There are many ways the average morning can be ruined. Some are worse than others: to be woken up to rain-dripping soaked sheets is not nearly as bad a wake up to a deranged man holding a knife over your head. Severity aside, Dipper was already experiencing a bad morning. Stretching his arm before him in his bed sleepily, he instantly realized that his stomach felt horrible.
Then a groan came over from his left, and he peeled his eyelids open. The bright light of the late morning washed over him, casting into dark all around him. Still, he could tell what he was looking at. Mabel had stood up, and began to shuffle away from her bed towards the door.
"Mabel?" Dipper asked.
She turned and grumbled words, barely able to be registered by human intellect.
"What?" he asked again, rubbing his eyes as he focused on her. Her eyes were red and her hair was a mess. She looked mildly green.
"Sick," she grumbled, and then spun around with Waddles the pig in tow and marched towards the bathroom.
Dipper supposed that his bad morning was suddenly more welcoming by comparison.
With the constant thudding of rain hitting the roof and windows around him, Dipper slowly got dressed and traversed downstairs, forsaking the bathroom until his sister finished business. "I warned you to not eat the rest of Grunkle Stan's-" he called as he passed the closed door.
"Shush! They were delicious, and sweet, and sour... and chocolatey... and-" Mabel's defense was cut short by a loud retching noise. Dipper shuddered. He walked down the stairs, stifling a yawn. He was certain his own stomach issues were caused by candy, but at least there were not nearly severe enough to warrant staying in a bathroom for the thirty minutes straight.
"Mornin', pip-sqeak," Grunkle Stan called to him as he passed by the stairs, moving towards the kitchen.
"You're up early," Dipper moaned as he scratched his back. Stan, already fully dressed and awake, chuckled back.
"More like you're up late. It's already eleven," Stan informed Dipper, who blinked and groaned.
"Dang it, Mabel," Dipper sighed, holding his eyes, "Playing Candy-Comrade was a bad idea," Dipper said as he marched after Stan into the kitchen.
"The heck is Candy-Communist?" Stan asked.
"Comrade," Dipper corrected him, "It's like checkers, but with Candy. Whatever candy you win a piece, you have to eat it," Dipper explained.
"And you're not... dead from sugar-high?" Stan asked, eying the boy with a knack for all things of the intellect.
Dipper shrugged. "I let Mabel win that one. Makes her feel great, and then I don't deal with what she's dealing with now," Dipper told his Grand-Uncle as he reached inside the fridge for some orange juice.
"Oh, so that's what the sound of death upstairs was coming from," Stan nodded thoughtfully.
"Sup dude," the cheery voice of a certain handy-man called to Dipper.
"Hey Soos," Dipper said as he poured himself a glass.
"Dude, talk about a party last night, huh?" Soos told him, "I mean, the house was awesome, but then the move? Great idea by you two," Soos congratulated Dipper with a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks," Dipper nodded.
"What is he talking about?" Stan asked as he sipped what appeared to be stale, room-temperature coffee.
"We moved the entire party at Zander Maximillion's to the central graveyard!" Soos explained as Dipper sighed.
"What?" Stan gasped.
"Yeah. Uh... some complications and stuff," Dipper explained. He still hadn't decided, even after tossing and turning for several hours the previous night, on what to tell the others about Wendy. The information she revealed felt like something both fantastic and personal. Who he told, and why, still felt undecided.
Soos gave his perspective without pay. "Wendy showed up, and people were all freaking out because someone said they saw a ghost and stuff," Soos explained further, which gained Stan's direct attention.
"Wendy was there, huh?" Stan asked, eying Dipper and Soos. "Huh. Thought her, uh, party days were behind her," Stan asked, focusing the question towards Dipper.
"She, uh," Dipper grasped at straws, still torn between telling Stan the morbid truth or holding it a secret for Wendy, "She, well-"
From behind them, someone said, "Had a miscommunication with her friends," as the sickly, heavy voice of Mabel finished for Dipper as she stumbled into the room. Without another word, she found the closest open seat, sat into it with a thump, and then slammed her head into the table with a bang.
"Nice reverberations," Soos commented to Mabel as he turned, "I'll get working on the clogged-up drain pipes outside," Soos told Stan. The old man paid no heed, but instead stared at Mabel. She banged her head on the table again.
"That's a great way to clear up sinuses," Stan pointed to her as he sipped his coffee.
"Mister Pines," a new voice entered the kitchen as Soos left while passing Yuki. He held a hand to the speaker of a phone belonging to the Mystery Manor. "I take it we are going to have a mildly un-active day?" Yuki asked.
"Eh. Can't see much happening here on rainy days. Why?" Stan asked.
"I would like to request a day off," Yuki stated. Stan stared at him, his eyes squinting as he studied the Alien. Dipper knew that look; the eyes of a con-man who would never dare to waste a single coin if he knew he could snatch it for himself. To his shock, Stan grunted and shrugged. Yuki's face lit up. "Thank you, sir," Yuki grinned.
Dipper spun as he glanced between the spot Yuki had just been, and his Grand uncle; barely hearing the chat Yuki had on the phone. "Since when did you just let people off work?" Dipper gasped, an incredulous smile growing slowly on his face.
Stan grunted back, "Since you decided to not be nosey."
