With the shroud of night creeping over the town, The Hermanos Brothers and its neon-soaked, slightly shabby decor was the perfect choice for the family to try and rationalise what, ultimately, had proven quite a bizarre afternoon and evening. And for Thompson to overcome his still overpowering nausea through a gorge upon salted tortilla chips.
Ford was generally pretty skeptical of most restaurants in Gravity Falls (he had even proven the eponymous Brothers weren't even brothers.) But even he could be won over with unlimited Guac. The family was indulging in a rarity - a content, happy meal together that was marked by laughter and pride in what they had just managed to face.
Even Thompson, for once, was being treated with a certain respect by his peers over his bravery and deft driving skills.
Mabel was fawning over Kevin, Wendy was arguing with Tambry over the prevalence of thumbs up when instant messaging, and Stan and Ford were cheerfully indulging in tequila flavoured non-alcoholic standards-and-practice-approved beer together, chatting enthusiastically about what they had learnt about the town and Eyeball hill.
"Can you believe this guy?" Mabel grinned. "Have you ever seen a man throw an axe like that?"
Kevin chuckled. "Hey, all in a day's work, right? For the record, I've never seen people go up against a giant eyeball."
Dipper smiled and held his girlfriend firmly around the waist. "I can't believe how brave Pacifica was."
"I can't believe how dumb you guys are." Pacifica said, sarcastically. Dipper's face fell for a moment - before she tapped his nose and leaned into him. "Or how amazing you are."
He went a deep shade of red and tapped his fingers together, nervously. It wasn't aided by Mabel's broad, knowing grin, or Wendy learning over the booth behind them with her thumbs up. "Q-quite a day, right?"
"One of the best and worst of my life." She agreed, chugging back her baby margarita as if it was decidedly not a baby margarita. "Let's try and rest up tomorrow, okay?"
"Didn't you wanna go see Susan?"
"Oh." The young socialite frowned. "Y-yeah."
Mabel sipped her baby rum and cola. That was Hermanos Bros' name for plain cola with a slice of lime. "So have you decided what you wanna do? Like, are you gonna give her all the deets?"
"I think Susan deserves it."
"You gotta think - if you are gonna live with her after summer, you don't want to keep secrets, right?" Kevin said. "I'd never keep secrets from Mabel or you guys."
"Apart from the secret of that hair." Mabel whispered, ever-enraptured by Kevin's impressive red quiff. "I will learn your ways, one day."
Kevin chuckled and held her. Though remained schtum about his trademark 'do.
For Pacifica, Dipper, Kevin and Mabel, this was effective bliss. Sitting together, not only as friends, but an extended family that loved and cared for eachother. The Pines, the Northwests and the Corduroys had all crossed paths more than they dared to think in the past; now, in the present, the three surnames had ensured they were intrinsically linked - be it through romance, defeat or discovery.
For Pacifica - cautious of what her name had once meant to the Corduroys - it was a much-needed comfort to have them laughing, smiling and spending time with her. If the Summer had meant finding out just how appallingly corrupt, crooked and unpleasant her family had been, she was - in equal measure - intending to spend the summer rebelling against that terrible legacy.
She had proven she wasn't like her father or the Northwests that had come before him; and had proven there was good inside her. That was enormously gratifying - and, though she hadn't expected a reward, she had most certainly got one. A family, friends, a future - and, most of all, she had Dipper, sat there, his arm around her waist, his face lighting up with every glance at her.
Her one time enemies were now not only her heroes - they were her home. Her comfort. Her future. Proof that she could fix things. And, now, she was content that that was exactly what she was going to do.
The only one who still seemed to lack resolution was the Wentworths. And now, while she had not learnt quite so much industrial espionage as she had bargained for, she knew one thing above all else. She knew more than Susan. And it was only fair that Susan got the details that she, herself, had managed to learn over the past month.
While she still found herself torn between staying in Gravity Falls - or travelling the vast oceans with Ford and Stan - she found herself more concentrated than ever to make this summer the ultimate one for the Northwest's reputation. And the ultimate one for whatever was left of the Old Pacifica.
"Hey. Uh… you okay?"
She snapped back into reality from the plush cocoon of her introspection - back into the guac, chilli and spice of the Hermanos Brothers' worn plaster, torn booth cushions and flickering, humming neon. And her nervous, ever-sweaty, ever-devoted boyfriend, who held her hand. Battered, bruised, but ultimately unbeaten - not only capable of facing such eldritch horrors head on, but willing to put himself on the line to protect those he loved.
And doing so with a certain style; a certain flair. A certain inventive spirit and rebellion, logic and impulse in tandem. The best aspects of his two Grunkles clearly on display - not quite fully developed and not quite complete, not to mention lacking the muscles, physique, lone wolf persona…
All the better, in her mind.
She pulled him into a kiss and locked him against her, tight in her arms - refrained by the sound of Mabel's shutter clicking and the entire group of teenagers jeering, cheering and laughing at the public display. Dipper just murmured in surprise before melting in her arms like so much cheese on a Hermanos quesadilla.
While making things right might be difficult - and she might be facing one of the most difficult parts yet tomorrow - Pacifica was resolute in at least enjoying every moment she could. Especially if she got the fun of turning Dipper into a quivering mess through her affection.
Hell, after today, she figured everybody was deserving of a few pleasures.