Soon after they came in, Wirt greeted them solemnly, before stepping outside wordlessly and shutting the door behind him. Eventually, a sound carried over the sound of the television no one was really watching, and the volume was promptly muted to better hear its source.
An argument, loud enough to hear from inside the house, caused them all to leave their spots and peek out the kitchen window. Wirt looked small- despite towering over Wendy by a good half-foot- he was standing a few feet away from her with his voice cracking as he raised it. She raised her voice too, her's firmer and resolute. Their body language and demeanor clearly signaled an argument, a serious one.
The group couldn't hear what the two were saying, but Dipper's curiosity led him to shush the others and crack the window open. The words came flooding through the window now, easy to hear. The ever-rising emotions crackled in the atmosphere surrounding the two.
"I'm sure you've heard about it! The police are just now figuring out what we already know!" Wirt gestured wildly towards the woods, hands shaking and his eyes darting as he spoke. "It's not safe, Wendy! Please stay here, it's safe here. I made it safe. I can protect you!"
Wendy's expression became conflicted, hurt, "But what about my family, Wirt?! My parents? My brothers? I'm supposed to just abandon them?! Leave them in the dark, and in danger so Bill can screw shit up again?! No, Wirt... I will not do that!"
She dug her boot into the dirt, kicking into the soil in defeat. She clicked her tongue to bite back her emotions, crossing her arms, and trying to remember the sight of her brothers' smiling faces to calm her emotions. She had to be smart about this, she couldn't let her emotions get the better of her, now.
Wirt was near tears, desperate, his voice weakening, "Wendy, please! You can bring them here! We'll make room!"
She scoffed, crossing her arms, "And tell them what?! They don't know anything, about anything going on! Forget it! I'm serious, Wirt." She exhaled sharply with her eyes closed, calming herself down, she opened them and steadied her gaze, "I'll come by later to check on the kids. As you should be doing, instead of being out here, yelling at me!"
Wirt throws up his arms in defeat, breaking the distance between them and putting his hands on her shoulders, "I'm only worried because I love you, Wendy."
Wendy looks down, laughing humorlessly, and leaning her forehead on his chest. The tension in Wirt's frame loosened, wrapping his arms around her gingerly. Her arms loosen from her chest and she hugs him back, sighing.
"I know," she smiled sadly, nuzzling her face in his chest. "Don't worry, I'll be fine... I just have to take care of my family, just like you are." Her voice softened, "I'll come to visit tomorrow, I've got a late shift tonight. Tell the twins I miss 'em."
Without another word, Wendy unlatched herself from his arms, got in her truck, and drove off. Wirt exhaled sharply as he watched her car round the end of the street.
Wirt stood for a while, staring at the tire tracks left by her truck, before heading towards the house. The group scrambled to the other room before he came in, and upon walking into the living room, he looked like all his energy was drained from him.
"Wendy said she missed you two." Wirt smiled half-heartedly to the twins, then looked away and his eyes went glassy as he spoke to no one in particular, "I'll be in my room if you need anything."
Wirt shut his bedroom door quietly, the oak door right off the sitting room closing with a hushed thump. Everyone looked amongst themselves in shame. Clearly, they weren't meant to see that conversation. Therefore, they couldn't say anything to try to console him.
The Pines twins felt particularly bad, since he had to deliver Wendy's message, and channeled that guilt through calling and updating their Great-Uncles on the situation at hand. Ford was the more fervent talker, discussing theories and strategy. Stan bowed out after a few minutes of what he bitterly referred to as "tin-foil-hat nonsense" before walking away from the phone.
Dipper tried to not dwell on the fact Wirt had feelings for Wendy- very reciprocated feelings. His mind drifted as Mabel droned on, giving reassurances and listening to advice. Dipper's long-buried feelings for Wendy didn't come back as strong as his childhood crush had once been, but he couldn't help but feel that old vague sense of jealousy just out of reach. As he paced the room, he could see Norman through the doorway, sitting with Coraline as they talked about something inaudibly.
