As soon as they entered the large hotel kitchen, the kids, Dick, and Soos all gathered to get some sliced turkey and stuffing that was kept in the oven. Mabel, Candy, Grenda, and Dick all sat at the cutting table in the kitchen while Dipper, Wendy, and Soos sat on a counter, eating their meals and giving their compliments to the cook.
"Mmm! You sir, Mr. Hallorann, are an excellent cook! Say, do you trade recipes? I definitely need my Grandma to make this!" Soos asked in glee.
Hallorann chuckled. "Well, thank you! And sorry, but it's a family kept secret. My Grandma would roll in her grave if I share it with anybody!"
"Ah, I totally respect that, dude," Soos said with a nod. "Gotta respect your Grandma and family's wishes!"
Mabel giggled. "I agree with Soos on the food, Mr. Hallorann. This is one tasty meal!"
The rest of the group agrees, making Dick smile and blush a bit. "Aw shucks, thanks! I strive to make my Grandma proud!"
"Me too! I actually found a gal, and Grandma's been super happy to know I got one! Of course, Melody's in Portland right now, but she'll be able to visit me this coming Christmas!" Soos advised.
"Really? Awesome, Soos!" Mabel beamed, happy to know that Soos's love life is kicking off.
"Go Soos!" exclaimed Candy and Grenda.
"Yeah, way to go, Soos." Dipper congratulated him.
"Melody is lucky to have you, man," Wendy said with a smile as she patted him on the shoulder.
Soos chuckled as he blushed. "Aw, thanks, guys!"
As soon as they finished their meals(and left some for the adults and Pacifica), they rinsed their plates and put them in the sink. Once done with that, Wendy stretched and said, "Woo! That was actually filling! Man, I might need to sleep that off," she turned to Dick, "That was really good, Mr. Hallorann. Absolute grade A cooking."
Dick smiled broadly, "Why thank you! Say, do you all want a little dessert? I got some ice cream in the freezer. We have exactly fifteen flavors for you to choose from."
"Would we?" Mabel exclaimed, as Candy and Grenda both have big smiles.
"Fifteen flavors? Dude, where have you been all my life?" Soos said with excitement. "Do you have cookies n' cream?"
"Yep!" Dick chuckled.
"Sweet! I'm in!" Soos said with a fist pump.
"Hmm...do you have cherry?" Wendy asked.
"Absolutely!" Dick nodded.
Wendy smiled. "Alright. But are we, like, allowed to?"
"Oh, don't worry about Preston and Stuart. We'll keep this a secret, just between all of us!" Dick said, "You can all keep a secret, can you?"
"Sure thing! Hey, do you have rocky road?" Grenda asked.
"And cotton candy?" Candy asked as well.
"Indeed we do!" Dick confirmed.
"Do you have the classics? Like vanilla and chocolate?" Mabel asked with glee in her eyes.
"Oh, of course! Can't forget about the classics!" Dick said with a smile.
"Alright!" Mabel cheered. "I'll take your word for it, Dick!" she turned her attention to Dipper. "What do you say, Dip? I'm certain they have mint chocolate chip!" she giggled at the rhyme.
Dipper looked at his sister for a moment and studied her demeanor. 'Well...eh, why not? Mabel seems to be feeling a lot better. I could go for some ice cream too.' He smiled at his sister and turned to Mr. Hallorann. "Do you really have mint chocolate chip?"
Dick chuckled. "I'm pretty certain!"
"Hmm...okay then," Dipper said with a shrug, but having that same smile on his face.
"Awesome! With that said, let's raid the freezer! Which one is it, Dick? And are there any bowls in the kitchen?" Mabel asked.
"Indeed they are! Bowls are in the cabinet a little way to your right and the freezer with ice cream inside is the further one down to the left." Dick advised.
"Then the cookies n' cream are-a calling me! Onward!" Soos proclaimed and dashed to get bowls.
"Yahoo!" Mabel, Candy, and Grenda cheered as they followed Soos.
As soon as Dipper and Wendy were on their way to get some ice cream, Dick called out to the younger boy. "Uh, excuse me, Dipper was it?"
Dipper turned to Dick. "Um, yeah?"
"Can I discuss with you about something?" Dick asked.
Dipper raised a brow. "Uh...okay. About what?"
"Well..." he glanced at Wendy. "I'm sorry, I might need to speak with Dipper alone for just a moment, if that's okay with you, Wendy."
Wendy blinked as well as Dipper. She then said, "Oh. Um...okay. Well, um..." she turned to Dipper, "I guess you'll meet us over the freezer?"
