The sun had set as they pulled up into a nice clearing in the woods outside of the city.
Ford threw the RV into park and turned off the engine.
Evalin was already out of her seat and outside before everyone else, stretching her arms up and taking a deep breath.
"This is so much better. I can BREATHE out here!"
She immediately started to scan her surroundings.
The spot had a fire pit and a lakeside view, the moon's reflection shimmering on the water as the surrounding trees swayed playfully in the breeze.
She smirked, taking it all in.
"Damn. Now this is a really nice spot."
Ford exited the RV behind her, Dipper and Mabel following behind him.
"Well, I asked the park owner when we were checking in which spot was the most secluded in the entire park and he said this one. So here we are."
Evalin looked back at him, smiling.
"I like it. Good job, Ford~"
Ford's chest warmed as he smiled softly back at her.
"I'm very glad."
Mabel started picking up sticks, her excitement building.
"We should have a campfire! And we could have hotdogs!"
"That sounds like a pretty good idea actually," Dipper agreed with a nod.
Mabel flipped her hair.
"Dipper, when are you gonna learn, I'm full of good ideas?"
Dipper pressed his lips together.
"I literally watched you throw salt over your shoulder this morning just because you spilled some. That didn't help, Mabel. That just made a bigger mess."
Evalin tilted her head.
"Did you throw the salt over the right shoulder?"
"Hell yeah, I did! No Bad Luck Slug for me!" Mabel beamed as she nodded eagerly.
Dipper jolted, completely taken off guard.
Ford raised an eyebrow, joining the conversation.
"The Bad Luck Slug? Isn't that the polymorphic creature that is said to consume the aspect of luck in the brain?"
Evalin nodded, matter-in-fact like.
"Yep, it eats all that good luck until you have nothing but bad luck. Most people usually have a short life after being infected. Dying from bad luck is a hell of a way to go."
Dipper made a strangled noise.
"You're telling me there is a legitimate reason I need to be throwing salt over my shoulder?!" he shouted, throwing up his hands.
Ford blinked, adjusting his glasses.
"I thought that was obvious."
Dipper's eye twitched as his mouth dropped open.
Evalin saw him and snickered, bringing a hand to her lips.
"Careful, Dipper, a bird might come by and shit in your mouth."
"Ha ha! Gross, Dipper!" Mabel's laugh bellowed.
Dipper immediately closed his mouth, his cheeks dusting pink.
Ford tried to contain his chuckle but failed.
Dipper slapped his forehead as he furrowed his brows in despair.
"Goddamn it, Grunkle Ford. Not you too!"
Ford lowered his hand from his mouth, grinning.
"You're right, Dipper. I'm sorry."
Evalin snorted, her smile wide.
"I'm not~"
Ignoring Dipper's misery, she perked up and clasped her hands together with delight.
"Alright! Let's build this fire! Dipper, are you going to be okay collecting sticks with Mabel?"
Dipper's eye twitched as he held in everything he wanted to say but started to calm when Mabel threw an arm around him, playfully.
"Come on, Dipping Sauce! I bet I can carry more sticks than you can with your wittle arms~"
Dipper raised an eyebrow before playfully pushing his sister.
"Whatever. You are so on, Mabel! I bet I can carry, like, a thousand more sticks than you."
"Oh, you gonna try and show off your BiG sTrOnG mUsClEs?" she teased as she ran off.
"I got bigger muscles than you!" Dipper shouted as he ran after her.
"These kids, I swear," Evalin chuckled out her nose, rolling her eyes, lovingly.
Ford tilted his head, watching her.
"You really like kids, don't you?"
Evalin shrugged, unbothered.
"Sometimes, but these kids?" She smirked with a soft laugh. "They're good kids. Chaotic, fearless, and way too damn smart."
"They're good kids," Ford hummed, knowingly.
He studied her for a moment.
"Have you thought about having any of your own?"
Evalin snorted, waving her hand in the air.
"In my line of work? It's hard enough keeping myself alive, let alone one that can't fight for themselves."
She shrugged again, not a care in the world.
"Besides, that means I would need a partner who is also human, and, trust me, that's not a thing."
Ford's ears perked up as they turned pink, his heart fluttering in his chest.
He nearly choked on air, trying to steady himself.
Evalin didn't even wait for his response.
"Anyway, what the hell is a hotdog?"
Ford blinked for a moment.
Then he shook his head, collecting his thoughts.
"Yes, right. This way please."
He motioned her to follow him back into the RV to start and gather everything needed to have a hotdog cookout over the fire pit.
~n~
Soon, there was a folding table set up, filled with condiments for the perfect hotdog.
Dipper and Mabel collected enough wood to start a nice fire, Dipper boasting that he gathered more sticks than Mabel did.
Evalin stood next to the fire pit, snapping her fingers as a flame flickered to life on her fingertip.
Mabel gasped, an idea striking.
"Oh! Have you ever shot fire out like a fireball?!"
Evalin blinked before looking up in thought.
"Huh. Never thought about it."
Dipper leaned back slightly, uneasy.
"I don't know if this is the best idea."
Evalin ignored him entirely.
Instead, she flicked her fingers toward the fire pit.
A fireball shot forward, striking the wood with a loud WHOOSH, sending embers spiraling into the air.
A single burning ember landed on Dipper's shoe that he promptly brushed off.
"I knew this was a horrible idea!"
Evalin grinned wide as the flames danced in the reflection in her eyes.