"But I'm still–" Dipper started, but a peanut was thrown as his face. "Ow," Dipper winced as it struck his nose. Grunkle Stan allowed himself a self-rewarding chuckle as Dipper rubbed the irritated spot.
Mabel gave a hiccup-like giggle. "What a dork– bleh," Mabel cut herself short and stood up, entering a zombie like walk that lead her to a cabinet, "Medicine. I needs it."
"Thank you, Stan," Yuki walked back inside, rubbing his hands together, "That made things much easier to handle."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Stan sat down by the table, unfolding the newspaper present and reading away at the articles.
"Who were you talking to anyway?" Dipper asked. "I didn't know you knew anyone's phone number."
"I don't," Yuki said, "We were called, and I was asked by name."
"Who's- ugh- calling for you?" Mabel asked as she swallowed the medicine quickly.
"Pacifica," Yuki said. Dipper blinked, and Mabel shot up. All the color in her face vanished in an instant as she listened with great urgency. Yuki explained, "She asked to speak to me."
"Did she?" Mabel shot towards Yuki, all signs of illness vanished as quickly as dust blown off an old record. Yuki eyed her carefully, and then nodded. "So," Mabel asked, elbowing his side gently, "Anything going on we should know about?" she asked with a wide grin.
"She wishes to spend time with me this day," Yuki said, "We are to meet at the mall," Yuki stalled as Mabel made small squeaking noises as her face went red, "and spend time... eh... Mabel, are you well?" Yuki asked when Mabel began to bounce in place.
"No!" she shouted cheerily, "I still feel horrible, but who cares!" she jumped at Yuki and squeezed him into a hug, "Awww, Yuki! You're going on a date!"
"Excuse me?" Yuki and Dipper spluttered at once.
"What makes you think that?" Dipper quickly asked.
"Indeed. All Pacifica asked was for my accompaniment in the Mall," Yuki said.
"Right, but did she ask you to bring anyone with her?" Mabel asked. Yuki shook his head. "Did she say anyone would be with her?" Mabel asked again. Yuki, albeit slower, shook his head. "Did she say where you guys would be eating?" Mabel asked with a grin.
"Oh, c'mon Mabel," Dipper groaned, "That kind of assuming is exactly what-"
"Five star, newly opening French cuisine, paid all by her," Yuki said with volume barely louder than a whisper. His face had gone several shades lighter, his usual light-chocolate skin now a pale shade of tan. "I know enough about human custom to say that... that... that sounds like a-"
"Date!" Mabel roared, and began to hop around a stunned and terrified Yuki.
"I... a date with a human being," Yuki gulped, "I'm... I've seen them happen before, but how would I go about doing so?"
"Yuki, don't worry about it," Dipper rolled his eyes as he pushed past him and his sister, "I think Mabel is just over-thinking things and making you nervous over nothing." Mabel stuck out her tongue at him, and Dipper peered into the shop. He had on his mind the need for a semi-private conversation with a certain redhead. That certain woman, to Dipper's surprise, was not at her counter. "You guys seen Wendy?" he asked. spinning around to the kitchen.
"Huh?" Mabel asked. She too peered into the shop. "Uh, nope," she shrugged.
"Yuki?" Dipper asked. The alien shook his head, as it sounded like his voice was too dry to speak. Uncertain, Dipper looked to his Grunkle. "Is Wendy here today?"
"She took the day off yesterday. But... no, she hasn't come in today," Stan told Dipper, his eyes darting away from Dipper. The door behind Dipper opened.
"Who? Wendy?" Arline stepped inside, directly behind Dipper. "Hey guys. What's scaring Yuki?" she asked.
"He's got a date with Pacifica!" Mabel cheered.
"The rich blond girl?" Arline asked as she padded off some of the rain from her shoulders, "Well, good luck buddy," she sighed and passed by Yuki, who grunted as he stared into space. "Stan, can we talk?" she asked the old man.
"Arline," Dipper called to Arline from across the room, "Did you see Wendy's bike outside?"
"Uh... no," Arline shook her head. She turned back to Stan. "When do you have some time?" she asked.
"Pff. Give me thirty minutes. No one's coming into the shop today," Stan shrugged.
"Where is she?" Dipper grumbled loudly, ruffling his hand through his hair. "She should be here today. She should be working."
"She's a teenager," Stan told him, "They do stupid things. Like Mabel, for example," Stan waved a hand at the twin.
"Whoop!" Mabel cheered as she continued to hop around the stunned Yuki.
"But yesterday," Dipper started, "She said..." Dipper looked to his sister, and pulled her close, snatching her from her elated state, "She said something about a goodbye last night."
"Uh, yeah, like a goodnight kiss?" Mabel reminded him.
Dipper growled and shook his head. "No!" he hissed at her, "This is serious! She made it sound like she wasn't going... to come back."
"Dipper, this is Wendy we're talking about here," Mabel said with her usual tone, grinning all the same, "Wendy's tough. She isn't about drama. She was probably just tired and wanted to make sure you got the idea that she was... well, not going to bed... you know what I mean," Mabel said.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Dipper replied.
"Dipper," Stan called over, "Look, she's eighteen. She can take a day off if she really needs it. Besides, not like we're going to be getting a lot of guests today."
This did not comfort Dipper. He closed his eyes and looked away, giving the possibilities thought. Less than twenty-four hours ago, Dipper had learned Wendy had been dead all along, and that she had been resurrected by some form of magic. That shock aside, he had pushed his hardest to make the night a spectacular one for him, Wendy, and anyone else who may have been around them. Still... those last words from her...