"Uh, yeah..." Dipper said, a little perplexed as to why Dick wants to talk to him.
"Okay then," Wendy then went to get her bowl.
As soon as she left, Dipper diverts his attention to Mr. Hallorann. "Um, what is it you want to talk to me about, Mr. Hallorann?"
"Well, it's about your sister, Mabel," Dick answered.
Dipper's eyes widened in bewilderment. "I-It is?"
"Yes. Now...is everything okay with her?" Dick questioned.
'Oh man...okay, just play it safe.' "What do you mean?"
Dick smiled at the boy and whispered to the boy at his level. "I just had a feeling. From how she stopped at the entrance of the hotel, I thought she looked a little troubled. Is it something that's in her mind?"
Dipper looked completely surprised. "How-I mean, wha-what?"
'What in the world? How does he even know something was wrong with Mabel in that way? I mean, I guess Mabel was acting a little...well, not strange, but different back there at the entrance. But how did he know it was in her mind?"
Dick continued on to say, "I only ask because...I had someone who might have the same thing that your sister has."
"W-Wait a second. There's nothing wrong with Ma-"
"Son," Dick interrupts him. "I know you're trying to protect your sister, and that's very admirable of you. But I want you to be honest with me. When was she diagnosed by this condition?"
"U-Uh..." Dipper was at a loss for words, but his mind was reeling.
'Oh no! Darn it! What do I say? I didn't expect this to happen! I can't tell him, I just can't! I don't even know how he figured this out! I mean, what do I do?'
"Dipper," Dick's voice literally interrupted his thoughts, as he gave him a reassuring smile. "I was just going to help her out with it. This person who had the same thing that your sister might have was my grandmother."
Now Dipper blinked. "Huh?"
Mr. Hallorann nodded with that same smile. "I think your sister has the same thing my grandmother had. My grandmother always stops at places whenever she thinks she heard something. But in reality, it was all in her mind. Let me ask you something; does she tend to stare a bit off in space at times?"
"What...how..." Dipper felt uneasy about telling this to a man he doesn't even know. However, either way, he told him hesitantly. "Y-Yes..."
Dick nodded. "When I saw your sister stop near the entrance looking out in a trance, it just made me reminisced my Grandma."
Dipper looked at Dick warily. "Your...grandmother?"
"Mm-hmm. And this condition she had was with her all through her life, and she never had any problems. There were a few times where she did had...a seizure or so, but she bounced right back up. She lived her life fully. And I just want to give your sister the confidence and encouragement that I think she needs right now."
Dipper stared at him, unsure of what to think about all of this. "You'll...give her encouragement? And confidence?"
"Indeed I will, young man," Dick said with the most sincere smile. "My Grandma was very important to me, and I can see that your sister is very important to you as well."
The boy was quiet for a moment as he gazed at him. For some reason, Dipper felt like he could trust this man. Sure, it was weird that he kind of basically guessed what Mabel had, but his tone and words sound honest. He looked down at the floor, thinking of what to say. "...Three weeks ago on Monday was when she had...the seizure. The day after that, we let her go to a neurology clinic in San Francisco."
"She had it recently then?" Dick questioned in slight surprise. 'So I was right.' he thought.
"Yeah. It happened while she was at school, close to Thanksgiving. A friend of hers came into the girls' bathroom to check up on her and saw Mabel just...standing there, her eyes all rolled up and...and twitching." Dipper frowned, his face scrunched up in distraught. "I saw a glimpse of her being carried away in an ambulance...it scared me."
Seeing the distress in Dipper's expression, Dick frowned as well.
"Then, after the visit, we waited for two weeks to see the results. They...they said her mind was absolutely normal," Dipper's frown turned tentative. "I mean, I was glad about that...but the doctor said he didn't know if the seizure would come back or not. He said chances are that it could happen again if she did have one. But three weeks have passed and she didn't have another seizure as of yet...although..." he grimaced.
"What is it, son?" Dick asked in interest.
"...In her mind, she said it was Susie who's doing all the seizures." Dipper added.
"Susie?"
"Yeah...her imagi-," Realizing he said enough, he shook his head and stopped there. Looking up at Mr. Hallorann, he said, "Look, you'll help her with whatever she has, right? I haven't told anyone yet about what she went through, so please don't say anything to anyone. "
Dick gave a genuine smile. "Don't worry, Dipper. I won't tell anyone. And I will help your sister through it. You can trust me on that."
Dipper smiled at Mr. Hallorann with gratitude. "Thank you, Dick. I...I feel like I can trust you on it." he glance down and pursed his lips in thought. "...Did your grandmother lived a productive life with what Mabel has?"
