Day One; After Body Announcement, Before House of Horrors in the afternoon

[ineptus]

[A lot about today has Mabel rattled, and the previous night didn't help any at all. So once investigations get under way and after the debacle with the whole newspaper deal, Mabel takes Dipper back to her room to talk, sitting down on the bed. Because there are Things to discuss.]

...Dipper, I don't like this game. I don't like any of the rules or any of the roles or anything.

Comments

[ineptus]

[And here eyes just search his for a moment before she shakes off his hands, moving to hug him instead, face buried in his shoulder.]

[terci]

[He hugs her back without hesitation, patting her back a little.]

No matter what any "partner" of yours tells you, you know me, Mabel. And I'd never ever kill you. Ever!

[Wow he actually feels a little offended at whomever this so called partner is.]

[ineptus]

[Her grip tightens and she nods.]

Y-yeah! Just like I told her! She's just some stupid girl with...trust issues or something!

[terci]

Sounds to me like you need a new partner. [If only that were possible..

Speaking of that, he pulls away from the hug, leaving one hand on her shoulder though.]

So out of curiosity, are you and your partners "buddies" or...

[ineptus]

...y-yeah. We are. [And it leaves such a sour taste in her mouth.]

[terci]

[WELL.. dang. ]

Ugh, that sucks.

[ineptus]

I mean at least she wants to protect us both? But after what she said about us I don't want to work with her ever again basically!

[terci]

No, Mabel you don't understand what this means. [He takes his hand off her shoulder and covers his eyes with both of his hands, letting out a sigh.]

I have a "buddy" too, which means we both have double the chance of getting killed in this game! [Even though they previously established it was all definitely totally a joke and no one is going to die ever, he seems very stressed.]

1/2

[ineptus]

[Mabel...Mabel just wilts at that information. She looks like she just wants to lay down and maybe cry a little...]

[ineptus]

[But...there has to be a silver lining to this. There has to. After a few moments of thought, she manages a small, albeit sad smile.]

A-at. At least we have...an alliance. Alliances are good in these situations, right? You and I will definitely not let each other die, so...we won't let them die either. Even if my buddy is possibly worse than Pacifica.

[terci]

Yeah, at least there's that. [He doesn't seem to be feeling much better though........]

[ineptus]

[That's okay, she's not really either.]

We just have to be careful. We'll just be super extra careful! And also super, extra adorable, so that nobody will even want to kill us. Because...

[She does a little counting on her fingers.]

The special guests...they just need to outnumber us to win right...? So...they don't have to kill the four of us.

[God, she hates that she's even saying any of this, but suddenly everything is very, very real and very, very awful.]

1/2

[terci]

But Mabel, they could go after our partners! And if they ever found out about how we have buddies in the first place, it puts a huge target on our backs!

And... [There's a pause, as he tries to think of a way to word the next part.]

[terci]

...and we're already big enough targets on our own. Who wouldn't go after a couple of kids who can't even defend themselves..

[ineptus]

But we can defend ourselves! [Even though tears are threatening to spill down her cheeks and she wants to let them, her voice is firm when she says this.]

What about the gnomes? Or the lake monster? What about those wax statues? What about that awful shapeshifter? What about those dumb golf balls? What about Gideon? What about Bill?!

[Rubbing at her eyes, she sniffles a little.]

We can defend ourselves just fine. You can defend yourself. You're so smart Dipper and it's always you protecting me in the end...so...so don't say we're defenseless!

[terci]

[He looks at her, tears had already made their way onto his cheeks as he was lost in his troubling thoughts, but at his sisters words, the tightness of his chest felt a little lighter. He wipes his eyes on his arm and gives Mabel a nod and a smile.]

Yeah... yeah you're right! We've already defeated people trying to kill us, even Gideon's giant robot!

[ineptus]

Exactly! I mean come on, this is nothing.

[How many pep talks are they going to give each other? Maybe this will finally be the last one. Maybe they will finally take all of this seriously and they won't need to reiterate all of this again.]

With your brains and my adorable face, we'll make it out just fine.

[terci]

[So many pep talks... but Dipper's decided this will definitely be the last one. Even if he still has his doubts, he's going to try his damn hardest to figure out everything. To figure out who the VIPs are so they can beat them, who the mastermind behind everything is, how to get back home.. he'll solve all those mysteries! He can't let himself give up or get scared when it's just the beginning!

If not for himself, but at least for Mabel's sake.]

[Speaking of Mabel, he's just gonna punch her arm affectionately hard.]

We're not the Mystery Twins for nothing!

[ineptus]

[She just laughs, rubbing her arm and returning it in an equally affectionately hard punch.]

Mystery Twins! We'll tackle this and take it down! We'll take it down town even! They'll see what happens when you mess with us!

[terci]

Yeah, yeah!! [He stands up then, the excitement getting to him.]

What are we doing sitting around? There's been a murder, and it's up to us to find out who did it!

[ineptus]

[She bounces to her feet after him, holding out a fist for his to bump.]

Yeah! These guys won't be able to solve it without us, right?

[terci]

[He bumps that fist so fast and gives her a nod, before pointing to the door.]

Let's get going! I'm going to have to do a full investigation, I'm talking inspecting the body, asking everyone questions, the whole shebang!

[A pause.]

I might need to use you as a notepad again, Mabel.

[ineptus]

[Mabel stands up with a serious look, once again pulling her sweater off to tie around her waist.]

You can count on me, Dipper!

[terci]

...you haven't washed the stuff from yesterday off, yet? [Mabel..]

[ineptus]

Nope!