Week 2

[captainryan]

Another week’s gone by and Ryan’s still trapped in the animated Stantz’s world. It’s frustrating knowing he can’t open the Door to Milliways himself, that he has to rely on the other man to get back. Not that he’s unreliable, he just tends to get distracted. Ryan would ask him to try the doors more often, but he’s seen the man come home covered in slime. He deserves some downtime.

Which he had yesterday. When Winston was teaching him how to shoot, the other guys had the day to themselves. Stantz can open a few doors for him today and one of those will lead to Milliways. He hopes. Ryan steps into the main room just in time to here something about baseball. An American sport, he thinks, dismissing it and heading towards Ray.

Comments

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

This is such bullshit, but Ryan complies, lowering his thrower with a growl. He scowls at the pitcher as he fires the last ball at home plate. Encased in a red glow, the white sphere streaks towards Winston who actually manages to swing at it this time...and connect.

The red missile flies back the way it came, catching the pitcher in the gut and carrying him through the air to smash into the scoreboard and send the structure tumbling into the ground. The entire field is silent for one long moment before Team Good erupts into cheers.

[gone_byebye]

Winston trots the bases bringing in the last of three runs as Team Evil dissolves. Team Good assembles at the plate to shake his hand individually before vanishing, leaving the Ghostbusters and the werewolf alone with the umpire. "It was a test, wasn't it?" says Egon, and there's an edge in his voice.

"I told you no one can be neutral," says the umpire. "You had to choose. Would you cheat for your friend, or would you trust in fair play and let Good win on its own terms?" He cants his head in Peter and Ryan's direction. "Perhaps we'll meet again someday."

The umpire dissolves in a spray of orange light, and the field returns to its old self in the clear light of morning. Egon grumps about not having been able to study the umpire properly, but Peter leans forward and says, "At least we saved our buddy here, right?"

"What?" says Winston.

"We knew all along it was your soul, Winston," says Ray.

Winston throws up both hands. "Oh, no, you got it all wrong," he says. "That would've been a conflict of interest. It was your soul, Ryan. That's why they let me play."

Peter blinks a few times and then says, "Oooohkay. Sorry about the whole putting you at risk of five hundred years of evil torment thing, Cap'n. No harm, no foul, right?"

"That's basketball, Peter."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Ryan's too shocked to say anything at first. His soul? They were playing for his soul?

"Right," he manages weakly as he realizes just how very close he came. "It could have just as easily been your's, after all.

"Why my soul?"

[gone_byebye]

"They drew lots," says Winston. "Out of everybody in a hundred miles. And your name was the one that came up."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Ryan just nods silently, still stunned. He can't... The odds... He's not even from this world! How can...

It'll be some time after they return to the firehouse that Ryan manages to order his thoughts enough to pull Winston aside.

"You had my back," Ryan says simply, studying the man. "Thank you."

[gone_byebye]

Winston nods. "That's what we're here for, isn't it?" he says. "Don't mention it. It's all good."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Ryan nods once in return. They barely know each other, but Ryan now feels he owes the man. At the very least, he saved him from another five hundred years away from his pack. Ryan won't forget.

"The next time you decide to go on a solo ghost hunt, don't hesitate to bring me along." It's a bit chiding, yes, but Ryan makes sure to stress the last half a great deal more.

[gone_byebye]

"I don't think I'll be doing that again any time soon," Winston admits. "I kinda learned my lesson this time. But yeah, sure, if it comes up."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"Fair enough," Ryan says with one last nod. He moves past Winston to hang up his jumpsuit, bumping against the man's shoulder as he passes.