Double Trouble

[wreckofaguy]

[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.]

Comments

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph knows a fraction of what the Twins have been going through, are going through. He knows all too well what it's like to be hated for something you have no control over. He also knows how hard Q*bert and his friends have it, they're so unusual, there's no games they can really blend in with to get a job. Ralph wished he could do something for them, but what? Maybe Felix would have an idea.

At the question, Ralph kneels down. Instead of bringing them up to eye level like he had done only a little while ago, he goes down to theirs. He gives them a slow nod, and a sigh.]

As far as I know, yes. But, he survived dying once before, uh, twice before, so I don't really wanna say for certain that he's gone for good.

But, it's a pretty decent bet that he's run out of lives and it's Game Over for him.

[twintastic]

[Tas grits his teeth, finally reaching down to take hold of Tic's arm when he starts shaking a bit more at Ralph's words. What he says next though is something completely different, and probably unexpected.]

....he wasn't always bad, yaknow.

[Tas glances away with a hard frown, rubbing the side of his face with a free hand.]

I mean Turbo wasn't a good guy by any means. He was downright nasty half the time, and didn't care 'bout nobody but me, myself, an' I. Winnin' was his life. Bein' the center of attention was his life. 'Course he'd be willin' to die for that.

[The racer shrugs weakly, letting out a heavy sigh.]

...but he was still our brother, yaknow? ...back then he wouldn't'a killed anyone. He prolly didn't even mean t'get RoadBlasters unplugged, but I dunno. ..maybe he did.

[The incident could have been what caused him to snap. Tas really can't say for sure. Heck, he and Tic knew nothing about all of this, so they obviously have done a better job at keeping themselves hidden than they previously thought.]

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph's only a little surprised at what Tas is saying, after all, even he felt some loyalty to all of the Nicelanders, even though they had treated him terribly for all those years. Except in this case, Turbo was their brother, so they had even more of a connection than just being in the same game.

He nods, sighing once more. He didn't like Turbo, especially after everything was said and done, but, he had a soft spot for the Twins. Ralph's not sure what to say, so he just comes up with the most positive thing he can say. Which, it isn't much, and he knows it.]

If it's any consolation, it looked like that for a long time, nearly everybody in Sugar Rush liked him.

[twintastic]

[Tas suddenly lets out a sharp, sarcastic bark of a laugh. It's not at all humorous.]

Pssht. Course. ....Least he still got what he wanted, even then.

[Tas can't help but wonder if Turbo ever thought about his brothers all that time he was still alive. Did he ever wonder if the Twins survived? ....Did he ever care?]

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph closes his eyes and sighs.]

He's rather good at taking what he wants, isn't he?

[Ralph not really sure how to respond to that, that's the best he can come up with.

As for his brothers, there was no mention of them from Turbo, but, he was preoccupied with other matters at the time.]

[twintastic]

Mmm.

[The conversation again trails off into silence as Tas looks back over to Tic, who hasn't said a word since Ralph put them both down. Tas is still having a hard time believing what Ralph's saying, but Tic seems to be a whole different story. His grip is like a vice on his brother's arm, but he still remains silent.]

So what're ya gonna....tell everyone in th'entire dang arcade me n' Tic are here now? T'warn 'em?

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph shakes his head.]

The way I see it, you guys have been minding your own business all this time. There's been no reports of games going Out of Order because someone's messed with them, there's been no weird glitches, heck, the fact that you two are standing here as yourselves is proof that you're not your brother.

If you wanted to cause trouble, you already would have.

[twintastic]

Dang straight.

[Tas scoffs, tugging on his arm a bit until Tic finally lets go, lifting a hand to wipe his face. He still remains silent, however.]

Better make sure it stays that way, Wreck-It.

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph gives them a solemn nod.]

I'll do what I can.

[He pauses for just a moment.]

After all, I know what it's like to be hated for things that were out of my control.

[twintastic]

[Tas pauses, watching Ralph silently for a moment. He kept mentioning how he was hated...and that intrigued him whether he liked it or not. Something tells him it's best if he leaves it alone, but as long as they've been drug back here he might as well ask.]

What's yer deal anyway? ...You don't seem like the same guy from way back when.

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph shrugs.]

30 years will do a lot of things to you. One day, I got sick and tired of not being appreciated, so I took a page from your brother's book and went off to snag me a medal. I got the blasted thing, but one thing lead to another, and well, that's how your brother ended up a giant, murderous bug monster.

[It suddenly occurs to him that it was completely his fault that Turbo had gotten his final Game Over, if that bug hadn't attached to his face and went to Sugar Rush with him, then their brother would still be alive.]

[twintastic]

[Both of the Twins wince at that. The information is still pretty fresh, and every extra time it gets brought up just rubs more salt in the wounds. Still, they shouldn't care as much as they do, really.

