watching ‘that dumb show’ again, instructing them to watch something educational. So, I guess we’re seeing kids within the world of The Real Ghostbusters watching The Real Ghostbusters?  I told you it was pretty trippy.  The ‘channel’ then switches to some news station, where the news show 20/40/60 is just starting. The news anchorman, Eldon Bromo, announces some of the news stories for that day, such as hearing damage caused by loud clothes and an in-depth look at fabulously rich boring people.  But the main story is to be about the Ghostbusters, and whether or not they’re frauds.  It then switches over to the Firehouse, where ace reporters Sandy Van Sanders and Helen Shreck are starting their live broadcast.  They make it clear right away that their intention is to prove the Ghostbusters are con artists.

Sandy and Helen proceed to try and enter the Firehouse, but Janine stops them at the door.  She turns them away, instructing them to come back during office hours, between 10 am and 4 pm.  But Sandy and Helen are not to be deterred and begin to try and force their way in. Janine does her best to prevent them from doing so, and I am quite impressed she was able to last as long as she did.  Both Sandy and Helen were pushing on the doors that Janine was trying to close, and it took them a while to outmuscle her.  In the end, however, Sandy and Helen are able to barge into the Firehouse, with Janine being thrown to the floor in the process.  Peter, Winston and Ray, having heard the commotion, appear seconds later. Janine tells them she’d tried to stop the pair of reporters, and Winston assures her that it’s okay. He suggests she take Slimer out for a walk while they deal with Sandy and Helen.  Yeah, this episode heavily portrays Slimer as the Ghostbuster’s pet ghost.  He’s even shown with a dog collar and leash.

Once Janine leaves with Slimer, Winston realizes he recognizes Sandy and Helen as being from ‘that news show.’  Based on their description of the news stories that have previously been covered by 20/40/60, it seems this is like a tabloid news show, and it’s clear the Ghostbusters don’t have a high opinion of it.  Sandy and Helen ignore this and ask where Egon is. Winston tries to claim Egon wasn’t there, but to no avail as Egon took that moment to call for them from his lab. Immediately, Sandy and Helen push past the other Ghostbusters and proceed to brazenly enter Egon’s lab. And it’s at this point where I started wondering why these two haven’t been fired yet.  I don’t know much about journalism, but I don’t think they’re allowed to barge into places like this.  They’re supposed to be professional reporters, not paparazzi. Of course, since this is seemingly a tabloid news show, I’m guessing ethics aren’t that big of a deal to them.

Upon storming into Egon’s lab, Sandy and Helen find Egon working on some new machine of his.  Winston, Ray and Peter hurry in after them, and Ray instructs them to leave since this invention is top secret.  Helen, however, refuses to leave, saying they can’t keep the press out.  And Winston seems to be ready to try and physically remove them from the premises.  Can’t say I blame him there.  But Egon states it might be a good time to go public with their latest experiment, and he begins to explain what he’s working on.  He announces that, up until now, they’ve stored the ghosts they’ve captured in the containment unit, but this is both expensive and dangerous.  So they’re considering an alternative method, which involves permanently transporting the ghosts into an alternate dimension. (Huh, I wonder if they’ve been collaborating with that unnamed scientist from You Can’t Take it With You.  After all, he seemed quite knowledgeable when it came to opening dimensional portals.)

The Ghostbusters begin to execute the machine’s test run, with Peter bringing out a loaded Ghost Trap.  Peter lets the ghost out, and Ray and Winston hold him in place with their Proton Packs while Egon starts up the machine.  The test run proves to be successful, as the ghost is pulled through a dimensional gateway, vanishing from sight.  However, Sandy doesn’t seem to be impressed, suggesting all the flashing lights might have just been a show for their benefit.  And then he proceeds to mess around with the controls. Despite Helen’s obvious misgivings about it, which is the first time we see one of these two nitwits being sensible, Sandy pulls a lever, resulting in the high voltage switch overloading. Seconds later, the ‘TV screen’ (because we’re apparently supposed to be watching this happening via live news broadcast) goes haywire, with brief images of the Ghostbusters and the reporters mixed in with static.