That's a goodnight and goodbye kiss for you, buddy.
Dipper scowled as he recalled her words. That had to mean more.
"Dipper," Arline's voice shook him, "If you're really that concerned, why don't you go check on her?"
"What?" he asked.
"Yeah. Just drive on over to her house or whatever, and see how she's holding up?" Arline explained. "I doubt she'd mind a visit from you," Arline admitted.
Arline's option wasn't a bad one. In normal circumstances, Dipper would have said it was a great idea. Then again, he knew more than Arline did about his long-term friend: she hadn't been living in her home for almost three years. Heck, she technically hadn't been 'living' for almost three years. Where did she spend her time? Where did Wendy go when she wasn't working at the Mystery Manor? His gut clenched, thinking of the rain outside. He nodded to Arline.
"I'll be out," Dipper called as he ran upstairs. Grabbing his keys and coat would be the first step. The rest of the day would be looking for Wendy.
"Mabel," Arline spoke to her student, "Maybe you could help Yuki get set up for his big date?"
"Ah!" Mabel gasped, "Brilliant! Let's smarm up this sucker!" Mabel declared. She then grabbed Yuki, and pulled him upstairs. At some point, he nearly fell, and was actually dragged across several feet before straightening himself. As Mabel darted into his room, she tossed him on his bed and stared around. "As I thought. Nothing good for a date. Stay here!" Mabel declared before spinning about and rushing outside.
She had been gone for probably less than five seconds before she blasted her way inside the room again, startling Yuki with her speed and an avalanche of nice shirts.
"What's all this?" Yuki gasped.
"Dipper's extra shirts he never uses," Mabel explained, "He always keeps them around, just in case of a job, but they'll fit you. I think. We'll find out," Mabel laughed as she tossed one at Yuki. "Try that on," she ordered him.
"Should we ask permission from Dipper to use his clothing?" Yuki asked as he slipped off his borrowed shirt of the Mystery Manor and put on the white and striped button up.
"Well, I told him I was using them," Mabel said, "And either he said something about giving me permission, or he was too busy looking for his keys."
"Uh... Does that count for permission?" Yuki asked.
"Less talky, more dress-upy!" Mabel shouted, causing Yuki to flinch and follow orders. "So, lets warm you up on date terms."
"I am sufficiently heated– ohh," Yuki turned half way through his shirt, and nodded, "An expression. I've heard that before. Very well, you may test me."
"So, when a you and a girl on a date arrive to a door at the same time," Mabel paused, waiting for Yuki to finish the sentence for her. He only continued to struggle with the shirt.
"Buttons are odd choices for fabrication of clothes," Yuki grumbled, continuing to fidget. Mabel cleared her throat, and he turned to her. "Huh? Oh yes, uh... Both go in at the same time."
"... No," Mabel said after a pause, "Ladies first. You always hold the door open for a girl," Mabel scolded him.
"Ah."
"Unless they insist otherwise," Mabel shrugged.
"Oh. Then... assume until you are told... otherwise," Yuki thought aloud, his brow furrowing. "Well. I will attempt to keep that in mind."
"Okay. So, you've been eating with the girl," Mabel tried again, keeping a mental tally now of the mess-ups that Yuki had, "And the bill comes."
"As in, Bill Ci– oh, yes, payment," Yuki chuckled and nodded. Mabel scoffed as she looked at him. "What?"
"Not the right shirt for you. Makes you skin super-dark and kind of blushed. Take it off... try this one," she threw another button up at him, and Yuki gasped. With a sigh, he peeled off the first one and began to put on the other. Mabel continued with her scenario, "So, the bill has come. Who pays?"
"My word, I have no currency," Yuki gasped as he slipped the shirt in over his head, "How will I pay for a meal?"
"Doesn't matter, Pacifica will pay. But answer the question anyway," Mabel told him.
"Uh... you pay for your own meal?" Yuki asked. Before Mabel had gotten half her sigh out and groaned, Yuki cleared his throat, "And then pay for hers. Yes."
"Unless she really, really insists on it."
"Of course," Yuki blinked and continued putting on the shirt.
"Okay, maybe one out of three," Mabel murmured to herself and posed her next question, "You've left the dinner. There are options for what to do next – Movies, a walk outside, or shopping. The girl turns to you and says, 'What should we do next'?"
Yuki slipped on his shirt, and put a hand to his chin. "Is there a right answer to this question?"
Mabel grinned and pointed to him. "Good!" she said, "You're catching on. The best answer is to insist the lady pick. And if she still won't, then shopping. Even if they're just window shopping, it will give them time to consider what they really want to do. And I like the shirt. Now... what to do about the pants..."
"My word, this is unsettlingly complicated!" Yuki gulped and played at the collar of his shirt, a cream and orange striped shirt. "Not to mention, I feel rather bad about this."
"Oh, don't worry, you'll be fine," Mabel told him as she adjusted his collar, "Dates always get the best out of us. And hopefully the actual best, not how the saying 'the best' goes, which usually means worst... you know?" Mabel asked a confused Yuki. He shook his head. Mabel roughly assured him, "You'll be fine."
The alien groaned and looked her dead in the eyes. "Mabel, I'm am about to go on a date with someone five times younger than me," Yuki told her. Mabel frowned and pursed her lips. "You see?" Yuki pointed to her face, "That is the kind of reaction I had with myself the instant I figured you were possibly correct!"
