That Damn Recording

Chapter 2: The Simplest of Days

UPDATE: I'm updating this story for some grammatical errors and some really bad lines that I always wanted to omit, but never got around to it. Not much of a change, though.

AN: Didn't think I'd update this quickly, but here you go. I found this character much more difficult to capture in words than Dipper, but I tried my damnedest. Enjoy!

Oh, and if you got a notification about this story because you've followed me as an author, check out my profile page for some very important content updates.

Mabel took her time enjoying the sweet scents of the woodland around her. She and her faithful pig Waddles were on an afternoon stroll, something she never seems to have time for. On one lucky step, she found something peculiar: an old cassette player. She smiled at her discovery, and her grin expanded when she realized that there was a tape inside. She rewound the ancient cassette and pressed play, surprised to hear none other than her twin brother Dipper's voice.

I was walking in the woods with Waddles, and then I found this dusty thing, and then I found out how much trouble Dipper is in, and now I can't stop thinking about how he needs my help. Should I have even listened to this tape? I mean, it looks like he just threw it away, even though he shouldn't have. That makes it free game: One man's trash, right?

Sigh…I shouldn't be so giddy. Dipper put his deepest thoughts into this old tape, and here I am calling it trash. Shows what a good twin sis I am. Well, now he's got me thinking: and thinking leads to speaking, so I guess I'll start recording. Best way to remember what you say is to not need to remember it I guess.

…I never knew Dipper was so bothered by stuff. I mean, we tease him all the time, but he's really hurting on the inside. He's always been a bit withd- withdrawn? Is that the word? Think so. Well, it's good that he opened up finally, course he coulda just talked to me instead of this dumb-looking recorder. How selfish of him, not letting me help. He said that I'd have an answer to his troubles, but he didn't think to talk to me about it. He should know that I'll always have his back, but is this where he draws the line? Does he think he's the only one that starts to feel this way every now and again?

Of course not, he's smart enough to realize that he's not alone, he said so on his tape. I know he can feel isolated, but that's why I'm here: to help him. I love my brother to death, and he should know that I could always help him.

Maybe I should stop recording and just talk to him, cuz I think I can help him- I know I can help him. I probably wouldn't have all the answers he's looking for, but just talking with someone helps a lot. Obviously this regret and heavy emotion and stuff had been on his mind for a long time, so talking about it to himself is a step in the right direction. Talking to another person would logically be the next step. Pshh…I sound like Dipper.

I'm really shocked at how troubled he really is. He has been pretty lost in his own thoughts lately, and now that I know why, I'm really worried about him. I mean, Dipper is smart, so he won't do anything stupid if I don't talk to him about it- Waddles! Don't chew on your leash! Silly pig…

What I'm really worried about though was when he started talking like he was worthless. I mean, I know he was picked on in school, but how far did it really go? I feel terrible, not being there for him when junk like this happened. I know it hurts him, but how much does it really? And what else has he been keeping from his twin sister? He has so much worth and potential and purpose; even if he somehow can't see it. He's done so much for me, I don't know what I'd do without him. Wait, what was that? …uh oh! Gotta hide…

…

…

I hope this thing can record my whispers. I took Waddles and hid behind this bush because I saw someone coming- Hey, is that Dipper? What is he doing? Crud, he's coming closer, hold on a sec…

…

…

…

…

…He's gone. He was just on a stroll like I was, but he looked bad. He was obviously very tired, like he didn't get any sleep all night. Hmm, he seemed worried too. He barely looked up from his feet while walking, and I don't think he had a real destination either. He was wandering in circles and even bent down a few times, I don't-

Wait! He was looking for the recorder! Oh man, oh man, now I feel even more awful! He doesn't want anyone listening to this! Ughh what the hell am I supposed to do now? He looked really upset until he gave up, then he just looked really down. Not like down-to-Earth down, but down-down. He just…sighed…he looked so exhausted…then he put his hands in his pockets and headed back for the Mystery Shack.

I've never felt such a…a…conflict! What do I do? Talk to him or leave him alone? Tell him I listened to his deepest, most secretest thoughts, or let him work out his inner issues? I just don't know. Too bad I can't talk to anyone about this, or I'd just add to the problem. Sigh…Waddles, what do you think? Should I go talk to Dipper, or is this something he needs to work out on his own?

…Giggle…I can't help but laugh when he just stares at me. Silly pig. Maybe he's right though, maybe I should stay silent for now. I mean, based on what he said, he only recorded this last night. That should give him some time to really find out what he needs to do. Maybe it's his choice: he'll talk to someone when he is ready. Like I said, Dipper is smart, he knows how to solve problems in his own way. If it were me, I'd bring it up with him. Still kinda hurts that he doesn't trust me with this stuff, but I can't blame him really. His brain just works differently than me with these kind of issues.

I still can't stop thinking about what he said toward the end…about losing control and punching Gideon. I can't imagine what it's like; always knowing what you're all about and then Bam! –just losing it all like that. I would be terrified if I was him – and he definitely seems terrified. He was so frightened, knowing that he could snap in an uncontrolled instant. His voice started to shake…and he was so scared, sniff, and I started crying, sniff sniff, and I just couldn't stop crying…

Sniff, Look at me, sniff, I'm still crying! Ha, sniff, ha! –I'm totally crying into a tape recorder, never saw that one coming!

… To think today started as just a regular old simple day. Dipper is not stable right now, this whole fiasco has really done a number on him. I don't really know what to do, he's so scared and I'm so worried…But I have to be strong for both of us. It won't be easy, but I will help him get through this. I have a mission! Damn it all, I have a mission! Waddles! With you as my witness, the world of Dipper shall know that I! Have! A! Mission! As I stand atop this tree stump, I vow to help my brother! My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to rescue my twin bro from this evil head junk filling his head!

…But how do I do it?

He needs to know that I love him, that I'll always help him through tough times. But I can't talk to him yet. Not yet. I need more time to think. Yeah, thinking will do the trick. I should start to head back to the shack, the clouds are getting pretty dismal: it might rain soon. Strange, the sun was up only a few minutes ago...

C'mon Waddles, let's go home and think!

With a new found confidence, Mabel Pines and her faithful pig Waddles made their way back to the mystery shack. She saw Dipper sitting on the front porch of the dilapidated home, silent hands on trembling legs and eyes drifting away from the world. He looked up for a moment, and Mabel smiled brightly and knowingly at him (hiding the recorder in the process). Dipper gave a gentle smile back, and soon returned to his inner musings with a more uplifted mindset. Mabel walked into the Shack's bathroom and took a long, well-deserved hot shower. After her shower songs of amateur and improvised lyrics, she cleaned up, dried up, dressed up, and skipped out of the bathroom. In her optimistic mood, and with her mind focusing on helping her brother, she accidentally left the most important aspect to her mission's success on the bathroom sink.

After eating a hefty plate of spaghetti, the bathroom found new occupancy. And in this occupancy, the recorder found new ownership. Perhaps the dusty device had a mind of its own, searching for new owners after every recording. Or perhaps its finding of new owners was pure coincidence.

Live and Love,

JR (Taspiron)