Gravity Falls: If I Can See You Smile
A Gravity Falls/Owl House Shared Universe Story
Universe: Post-canon Gravity Falls, Swooning Over Stans, pre-time skip Owl House series finale
Inspirations: Swooning Over Stans Dating Sim, Sailor Moon, Attack of the Clones, the ballets of Tchaikovsky, The Owl House and Gravity Falls, Gaelic and Greek mythology and folklore
Pairings: Ford Pines/Elizabeth Connor (OC), Dipper/Pacifica, Eda/Raine, others TBD
Rating T: implied peril, "boy's club" mentality in government positions, snogging, childbirth, trauma
Chapter 8: Harpies and Mysterious Musicians
(reprise- spirited away)
From the den, Stan heard the happy cheers from Dipper and Mabel, and wondered if Sixer had forgone the betrothal route and gone for the full marriage proposal instead. He grinned, knowing that Ford and Liz were formally betrothed, not engaged. That was how it had been with their parents, Fillbrick and Caryn, the ring on the left-hand symbolizing fidelity and honor before an official proposal. Did the kids know this?
He shrugged and went back to watching the anime film Gravity Falls Public Access was airing, The Wizard's Hatter. Right now on screen, Sophie was carrying an elderly dog up a steep outdoor staircase in order to make it to her appointment with Madame Sulliman, the Witch of the Waste huffing and puffing behind them. "Miyazaki is never going to retire; his films are too good. Better than the crap Disney is currently churning out," Stan laughed. The front door creaked open, and Ford and Liz waltzed in, blissfully happy and unaware of what was going on around them. "You two, betrothed now," Stan smiled knowingly. Liz gave a giddy affirmation, with Ford scooping her up into another bridal carry. Stan chuckled and raised his mug, "Mazel tov!"
It was now Dipper and Mabel charging downstairs from the attic, with many more questions. Was Aunt Liz going to convert to Judaism upon marrying Ford? When and where was the wedding going to be? Could they be in the wedding? "Okay, okay- settle down. We're not engaged yet; your Aunt Liz and I are betrothed. The engagement will happen, and we are nowhere near the point of discussing wedding venues yet," Ford and Liz explained. Dipper and Mabel would be kept in the loop.
(Cecilia- Simon y Garfunkel)
A happy week passed for them all, and Elizabeth decided it would be a good time to start looking for another job. As much as she loved living at the Mystery Shack with Ford and the others, Liz felt it was important to get a job and establish herself as her own person. Ford agreed with her, this would give her a chance to flourish in a new field and gain a social circle she didn't have back east.
Liz began her job search online, looking for postings in town, preferably paying about $25 an hour. Most of the jobs were for receptionists, but Liz applied anyway- a foot in the door anywhere would allow her to network. She would be up at 4 am, coffee mug in hand, bent over the laptop in the kitchen to check emails (Ford told her two more hours of sleep wasn't going to kill her). She had 10 interviews over the course of 8 days, but she was never hired for the jobs she applied for. When she asked for feedback from potential employers, she was told the same thing: she was overqualified. She kept plugging away at submitting job applications and arranging times for interviews, and after meeting with McGucket for lunch, he made the suggestion she apply to be a library assistant and docent. The Gravity Falls Museum and library needed a decent docent and library assistant. The two jobs, for whatever reason, were split between the library and museum. 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, $22.50 an hour. To be honest, Liz had never considered this in her job search; she thanked Fiddleford before looking at the job description:
Stocking book trays for reshelving
Working circulation desk 2-3x a week
Hosting children's story time on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 10 am
Docent duties at Gravity Falls museum from 1-4 pm
Type up newsletter articles ahead of private/group events
Assist tourists with questions
Benefits were fairly standard: 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching at 4%, PTO of 4.5 hours every pay period after 90 days, and healthcare insurance. On the state's official job listing site, nobody had applied for this job, so Liz submitted her application. She treated herself to lunch, when she got an email.
"June 12, 2013
Good morning, Elizabeth!
My name is Sonia Smith, and I am the head director of Gravity Falls Museum and Library. I saw your resume, and I have to ask, what brings you here all the way from Washington DC?
I am impressed with your work and would love to schedule you for a working interview. Please call me back at (294)-871-4545 or email me at .lib
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Sonia Scott"
Liz hadn't been this excited for something since the day she resigned from being an analyst. She texted Ford her news, and he replied with a heart eyes emoji. Liz then called Sonia, who was able to schedule her working interview for that Wednesday, a working interview she hoped would go well. With all of that taken care of, Liz decided this would be a great time to go on a self-guided tour of Gravity Falls.
She lingered looking in windows, and would occasionally walk into a store she thought interesting to take a look in. There were a few higher end thrift stores, and one Elizabeth stepped into just happened to be run by Tambry's mother. "Welcome to 'Lost Now Found', Gravity Falls oldest thrift store," Tambry droned in a 'I'd rather be anywhere but here' tone of voice. Liz managed a friendly good afternoon before starting to browse the wares. The amount of stuff was amazing: retro Fiestaware in bold yellow and orange, an unholy amount Lil Gideon merchandise, old physics textbooks from the 1970's, the autographed script for "Boys Beware!" (ick!) and other bits and pieces. The clothing options were astounding, much of it haute couture and only worn once. The prices were truly outrageous, $7,500 for a floral skirt and blouse? "Yikes, not buying that," Liz told herself. She thanked Tambry and left, where to next?