"But, Yuki," Mabel rolled her eyes, attempting to shake off the reminder that Yuki is actually older than Grunkle Stan, "Your species ages like five times slower than us."
"Nearly. In your years I'm nearly ninety, but in my culture I am still not a young adult. I have another of your... uh... five years? Five years will put me in your culture about... seventeen."
"Beside the point," Mabel said, "Pacifica wants to spend time with you. She'll probably just want to talk with you over a dinner table, or lunch table I guess if it's going to be soon," Mabel admitted, "But who cares about age in the long run anyway! Dipper and I met vampires once who were like super old, but they looked our age. Does that make it weird?"
Yuki gave the thought a consideration, but in the end nodded. Mabel sighed. "Yeah, okay, it was a little weird."
"I just wonder if she intends this to be the start of a longer-term relationship," Yuki gulped, "And–"
"I can't believe I'm actually saying this," Mabel grasped his shoulders, staring into his eyes, "But do not get ahead of yourself. Get the date done with, and then you can worry about future stuff. Now, one second," Mabel turned to the foot of the bed, where a small padded ear-bud without a cord sat. She lifted it to Yuki. "Put this into your ear."
"What is it?" he asked her.
"One of Grunkle Stan's old spy equipment. We got them from the knocked out secret ages from... oh, you weren't here back then," Mabel remembered as Yuki frowned and watched her talk, "But anyway, slip this on, and you'll be able to hear me talk and I'll be able to hear everything you say!"
"Everything?" Yuki asked.
"And more! I'll be able to hear what Pacifica says too!" Mabel declared, giving herself a little shake, "This way I can help out if you need advice! Just tap it, like this," Mable struck Yuki's ear, to which he winced, "And I'll know you want me to feed you a line or two."
"Isn't this... kind of eavesdropping?" Yuki asked.
"Yuki," Mabel sighed as she pocketed her own walkie-talkie, "This is a human habit. We like knowing things and stuff, and what better way or knowing things and stuff than eavesdropping the entire conversation?"
"Uh... I suppose I can't argue with the merits of a culture... even if I'm not entirely certain you are being genuine," he added as he looked at Mabel for a long moment.
"Please, Yuki, this is me we're talking about here," Mabel whirled around, "I'm the queen of dates, and master of young affection, and a former god of love!"
"... Really?" Yuki asked.
"Kind of. I once stole love potions from a cherub. That kind of made me a temporary love demi-god I guess," Mabel shrugged, "But we gotta hurry!"
"Are we not to address my pants?" Yuki asked, pulling on his pockets.
"They're fine!" Mabel said, her mind a buzz of excitement and possibility. "She'll forgive you wearing those cargo pants today."
"Are you-" Yuki couldn't finish his worried thoughts. Mabel had reached over, grasped his shoulder, and once again pulled him out of the room with blistering speed.
"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel declared as she shouted into the kitchen. Grunkle Stan and Arline, both peering into the newspaper, jumped and stared at Mabel. "I'm stealing Soos for thirty minutes!"
"What?!" Stan started to stand. Arline however jammed her knuckles into his arm with a tap, and he looked to the martial arts master. "Oh. Er... fine, yeah, whatever. Just bring him back to me in once piece!" Stan called after Mabel, who spun back and dragged Yuki through the entire building.
The car drove to the side of the road, slowing down as the familiar hill before the cemetery presented itself. Dipper parked the car as he stared out the window. Just as rainy and gloomy outside as he had expected it to be, he wandered what he expected himself to say to Wendy when he found her.
Still, it was something he would deal with. With a resolved sigh, he grunted and pushed open the door. As he closed it, several sirens caught Dipper's attention. A pair of police cruises sped by, their lights flashing as their tires sprayed the collecting rain into the air.
"What's going on?" Dipper asked. The curiosity, as potent as ever inside his brain, pondered the possibility of following them. He shook his head. "Not today." He turned away and walked.
Rain slapping against his face as he climbed the hill, Dipper wandered if Wendy even felt the cold of rain in this weather. She hadn't felt anything similar to pain as far as he recalled. What if, all this time, Wendy had never physically felt a thing?
Then again, she is a daughter of Manly Dan, Dipper reminded himself, it's just as likely that she doesn't even care when she's hurt anymore- especially now that it can't kill her. Or at least... she can't die. Right?
Dipper shook his head. "Whatever. Just find her," he told himself as he reached the top of the hill, and was able to peer down into the soaked and rather large graveyard. "Lots of hiding spots," Dipper murmured to himself as he stepped down into the hilly meadow.
Not to Dipper's surprise, there were scattered plates and trays still scattered around the graveyard. Evidence of the previous night's party stirred his brain to think of the events that had occurred. The dance, the revealing, the kiss... so much had happened.
Was there really a chance between him and-
Dipper stepped loudly on a plastic cup, causing him to jolt up and gasp. Zander was a cool guy and all, but his clean-up skills seemed poorer than Dipper had expected. Assuming it was Zander who cleaned up at all. There was a twinge of guilt in Dipper's gut for not helping clean more, but that could come later.
He had to find Wendy, which as Dipper considered his task, would be a harder thing said than done. Each time Wendy had wanted to be unseen, she had managed it. She hadn't been wrong a month ago when the Tulpa attacked the manor; she was the best of their group at sneaking up on people.