..Yet he was their brother. They have to.]

Yeah yeah, whatever. Bet'cha yer glad ya got yer happy endin' at least, huh? You 'ad no room to be actin' like nobody appreciated ya in th'first place anyway. Aren't ya th'REASON th'game's called Fix-It Felix, Jr.?

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph doesn't like their sudden change in tone, but he can't really blame them. In response, he shakes his head.]

No, the game is named for Felix. The Nicelanders would give him cakes and pies, but they never even treated me like an equal.

On the day of the game's 30th anniversary, they didn't even invite me to the party. So, I got sick and tired of their attitudes towards me and I decided to change things.

I didn't mean to even ever show up in Sugar Rush, but once I got there, one thing lead to another, and your brother was revealed to have attempted to murder a little girl.

[twintastic]

[Suddenly Tas feels himself jostled slightly when Tic shifts unexpectedly, his fingers digging into his brother's arm almost painfully to keep himself steady.
Did....did he almost fall? Tas can't really tell, but he is trembling again.

Tas's expression changes in an instant, his eyes burning as he snaps.]

A'ight. We get it. Whatever ya freakin' did it's over with now anyways. Like I said, ya got yer happy endin', so whoopdi-freakin'-do for you.

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph frowns.]

Hey! Why are you turning around all of this to be about me? Look, I'm sorry about what happened to your brother, but if it didn't, the whole arcade woulda been shut down, taking you with it.

[twintastic]

S'not like it woulda' even mattered. All we do nowadays anyways is hide. That's no life, not fer someone who's 'sposed to be workin' from nine t'five.

[Even as he says this, Tas knows that he and his brother still have one thing: the will to survive. It weakens by the day, but it still persists, no matter what he tries to say to object.]

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph sighs at this, he's seen the despair on the others all too well. Even though Q*bert and his friends hadn't been unplugged nearly as long as TurboTime's been, he could see the toll it took on them. And, they had people helping them out, giving them food and support.

The Twins didn't have that, they had to find whatever scraps they could take and never let anyone know that they were there. They were on their own, utterly alone except for each other.]

I know...and, I'm sorry.

Me and Felix are tryin' to come up with a way to help the homeless characters, but so far, we haven't had any good ideas.

[twintastic]

No, ya don't get it. Even IF ya somehow find somewhere t'put everyone, where's that gonna leave me n' Tic here? 'Specially if what you're tellin' us is true-

[He jerks his head away sharply, scuffing his shoe against the floor with a loud huff.]

S'no way we're ever showin' our faces in this place again.

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph's been going back and forth on this, but he's finally come to a decision. After all, he owes the Twins, it's his fault their brother is dead.]

You're not exactly getting what I'm saying. We're thinking about putting everybody in our game. Including you. If you want.

We just haven't figured out the details yet. It's hard to find a solution everybody likes.

[twintastic]

[The two racers freeze, seemingly stunned by Ralph's proposition. Finally Tic speaks up, voicing his confusion as well as Tas's.]

You'd put....us in your game? ....even after what Turbo did...?

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph leans a little closer to them.]

I don't see Turbo around here, now do I? [He gently prods Tic with a finger.] Unless you're masquerading as him, which if you are, you've got me fooled.

Do you know what I do see?

Two brothers, down on their luck, who could really use a job and a place to live.

[twintastic]

[Tic blinks a little, lifting a fist to again rub at his eyes before glancing over at Tas. He looks less than convinced by Ralph's offer, but on the inside he's really quite surprised.

If Ralph had it in him to look past everything Turbo had done and let his own two brothers stay with him in his game...then either he's got a heart that you don't find in most characters anymore, or he's just plain stupid.]

....I'd like t'see you convince Fix-It 'er....any of th'rest of them that we aren't as bad as Turbo was.

[wreckofaguy]

[Really, you could make a case for Ralph either way.

Whatever the reason is, he's decided to help the Twins out. His motivation for doing so is partially out of guilt and partially out of knowing a little of what they're going through. He's got a big heart, but, honestly, Ralph's not the smartest brick in the pile sometimes. He's far from dumb, but there are a few things that are just beyond him.

He nods.]

Well, I think Felix'll agree with me, and once he does, the others shouldn't be too hard to convince. Gene, might give us some trouble, though.

[twintastic]

....

[Again the Twins exchange a quick glance before looking back up at Ralph, falling silent. What Ralph is proposing seems too good to be true, but on top of that, why would they want to live in a place where they might be treated like outcasts? That sort of life would almost be more unbearable than just being homeless in general.]

Yeah well....we'll see.

[wreckofaguy]

[Ralph thinks for a moment.]

So, uh, how'll I find you guys once we got things figured out?

[They probably wouldn't want to tell him anything, but if they didn't, then he couldn't let them know what was going on.]