A warmth settled in his chest as his pacing ceased. Wendy looked sad when she talked to Wirt, sure. He hated seeing Wendy sad, but she seemed so soothed by his presence when he held her. It was all he could've hoped for his first love. As if feeling his gaze, Norman looked over his shoulder and met Dipper's eyes.
Norman smiled, waving to him. Dipper felt his face redden as he smiled back meekly and turned away. He had nothing to worry about. Wendy knows what she wants and goes for it, always has. If she sees something in Wirt, clearly he deserves to be happy. Dipper made a mental note to talk to him when he got some time. To see what Wirt likes about Wendy, he wanted to hear the side he never saw of her- they were not equals when he loved her, nor were they now. He'd always be a kid in her eyes.
Dipper began pacing again, his smile returning as he thought of Norman. Maybe he could make a mental list of the things he liked about Norman too... like he did with Wendy, maybe he would even be brave enough to share those things with Norman. He wondered if Norman was as flustered as he was for their growing feelings.
Norman, meanwhile, was thinking about how happy he was for his cousin. After what hardships Wirt and Greg dealt with, they were far beyond the realm of help via therapy. Norman was glad Wirt found someone, even if he didn't outright tell him about it. Although, the more he thought about it, the more he wondered if Greg even knew.
After some time had passed, the group was all back in the shared domain of the living room, scattered about like discarded laundry. All of them were overwhelmed, each in various positions of lying down- staring at each other or the ceiling. Gideon was the only one of the bunch with the dignity to sit straight in a formal armchair. Though, he sat a little too straight and looked stiff, clearly uncomfortable at the silence.
"So what is the plan exactly? The one upstairs-" Gideon pointed over his shoulder to the stairs with his thumb, his accent stark against the lack thereof in the rest of them. "Wybie, right? The Snake god... guy... just possesses him like Bill did me and plays guard dog while we sleep? That sounds... well... like not a good plan, quite frankly."
"Got any better ones, Foghorn?" Dipper snapped, and upon seeing a look of confusion on Gideon's face, sighed irritably and licked his lips before proceeded on. "The point is: Wirt is the owner of the Bluebird, as you may or may not know, and he has warded the Inn from all supernatural forces. It's like a barrier. It's been great so far, but we can't guarantee on it holding up against Bi- Xolotl- if he's at nearly-full power, capiche?"
"And what if he can get through?" Coraline asked, earning glares on all sides, "Seriously? Guys! We at least need a fallback here, a plan B, something!"
"She's right," Norman groaned, covering his face with his hands, "If they get through, we put Wirt and Greg in danger too. Anything in your research you think could work, Mabel?"
All eyes turned to her. She felt her palms sweating and rubbed them uncomfortably on her shorts, "Well, uh-" She cleared her throat, "five is an unlucky number in Aztec culture; there were five of us before, but now there's six. Maybe that's a little better? But, that being said- since we're talking numbers- there are currently two gods involved in this mess and now he's trying to invite a third. Three is associated with war, sacred war, which could be very good or very bad."
"The one he's trying to summon," Gideon leaned in, regaining his interest, "What do you know about him?"
"Quetzalcoatl?" Mabel asked, pouring through her thoughts and mentally skimming what she remembered of her notes, "The cliff notes version, I guess, is that he's the god of the wind, sunrise, artisans, students, craftsmen, and is a patron god of priests. Though, other than being Xolotl's brother and one of the firstborn gods, I'm not sure what he has to do with anything."
"Wait a minute," Coraline looked as though she had received a sharp jolt, shooting upright to attention and turning to Mabel. Her hands seemed erratic, unsure of what to do with themselves. "Two of the cards I kept getting, The Magician and The High Priestess, I think it could be-"
She stopped speaking when all eyes turned to Greg standing behind her, his expression a cross between sagely and bored. Coraline turned her torso and nearly jumped out of her skin at the sight of him behind her.
"Ever considered actually asking him for help?" Greg asked.