Eldon Bromo then reappears at his news desk, announcing that there seems to be some technical difficulty in the news feed from Sandy and Helen.  So, while they try and reestablish their connection, he invites viewers to enjoy this week’s commentary from some guy named Roone Agent, who rambles random nonsense about watching fingernails grow and seeing dust collecting.  Thankfully, this doesn’t last very long, as the feed from Sandy and Helen’s cameraman has been located again.  Just in time for us to see the aftermath of the incident. While Ray, Winston and Peter try to extinguish the small fires that are still burning in the background, Sandy presses on with his report.  Only he states there was clearly an accident with the test run of the Ghostbuster’s new machine.  Upon hearing Sandy say this, Ray storms over and angrily reminds him that this was completely his fault as he nearly wrings Sandy’s neck.  Fortunately for Sandy, Winston manages to pull Ray off him. However, something is clearly wrong with Egon, as he seems to have mutated into a large purple creature. The mutated Egon suddenly begins to attack Peter as he tries to check up on his friend.  Winston, with the help of the videotape he’d apparently borrowed from Sandy and Helen’s cameraman, is able to piece together what happened to Egon. When the machine overloaded thanks to Sandy’s interference, Egon’s soul was pulled out of his body and got sucked up through the dimensional portal.  Seconds later, a demon had come out of the portal and entered Egon’s body, filling in the vacancy.  Upon consulting Egon’s notes on the machine, it’s determined they only have fifteen minutes to reverse the switch, otherwise the change will be permanent.  First thing is first, though. They have to figure out how to restrain Demon Egon, who is currently destroying everything in sight. Ray points out they can’t simply zap him with their Proton Packs, as it’s still Egon’s body.  Fortunately, Peter has an idea, and he tosses a few canisters of knockout gas (which they have lying around for some reason) at Demon Egon. This successfully knocks Demon Egon out, but before the Ghostbusters can retrieve him, they see Sandy and Helen’s camera truck speed off.  Because somehow, in that short amount of time, Helen managed to get past the Ghostbusters and pulled Demon Egon’s unconscious body into the camera truck. And she’s now bringing him back to the studio for an exclusive interview.  (Okay, I’m pretty sure this counts as kidnapping.  Seriously, how do these twats still have a job?!)

Knowing that they have to get Egon’s body back, and locate his soul in order to reverse the switch in time, the Ghostbusters decide to split up.  While Ray and Winston go off after Helen to get Demon Egon back, Peter will venture into the alternate dimension and fetch Egon’s soul. After Ray and Winston leave, Peter gets to work at entering the alternate dimension.  He tasks Janine, who has since returned from walking Slimer, to pull him back out with the rope he has tied around his waist once he locates Egon’s soul.  So Peter goes through the dimensional portal.  And Sandy, being the utter moron he is, jumps in after him.  Because he’s that desperate for a juicy story.   (Ugh, those two reporters are really getting on my last nerve.)  Naturally, Peter is dumbfounded when he sees Sandy has followed him into the other dimension.  But there’s no time for him to really reprimand the reporter’s idiocy, as they’re promptly attacked by a flock of demon bird things.

Back at the news studio, Helen is attempting to begin her interview with Demon Egon, who is just starting to come around.  As one might expect, Demon Egon is not very receptive to Helen’s interview questions.  Instead, he simply grabs her and starts running amuck through the studio, leaving behind a trail of destruction in his wake.  Luckily, Winston and Ray arrive moments later.  They manage to save Helen by overturning a crate full of soccer balls, footballs, basketballs and volleyballs (which was sitting inside the news studio for some reason), which causes Demon Egon to trip and drop her. But Demon Egon then runs off, so Ray and Winston hurry after him.  And once again, Helen proves how irritating she is when she jumps into the back of the Ecto-1 as it’s driving off. (Well, I guess you can’t say she isn’t persistent.)