"Well, she was a strong woman. My grandmother just had a positive outlook on things."
Dipper looked back up and blinked, but smiled at the advice. "Heh...Mabel is like that as well."
The older man chuckled. Seeing that they've talked long enough, he said, "Don't worry. She'll get better. If my Grandma can live her life with the condition she had, then Mabel will too."
Dipper nodded. "Thanks...really." he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I think I needed this."
Dick nodded with a sincere smile. "No problem. Now then, how about we go and get some ice cream? I actually want some mint chocolate chip myself."
Smirking, Dipper said, "Sure thing."
"And then she was like, 'Wha?', and I was like 'Uh-huh!', and she was like 'Nah-uh!', and I was 'OH YEAH!'." Grenda said her commentary.
"Nah-uh!" Mabel exclaimed in shock.
"Uh-huh!" Candy said eagerly.
Mabel, Grenda, and Candy laughed as they discussed an idle topic, sitting near a table. All three girls finished the helpings of their favorite flavored ice cream and were conversing with each other in a giddy fashion. Meanwhile, Dipper and Wendy were sitting on some metal counter-tops, while Soos and Dick stood across from them against the wooden cutting tables. Finishing up their ice cream, they look on at the girls chattering.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Dipper asked Wendy.
"Probably something Sev'ral Timez related. Grenda mentioned a concert." Wendy answered him.
"I'll tell you one thing; I have mad respect for those guys. They can wear skin-tight pants and move around in them like nothing," Soos commented. "I tried wearing skin tight jeans..." he shuddered. "Never, again..."
Dipper and Wendy looked at Soos with raised eyebrows. "What happened?" asked Dipper.
Soos rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Let's just say...I had to pay for them after I wore them."
"...Oh." Dipper blinked, understanding what he meant now.
"Yeah...and the part where it has been ripped is not flattering," Soos said shaking his head at the memory. "I'll just stick with my fashion sense of baggy pants and shorts. I don't know how you girls can manage to wear those, Wendy."
Wendy chuckled. "Hey, it takes a certain kind of figure. Right, Dip?" she smirked at Dipper as she elbowed him teasingly.
"Huh? What? I-I don't know. I mean, how should I, uh...k-know? I don't wear skinny jeans." Dipper said, feeling a little shy as he blushed, rubbing the back of his head.
'Wait, what's she implying? She acts like I know what kind of fi...gure she-okay, stop your train of thought right there.' Dipper thought nervously as he blushed some more.
Wendy's smirk broadened as she snickered. 'Hehe! It looks like Dipper knew what I meant. Heh, he's so cute to mess with.'
Dick smiled at the thoughts that were displayed.
Wendy, deciding to not tease Dipper further, turned her attention to Dick. "So Mr. Hallorann, I never have seen you in town before. Did you just moved here?"
Dick nodded. "I have actually! Moved here about a month ago. I heard this town is known to be on the weird side."
Soos chuckled. "Dude, you don't know the half of it! Yeah, this town has a whole bunch of weird stuff goin' on. Like little gnomes in the woods bathing themselves with squirrels, dinosaurs encased in hardened tree sap, and a monster made entirely out of old candy!"
Dick stared at him for a moment. Then, after a brief pause, he gave Soos a small nod. "...I see."
"I don't live here though," Dipper said to Dick. "My sister and I live in Piedmont, California. We're just visiting here for Christmas."
"Oh, California! I have a vacation home down there in Santa Barbara. I'm actually going down there to stay for a while until winter passes." Dick informed.
"Santa Barbara, huh? Nice." Dipper said with a smile.
Wendy whistled. "Wow, you're livin' the life."
"Yeah, dude, you're livin' da vida loca!" Soos commented. "...Uh, I think that's means 'the crazy life'. I'm, uh...trying to get my Spanish all worked out. My grandma is teaching me this stuff, because, you know, gotta be grounded to my roots and all that. Oh, but I'm not saying you live like a crazy person though! I just, um...thought that was appropriate to say...until I said it...and made myself look silly. Heh..." Soos said, a little embarrassed.
Dick smiled at Soos, "No, you're fine! I guess you can say I'm living mighty well. Maybe even 'crazy' well." he chuckled. "Born in New Hampshire, got interested in cooking, traveled a bit around the country, and decided to live here in Gravity Falls, Oregon!"
"Wow. You must have been to a lot of places." Dipper asked in interest.
"Yep! One of the places I've been to in is Colorado. Stayed at a nice resort close to the Rocky Mountains. I just love to drive through the scenery there. Those drives are what makes the trips worthwhile." Dick advised.