The group looked among themselves, flabbergasted. Unsure of what to say, there were various mumbles, shrugs, and confused looks. The unspoken consensus was "sure, but what do we do for that, exactly? pray? cut up a sacrifice or something? how would that even work, beseeching a god for help ourselves?"
"Well, you should, seeing as he's already here," Greg shrugged, "He's in my room."
The group scrambled to their feet, Dipper tripping over his sister's ankles in the hurry. They clamored into the room to find something that looked like a large, feathered anaconda, looking like it wore a tricolored headdress. The colors were unlike any snake they had ever seen, seeming to bleed the colors of vivid reds, blues, and greens. His big yellow eyes settled on Coraline, and an eerie smile formed.
"Hello, my dear. I've been interested in meeting you. Was just having a lovely conversation with Gregory here. We have not formally been introduced, I am Quetzalcoatl."
Coraline felt curious, and this time felt a little less scared at the thought of a talking dragon- both due to having experienced similar earlier and an odd sense of comradery with the thing- but the sheer strangeness of it all was lost on no one in the room. After all, as big as it was, to her it resembled something of a cross of things she'd only ever seen on television; like a huge bush viper mixed with the traditional drawings of Chinese dragons with the explicit difference of feathers not unlike those found on bird wings- although she wasn't quite sure he could fly. Part of her wondered if it would be uncouth to ask.
Being met with silence, the dragon-serpent coiled and relaxed itself and took on a nonchalant tone, "I am sorry to have brought you, children, into this mess. My brother has what you could call an... insatiable bloodlust, and he is a power-hungry fiend to boot, who wishes nothing more than to rule over these lands as their only god. Of course, there are much bigger fish to fry than Tezcatlipoca and I on the way to that goal, but it's quite better to take him out while we're ahead, hm?"
"Not trying to be rude, uh," Norman looked as though he mentally debated before settling on, "Your Benevolence but, uhm, how did you get in? We should have at least heard you tear through the barrier had you entered forcibly, unless... Greg?"
Eyes turned to the younger boy again, who had a naive smile plastered on his face. Greg shrugged, "I invited him in, he said he wanted to help. Won't do it again, promise. I'll fix the warding when he leaves."
Norman bit his tongue and swallowed his exasperation, not bothering to lecture his cousin of the danger of strangers, saving it for (perhaps) another occasion.
"Settled then," Quetzalcoatl laid his head down on his feathered body and looked up, "If we could invite in my half-brother from outside, perhaps we may all reach an agreement."
"Already here," the striped snake entered the room, curling onto the shelf by the window, just small enough to sit comfortably. "I would not let anything get past. However, I make an exception for you, brother."
"Kumbaya later, okay?" Coraline snapped, "Why are you helping us, Q? Why not take care of this on your own? What do you need a bunch of kids to do your dirty work for?"
"Hmm..." the feathered god seemed to tilt his head in thought, somewhat amused, "As the girl"- he gestured to Mabel with a flick of his head- "has told you, I am not much more than a being of peace. I am no good in battle. I am one of knowledge, creativity, and spiritual devotion... War," he said the word as though it was filthy falling from his lips, "is not something I partake in. I am here to lend a hand, so to speak.
While I may not be as well-utilized in battles, such as my half-brother or my brother may be, I am a wealth of power nonetheless and I have a sacred gift to bestow upon you, Coraline Jones- with help from Tezcatlipoca, that is. While selfish and typically uninvolved with human affairs, he was taken with this group and helped without coaxing or deceit, that alone is a seal of approval worth my interference."
Tezzy lolled his head, "I am here to do nothing more than help those of my patronage. I am a guardian of warriors and no battle has ever been so deserved as this- although Xolotl's treachery and wanton murder of humans does not count in his favor, in my eyes. I am a god of responsibility and my word. I do not know of what gift you speak of but, surely, I have nothing to give."
"I wish to give Coraline the power of Tlachia, with your help," Quetz asked of Tezzy, which caused a sputter of confusion from Coraline.
