MASON'S POV

The first act of the night.

Never fun.

Mason, although he could kill someone in seven different ways at the moment, always got nervous. The icy feeling of show jitters crept up his stomach, and he clutched his amulet for a second to relieve it. He was in control.

He was always in control.

God, the things that got to him sometimes... It was no wonder Mabel made fun of him every day. And then, as if she had been called simply by thinking of her, the diva strutted onto the stage, dressed in another one of her skimpy, glittering outfits. This particular one had a shiny blue rose shaped headpiece and a matching cane.

"Mason! Mason! Where's my cigar?! I haven't taken a drag in ageees..."

Her brother paused before he spoke, as he always did.

"I expect, it's by your trunk. At least it was. Not my problem really, don't you think?" He secretly loved ticking off his sister when he could get away with it. She might be the better show woman, but he was always perfectly passive aggressive.

"Ugh. Fine. I'll get it myself, but you'd better not forget to light it before we go on!" She stalked off the stage muttering and cursing.

Mason chuckled and smoothed his hair out of his face so his oddly shaped mark was visible. He had had exact Big Dipper ingrained into his forehead for quite a long time now. Most boys would have hid it out of fear of mockery, but fear was not something Mason suffered from. No, he was quite proud of all of his unusual traits.

His Great Uncle Stan suddenly stuck his head through the the show doors and yelled "Ten minute call! You'd better be ready, Mason, and no flirting with every girl in ten feet! I need you performing, not seducing! Babes don't make enough money for that. I would know..." His rich uncle hobbled away trailing on about something or another.

Mason couldn't help that he was hot. Or that he enjoyed pretty girls. Or that he was very, very, good at making people like him. Those things are just part of being a Pines.

The sixteen year old boy glanced up the eye within the Mystery Manor's signature star, and felt a wave of chills wash over him. He absentmindedly touched his amulet, thinking about the extremely daunting task ahead of him. Sorcery meant you had to do difficult things, he thought.

Terrible, difficult things.

But if Mabel had completed her task... He would complete his.

And then, very quietly, he whispered, "It won't be long. I'm close to finding the right one. I won't let you down this time... I promise"

Then, the amateur sorcerer straightened his bolo tie, took a breath, and headed to his dressing room.

Oh, he was close to finding one.

Very close indeed.

PACI'S POV

AAACK! The bus had screeched to a halt and now my things had been thrown every which way. I scrambled underneath the gross gummy seats and snatched up my scattered possessions. This kinda thing is pretty normal for me.

Finally, I'm off the grimy bus, and I take in my first inhale of Gravity Falls air. It smells amazing, to be honest. Like the perfect combination of pine trees, woodsmoke, and sun.

Welp, here I am. Pacifica Northwest, who's never even been out of state, (except for one time to the Grand Canyon when I was five) alone, in a place she's never been before, in a town full of people she doesn't know. Mom would say I'm being dramatic, which… Might be accurate. It's not like I'm absolutely helpless. Dad gave me all the directions to where I'm staying, where I should eat, and who I should go to if I need help. Those would be: Strong Susan's Bed and Breakfast and Bodybuilding, Strange's Diner or The Hermanas Sisters, and the Gleefuls. It's about 4:00 now, and the candy bar I ate two hours ago has definitely faded. My stomach lets out a mournful groan. I need food. I guess the actual town is down the road or something, because it looks like the bus has dropped me off in the middle of Nowhere Town. There is not food in Nowhere town sooo…..

I am faced, with a DECISION.

I can call the Gleefuls, and get picked up, or I can walk to town.

My mom did show me a picture of the Gleeful family. And… Well... They don't exactly look like the most hospitable people? The mom was in the midst of spanking the boy when the picture was taken, and the father had a Pitt cola and a beer in hand. I'm not sure why my mother would want her only daughter to depend on these people, but whatever the reason...

I think I can walk.

I start my hike in the direction of Gravity Falls, (there's a sign). I'm just starting to get used to the rhythm of my feet when something in the corner of my vision speeds into view, and I jump back with a scream! Annnd end up tripping over my feet. What a surprise. Flat on my back, I crack open my eyes to see the front bumper of a car. I scramble up and yell, "What the heck?! Man, you almost hit me!"

The faded blue car is really beat up and grimy, with scratches and dents all over it. The passenger seat door flies open, and a bored sounding voice floats out. "Sorry, princess. Hubby is a little boozed right now. Get in, ya Mom changed her mind. She wants us to taxi you to your motel or something. Personally, I think we should be paid for this, but that mother of yours is a damn scary lady. Ya deaf or something?! I said get in."

I looked her confusedly and then squint. Wait… Is that the Gleefuls? There's a kid who looks somewhat like the kid in the photo from my mom, but the boy looks… like a pale ventriloquist doll? Ouch. There isn't a polite way to say that. He's extremely short and pale, and has white hair for some reason. I thought he might have been in a halloween costume in the photo… But, he also looks extremely sad, and when (his mother I'm assuming) reaches over and honks at me again, he flinches. I instantly feel bad for him. Having a mother like that must be a job.

Nevertheless, I don't want this ride. "Uhhh.. Yeah, I.. yeah. You don't have to take me, I mean, I'm really okay walking..."

"Get in."

The voice sounds less bored now.

I shrink back a little.

"O-okay then."

This could be a long car ride.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hope you enjoyed it! Writing from Mason's perspective is a little harder than the others, so humour me as I figure this out. I'm aware that Paci's half in this isn't the best, but it's necessary. I am trying to write waaay too many stories at once, and I'm not, coping too well? I think you guys can just expect me to update stories on weekends now, that's just when I have the time to get stuff done, and it keeps me on a schedule. thank you to my anonymous contributer! Means a lot! Have a good day and don't die! Peace!