"I bet." Dipper agreed. He sat there as he contemplates something.
'Hm...maybe I should let Wendy, Soos, Candy, and Grenda know about Mabel's situation. I think I better tell Mabel and see if she's okay with me telling them about her seizure. Then Dick could talk to her about it. He really seems like a nice guy. Nothing suspicious about him really...although, he is pretty observant. Seriously, either he gave a lucky guess, or he can read minds...'
Dick's eyes widened.
'Don't worry about it, Dick. Dipper can be paranoid sometimes, but he doesn't suspect anything.' Mabel's thought came through the barrage of thoughts that were emitting from the others for Dick to hear.
Dick smirked. 'Heh, how long have you been listening?'
'I couldn't resist listening to Dipper's thought about Wendy. Hehe!'
"Excuse me for a second," Dipper said as he got off the counter-top, got his phone out, and started texting someone. 'Should...Soos, Wendy, Candy, and Grenda...know about...your condition? I'll go...someplace...private. And send.'
"What up, Dip?" Wendy asked.
"Um...nothing." Dipper said, but murmured to himself, "At least not yet."
Wendy raised a puzzled brow at that statement.
Dipper sighed as he confessed. "It's about, um...Mabel."
"What about Mabel?" Soos asked in curiosity to Dipper.
"I'll, uh...I'll tell you later. I just need to wait for her to text back." He turned to Mr. Hallorann and nodded, which Dick nodded back.
Noticing this exchange, Wendy glanced at Dipper and Dick in confusion. Soon, Dipper's phone vibrated and looked at the text message on his phone.
Absolutely! You can tell them all in the lobby!
'Well, that was easy.' Smiling at the response, Dipper turned to Wendy and said, "Hey Wendy, could you get Candy and Grenda? I...think it's time for you, Soos, and them to know what's going on with Mabel."
Wendy's eyes widened. "Oh...wait, uh...should Mr. Hallorann know about it?" she asked warily.
"That's what he was talking to me about. He wanted to talk to Mabel about what she has. Someone he knows had the same condition that she has." Dipper informed.
"Condition?" Wendy said in shock, looking at Mr. Hallorann and back at Dipper. "Dipper, what's going on with her?"
"Whoa, dudes, hold on. Something happened to Mabel?" Soos inquired worriedly.
"Look, I'll tell you all in the lobby. Wendy, can you get the other girls so Dick can talk to Mabel alone?" Dipper told her.
"Uh...okay," Wendy said, a little concerned. She got off the counter-top and went to Mabel's group.
"Soos, could you wait for us at the lobby? I'll be there in a minute." Dipper advised him.
"Dip, what...what's going on?" Soos said, now feeling a little apprehensive.
"Don't worry, I'll tell you. I don't want Mabel to be present." Dipper said until he turned to see Wendy and Candy and Grenda, who both looked confused. They passed the men as they exited out of the kitchen.
"Um...okay dude," Soos said hesitantly. He then made his way out of the kitchen as well.
Dipper looked up at Dick. "Hold on just a moment, I just need to ask Mabel something."
Dick nodded. "Go on ahead."
Nodding back, Dipper made his way to the table where Mabel is sitting.
"Hey, Dipping Sauce!" Mabel said cheerfully.
"Hey, Mabel. Look, uh, I'm going to leave you alone with Dick while I tell them about your condition."
"Huh?" Mabel said, feigning ignorance as she acted puzzled.
"Well, Mabel, you see, he," he looked behind him to see that Dick is waiting for them. The older man smiled softly and nodded. Dipper turned his head back to Mabel and said quietly. "He said his grandmother has the same thing that you have. He actually figured it out, which is...surprising to say the least. Anyway, I think he can help you with it. Now, before you say anything, I know it sounds like I'm leaving you alone with a total stranger in here without anyone present, and..." Dipper blinked. "...huh. Actually, that is what I'm doing." he shook his head. "Okay, look, honestly, and I like to think I'm a good judge of character, but he seems...honest. I don't know why, but I believe what he says. He said it all to me in a genuine way I think, and...he just has that grandpa feel from what I got from him, you know?"
Mabel smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, Dipper. I know what you mean. I felt something good about him as well. And I think Dick is a nice guy too."
Dipper smiled back. 'She believes me. That's good.' "Yeah, he is a nice guy."
Mabel grinned. "So he says his grandmother has the same thing I have?"
"It seems that way, believe it or not..." he glanced at the floor for a moment. "...Do you want me to tell the gang about...Susie?"