"The power of what now?" She asked, the rest of the group watching in silence with a mixture of fascination and disbelief.
"The power to observe, to see things which have yet to occur. You already have some of this, which you channel through your cards, but this will be more straightforward. You will see things with more clarity than before, and it will give you a better chance to prepare and protect those around you." Quetz explained, eyes opening as closing as though he were beginning to fall asleep.
"Oh yeah," Dipper rolled his eyes, "makes much more sense now. Do all gods speak in riddles or just you guys?"
"I apologize for being longwinded," Quetz assented, "however, there is no need to be disrespectful. The point of this is so you have another means to protect yourselves. I will take responsibility for my brother and end this once and for all. I am not here to protect you children specifically, after all, but to rid this place of a dangerous nuisance."
Mabel bit back a snide remark and Gideon had zoned out a long time ago, examining his fingernails with interest. Coraline had a mixed expression of willpower and nervousness. Norman and Dipper shared an expression of exasperation.
"Shall we get this started then?" Tezzy asked, "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to transfigure her eyes into one of your mirrors." Quetzalcoatl had said it with such nonchalance it took a moment for the news to reach those in the room.
"No." Coraline's face blanched, eyes wild with fear as tears started to prick the corners of her eyes. "It sounds too much like the buttons, you will NOT touch my eyes. Get the hell away from me!"
As she stumbled back, Gideon caught her, righting her, "You alright?"
She wrenched herself from his grip, "I will not have them stolen from me!"
"This is different, I assure you," Tezzy took on an understanding tone, "Visually they will be different, yes, but it is a gift. You may refuse it if you wish. Like any gift, you may return it at any time."
"Usually people prefer you don't return gifts, you know." Coraline rebutted.
"Regardless, this is where we stand. What do you say?" Quetz looked at her with a cool expression, as though he already knew her answer.
"So whenever I want, I can get rid of it?" Coraline asked.
"Of course, but once you revoke the gift, you can't have it back. This is a one-time miracle, okay?" Quetz smiled, teeth as sharp as pikes lining the inside of his mouth.
Coraline didn't bother to look at the others' reactions or ask their opinions, she bit her lip and stared at her shoes, getting a valiant expression she raised her eyes, "Do it. We need all the help we can get."
Mabel was the only one to speak up, grabbing her shoulder, "Wait, are you sure about this? We don't know the kind of mental toll this can take, I highly doubt they know either"- she indicated the two gods- "this could be really dangerous."
"Not unlike what this whole mess has been right? Can't be much more traumatic." Coraline shrugged, she sighed with something akin to boredom and turned back to the gods before her. "Do it."
"Mind calling upon your mirror? I just need a piece of it." Quetzalcoatl asked.
Tezzy transfigured into a jaguar before their eyes, one of his front legs taking on a shape similar to a hand mirror, made of black stone. He reached out the odd limb made of a shining, flat obsidian and Quetz spared no time chipping off a shard of it the size of a matchbox between his teeth. There was quiet looks of confusion among the group but a silence marred by a mixture of fear of speaking out and a respect for the gravity of the situation.
Using the shard, Q used a particularly sharp edge of the jagged piece and cut his own flesh enough for blood to coat the shard. The wound healed instantly but the blood on the stone remained.
"Let the blood drop into each eye," Quetzalcoatl instructed, using his teeth to pass the shard to Greg and then to Coraline.
"That seems really iffy to me," Coraline laughed awkwardly.
"We are gods, Coraline, we do not carry the ailments of humans. Besides, our blood is a superficial side effect of our existence- practically useless compared to what you humans use it for. Go on, unless you've changed your mind?"
Coraline huffed, holding her eye open as she muttered to herself, "Just like eye drops, Coraline. Just pretend you're not putting some dragon's ectoplasm in your eye."
The blood dropped in painlessly, red tears sliding down her cheeks as the eyes cleaned themselves. She blinked a few times and was met by various sounds of shock and amazement from those around her.