"Ooo! That was cool!"
"You didn't know you could do that?" Ford asked, arching an eyebrow.
Evalin shrugged, smirking.
"Never thought about it. I mostly use fire for light or close combat. It burns hot, so I have to get in close to hit my target without scorching myself."
She grimaced as her eyes drifted to the side in memory.
"I have burned myself far too many times, to be honest."
Dipper furrowed his brow.
"Then why use fire when you have sigils?"
"Because free casting is way cooler, Dipper. Duh. And I can use it whenever without having to be set up." Evalin scoffed.
Mabel literally jumped in, asserting herself in the conversation by force.
"Yeah, Dipper! It's much easier and flashy!" she added as sparkles flew from her fingertips.
She grabbed a poker and a hotdog.
"Enough on how badass Evalin is. Let's get to eating!"
As the kids started to cook hotdogs over the fire, Ford stepped closer to Evalin, leaning in and dropping his voice to where only she could hear him.
"You said you use your fire for close combat?" he asked, curiously.
Evalin shrugged, leaning away slightly.
"I mean, I told you before, my woods are dangerous. Gotta know how to fight."
She waved him off before he could ask more questions.
"You should go wake up Stanley. He is probably good by now."
Ford's mind raced but Evalin had already walked off to get her own hotdog.
He watched as she grabbed a plate and a hotdog, eyeing the meat suspiciously.
Then she sat next to Mabel on the log near the fire, where Mabel taught her how to cook a hotdog with a poker.
Ford chuckled, shaking his head as he turned away and entered the RV.
~n~
After moments of intense bribing with food, the RV rocked as Ford made his way out of the vehicle, Stan following close behind him.
Stan was rubbing his eyes as if he just got up from a nap and stretching his arms over his head.
"Damn, I feel great! Pretty sure I was really drunk a few hours ago," he yawned with a smile.
"Yes, Stanley. You were unbelievably drunk but Evalin was gracious enough to help you," Ford corrected, rolling his eyes.
Stan grinned, clasping his hands together in a mock swoon.
"Aw. Spooky fixed me up? That's so nice of her! Didn't know she cared so much~"
Ford exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple.
"I asked her to, Stanley. You could barely walk."
Stan let out a bellowing laugh.
"Worried about me, Sixer~?"
Ford dragged a hand down his face.
"You're going to give me a brain aneurysm."
Stan tried to stifle his laughter.
"Bless you~"
Ford's eye twitched violently.
"Stanley, get away from me and go get food before I lose my mind."
Stan clapped him on the back so hard Ford nearly lurched forward.
"Don't gotta tell me twice, Sixer!"
With that, Stan strutted his way over to the food table.
Ford stayed back, rubbing his face before adjusting his glasses.
'Great, now he's picking up her goblin behavior...'
He steeled himself before joining the others.
~n~
The night continued to go on, laughter filling the air as the family enjoyed each other's company.
Even Evalin found herself joining in the fun, a smile never leaving her face.
Then, the air shifted.
A sudden gust ripped through the clearing, causing the fire to flicker erratically.
Evalin's eyes shimmered for a moment as she scanned the area.
The rest of the group must have felt it too because the laughing immediately died down.
"What is it?" Ford asked, noticing Evalin in high alert.
Evalin narrowed her eyes.
"Not sure yet."
She instinctively reached for the dagger on her thigh as all the hairs on the back of her neck stood.
The lake rippled violently just a small distance from their setup.
Something was rising beneath the surface.
The water separated to reveal a small creature.
It looked like a child but it's body was wispy. Two long horns protruded from the sides of its head, pointing skyward. It had a long thin tail with a barb at the end, short semi transparent legs, and bright glowing orange eyes.
Evalin pressed her lips together, unimpressed.
Mabel piped up first, her face beaming.
"Hello, friend! Have you come to partake in our hotdog eating and marry making?"
Dipper elbowed his sister in the ribs.
"Damn it, Mabel!" he hissed. "Don't try and befriend the monster that clearly looks evil."
The little imp giggled, its laughter echoing.
"Oh, I like you guys! You're funny!"
It floated closer as if to inspect them.
"Look at this cute little family! Perfect for the picking, hm?"
It leaned closer to the group.
"I bet you all are going to be delicious~"
Before anyone could respond, the imp snapped its fingers.
Everyone's eyes fluttered shut and they slouched forward.
The imp floated lazily in the air, giggling.
"Humans are so easy!"
It swooped over, looking at each one, tilting its head side to side.
"Alright, which one should I eat first?"
He tapped his claw to his chin.
"Choices~ Choices~"
Suddenly—
Evalin's hand shot out.
SNAP
A flame danced on her fingertips, her eyes locking on the imp.
She growled as she swiped at it, dangerously close to grabbing it by the leg.
The imp barely dodged in time, darting through the air as the fire licked its skin.
"WOAH! HEY! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE AWAKE!"
Evalin tilted her head up, a wide grin on her face.
She chuckled, low and delighted.
"You really think your weak-ass magic can do shit to me?"
She got to her feet, brushing off her dress.
"I've been waiting for something to be stupid enough to do something like this~"
The imp froze in the air, trembling as it started to float back away from her.
"D-do what exactly?"
Evalin's face split into a wicked smile as her eyes went wide, a blush dusting her cheeks.
"You just knocked out the only people that were holding me back from ending your fucking life~"