Mabel really contemplates on that one. Her grin dropped, as she put her hand on her chin to think. "Hmm..." she looked at her brother with another sincere smile. "You know, I think it's best you don't tell anyone about Susie, at least not now. If Grunkle Stan knows, then we three can keep it a secret for now. You can alter the truth a little if you want to, though."
Dipper smiled softly at her, "Sure...and I think that's best, too."
After a moment of them standing there smiling at each other, Dipper then cleared his throat. "Well...I'll let you and Dick talk then."
Mabel nodded but gave her brother a hug. "Thanks, Dipper."
Dipper was surprised by the hug, but he returned nonetheless with a warm smile. They then both said, "Pat-pat." as they pat each other on the back while they hugged. Once he let her go, Dipper looked at her, his eyes filled with admiration for his sister.
'She really is one strong girl.'
He then made his way out of the kitchen. However, he stopped in front of Dick and said to him. "I trust you to say the right things to her."
Dick gave him a heartfelt smile. "I will."
Dipper smiled at him. "Thanks."
He continued to walk his way out.
Once Dipper left, Dick turned his head to Mabel and said, "Mind if I sit down with you at the table?"
Mabel beamed. "Of course not, Dick."
"Dipper, is Mabel alright?" Wendy asked Dipper once he came into the lobby.
"Is everything okay with her, dude?" Soos asked, his eyes showing worry.
"What's going on?" Grenda said as she scratched her head.
"Dipper, what's wrong with Mabel?" Candy said, feeling a little hesitant. She had a feeling there was something going with her.
"Well...okay, first of all, she really is fine. It's just...well...she..." Dipper sighed. "...she had a seizure."
The girls and Soos' mouths all dropped open in shock.
"What?" Wendy said, now on alert.
"Dude...are you serious?" Soos asked.
"Whoa...Mabel had a seizure?" Grenda said, letting that sink in.
"Oh my goodness...is-is she alright?" Candy said, concern on her face.
"Yeah, she's okay now...and yeah...she had one," Dipper rubbed his forehead as he thinks. He sighed again. "It all started back three weeks ago."
"Three weeks ago?" Wendy asked in surprise.
"Whoa! Dude, three weeks? Why didn't you tell us this?" Soos said, a little offended.
"Yeah, we have every right to know!" Grenda said with a frown.
"Sh-She didn't have more did she?" Candy said, feeling a little afraid for her best friend.
"No, thank goodness. She only just had one. And I'm sorry, we just...didn't want to make you all worry. Mabel wanted to be treated just like she's always been treated." Dipper explained.
Wendy, Soos, Candy, and Grenda all frown solemnly.
"Well, we would've been worried...I mean, I can see me getting super worked up to make Mabel not feel strange." Soos commented.
"Yeah, and I wouldn't want to make Mabel feel different," Wendy said with a nod of agreement.
"Us too." Candy said.
"Yeah. But what happened? How did it happen?" Grenda questioned, wanting to know so she can help her good friend.
Dipper rubbed the back of his head. "Well...it happened on a Monday at school..."
"So, what is this 'shining' thing you mentioned earlier?" Mabel asked Dick with interest.
Dick chuckled. "Well, little lady, that's what my grandmother called it. It's basically a psychic ability. You 'heard' what I was saying to your brother about my Grandma, did you?"
Mabel nodded with a grin. "I sure did! Does that mean your Grandma can read minds as well?"
"Indeed she could. We used to have conversations without even opening our mouths when I was little."
"Hmm..." Mabel hummed as she mused, rubbing a hand on her chin. "When did you obtain your 'shining'?"
"Well, if my memory serves me right, my Grandma said I'd obtained it when I was four-years-old."
"Really? That young?" Mabel said impressed.
"Mm-hmm." Dick nodded. "And from what your brother said, it seems you've obtained it three weeks ago. Is that right?"
"Yeah..." Mabel looked thoughtful. "Hmm...how come you got yours a lot earlier than mine?"
"Well, sometimes, to me I think, is that they haven't 'shined' yet."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well...some people shine, some don't. What I mean by that is...well, calm yourself and concentrate on me for just a moment. See if you can see anything different. And tell me what you see." Dick advised.
Mabel blinked at the request but obliged. "Okay," she calmed her mind, the nerves in her muscles, and sat there quietly as she stared at Mr. Hallorann.
As soon as her senses were relaxed, she began to see something...
...A faint yellow glow surrounded Mr. Hallorann, surprising Mabel. Once she snapped out of her trance, the glow disappeared. "Whoa..." she said a little softly in amazement.
Dick, however, looked shocked as well.
Mabel blinked again. "What is it, Dick?"
