boxofmystery | Double Trouble

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Double Trouble

[Ralph's life had changed quite a bit ever since the events of last month had taken place. Things had been in a whirlwind and Ralph was still getting used to his new life.

The biggest deal was having friends now. While he was close to Felix, he was even closer to Vanellope, and they often had adventures all over the arcade.

She was still settling into things as well and learning the ropes of her new position. There were things that needed to be taken care of, so she always had to stay after closing and make sure things went smoothly.

Ralph didn't mind waiting for her, they often met up at Tapper, the old bar game that was the most popular spot to hang out in. He's spent a lot of time in this game, he knew it and most of the regulars well.

Tonight, he's sitting at one of the corner seats, they gave him the most space, and he's sipping a root beer. He's facing the doorway, keeping an eye out for his best friend heading on through the doors.]

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[Sorry Ralph, but Vanellope isn't the person you're going to be encountering today it would seem. Two figures entered Tapper some time ago, long enough ago that Ralph wouldn't have seen them come through the doors. Strangely enough though, they didn't make their way to the bar immediately, as most other patrons would have. No, they hung back within the crowd of going and coming people, purposely making their presence as inconspicuous as they possibly could.

It's not until the crowd thins out a bit that they finally make their way to the bar, sitting as close to the end as they possibly can, away from the others. It's dark, so it's a bit hard to tell who they are at all, especially considering that you probably wouldn't be able to see their faces at all unless you were sitting right next to them.

Fact of the matter was, this pair didn't find themselves too awfully concerned with being noticed, anymore. They weren't the infameous ones, after all.]

A'ight, listen to me. We ain't stayin' long. Just gonna rest here for a bit an' move on before anybody notices us. So just...don't say nothin'.

[The other of the pair nods a bit before turning his head back towards the bar, while the one that spoke pulls his collar up a bit higher around his neck.]

Edited 2013-05-14 04:58 (UTC)

[Ralph's pretty relaxed right now, he's just hanging out, sipping some root beer and talking to the bartender every now and then.

He's in the middle of taking a big drink when the two sit down several seats away.

Ralph glances over at them and pauses mid-drink, blinking a few times before setting his not-quite-empty cup down on the bar.

After a few more moments of silence, he finally swallows the bit of root beer that remained in his mouth.

He moved his mug over to look in it, it looked like regular root beer, not any of the alcoholic stuff.

Ralph swirls the liquid around in the mug, watching it, but glancing over at the two every now and then.

There was something about them, he wasn't sure exactly what, maybe it was the gray complexion or the jumpsuits or their yellow eyes and teeth he caught a glimpse of every now and then, but whatever it was, it was all too familiar, far too much like a certain deranged and most likely dead racer that had caused so much trouble.

A name that was spoken sourly even before the arcade knew that he had been hiding in the sweetest game.

Turbo.]

[It's almost as if Tas can feel Ralph's gaze burning into him, though he only looks over every now and then in the form of glances. He avoids looking over himself in case that happens to draw attention, instead leaning over to his brother with a hiss.]

....Might be leavin' sooner than I thought. Just stick by me, and remember don't say nothin'.

[The racer knows that leaving so suddenly might get attention too, so for now he and his brother keep their silence, just sitting idly at the bar for the moment. Tic, the quieter of the two, had been looking forward to at least getting something to drink, but that didn't seem to be in the cards right now.

Tas is obviously on edge, but he still doesn't look over past glancing at Ralph out of the corner of his eye.

...Why is that guy so...familiar?]

[Ralph can't make out the words, but he definitely hears a whisper. That alone puts him a little more on edge, were they plotting something.

Well, if push came to shove, even though they outnumbered him, he, by far, outweighed them. If there were gonna cause trouble, especially here in one of his favorite games, the one game where nobody ever judged him, then they were gonna be in for a rude awakening.

Nobody was gonna go Turbo on Tapper if he had anything to say about it.

For now, he's gonna continue keeping a careful eye on the two, if they make any moves that make him uneasy, he's gonna have to confront them for his own sanity.]

Tas...c'mon, we've been runnin' all over the place to hundreds of different games. Can't we stop for a while?

[Tic jumps when Tas suddenly slams his hands down on the bar a bit too loudly, but not loud enough to draw the attention of those around him. Then he points at Tic with an even lower hiss, trying his best to get his brother's full attention without drawing attention from elsewhere.]

I said t'keep yer mouth shut! I'm not gettin' a good feelin' about Tapper today, ok?

[His voice is still a whisper, and still very uneasy. Tic makes a face and sits up a bit straighter, but doesn't argue. He knows it's not worth the effort.]

[Ralph frowns to himself, now the other one was getting in on the whispering. Both their behaviors seem suspicious, and their resemblance to Turbo isn't helping matters any.

Who were these guys, anyway? Had Turbo somehow managed to clone himself? Or had he survived the diet cola, but was split in the process?

Something was very wrong here, that was for certain. Ralph continues observing them, not sure how to handle the situation, he really doesn't want to cause a scene in Tapper's.]