Proof of her skill had been revealed to Dipper last night. After all, even if she had mostly stayed with Grunkle Stan during the Summer, she had avoided suspicion for nearly three years straight. Granted, miles of thick, mysterious wood were certainly a great place to hide. They were the only place Dipper was certain at the moment he could find her was here. It was luck, Dipper imagined, that her brother had pointed them to the graveyard. He was certain that the eldest of the Corduroy brothers had meant to direct them to the grave, and not to Wendy herself.
So she could still be here. Or at least Dipper hoped.
"But where?" He asked himself as he peered around.
There were fewer hiding spots in the gray light than there were from the black envelopment of the night prior. Dipper found it hard to believe that Wendy could be hiding around him now, somewhere among the graves. He even spotted her, and her mothers, grave as he walked around. If she was moving around the soaked earth and grassy patches, she was being both silent and quick.
Then a mausoleum appeared before Dipper. With cover from the rain and ample room inside, Dipper assumed it would be a great spot to hide in.
Approaching the stone temple to the dead, Dipper only thought what he would say to Wendy. His brain had only just arrived to the possibility that he wouldn't have the perfect thing to say to her. Without a catchy, clever sentence to deliver, what would he tell her? Was just wondering what happened to you seemed too casual, especially since he was searching for her. Maybe something along the lines I was worried about you was better.
He turned around and found the would be entrance. As much as Dipper was certain Wendy had supernatural abilities, super strength wasn't among them. That large, stone door seemed solid.
"Maybe there's a mechanism that opens a secret passage," Dipper mentioned aloud as he felt the surface of the mausoleum.
"Unlikely."
Dipper shouted and spun around. The voice was drawl and grim sounding, belonging to the current caretaker of the graveyard and funeral home- Tallman Harker. The pale man with stick-like arms and spindly legs stared down at Dipper from his imposing height, and Dipper collected his breath.
"You startled me," Dipper admitted.
"A feat we now both share," the man with the droning voice stated, as he held a black umbrella above his head. "What are you doing in the cemetery?"
"What? Isn't this public property?" Dipper asked, feeling like the man's questions were somewhat pointed.
Tallman Harker narrowed his eyes. "It is. However, you and your friends have a habit of bringing misfortune to my establishment and my own personal health," he growled in one sweeping breath, "As my head only recently recovered from the injury your large friend caused by hurling a bucket of cold water at me!"
"Right. Sorry," Dipper apologized, rubbing the back of his neck, "Soos got excited-" Dipper blinked, and realized who he was talking to: the owner of the Graveyards. The person who saw them the most. "Mister Tallman, have you seen– uh... wait," Dipper paused as he considered how to put his question. "Do you believe in ghosts, sir?"
The older, thin man scoffed. "Of course."
"You see them a lot?" Dipper asked, excited by the lack of confrontation.
"Naturally. Many of the deceased here were workers who died so quickly their spirits never adjusted to the change. They move about at night, trying to make sense of their new land."
"You sound like you, uh, know a lot about this stuff?" Dipper asked.
"My boy, I live next to graves. I am an expert of the dead," Harker told Dipper, "And their hobbies."
"The dead have... hobbies," Dipper quoted slowly.
"Yes!" Tallman Harker proudly said, "They are as diverse as the living, but much more organized in their tasks. One will lift stones with their minds, another scares only young boys, and some have tea breaks with their neighbors once every day after the full moon," Harker counter off, "and some visit other graves, and then leave the graveyard altogether."
"Wait, some leave the graveyard?" Dipper asked.
"The Corduroy girl, for example," Harker stated easily, "She tends to spend time every summer here, and then vanishes during the rest of the year with exception for Halloween-"
"Wendy?!" Dipper gasped, "You've seen Wendy?"
"Mind your volume," the old man hissed, "Of course. She haunted Stanley Pines funeral. You were there."
Dipper clenched his jaw. That information wasn't helpful. "Where else have you seen her? When?"
"My word, keep your mind to yourself," Tallman poked Dipper's shoulder with a gangly finger, "You speak to a man of the dead. I'll not betray the sacred trust of gravetenders to the dead with their- ahh!" Dipper had grasped the man's jacket. Pulling him closer and down, Dipper glared into the man's eyes. Tallman gulped, "I suppose that I can make exceptions if the need is dire."
"Good. When was the last time you saw Wendy?" Dipper demanded.
"Today, and the night before."
"Where?" Dipper furthered. Tallman turned and pointed back to the hill. "She was coming in?" Dipper asked.
"No, leaving," Harker said, "This morning, I spotted the trails of her hair as she glided over the hill. Spirits often tend to find another location of rest-"
"Wendy isn't a ghost," Dipper growled, letting go of the man's jacket with a shake, "She's a... wraith."
Tallman Harker calmed down, amused. "Hah. Wraiths are fairy tales, boy," Tallman scoffed, turning away from Dipper as he spoke over his shoulder, "Now please escort yourself from the premise. Else I call the authorities and have you removed."
"You've heard of wraiths?" Dipper called.
"Myths and legends, boy. Now leave!" he shouted over his shoulder as he marched towards a hill that would lead to the funeral home.