"Oh," Dick blinked as well and shook his head to clear his mind. "I'm sorry, I was..." he looked at Mabel in curiosity. "I was looking at how bright you were."
"How...bright I am?" Mabel asked in bewilderment.
Dick nodded. "It seems...your 'shine' is glowing brightly."
"Wait...so...what I saw on you, that glow...that's why your grandmother called it a 'shining'?"
"Yeah..." Dick stared at her for a second. "Your 'shining' came off really luminously. Very luminously."
"Oh...what could that mean?"
"It means...well, it means you got a lot of that 'shine' in you."
Mabel looked confused.
"What I mean by that, is...you know, how about we get back to this later?" Dick suggested. "I want to know a bit about you for a minute before I answer that."
"Oh...okay. What do you want to know?"
"Well, first off, how old are you?"
"Thirteen."
"Hmm...and from what your brother said, your 'shining' first came to you during school. Is that correct?"
Mabel nodded. "Uh-huh. And after...the visions, I could hear the thoughts of other people."
"A vision?" Dick inquired curiously.
"Yeah..." Mabel sat there rubbing her sweater covered arm with a frown on her face, remembering the frightful images that came to her that day.
Dick held a solemn look on his face as he saw her expression. "Were they scary?"
Mabel looked up with a surprised look, her mouth forming an 'o'. "Uh...y-yes..."
"...Would it make you uncomfortable if I ask you what you saw?"
"...I've...been told not to talk about them."
"Who told you that?"
"...Susie."
"Hmm...you never told me about Susie. Who is she?" Dick asked in interest.
Mabel was silent, looking down at her hands as they rubbed together anxiously. "Um..."
"...Is she the one that gives you visions?" Dick said in a tone that sounds like he understands.
"...Yes. She's my imaginary friend."
"Imaginary friend?"
"Well, she used to be imaginary. I had her when I was really little, and when I turned five, she decided to go...until she came back to live in my mind." Mabel explained although she looked confused. Frowning, she muttered, "That sounded kind of weird." shaking her head, she looked at Mr. Hallorann again. "Either way, she says that she's the one who gives me these premonitions."
"...Huh. Yours is definitely different than mine." Dick said in a soft intrigued tone.
"Yours?" Mabel asked, her eyebrows shooting up.
"Mm-hmm. When I'm about to see premonitions, I smell oranges."
Mabel raised a peculiar eyebrow. "You...smell oranges?"
Dick nodded. "I do. Maybe it's the fact that I like oranges. Whatever it may be, it triggers the 'shine' in my mind to make me think I smell them, which makes me see the possible future. Every 'shine' is very unique in its own way. Yours basically has something to do with imagination."
Mabel smiled brightly. "Well, I like to think I have a pretty vivid imagination."
Dick smiled as well and chuckled. "Well, I can already tell you're a very vibrant young girl. From the way you've been talking non-stop to your gal pals, you have an infectious personality."
"Aww, Dick, you smooth talker!" Mabel teased him in a good-natured way with a smirk.
Dick laughed softly, while Mabel giggled. Once their laughter died down, Mr. Hallorann's expression then turned neutral but thoughtful. "So...Susie told you not to tell anyone about these visions you had?"
Mabel nodded and said, "Yeah...she told me not to say that I have this gift as well."
"Why is that?"
"Well...she said that they'll think differently of me."
Dick hummed in understanding. "I haven't told anyone about my 'shining' as well when I was younger...well, except for my grandmother."
Mabel hummed as well and looked at the floor in thought. "...Along with those visions she gave me, it was almost kind of scary to hear people's thoughts as well...I mean, at first. Susie told me ahead of time that I could hear them before she gave me the visions."
"Hm...how did you control all the thoughts that were coming at you the first time?" Dick asked.
"Well...it was kind of hard at first...but after a while, I let my mind relax a bit by concentrating on one person at a time, as well as just ignoring them," Mabel informed Mr. Hallorann.
Dick smiled. "That's very good. My Grandma also taught me how to control the thoughts that were going through me all at once. You must be a natural."
Mabel blushed slightly. "Ah, I just thought of the most logical solution..." she smiled. "That sounds something like Dipper would say."
Dick chuckled. "You and your brother must be really close."
Mabel smiled genuinely at that. "Yeah, we are. He always takes care of me and helps me more than anyone else..." her expression turned contemplative, "...I really got to do something for him. He's done so much for me when we first visited Gravity Falls..." she frowned. "I need to let him know how much I appreciate him. He's been looking out for me ever since Susie came..."
Mr. Hallorann nodded with a kind smile. "He sounds like a very good and reliable brother."