Before the change in her eyes could be explained, Quetzalcoatl excused himself with a promise to return when he was needed and Tezcatlipoca with an assurance to be there when Wybie retrieved him at nightfall.
"Keep the mirror fragment on you," Tezzy purred, rattling deep in his feline throat. "It likely won't work otherwise." With that, he changed back into a snake and disappeared out the window.
"Coraline, that was... Wow." Norman felt himself saying, "You look so different..."
"Creepy is the word you're looking for, Norman." Gideon chided, "You might want to look in a mirror."
"Creepy how?" Coraline asked, wiping the blood streaks from her cheeks.
"Ever seen Dalí'sFace of War?" Dipper asked with a weak laugh, poorly attempting a joke.
Coraline sighed, "I'll go look."
The group followed behind her except for Gideon, who took to watching television again, and Greg who was returning the warding back to its original state. As they all clamored in, Mabel tried describing it the best she could to Coraline.
"Seeing things change in front of you is so weird, seeing it in a scary movie is one thing but"- Mabel exhaled sharply- "it was like your pupil was an egg yolk or something, and it just pop, exploded, and it's what your eye looks like now."
Approaching the mirror, Coraline nearly screamed at the sight. She pulled down her lower eyelids to see she was not in fact imagining it, her eyeballs had turned black with the exception of her iris and pupil. In both eyes, which were once beautiful brown, were now a flat and milky white. She gathered water in her hands and cleaned the nearly black blood streaks from her cheeks, then wiping her face with a hand towel.
She muttered something under her breath, followed by a curse, and whispered "I should have stuck with the stupid cards."
"Can you still see alright?" Dipper asked, "No light sensitivity or anything?"
"Not that I can tell," Coraline sighed, pulling at the ends of her hair, and trying to get used to her own face in the mirror. "It's temporary, right? I won't have to look like a ghoul forever... I guess."
"Let's go back to the TV," Norman insisted gently, trying at a smile. "No need to worry 'til we have a reason to."
"I'll get my cards at least and play around with them," Coraline muttered, looking down at her hands. The odd color to her eyes now, in addition to her pale skin, now gave a menacing and spectral appearance. She wondered if Wybie would be as freaked out by it as she was. "Might as well learn how this works, they forgot to leave the manual for magic eyeballs behind."
The group laughed awkwardly then fell astride in front of the television again, Coraline going upstairs to retrieve her cards. Wybie woke with a start at her not-so-subtle entrance into the group's shared bedroom.
"Oh, hey Cor, how's it?" He asked sleepily, the room too dark to get a good look at her new eyes.
She stepped close enough to his face for him to see her eyes, kneeling beside where he laid on top of the bed. His eyes lingered for a moment, his hands still on her cheeks to get a good look. "What happened?"
"The gods granted me the gift of Sight or whatever. Put god-blood in my eyes. Guess it had to be me, 'cuz of the cards and all." Coraline seemed to shrug off the comment, but it clearly bothered her.
"You're in touch with it, so it makes sense," Wybie tried reasoning, voice calm. "How are you feeling? No visions yet, right?"
" 'Course not," she sighed. "I'm guessing it won't have the properties of a lightswitch. Thinking it might trigger being in contact with the cards, maybe I can control it."
"Control it?" Wybie screwed his mouth to the side, "We have days, maybe hours. You don't have time."
"I can try," she insisted, "They said I can give it up when I want to. If it doesn't help, I can revoke it, right?"
"It's quite late for a hail mary, don't you think?" Wybie muttered, the first sign of his optimism breaking down that actually set Coraline on edge.
"I'll let you sleep. See you soon," she muttered, kissing one of his hands and rushing out of the room with her tarot deck.
With each step she took down the stairs she mentally cursed Beldam, then Xolotl, then herself in a cycle that only ended once she sat down with the cards in front of her and shuffled them intently.
She closed her eyes as she shuffled, focusing on the cardstock in her hands and not the intruding and concerned gazes of her friends; Norman, especially, watched her with a growing sense of dread. A Hail Mary was not what this felt like to him, it felt like a Death Knell.