Dipper's eyes followed the lanky, shadowy figure as he departed. The man knew something about the type of undead Wendy claimed to be, even if he thought it was just a story. Maybe he could find him in a better mood, or send Mabel to talk to him later. Then again, if this man knew about Wraiths, maybe it wasn't hard to find knowledge. Maybe all Dipper had to do was find the right source.
Dipper finally turned and started back for the hills. Regardless of the man's empty threats, he didn't want to overstay his welcome. If the graveyard was just as active as Tallman described, spirits may mind him poking around.
Within a few minutes, Dipper had walked back over the hill and towards his car, carefully placing his steps as he descended towards the street. The sirens in the town continued to blare, but Dipper focused on the woods across the street. Wendy had been here not several hours before. Dipper could find her, locate her and talk to her, find out what was going on in her head. Then again, he was alone.
He was looking into the deep woods in the middle of a storm, looking for a possibly dangerous creature that he considered a friend and... in his case, more. As his cheeks flushed with realization to his feelings, Dipper pocketed his keys. With a quick glance across the street, he jogged over the concrete and took his first step into the woods. With several loud snaps and crunches of wet branches under his feet, Dipper vanished into the darkness of the forests.
Finding Soos wasn't much of a hassle. Calling for him after barely taking a step outside bore gratifying results; he flipped his head upside down to greet them from the rooftop. He quickly climbed down from the ladder with his rain jacket, and with the guarantee that he would not be away long, Soos did lead them to his car. The drive would be quick for all, except Yuki.
The poor man had gone deathly silent, stiff as a board, with eyes that locked on a dreaded future. Mabel tried frequently to encourage the alien; reminding him of certain facts about human dating to bolster his knowledge. This only seemed to remind him that he seemed to know little to nothing about human intimacy. Soos was better at reminding him of his chances of success.
"Look dude, as far as me and Melody have discovered, half of the problem is getting the date. After that, it's just seeing if you're both compatible," Soos explained as he turned down the main street.
"But what determines such things? Should I want that?" Yuki questioned. "The possibility of such union should be considered more dire than to be left up for a date to decide," he said. Yuki gulped. "What if this unintentionally starts a purge of non-human relations throughout the world because-"
"Yuki, you're not that bad of a date," Mabel patted his forehead, unable to reach around to his shoulder. "You're also sweet. The only way I see this going badly is if Pacifica is having a bad day, or something."
"There is much left to chances. I do not enjoy chances," Yuki grumbled, holding his face in his hands.
"Well dude, chances are up," Soos said as his care slowed, "Because the mall is too."
Yuki grumbled audibly. He and Mabel both turned their gaze towards the windows facing the surprisingly large mall. Mabel grinned as Yuki frowned, their excitement and fear polarizing the longer they looked at the looming building. Soos turned to Yuki, adjusted his hat with a nod, and gave him the thumbs up.
"Go get 'em, tiger-dude," Soos said.
"Joyous," Yuki grumbled.
"Aww, see? You're feeling-" Mabel started.
"That was another attempt at human sarcasm," Yuki said as he stepped outside.
Mabel hummed, impressed with the attempt. "Thanks again, Soos! We'll find our way back!" Mabel said before closing the door.
"Just call if you need me," Soos said, rolling down the window for a moment before pulling away. As Yuki ran for the Mall and Mabel gave Soos a thumbs up, the car sped away, leaving the two stranded in the large Gravity Falls mall. It was a place Mabel had not been too in some time.
"Ahh!" Mabel sighed as the two made it past the front doors, "About time! I've missed the smell of capitalism, discounts, and bargains!"
"Is there such a scent?" Yuki glanced to her.
"Probably. I think it smells like cheap plastic and foam peanuts," Mabel admitted. She turned to Yuki, "Now. When is she going to get here?"
"Uh... in approximately five minutes," Yuki said, turning about and finding a public clock.
"Sweet 'n sour sauce! So, I'm going to go hide," Mabel grinned, pulling out the audio device from her pocket, "And remember, if you need advice, just tap on your ear! Oh," Mabel had gone over several steps, but she whirled about, and cleared her throat. With a click of a button, she spoke, "Testing!" Yuki groaned and held his ear. "One, two, three!" Mabel checked, and Yuki winced with each number. "You can hear me? Awesome!" Mabel checked as Yuki grimaced.
"Please turn down the reception volume, or your physical volume," Yuki asked as Mabel skipped off, and stood behind a collection of signs. "Mabel, did you hear me?"
"Yes," Mabel whispered as she stood behind the sign, "See? Nice and quiet."
"I feel exposed," Yuki said, playing with his borrowed shirt.
"That's just your nerves," Mabel told him.
"Now I am numb. Mabel, what if I have developed a sickness in between the call and now?" Yuki asked quietly as a group walked by, eyeing the teenage looking person who talked by himself. He adjusted his hat as they stared.
"Stop panicking, dude," Mabel told him, "You just need to pay attention," she reminded him, and Yuki patted his hate and straightened himself up. Mabel, from her position gasped and pointed, "Heads up! Pacifica at your six!"
"Pacifica is supposed to be meeting me in a minute, not at Six pm," Yuki corrected Mabel as a well-dressed blond girl marched up behind him.
"Yuki," Pacifica called as she approached.
Dropping his hand from his ear and spinning around like a tornado, Yuki faced Pacifica with a gasp. "Ah! P-Pacifica, ah, there you are."