Across the street was a retro arcade, maybe she could kill some time playing pinball? "I sure play a mean pinball, dah dah dah dah," she sang to herself. There were a mix of new and retro games. Liz tried her hand at the antique pinball game based off the movie Tron. She was so good at it, her name made it as the 17th place high score. She also attempted a DDR style game, but the line was too long. Oh well! She pulled out her cell phone and checked the time, 2:07 pm. "Better head back, everyone's going to want to hear about my day."
(It's Hard Work- Spirited Away)
Meanwhile, Ford and Dipper were investigating a sighting of something called an owl beast. At least, that's what the Multi-Bear insisted he saw and Ford pressed him for answers while Dipper dissected the owl pellets left behind. From what Dipper observed, the owl beast devoured fairy pies made with whole wheat, and something that smelled like old wine. He took notes, was the owl beast part human?
"I'm telling you, Ford- it had only one arm and glowing yellow eyes. It sounded like a woman, but with claws and covered with feathers. Oh, I don't know," he complained as Ford patted his back. "Don't worry. Dipper, Mabel, Liz and I will investigate," Ford assured him. On the walk back, Ford inquired about Dipper's findings. "I think we're dealing with some kind of shapeshifter, it's female, likes fairy pies and strong cider," Dipper summarized. Ford nodded, a solid foundation. They would need more information before proceeding.
When they met back at the Shack with Liz, they were thrilled with the prospective working interview, and Liz was intrigued by what they had been told about. What was an owlbeast? From the other side of the house, Mabel was giving some tourists from Rhode Island a tour, with Stan shadowing her. Mabel had a great talent for making up stories on the fly, and it made Stan proud he inspired her.
"That's the end of the tour, please feel free to browse our exclusive gift store," she announced as the crowds oohed and ahhed over the kitschy souvenirs. Soos was manning the cash register and telling everyone about the outdoor attractions. Mabel checked the prices and chatted with some cute boys. Some flirted back, but the others ignored her.
Stan checked his phone, Sixer and Liz were back downstairs doing research about the Owlbeast, Dipper had borrowed the golf cart, while there was inventory to check, which was what Stan wound up undertaking. With so much going on, he had to wonder about the future. The kids would leave at the end of summer, Ford and Liz would have their wedding, that much was certain. What about Liz's past? There were times when pangs of a quiet, unsettled sadness would cross those golden eyes of hers. It was the same for Ford, his feelings about being manipulated by Bill Cipher. "It'd be more than coincidence if that interdimensional tortilla chip didn't have something to do with Liz being an orphan," Stan thought to himself.
Soos said he was going out to meet his girlfriend, Melody, for dinner and a movie. Dinner for the Pines family was a simple roast salmon and leafy greens. "So, Aunt Liz- when's your interview," Mabel asked. Elizabeth replied it was a working interview, so she was going to try her hand at being a library assistant and a museum docent. Dipper said she would be great at it, it sounded like something she would love doing. "Thanks for that, I'm actually a bit anxious about how it will go down," Liz admitted, suddenly feeling shy. Ford squeezed her hand under the table, she would ace that interview.
After dinner, Ford and Liz were snuggled under the covers, listening to the cicadas and crickets. The breeze from the AC wafted overhead, as Liz snuggled against his bare chest, the cotton from her tank top providing coverage of her ample chest. Wrapping his free arm around her waist, Ford stared up at the ceiling, wondering how he was ever going to tell her about Weirdmageddon and Bill Cipher. Before drifting off, he caught sight of her engagement ring. That was a promise of the life they would build together as husband and wife, both the good and the bad. He would tell her the truth and keep faith she would still have him.
(Stolen Memories- Schindler's List)
The next two days saw a cold front move through, bringing rain, so the great owlbeast hunt went nowhere. Ford and Liz finally got around to looking at her notebook, but the pages were so fragile, they would have to digitally uploaded before anyone could decode them. This meant ordering a new copier from Portland, along with a couple of phrasebooks in Gaelic and Greek. Liz's working interview went well, she got a call back with a job offer just as she entered the Shack's back door with some dry cleaning. Her start day was a Tuesday, the 23rd.
A farmer's market had been set up shop in front of the local church, and Mabel had Grunkle Ford and Aunt Liz "volunteer" to get fresh produce. There had been a flood at the grocery store, so no fresh produce until it could be restocked, and it would be the better part of a week before deliveries could be made. Ford was holding Liz's hand as they picked up summer corn, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, asparagus, etc. Waddles had been harnessed to a Radio Flyer wagon, which was being used to haul vegetables back to the jeep.