Meanwhile, in the other dimension, Peter has managed to drive off the demon birds.  But the moment they fly off, the Test Subject Ghost from earlier suddenly runs over. The Test Subject Ghost begs Peter to take him back.  It seems this other dimension is much too spooky for Test Subject Ghost’s liking.  Peter agrees to do so, but first he asks Test Subject Ghost if he’s seen a soul around. The Test Subject Ghost states he has, and says the soul is right over a nearby hill. Peter then fulfills his half of the bargain and allows Test Subject Ghost to enter the Ghost Trap he has with him.  With that out of the way, Peter and Sandy head over the indicated hill.  At first, it looks like Test Subject Ghost gave them a false lead, as all they can see is a one legged ghost jumping on a trampoline suspended over a pit.  Until Peter realizes the trampoline is actually Egon’s soul, stretched out like a sheet.  Peter hurries down and retrieves Egon’s soul, rolling him up like a rug before signaling to Janine to pull them all out by tugging on the rope.

It then switches back to Ray and Winston, who are still following after Demon Egon in the Ecto-1.  Winston announces he knows they can’t risk shooting Demon Egon with the Proton Packs as it could damage Egon’s Body.  But they can use the Proton Packs to corral him back to the Firehouse.  They proceed to do so, and manage to get Demon Egon back to the Firehouse with only a minute to spare.  When they arrive, with Demon Egon crashing through the wall a la Kool-Aid Man, they’re greeted by the sight of Peter and Janine trying to physically hold back the One Legged Ghost, who is clearly not happy about losing his makeshift trampoline and is trying to come out through the portal to get it back.  When the One Legged Ghost overpowers Peter and Janine by shoving them back, Slimer takes over by tickling the ghost’s foot, thereby keeping him from coming any further out of the portal.  This gives Janine and Peter the chance to hold out Egon’s soul so Demon Egon would run into it.  When Demon Egon and Egon’s soul collide, Egon’s soul is able to return to his body, and the demon that was inside Egon’s body is tossed out.  Once it’s no longer inhabiting Egon’s body, the demon flies back through the dimensional portal, shoving the One Legged Ghost back as well before the portal closes up.  And Sandy and Helen got drenched in slime in the process.

With the crisis averted, the Ghostbusters celebrate safe Egon’s return.  As for Sandy and Helen, who are still sitting there covered in ectoplasmic slime, Peter decides to complete their news report for them, taking their microphone and announcing that, if tonight was any indication, many people need the Ghostbusters. And so the episode ends, with Eldon Brando bidding everyone watching the news program a good night.

What did I just watch?!  I have no idea what this episode even was.  We’re supposed to be watching a show within a show?  What kind of weird mind trip was this?  I would understand if this was supposed to be their April Fool’s Day special, but that doesn’t seem to be the case since the episode first aired in December.   At the same time, it does make a bit of sense as this was one of the four episodes written by Marc Scott Zicree.  The other episodes he wrote for the show were Look Homeward, Ray, Station Identification and Lights! Camera! Haunting! (which, incidentally, is the next episode on the roster). With the exception of Look Homeward, Ray, all of those episodes have something to do with TV shows and film. Kinda sensing a pattern here.  In a partially related story, I get the feeling that someone in the writing room had some kind of beef against reporters.  I do know the whole trope of how reporters will do anything for a scoop. But the characters of Sandy and Helen were just insufferable!  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure any reporter would be fired or arrested if they forced their way onto private property like they did in this episode. They were clearly there at the Firehouse without permission and refused to leave.  Plus, Helen actually abducted Egon’s possessed body.  Pretty sure kidnapping violates the code of conduct in journalism.  Not only that, they continued to show absolutely no awareness of what was going on around them, even when it was clear that their lives were in jeopardy. How do these two still have a job? Was there some sort of scandal with reporters and journalists overstepping their boundaries in the 80s, making this episode some kind of social commentary?  Considering I was a toddler for most of the 80s, I don’t remember that decade that well.

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[neverangle]

Things I did today that made me feel productive. Cleaned my room. I mean the whole shebang cleaned my room. Moved my  queen sized metal framed bed. Showered. Changed my tumblr icon finally. Today has been a good day off.