"Hey, sorry about the wait," she said with a roll of her eyes, "My dad only just decided to let me back inside the manor, and he gave me the oldest driver for the limo. Took, like, a minute longer than it should have. God. Anyway," she brushed her hair over her shoulder, and grinned, "Glad you could make it."
"Ah... yes..."
Yuki stood there, his arms at his sides as he stared at the blond girl. She stared back, a grin spreading on her face. Soon she giggled, and Yuki began to sweat. With a very fast rush of his hand, he tapped the side of his head. Pacifica, who had been holding back her own snort-like laughs, spoke.
"Tell her how good she looks," she offered.
Yuki nodded as Pacifica wiped her eyes. "You appear within good health this day," Yuki stiffly told Pacifica, "Have you been maintaining good sanitation?"
Pacifica chortled and laughed. "I guess. Living with Zander was kind of a nightmare, actually. Can you believe that most people don't have any form of room-service, and that if you want something in your room, you have to get up yourself?" Pacifica asked him, "I thought that I'd end up becoming mad! Had to fill my glass of water at least several times a night."
"Yes, indeed," Yuki said as he quickly tapped his head. Pacifica watched him, blinking as he did.
Mabel told him, "Uhh, ask her more about her stay with Zander, and then ask her about food."
"Tell me more about living with Zander and where shall we eat," Yuki parroted Mabel, who groaned.
"Not like that! In your own words," she hissed.
"I-I mean, uh... Living with a professional musician must have been interesting," Yuki tried again.
Pacifica had mixed feelings, clearly. She twisted her lips and frowned. "I mean... he's cool," Pacifica shrugged, "He's got a lot of fan-girls to deal with, which I'm sort of his buffer. They don't mess with me, 'cus no one likes messing with a Northwest," Pacifica explained as Yuki dumbly nodded, "And I keep them off of Zander."
"He's got fangirls here?" Mabel gasped to herself, "The jerks!"
"The horrible masses," Yuki stated.
"Excuse me?" Pacifica asked.
"It... they... ah," Yuki swallowed, closed his eyes, and then said, "Where would you like to eat?"
"Don't worry about that," Pacifica said, walking next to him, "I've got that part all settled."
"Oh, yes, of course. That saves us time," Yuki sighed.
"Yeah. My parents kind of built this entire mall," Pacifica explained as she wrapped her arm around Yuki's, causing him to straighten up and tense away from her slowly, "So when it comes to the shops, they are all sort of required to let us in regardless. So, we're going to 'Mon Petite'."
"This is a... uh... French restaurant?" Yuki asked as he continued to slowly lean away from her.
She chuckled and pulled him closer, to which he swallowed. "It is – you've been to a French place before, right?" she asked him.
"I've only been to the United States," Yuki told her. Pacifica stared at him for a moment. "Yes?" he asked when her piercing blue eyes did not look away.
"And Canada?" she reminded him.
"Oh, of course," Yuki nodded, "and Canada. Yes. I lived- live in- Canada. Yessss."
Pacifica stared at him. Turning slowly away, Yuki glanced back to Mabel. She was staring at him, and could only shrug. Locking onto the female side of the twins, Yuki tapped his head. Mabel grunted and thought.
Mabel, unable to comprehend how someone could be so awkward at once, suggested to Yuki, "I'd... uh... compliment her dress?"
"That dress is well fabricated," Yuki spun instantly around and looked at Pacifica.
"Oh, you mean tailored?" she asked.
"Yes. That."
"Thanks," Pacifica grinned and did a half spin, showing off the fancy blue dress with a twirl, "It was custom made for me in the spring. I saw it sitting on the dresser today, and today was just going to be a day I wear it, you know?" Naturally, Yuki nodded while not knowing how to further the conversation. Pacifica giggle and patted his shoulder. "Yuki, I know what's going on."
"What?!" Yuki and Mabel gasped at the same time.
"You're dating for the first time," Pacifica rolled her eyes, "It shows! You're so nervous you're going to ruin it that you're becoming afraid of me."
"Ah... that isn't incorrect," Yuki shrugged.
"Well, if you'd like, I'll take charge until you're more comfortable," Pacifica decided, grabbing his arm tightly again, "And we can skip the small-talk and come back to it after getting some lunch."
"I would highly appreciate that," Yuki sighed.
Punching the air with her fist, Mabel silently celebrated as she watched Yuki begin his first official date. It was going good! Well, for Yuki's first date and first cross-species date, he was doing fine. Mabel's heart and soul was brimming with shimmering, shining feelings that seemed to fill her with lighter-than-air bubbles. She just wanted to float over their heads, letting their vibes drift into her face like rose-scented vapor. Yet, as she drifted into the daydream, she realized she was being left behind.
"Crud-biscuits," she murmured as she got up from her spot and began to hurry after them.
Jogging as silently as she could, Mabel stalked the pair as they steadily walked through the mall. Passing various groups of teens, parents, and inbetweens, Mabel was able to locate a bush in which she could see the two by the front of the lavish and intimately lit front of the restaurant. Blue and bronze colors accenting the entrance, a pair of waiters stood at the front to meet the pair.
"Mademoiselle, monsieur," the man before them spoke in a thick accent, "Do you 'ave a reservation?"
"No," Pacifica said, looking at her nails.
"Pardon, but eet ees required for all guests to 'ave-"
"Put me down for Northwest," Pacifica told them.