It was about the strain of Mendelssohn on a viola could be heard, and Liz felt herself starting to dance, dragging Ford along with it. He held her waist, and led Elizabeth in something close to a waltz. He recognized the tune; Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor. The performer was cut for a ren faire, a finely cut surcoat of black and brown, a white blouse, red trousers and riding boots. There was something familiar about him, and Liz couldn't figure out why.
Raine Whispers took a bow, when he noticed Elizabeth walking towards him with a bill intended as a tip, he looked away, ashamed. When their eyes did meet, a wave of grief and regret washed over him, and Liz collapsed in pain and confusion. Her head ached so much, Ford was at her side instantly. Pulling her close, he and Raine locked eyes. "How do you know her," he growled lowly. Raine looked away, flustered, "I don't know her," they managed to stammer out, before Liz stared at them with watchful eyes. She had seen them before, when something bright flashed across her field of vision, making her legs give out.
Ford scooped her up, "She's okay, just dehydrated," he informed the gathering crowd. Carefully carrying her, Ford opened up the trunk and had her drink some lemonade, "I know I've seen that face before, I just cant place it." Ford kissed her, "We'll figure it out, I promise." Waddles snorted in agreement, making Liz smile, using the back of her wrist to wipe away her tears. Ford grinned, "If I can see you smile, that's all that matters."
Liz nodded, she wanted to be alone with him for a while. Ford swallowed hard, did she want sex? "Do we need to pick up condoms and birth control pills on the way home," he asked. Liz blinked, "Birth control? No, I mean to say I want to go stargazing with you tonight." Ford agreed, giving her a gentle kiss.
Back at the Mystery Shack, Stan wanted in on the owlbeast action. If he could just get a decent photo, he could give the sascrotch a makeover and claim the two were related somehow. Mabel and Dipper were eager to tag along, so Stan brought along stuff for s'mores and a campfire.
There were public camping grounds not far from the Shack, and the trails had campfire pits. Liz and Ford were watching the evening news, when they saw Soos help Stan, and the kids load the car. "Where are you guys going," Liz asked. "We are looking for the owlbeast, it's going to be the latest attraction here at the Shack," Stan boasted proudly. Ford rolled his eyes, of course Stan would want to cash in on this. "Don't do anything stupid, Liz and I may want to study it." Stan waved his hand dismissively and told the kids to hurry up. They had an owlbeast to track down.
The moon was just over the tree line when everyone decamped at Public Campfire Pit # 2. Stan got the fire going, while Dipper and Mabel got the smores prepped, and soon there were enough smores for everyone. "Grunkle Stan, just how are we going to catch this owlbeast," Dipper asked in between roasting marshmallows. Stan pulled out a camera, "Gonna take a photo, but we're going to need some bait. Mabel, can you crochet some small animal owls like to eat?" Mabel pulled out her knitting needles and got started. Dipper was ordered to record noises to draw out the owlbeast.
Dipper nodded, he really needed to pee (too much Pitt Cola before leaving the Shack, so he could record the sounds on his tape player. He hurried off to relieve himself, and was humming Disco Girl when he swore he felt something staring at him. Figuring it was Mabel, he groused, "Mabel, leave me alone! I'll be done in thirty seconds." Groaning in frustration, he zipped his pants and turned around, before standing stock still.
Across the clearing, stood the owlbeast. Owlbeast was not the correct term, harpy would be more appropriate. The harpy had sharp, yellow eyes, a clawed left hand and an amputated right arm below the elbow. Her face, arms and legs were covered in dark red feathers and a mane of white feathers where there should have been hair. Completing the look was a long, gold fang hanging over the lower lip. Dipper used his flashlight to illuminate the area, only for the harpy to swipe at the light.
"Hey, turn that off!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Eda Clawthorne could only stare after the teenage boy tear away at top speed back to the campfire, unusually scared out of his wits. "Wonder what his problem is," she said to herself. Taking to the skies to catch up, she espied Dipper updating his family about the encounter. The sister sat in rapt attention at her brother's breathless escapade, wait a second, was that Stan? She blinked, since when did her ex-husband have kids?
"Might as well have a little fun while I'm here," she chuckled mischievously. Dipper had calmed down, when his eyes bugged out again. "Dipper, you gotta calm down, your going to have a heart attack," Stan fretted. Neither he nor Mabel noticed the soft fluttering of wings behind them. Deciding to have some fun, Eda tapped both Stan and Mabel on the shoulder.
"Boo!"
Mabel shot her crossbow at Eda, managing to tear out a few feathers, while Stan grabbed her one good arm. Eda flew into the air, with Stan holding on for dear life. In her harpy form, Eda was much stronger, but Stan holding onto her arm was too much. She managed to pry him off, and he landed on a soft bush.
"Grunkle Stan! Are you okay?"
"Kids! Yeah, I'm okay. We should probably get home."
After putting out the fire, the car was loaded, and when they got home, Dipper presented the collected information to Ford and Liz. "An actual harpy? This is better than an owlbeast," Ford praised. Elizabeth agreed, they would explore more tomorrow. For now, bed.