She looks up to the older man. "He is," she said, smiling.
Dick chuckled warmly as Mabel beamed. They sat there for a moment, letting the silence relax them.
"...Dick?"
"Hm?"
"...Do you hear voices that come out of nowhere?"
Dick blinked at the question. "What do you mean?"
"Well...when me, Dipper, Grunkle Stan, and our friend Pacifica were driving to the hotel, we stopped at an overlook to view the place from where we were. And when I looked at the hotel from the distance, I heard...people calling my name."
Dick frowned at that. "You did?"
"Mm-hmm. What does that mean?" Mabel asks in curiosity.
The older man just sat there a little confused, until his expression gradually turning into realization. He glanced around the kitchen to make sure no one was around...he looked guarded for some reason.
Mabel took notice of this and asked him warily, "Dick? What's wrong? Do you hear someone coming this way?" she paused. "No wait, I would've heard it too..." she raised an eyebrow at him. "What did you hear, Dick?"
Once she said, that he finished giving the kitchen a quick look-around scan and turned his attention back to Mabel. "Um...beside reading minds and having premonitions, did Susie ever tell you anything else what your gift can also do?"
Now Mabel blinked. "Huh? Uh...no."
Dick hummed in interest. "Really? Well...your 'shining' can also make you see spirits."
Her eyes widened. "Whoa, hold the phone! Really!?"
"Indeed." Dick nodded, "Which leads me back to the conversation I said we were gonna talk about later. You must've heard the spirits of this here hotel."
Mabel's mouth flew open. "Wait, so...this place...is haunted?"
"Well, kind of...a little...probably," Dick was silent for a moment until he sighed, "Actually...yes."
Mabel's eyes widened.
"Oh, but don't worry, they're harmless! The activity here is just basically sounds that haunt the place."
She looked at ease when hearing that. "Just...sounds?"
"Yes, ma'am...but...well, you see, Mabel, whenever someone has a 'shining' and they go to a place of unrest, they see the spirits in that said particular place. They only appear to people who 'shine', and can't be seen by the normal eye."
"Oh...but, why haven't I seen these spirits?" Mabel asked.
"Well, sometimes they come and go...it's kind of like light reflecting on glass. The more light it gathers, the brighter the glass gets. And we're kind of like the rays of light that 'shine' in on this hotel. Without that 'shine', this hotel is...well, a hotel with sounds. Our 'shine' brightens this place at times, and when it does, the ghosts of the past, as well as other things from the past, make themselves known."
"Other things from the past?" Mabel wondered out-loud.
Dick nodded. "Mm-hmm. And here in the Overlook Hotel, there had been...well...it's like this, Mabel. When something happens in the past of any place of unrest, it leaves traces of those things behind. Like say, someone here burns toast...well, maybe those things that happened in that place would leave other traces behind. Not things that anyone can notice, but things that people who 'shine' can see. So in other words, you can see what happened in the past as much as you'll see what will happen in the future."
Mabel stared at him for a moment silently...until she said. "Dick...did bad stuff happened here?"
Dick looked almost taken aback. "W-Why would you say that?"
The young girl looked pensive, her expression sheepish as her eyes looked to her right. "Well...you almost looked kind of...hesitant when mentioning the hotel."
"Hesitant? Oh, no, I just..." Dick shrugged. "I just didn't want you to be surprised or even scared when you see these spirits walking around the hotel when you come back here."
Mabel looked back at him with concern. "...Dick...these ghosts aren't...bad, are they? I mean, they don't like, possess people or anything like that, do they?"
"Possess people? Oh, no, no! It's like I said, these ghosts are absolutely harmless! They're like pictures in a book. You see 'em and they do nothing but play out what they already did in the past. " Dick explained.
"Oh...well..." Mabel looked a little timid. "...were they bad things?"
Dick gazed at her, his expression almost looking uncertain to continue. "Um..."
Mabel decided to ask what's on her mind. "Dick, you're not scared of this place, are you?"
Taken by surprise at that question, Dick said, "Scared? Nah, I'm not scared. Why would I be scared of my own workplace?"
Mabel sat quietly, staring at him with a troubled look.
Dick's composure lessened when he sensed her doubt, and with a sigh, "Mabel, this place ain't gonna hurt you. I'm just a little hesitant, because...well, think of this place as a person for a moment. When our 'shine' affects it, it shows a personality. And back then, these certain events happened here to make it have that personality. The Overlook just shows us things that happened here at times whenever it wants to..."
The chestnut-haired girl waited for him to continue.
