Thank you to my beta readers on tumblr, dippsydaisy and trashmabill!

Chapter Seven: Another Meeting


For all accounts, Mabel should have not been welcome at most social events because of her standing. Well, not so much for her standing, but for the fact that she did not have a female chaperone to take her from parties or to build up her social connections. Dipper was allowed to escort her from place to place, but the real fact of the matter was that most people overlooked that part of her life because she was friends with Pacifica Northwest. It was no coincidence that Mabel and Pacifica were constantly seen together, with no one commenting on the fact that Mabel was merely riding Pacifica's coat tails in society meetings.

It was a mutual understanding between them, if anything. Pacifica knew how much she meant to Mabel, and Mabel knew how much she meant to Pacifica. Their relationship wasn't just based off of social standings and finding a husband, but actual friendship that they hoped would one day turn into sisterhood.

A day after the party and having the meeting with Gideon, where Mabel had also gotten a lecture from her uncles about having a chaperone there even if Mabel insisted that she had her maid, Mabel received a letter in the mail from Pacifica. The Northwest's held a majority of the parties for young women to meet during their season, if only because their daughter was one of those eligible women searching for a husband. Mabel went to every single party that the Northwest's threw, mainly to see her friend.

"Make sure Dipper escorts you." Ford said, reading over her shoulder. Mabel jumped with a slight frown, not liking the way he felt the need to read over her shoulder when she would have told him anyways.

"Grunkle Ford, I'll be fine." She felt strange having to take her brother everywhere, but if she had an aunt or a mother in her life they would be escorting her around. "How much trouble could I get in?"

"A lot of trouble, Mabel. It's either Dipper escorting you around or Stanley, and I don't think you'd want Stanley watching everything you do."

If it was meant as a threat, it didn't really work well. Stanley would let her get away with a lot more than Dipper would, but it would simply look bad on her image to have her uncle escorting her around. At least Dipper was her age. However, Stan did know how to have fun.

"Grunkle Ford, you don't have to baby me through this." Mabel folded the letter up carefully before rising. "I'm doing fine on my own."

She sort of had to, since there was no other choice. If it hadn't been for Pacifica being as kind as she was, Mabel would have been a social outcast.

"Shouldn't you be lecturing Dipper? He's the only who got drunk last time and left me alone." Mabel almost muttered, shaking her head. "I can only do so much when I'm the one who apparently needs supervision."

"Mabel, that's not what I meant." Ford said immediately, but Mabel didn't really want to hear it. She used one hand to help gather her skirts before sweeping from the room, no longer wishing to stay there.

If Mabel knew anything, she knew that she didn't need someone to take care of her. One day, she would be the woman who ran the household with her husband, she would be the one that the servants listened to. Her husband might run a business or be a part of the government, but her role would be running the household. She didn't need help when she cheated in poker, she didn't need help when she made her own way in society with Pacifica. The Pines family wasn't just known for their business, they were known for how well they fit in. Mabel was a large part of that.

"Dipper, your darling Pacifica is holding a party tonight, I want to go." Mabel loved teasing her brother, and at her words a large blush came over his face.

"I haven't even started to court her." Dipper mumbled, trying to fix his carvart. Mabel motioned over for one of the servants to show him how to fix it.

"Tonight will be a perfect opportunity then." Mabel fixed her gloves, noticing she had to fix the trim on one of them. "Dance, be merry, maybe not drink."

Dipper gave her a look before she laughed and walked away, at least having the plans in mind. Dipper never seemed to mind her teasing, but lately he just seemed annoyed with her. Mabel sometimes had to remind herself that she was meant to be grown at this point, that she was a woman of stature. It was so easy to forget.


By the time Dipper and Mabel arrived at the party, the music had already started and many people were already there. It wasn't anywhere near the grand ball that the Northwest's had thrown earlier, but it was still a high end party where people could mingle. Dipper for once wasn't fidgeting with nervousness, but instead with eagerness as Mabel made sure her dress was perfect. The dress she was wearing was perfect for a more casual get together, but still high end. Mabel always saved her family a fortune by making her own clothes.

"Don't get into too much trouble, Mabel." Dipper teased as the carriage finally arrived, a servant of the Northwest's came to help them out. Dipper politely refused the hand extended to help him, but Mabel took it with grace.

"As long as you stay away from the spirits." Mabel unfolded her fan, waving it gently in front of her face. She didn't have to worry about the message that might send others just yet, since they weren't inside. Mabel only needed to worry about looking good and having fun.

"Amusing." Dipper offered his sister his arm, walking into the Northwest Manor. Mabel let her fan slow down to an average pace so it wouldn't speak that she was busy or unwelcoming to contact, only that she was an open person.

Almost everyone had already arrived when Dipper and Mabel arrived, and Mabel was reminded of the time when she was younger and her first party had been at the Northwest's, when Dipper claimed he and Pacifica caught a ghost and Mabel was sincerely doubtful about that. Most of her memories were fond, to say the least, but at least she had yet to have one bad memory while at the Northwest Manor.