[The two remain silent for a while, anything else they might be saying being drowned out by the chatter of the other characters at the bar around them. They don't seem to have drawn the attention of anyone but Ralph, and with good reason.

The longer they sit there though, the more Tas steals his own glances at Ralph, trying to get a better look at him. He swears he recognizes the hulking character sitting a few seats down, but he's not about to show his face just to get a better look. He and Tic have had some close calls before, more often long ago when the RoadBlasters incident first occurred and was fresh in everyone's minds. Those close calls were what kept Tas on edge, not wanting to risk anyone recognizing them. It became easier and easier as time went by, but still...

Regardless, he can't help but be curious, and it's probably noticeable.]

[If it wasn't for the fact that the pair of them reminded him so much of Turbo, Ralph wouldn't have even paid any attention to the Twins.

He catches one of them peeking over at him and quickly looks away. If they were somehow Turbo, they would have instantly known who he was, unless something had happened to damage his memory.

Ralph doesn't like the situation, but there's nothing he can do right now, but it's driving him up the wall.]

[Tas's feeling of unease only grows the longer they stay, to the point where he's sure he won't be able to stand it any longer. He sits up a bit straighter, moving to step down from his barstool when Tic suddenly grabs his sleeve, staying him.]

Tas...Tas...

I just said for ya t'keep y-

No, I know that guy! Sittin' by ya! It's Ralph, remember?

[Tas goes rigid, pulling his arm back to jostle Tic a bit to quiet him down. He'd gotten too loud for his tastes, first of all. And second....now he's realized why the character was so familiar to him.

They're definitely treading on thin ice at this point, and Tas knows it's high time for them to be making tracks. If that big oaf of a wrecker recognizes them now and blows their cover, well...he's not really sure what they're going to do.]

[Ralph tenses up when the one seems like he's about to leave, planning on getting out of his seat as well.

However, he's stopped by the other and they whisper again, but this time, Ralph swears that he almost heard his name mentioned. Great, they knew who he was, so, chances were, things weren't gonna end well.

But, if they are Turbo, he can't let them rampage through the arcade. He's got an idea to keep from making too much of a scene, Ralph can move fast when he wants to, but he's gotta wait for the right opportunity.]

[There's no mistaking it. It is Ralph. Tas recognizes him too, after all these years. Of course it would be their luck that he would be here the same day they happened to stop by.

To top it off, Tas can't really tell if Ralph has noticed their presence yet or not. And if he has, has he possibly already recognized him...?

The twins were obviously not the focal point of Turbo Time in its hay day, that was a given. Still, they were there and did make up a big part of the game, so Ralph would either have to be blind or stupid to not know who they were. No, they've definitely over stayed their welcome in Tapper. Yet, Tas can't get himself to get up and drag Tic out with him. If Ralph points them out just as they're leaving, they'll draw the attention of the entire game. That wouldn't be acceptable.

He chances one more glance at the wrecker, not knowing that Tic is peeking at Ralph over his shoulder.]

[Ralph's fair at faces and names, but he never really knew the Twins all that well and thought they were dead, just like he had thought Turbo was. So, at the moment, he still thinks that they're some part of Turbo.

He catches both of them looking at him, and that's the final straw, he wants answers and he wants them before the two of them bolt.

So, Ralph gets off of his seat, walks in the direction of the Twins, and as he's passing them, he grabs the back of their jumpsuit collars and starts hauling them off towards the back hallway where the closets and bathrooms are.

He doesn't want to cause a scene and dragging them elsewhere seems like the best idea for a confrontation in a semi-crowded bar.]

ACK!

[Tas can't help but let out a sharp noise of surprise when Ralph suddenly jerks him off his seat. Tic is in the same boat, but they can only grab at their necks as Ralph all but picks them right up and carries them away, as easy as you like.

Tas's immediate reaction is to struggle and try to free himself from Ralph, but the thing they're trying not to do is cause a scene. This? This is very close to being a scene caused. On top of that, even if he could get away he'd be abandoning Tic. While an unnoticed escape is enticing, he can't leave him behind.

So the two simply continue to struggle, trying desperately to free themselves while making as little noise as possible. Ralph's size is kind to him here, making it so he can carry them off practically without being noticed at all.]

[When they struggle, Ralph simply tightens his grip on their clothes.

After a few moments, they arrive at their destination, once Ralph is sure nobody else is coming down the hallway, he drops their jumpsuits, only to immediately grab them again, changing his grip so that he had one in each fist.

Their arms are pinned to their sides, but their legs dangle out of Ralph's hands and their heads poke up above his thumb. He brings them up close to his face and talks in a low, dangerous voice at them in nearly a growl.]

You two better start explaining yourselves real quick.

[The Twins are quite literally in a bind. They both lean away from Ralph when he brings them close, ceasing in their struggling when they finally get a good look at him. Yep, that's Ralph alright.

Tas assumes immediately that he's recognized him, but the fact that he's hauled them to the back like this isn't making any sense. Sure Turbo branded them pretty badly with what he did, but was it really bad enough to garner this type of reaction?

Tic shrinks down a little in Ralph's fist while Tas resumes struggling for a moment, fighting to free his arms from his grip.]

