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

[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?

[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!

surely we can milk six more comments out of this

[stanbyme]

[he knows it from hanging out with you little gremlins all summer]

Atta girl! Now come on, ya little gremlin, time for bed.

[scrapplinghook]

[Mabel sticks her tongue out at him.]

If I'm a gremlin, you're one of those big ol goblins from Dippet and Ford's big nerd game!!

[stanbyme]

I am, am I?

[He grins at her and holds up his hands like claws.]

How about this for a goblin!

[TICKLE ATTACK]

[scrapplinghook]

Nooo!!! Not fair!!

[Mabel's giggles quickly lapse into laughing squeals as she flails, trying to get away from Stan's "attack". Stan might.... have to dodge, because that flailing means one of her fists or elbows is flying right at him.]

[stanbyme]

[Stan laughs when she does, keeping her from accidentally socking him in the jaw. He deflects her flailing fists and elbows by plopping her onto the bed when he stops his attack, panting a little but smiling.

Let her be happy, he thinks. At least, while she can. He pats his hand against the bed next to her.]

Alright, Pumpkin. Get some sleep.

[scrapplinghook]

[Mabel sticks her tongue out at him, but doesn't really object. She may have bounced back pretty well, but this was a pretty long day, so she'll flop down and snuggle up next to him, trying (and failing) to fight a yawn.]

'Kay. And you gotta sleep too, Grunkle Stan...

[stanbyme]

[He ruffles her hair.]

Don't worry, I will.