This is fine. It's fine. We're fine.

[sharpasanarrow]

[Well that was.

Something.

Underneath everyone’s door they’ll find a slip of paper, in shaky calligraphy, that reads:

INVITATION

Meet in the Dining Room.

Do not bring alcohol of any sort.

Upon arrival into the Dining Room it’s clear that this is very much...not a party.

The center of the room is cleared of all tables, and instead has all the chairs arranged in a circle, facing inwards. On the tables pushed to the side are jugs of water, cups, plates of saltines, and several hastily-made pamplets that read on the front ”How to cope with Child homicide” that contains an advisory list:

1. Try not to think about it.
2. Do not get hysterical.
3. Crying is permitted, but keep it within a reasonable volume. (For the consideration of fellow mourners)
4. Maintain civility
5. Do not plunder the belongings of the deceased.
6. No drinking or gambling your sorrows away. Set an example.

Standing in front of one of the chairs already is Mr.Arrow. He clears his throat as people start to slowly come in.]

I gathered you all here because I believed it would be conductive to group morale if we all worked through our feelings regarding recent events. Talk about your feelings with one another, but not with me.

[He steps back a little, out of the circle of chairs, in what seems to be an invitation for people to sit down and discuss with one another.]

Comments

[lovelylilmouse]

It’s...

[She pauses, trying to find the right words to say.]

The worst. We’ve only had two, but watching both of them unfold was the worst and if I have to be honest, I’m not sure if I can handle seeing another one. I just want to go home— I... I miss Mickey.

[She feels her heart pounding in her chest and a tightness in her throat as she speaks. Minnie glances away for a few seconds, taking a little while to register that she couldn’t talk to Goofy, as she’s trying to compose herself and stop herself from crying in front of a face so familiar, but yet, is a stranger at the same time.]

Yeah... I’ll— I’ll probably try and get in contact with him when we’re done here. Thank you. [She smiles.] If there’s anything you want me to tell him for you, just let me know and I’ll be happy to pass on a message for you!

[scrapplinghook]

[She giggles at the hug and nods.]

Sure!! What d'you wanna talk about?

[stanbyme]

[Be gentle with her.

Thanks, Sixer. How the hell am I supposed to do that?]

You, uh... You know that mirror was showin’ us people who’ve been stuck in this kinda place before, right?

[scrapplinghook]

Yeah, I talked to Dipper with it! I knew that jerk was lying when he said Dipper was dead.

[stanbyme]

[A flash of pain crosses Stan’s face. How easy would it be to just let her keep thinking that Dipper was alive? He practically was, he was just...trapped, somewhere else. He wasn’t dead. You can’t talk to the dead, but Dipper had been just as real as if he’d been standing on the other side of a window.

He’s built his whole life on lies before, what’s the harm in letting her keep believing one that she’s told herself?

The harm is that it’s something that can be used against her. He has to keep her from doing something she can’t take back. If he can’t bring himself to do it himself, then...what would Ford do?]

That’s...not quite the truth, Mabel.

[scrapplinghook]

[... ah]

... What do you mean?

[stanbyme]

[He doesn't pause for long, but he does scoop her up and plop her into his lap instead of on the bed next to him.]

Dipper's fine, Sweetie. You talked to him earlier, and I talked to him too, he's alright right now.

[He's gonna start with that, try to remind her to soften the blow.]

...But something bad happened to him when he was stuck in the same mess we're in right now.

[hasit]

I know. It know, it does. [She lets out an incredulous half-laugh.] I haven't...used it, myself, but I've seen it work.

[scrapplinghook]

Wha-- but it couldn't've been that bad! If it was, we couldn't talk to him!

[Sure, she jokes about how Dipper would get into trouble without her, but he can still take care of himself. He has to be okay...!]

[sixfingeredstan]

[Ford nods, grimly.]

I was thinking we could engineer a bubble, and attach it to a rope.

[He'd be joking, normally, except he's not. He'll never forget that mental image as long as he lives.]

[bestchefinparis]

[He feels anything but good right now. A good person would have tried harder to save Jane, right? He looks away, feeling guilty]

...thanks...I'd like to think that.

[Besides, doing this much is the very basic support anyone should give, right? Nothing amazing about it]

[sharpasanarrow]

[He gives him a quick look up and down.]

Your feathers are...okay.

[theduck]

We had to go through... [he pauses to try and count. it's hard, with so many having died every week. he can hardly keep track of everyone they lost at this point.] ...five, I think? But we're gonna find a way to get you guys out real soon. I promise. Mickey's gonna help us-- just... as soon as we find him.

[He decides leaving that matter vague is probably best. They're already in danger just by trying to contact Mickey, apparently, but at least she can know he might be coming.]

Tell Goofy... y'know, it doesn't matter. He can hear me right now anyways, since I guess they're listening down there. Just make sure to ask him if he's doing alright.

[stanbyme]

I don't know how we could talk to him.

[He's not the smart one. He doesn't really know enough about the "underworld," he thought you just kind of. Died, and that was it. He's not gonna ask too many questions with his beloved great-nephew at stake if he breaks the illusion.]

But he had an accident. He fell into the pool and...didn't make it out.

But you know who else I talked to. [He tries to swerve the conversation, forcing himself to sound hopeful.] I talked to your Grunkle Ford, and he said he's already working on a plan to rescue Dipper. So you and me and Soos are gonna stick together, and then we're gonna get Dipper back.

[scrapplinghook]

[Mabel puts a lot of faith in Stan. More than most people, including some of their family would. But she's not sure if she can really believe him here. Dipper can't be dead, no matter what anyonr says. She'd know if he was! It was totally a twin thing!

... She doesn't dwell on that much though, because he mentioned someone else Mabel missed a whole lot!]

I knew it! Right from the beginning I knew Grunkle Ford would help us find a way outta here! Is he okay too???

[stanbyme]

[He's dead but he's...not dead, and it's all too much for Stan to think about for too long outside of the need to not rest until Dipper's safe and he can just pick up both of his niblings and never let them go.

So boy is he thankful that she takes the bait to switch subjects.]

It's your Grunkle Ford, of course he's just fine. I'm sure he's got at least five stories of other times he made it out of something like this. Right now he's keepin' an eye on us from...Wherever he's at. So we gotta keep it together and show him that nothing keeps a Pines down for long, right, Pumpkin?

[stanbyme]

We'd have to make two. We couldn't just put Dipper in a hamster ball and not give Mabel one too.

[He can read Ford's face as easy as he can read his own, he can see the grief there.

He's sure that it's on his own face, too. These are the most serious jokes either of them have ever made.]

[scrapplinghook]

Heck yeah!

[She holds her fist out for a fistbump; you gotta know this at least, right Stan???]

Now that we know they're watching, there's no way we're gunna let them down!

[negaverse]

Oh you naughty dog, you.

[sixfingeredstan]

Of course. There'd be a riot.

[Look, see, they can hold up the facade of easy conversation even though they're both dying inside!]

Well—just make sure he's alright. And, Stanley—

[How to say this nicely.]

Don't let yourself be distracted.

[sharpasanarrow]

[Just completely speechless.]


I am not a dog.

[tanukey]

...we could make some really bitchin' margaritas.

[Do they have those in space? They did now.]

[tanukey]

Not bein' stuck in a technological deadzone'd be a good start. There's always just- I dunno. Another job. Dodgin' the consequences of the last job.

[pinkflip]

Really. ...I know I- I'm not the only one messed up by all this. So it's...reaching out, when you're also upset, it's good.

[ It's something she wishes she'd done lately. ]

[pinkflip]

...It's about time something good happened.

[ That's what she's going to keep telling herself. ]