We ain't gotta explain anything to you, Wreck-It. Now put. Us. DOWN.

[Without their helmets, Ralph doesn't recognize the Twins, at least not fully. His fairly recent encounter with Turbo is still stuck in his mind and he can't forget what that nasty little racer did to his friend.

He tightens his grip on them slightly, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his eyebrows.]

I'm not gonna let you go around and wreck anyone else's lives, Turbo...s.

[Ralph awkwardly finished the sentence, he still hadn't figured out how Turbo had split into two, but he wouldn't put that trick past him.]

[Suddenly, the Twins go rigid in Ralph's fists, their expressions quickly turning into ones of pure shock before they quickly share a baffled glance.]

Did you s- ....say......Turbos?

[Tas grits his teeth and resumes his vain struggling, fighting to wrench his arms free from Ralph's fist even though he knows it's pointless.]

You must be a complete idiot, huh?! Turbo ain't 'round anymore, you of all people should know that! He's finished- history! An' we're NOT him!

[Playing dumb- or as dumb as one can in this situation- seems like the best road to take for now. Ralph may not yet realize who the two are, and Tas would prefer that he stay ignorant. The less that know he and Tic are alive, the better.]

[Ralph growls and squeezes the Twins a little tighter.]

Don't play dumb with me. I've seen Turbo come back to life twice, I'm willing to bet the sneak can do it again.

The question is, how'd he split himself into two this time? One was more than enough trouble as it was.

Wh-...WHAT!?

[Tas chokes out briefly before Ralph has the chance to squeeze them any tighter, Tic letting out a groan from his other hand. Ok, this has transcended baffling into the realm of complete and utter insanity.]

Did...did'ja hit yer head on those bricks ya squat in or somethin'!? What in the name of pong are ya TALKIN' about?! Turbo...c-comin' back t'life?-

-splittin' himself in two?!-

[At this point, if Ralph gets any angrier and squeezes the two any tighter, he won't have any Turbos to be interrogating. So with everything in him screaming to hold back, Tas finally blurts out.]

We ain't Turbo! We're his brothers! Th'other racers from Turbo Time!

[Before Ralph can respond to Tas' insults, he suddenly yells out that they're the Twins.

In his shock, he nearly drops the both of them, but catches himself in time. His grip has lessened considerably, they'd easily be able to get their arms out.

He brings them back up closer to his face. If it wasn't for the fact that his hands were full of them, he'd run a hand over his hair.]

What?! You guys survived too?!

Did somebody spike the root beer, or are you really those other two guys, the ones Turbo didn't treat too good?

[The Twins let out a breath in unison, and before either make an attempt to answer they pull their arms free from his fists.]

Yeah....yeah we survived. Such a shock, ain't it?

[Tas spits, glaring up at Ralph spitefully out of the corner of his eye.]

What are ya talkin' about, too? We made it out, but....

[The two exchange another glance, falling silent for a moment. Then Tas glares back up at Ralph again.]

Will ya just-.....just stop manhandlin' us now?

Edited 2013-05-16 03:14 (UTC)

[It seemed like they honestly didn't know what happened with Turbo, so Ralph had a lot of explaining to do.

But, when Tas asks him to put them down, he shakes his head slightly, sighing.

Ralph gives them both a stern look.]

How do I know you're not gonna run off before I'm done asking you questions?

[That wasn't exactly a no, but they'd have to come up with a compelling answer that gave Ralph confidence that they weren't going to up and bolt before he found out what was going on.]

[Tas shakes his head too and lets out a heavy sigh, running his fingers through his hair.]

Answer me this Wreck-It- ...where do ya think we can run off to?

[He lets that question hang in the air, not saying anything more. He and Tic didn't have anywhere to go, truly. They'd been homeless for so many years, and they hadn't dared to try to join another game like Turbo did, with catastrophic results. Even then, what game would want them? From the way Ralph's been acting, it sounds as if the entire arcade would rather have them exiled to an unplugged console for eternity than to give them a second chance.]

[Ralph frowns for a moment before answering.]

Well, you were somewhere before, right? You couldn't have just poofed outta nowhere and ended up here?

...Could you?

[He personally has nothing against the Twins, what Turbo did back then hurt them more than it hurt him, especially since he found a new game to claim as his own. So far, it seemed like they had caused far less trouble than their brother had.

Did Turbo know that the Twins were still alive? Or had he been as clueless as the rest of them?]

Well....where else do homeless characters go when their game's been unplugged, huh...?

[They either get taken in by another game, or they water Game Central Station, homeless. ..Alone.

But for the Twins, it wasn't as simple as that. They had to retreat into hiding because of what Turbo had done. The fear and panic he caused became so wide spread that if they so much as set one foot out into the open, there's no telling what would have happened. It had been that way for them both for years, so many long, hard years...

Now, they seem tired, physically and mentally. Back when Turbo Time was first unplugged, if Ralph had caught them like this he would have had a real fight on his hands. Now? ....they barely seem to have much of a will to keep going, beyond just sticking together as best they can.]

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