Their reactions changed in an instant. With a flash of recognition behind their gaze, one of them stepped aside while the other spun and opened the door for them. "Enjoy your stay, Mees Northwest."
"C'mon Yuki," Pacifica said and pulled him inside.
"Thank you," Yuki nodded to the two men, who curtly nodded back.
As the door closed behind them, Mabel stared at her new obstacle: finding a way inside the restaurant. The pair of devices only had a fifty-foot range. As she could tell, the pair of daters were heading far into the back. With a grumble, Mabel resigned the idea of bribing or fooling the two at the entrance. There was a chance she may have been able to convince them she was a food critic for the Gravity Falls Gossiper, but she doubted they would care much about Toby Determined's opinion.
She had to find another way in. One that wouldn't give away herself to being kicked out. A way that would allow her to see into the restaurant without a problem. She could still hear their conversation, but static was building, and she could make out that Yuki was growing more nervous. She had to act quickly.
Her eyes darted about, and as luck would have it, a maintenance hallway presided only a few feet away. Approaching it to what sounded like the kitchens, Mabel felt a gentle breeze of warm air. An air duct hung low over her head, surprisingly wide enough for her to fit inside. It wasn't hot enough for her to be uncomfortable, but the material was certainly not quiet.
"And a one, and a two, and a three, four, five!" Mabel leapt up and struck her hands and feet out, catching all sides of the metal shaft. "Hah! Time to do the secret agent stuff!" she hummed her favorite spy theme: Mission Really Hard to Complete.
Inside the quiet and polite atmosphere of the restaurant, Yuki nervously adjusted himself onto the chair across from Pacifica. He glanced over her, unwilling to compromise himself of any possibly useful information. Pacifica had, true to Mabel's word, dressed very nicely. Her hair had been woven and tied in such a way that flowed past her shoulder and down her side. Yuki would have, in less formal circumstances, have easily found it in himself to compliment her. Yet his mouth was dry to the point of being brittle.
"Yuki."
The alien stirred. Pacifica was staring at him. "Yes?" he asked.
"Are you okay?"
"Why?"
"You're staring at me," she told him. Yuki blinked and looked away. "Something on your mind?" she asked coyly, lifting her glass of water and spinning it as she took a sip.
"No. No thoughts. Water is a grand idea," Yuki spotted his own water and instantly chugged it.
"Uh– Wow. Didn't know you were that thirsty," Pacifica chuckled as Yuki placed the water down, having entirely drowned it in a matter of moments.
"New environments get the best of me," Yuki chuckled, and tapped his head. He made it out to appear as a scratch and smiled, putting his head to rest in one of his arms as he waited for Mabel. Nothing came. He tapped his head again, this time a little more fiercely. Pacifica noticed it this time and looked at him as he nervously smiled.
"Do you have a headache, or something?" she asked.
"Yes. Exactly that," Yuki noted as he tapped his head hard, three times. He had no idea what to say, and no Mabel was there to get him out of this. The sweat was coming back to his brow as he stared at Pacifica. Maybe... he would just have to go without Mabel now.
A loud crash and swear came from behind them. Pacifica jolted from her seat and put a hand on her chest as she sighed. Yuki spun around, looked back to Pacifica, and got up.
"I'm going to rush to the bathroom," he said as he saw a certain figure rush towards them as well.
"Uh... okay," Pacifica said as she watched him power walk away from her.
As Yuki rounded a corner in the darkened walls towards the restrooms, he spotted the wobbling door that led to the storage rooms. No second guess was needed. He rushed to them, and there he found a panting Mabel, resting against a pile of boxes. She was soaking wet.
"What on earth has happened to you?" he asked of her.
"I lost contact with you," she said, "So, I climbed into the vents."
"The vents were filled with water?" he asked, "Were you the source of the crash outside?"
"Uh... yes," she nodded, "Fell into an empty kitchen sink. I think they'll be calling security in like five minutes, but I can totally hide in here until the find me," Mabel scoffed as she found a dry rack of aprons, and began to dry herself with it.
"If you were encased in water, what does that mean for your communicator?" Yuki added.
Mabel laughed. "C'mon, Yuki. This is some A-grade secret agent stuff. I'd think a little water will-" she looked down to the device and groaned, "Totally fry it's circuits. Aww nuts."
The two looked up. While not as grand as a silent communication between twins, their shared glance told more than their words could in the time it took. Yuki still hadn't gotten the hang of this. He needed pointers, and without a device, there was no way he could figure that out. Now Mabel had no means of communication, and she really, really wanted to hear their talks, because gosh darn it, it was adorable.
"What do we do now?" Yuki asked.
Indeed. You're going to have to figure something out you two. Maybe if you secretly, like, hold a tin can to your ear with a string attached? It's crazy, but dang it, it would work!
So, taking a little step away from the dramatic and super-feels of the previous awesome episode of Summerween, and back to something a little more light hearted. A date!? Well, a date and a missing friend. So, I guess there is some drama there. I'm going to assume that nearly HALF of you know exactly how the date is going to end. At least a good amount of you think similarly to myself.
The rest of you... make me happy that I can keep surprising you. :3
And hmm, I wonder what was up with the cops in that one scene with Dipper. Hey, I bet one of the last episode's cryptograms had something to do with it... *WINK*
(A trio of police cruisers go crashing through EZB's room, leaving him entirely flattened into the ground with the debris of his desk and computer.)