"Mabel!" Pacifica rushed over as soon as she spotted her friend, giving her a hug as soon as they were close enough. Dipper, deciding now would be the perfect time to be as regal as possible, gently took Pacifica's hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.

"Oh, well aren't you behaving just as a gentleman." Pacifica teased, making Mabel giggle. Dipper blushed a little as they teased him, but there was a small smile on his face.

"I just can't catch a break with you ladies." Dipper shook his head. "Not that I'd expect any less from you and my sister."

Mabel accepted a small glass of champagne from a servant passing by, handing one to Pacifica as well since her friend might want one. Right now, the party was light and comfortable, Mabel didn't feel the stifling need to be someone she wasn't, and everything was relaxed. Mabel wished that all the parties she went to could be this easy.

"Lovely to see you, Miss Northwest. You do host the best parties."

Well, the fun times couldn't last for long, it seemed.

Bill Cipher took Pacifica's hand, placing a small kiss on the back of her knuckles. It was always polite to greet the hostess of the party first, and with that done, Bill immediately turned his attentions to Mabel. Dipper offered Pacifica his arm, not saying anything to Bill since he wasn't greeted himself.

"Miss Pines, lovely to see you as well." Bill's voice reminded her of a babbling brook, a source of running water that wouldn't be silenced. "I'm delighted to see that you returned home okay."

Mabel slowly transferred her fan to her left hand, though she didn't think Bill would take the subtle hint that she wanted to be left alone. The stifling social standings were expected of her once more, and Mabel honestly hated it. At least when she was younger she didn't have to worry about finding a husband.

"Well, you two already seem well acquainted." Pacifica drawled, not bothering to hide the way she glanced between the two of them. "Though I don't believe I properly introduced you last night. Mabel, this is William Cipher, William Cipher, this is my good friend Mabel Pines."

With proper introductions in place, there was no longer a reason why Bill could not approach her in other social situation, though that probably wouldn't have stopped him from doing so before. Once more the group descended into silence, no one seeming to know what to talk about.

"Mr. Pines, how does your family's business go? I heard your family was trying to make connections in America, weren't they?" Bill hooked his cane over his arm, gesturing over a servant to bring them all drinks. Dipper politely declined, while Mabel stuck with the drink she had. Pacifica never liked to drink.

"Yes, we're already set up a couple of new investors who have expressed their interest in coming to see my company." Dipper would be inheriting it, and he knew just about everything that Mabel knew. Their uncles never bothered to hide facts of the business from the twins, always letting them know the facts and where money came from.

"That's fascinating. The business your family made seemed to take off rather quickly, didn't it?" Bill had been handed whiskey, a harder liquor for the men there, and took a very long sip from it. At this point, Mabel was just sick of dealing with people who constantly drank.

"If all you men are going to do is drink and talk business, I don't really see a point for Pacifica and I to be here." Mabel sighed, handing off her champagne, her fan closed firmly now. Pacifica and Mabel couldn't very well contribute to a conversation on this topic, and it was quickly growing boring.

"My apologies, Miss Pines." Bill finished off his whiskey and handed off the empty glass to the same servant Mabel had handed her drink to. "I was just pointing out something that was a bit strange, how your family's business seemed to take off without a hitch. Does it not strike you as strange?"

Mabel pursed her lips, resisting every urge to turn around and leave and not continue this conversation anymore. She had caused a big enough scandal already by playing cards, she didn't need to give Pacifica and her brother a bad image by throwing a fit and storming off.

"Are you interested in investing, Mr. Cipher?" Dipper shot back, the conversation now getting a bit heated. Bill only had a small smile on his face, what could only be described as a smirk.

"Oh, not at all." Bill replied just as easily. "Just making a simple conversation."

"Hard to think you actually sent a letter asking to court my sister, but you want to find out my business plans without actually setting up any business." Dipper normally wasn't one for quick replies, he tended to stumble over his words and get too caught up in the moment, but his reply made their entire group almost freeze. At least no one else seemed to hear it.

"Well, lovely impression everyone's making on each other." Pacifica drawled out, now having to act as a hostess to get the small argument to disperse. "If you gentlemen can't play nice, then the conversation must come to an end."

Pacifica was giving Mabel a look that seemed as though she had kept a horrible secret, and Mabel could only shrug slightly. She had meant to tell Pacifica, but the time had never come and Mabel hadn't expected Bill to be at another social event. It was with a bit of dread that she thought he might be at future social events as well.

"You're right, Miss Northwest. Please accept my sincerest apologies." Bill always seemed a bit over dramatic, and even went as far as to offer a small bow and a tip of his hat. Dipper didn't bother to hide his disdain. "And to you as well, Miss Pines. I did not mean to be rude."

Mabel nodded slightly, though really wasn't in the mood to accept apologies. Dealing with Bill was stressful, it was almost hard to believe that there was something inside him that made him desire a wife, and that he happened to chose her. As far as Mabel knew, she was the only person that had heard of any courting from Bill Cipher. So far, he wasn't doing a very good job.

"Apologies accepted, Mr Cipher. Now, let's enjoy the party and forget about the past." Mabel gave an awkward smile, lying through her teeth about hard feelings and enjoying the party. She needed another drink.