"...but...the Overlook...had some events that happened here that weren't pleasant. And sometimes, I see these events happen. Granted, I first came here three months ago and spend some time knowing the kitchen and the hotel a little bit, but...I could hear and see certain things in the hotel...and not all of them were good."
Mabel kept silent, absorbing the information that was being said to her.
"So, with all that said, I'm not technically scared. I'm just...a little on edge when it comes to working here." Dick finished saying.
"...Okay." Mabel looked down at the floor, looking attentive...she raised her gaze at Mr. Hallorann. "What's in room 217?"
"...Huh?" Dick said puzzled.
Feeling embarrassed, Mabel said, "I read a little bit at what you were thinking just now...you mention something about a room. Room 217. Is...there something bad in there?"
Stunned as he blinked, Dick asked, "Why would you say that?"
"Well...you mentioned something about not going in there yourself. ...What's...what's in that room?" she asked again with curious caution.
Dick was silent, not saying a word for a couple of seconds. "...Nothin'."
Mabel blinked in bemusement. "But your thought said-"
"I know what I thought. But believe me when I say that there's nothin' in there," Dick emphasized. "In fact, I don't want you to go snooping around any of the rooms either, including room 217. Ya hear me? Stay out of them rooms. Stay out." he said to her, his tone slightly stern.
Surprised by the warning and the authoritative tone, Mabel stuttered. "O-Okay..."
Dick, feeling guilty about being firm with his statement, frowned and sighed as he said to her, "I'm sorry, Mabel. I'm just trying to do my job here. And...I don't technically know what's in the room myself...anyways, I'm part of the staff now, and I can't let everyone do their thing in the hotel."
"Al-Alright..." Mabel, however, asked one last thing, "Nothing really bad is in here though, right, Dick?"
Dick smiled softly and sincerely. "No, Mabel, there isn't. Nothing here will hurt you or anyone else. I've been here quite a few times, and nothing has ever tried to hurt me or anyone. Just remember what I said; these ghosts and images you see are like pictures in a book."
Mabel looked at Mr. Hallorann, a smile crept onto her lips as she felt a bit calmer. "Thanks, Dick."
"No problem," Dick said with the same honest and warm smile held firmly on his face.
"Actually, just to let you know, Dipper and I can handle stuff like ghosts and all that. We have our fair share encounters of the paranormal when we stayed at Gravity Falls during the summer!" Mabel bragged with a grin.
"Did you now?" Dick said interested with a grin himself.
"Yep! They don't call us the 'Mystery Twins' for nothing! And since you're new in town, word of advice; expect the unexpected here." Mabel said with a giggle.
Dick laughed at that. "Well, I'll keep that in mind! I'll ask though, your friend, Soos, said a lot of strange things you've encountered. All of that is true, isn't it?"
"Yep yep!" Mabel said brightly.
Dick chuckled. "Very interesting! May I ask what the most dangerous one you've come across is?"
"Well, all of them were pretty dangerous...well, maybe except the gnomes. They're just annoying. But I'll tell you one creature that deserves my 'jerk alert'."
"Oh? What's that?" Dick asked.
Mabel scowled. "Unicorns."
Dick blinked. "...Unicorns?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Unicorns. Me, Grenda, Candy, and Wendy were trying to look for one during our stay at Gravity Falls in the Summer. We found some, only for one of them to judge me like no tomorrow and made me go on a wild goose chase. Ugh, shorter version; they're nothing but lying, selfish, dirtbags!" Mabel grimaced in annoyance. "So we beat them up like the punks they are!"
"...Uh...okay," Dick said, a little dumbfounded.
Noticing his expression, Mabel blushed and giggled sheepishly. "You had to be there."
Dick sat there for a second and then snickered, which turned into another bout of laughter. Mabel followed put and started to snicker and laugh as well. They both laughed for a short while until their laughter died down in giggles.
Getting the last bit of her giggles out, as well as Dick, Mabel said to him, "Really, Dick. Thank you."
The older man smiled tenderly and nodded. "You're very much welcome, Mabel."
Okay! Done and done! This chapter was more of an explanation of Mabel's 'shining' and the concept of it, so I'm sorry if I haven't moved the story any further, but I thought this would be a nice place to stop since I ended the last chapter like this...I think. D: Either way, I think I've written quite enough for today. 19 pages! WHEW!
But yeah, I hope you all enjoyed this newly written, somewhat revised chapter 5 of "Shine"! :)
Seriously though, tell me how I did! Is the chapter good? What do you think of the concept? Am I doing well with the characters? Tell me with a review! And don't forget to fave and follow! ;D
Thank you all for reading! See you all later, and keep on rocking everybody! ^_^
-TSP