It was good to see Mabel smile again, but at what cost?
They spent the next hour watching Dream Boys High and, much to Dipper's dismay, it was even worse than the last time he watched it. He wasn't ashamed to be in the other room for more than half of it's runtime with the phrase "Keep watching. I'm just gonna get some more popcorn." Or the like.
"It's...not as good as I remember it." Mabel said, the smile fading from her face. It was harder then expected for Dipper to tell what she was dissapointed with.
"There's always other movies." Dipper said, looking through a book case full of them. Of course it was meticulously organized, save for a stray tape on the bottom shelf. He was examining the case when the sound of socks against hard floor stopped for carpeted floor.
"what'cha lookin' at?" Mabel asked, her head stopping while her body walked on in an attempt to observe her brother's choice. In a moment requiring fast action, brother caught sister when she leaned too far. The tape falling to the floor when his action required both hands, quickly pushing her back onto her feet.
"An old movie." Dipper said, picking the tape up and flipping it over with his free hand. "I'm hesitant to watch it 'cause I...I just don't know if you'll like it." Mabel stumbled back into her chair while Dipper put down the case. "It's one of my nerd movies. Never mind, I-I'll look for something else, something you might like-"
"Dipper, what do you want to watch?" Mabel asked, sitting up in her chair. She utilized both armrests in her pose.
"You mean it?" Dipper asked, looking around to her slowly and picking up the case. "I thought you hated my nerd movies."
"Nahhh." Mabel said, waving her arm dismissively. "I don't hate them. I just haven't seen that many. Tell me," hands folded on her lap, "what is this movie called?"
"Well..." Dipper said, waving the copy in his hand. "It's called 1984. It's based on a book you never wanted to read."
"Hmmm." Mabel pondered with utmost poise. "And you think you'll like it?"
"Then why haven't you put it in yet?" Mabel asked. Her pose grew more armchair utilizing as time went on.
"I read the book at Stan's and I can't imagine why the movie would be much different." Dipper said, looking the tape over. "And...dad said it was one of his favorite movies."
"Then shut up and put the movie in, ya big Dip!" Mabel cried, Her composure vanishing in what Dipper could have imagined to be a puff of smoke. "The popcorn's getting cold-"
"And I know how much you hate congealed butter on the kernels." Dipper sighed. In a single, smooth motion, the tape slid itself into the player, the sound of a whirring drive following him back to his most comfortable chair. He would have sat down had Mabel not have been smiling in it.
In my latent quest to edit previously posted chapters, this one received the most attention, as Mabel would be going to bed at like 5:30. It's not much, but it works for me.
A big thank you to Dip the Hashashin, her frequent comments are an enormous boost to my motivation.