video } entry 2

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper looks even more frazzled than usual. The stress lines that always surround his eyes are more pronounced than usual.]

So, you might have noticed a really strange transmission that went through? That... that's from my world. His name's Bill Cipher. He looks like a surprisingly well dressed triangle, and he's... some kind of demon, I guess. He can get into your head and mess with your dreams and just be creepy.

[He leans in closer to the camera.]

Whatever you do, don't trust him. Really, it's probably best to run as far away as you can if you see him. And let me know if he somehow gets into your head. I've gotten him out before, I can do it again.

[He sits back a bit.]

...that's about it. Any questions?

Comments

[holdthephones]

Was, yeah. [another pause like he may not explain, then a small smile tugs at a corner of his lips] It's one of my psyches, powers I use back home. They're contained in pins.

[he points to one of the pins on his shirt. other than Frantic, he's wearing five other pins, a large-ish blank one, and the Player Pin]

[krmvgivv]

[...interesting.]

Can anyone use those?

[Specifically, where can Dipper get his hands on some?]

[holdthephones]

Only if you've got a knack for it. My friends can't use most of 'em, and I can't use some of the pins they can. Think you have to be a Player, though. Of the Reaper's Game. [He gestures loosely, then slips his right hand into his pocket. but Dipper may be able to catch the Timer on his palm, which is frozen at 140:04:07] And you definitely aren't.

[So no, Dipper. You still can't be cool, sorry.

though Joshua could totally hook him up with a custom pin for the living but Neku doesn't know that ]

[krmvgivv]

[Normally Dipper would be more curious about that, but right now, he's a little more focused on Bill.]

You said you knew about getting into people's heads.

[holdthephones]

[He nods] Thanks to my Player Pin . . . [He points to the black and white skull pin on his shirt] Well.

[Neku frowns. He really doesn't wanna share that HE can read minds, too]

Certain ghosts can use these to read the surface thoughts of the living. And . . . You have to make sure to never let that triangle dude know this, or this info is useless. But it should protect the wearer from any brain intruders.

That should include your geometric friend.

[krmvgivv]

[That's... Dipper frowns, eyeing the other guy suspiciously. He can read between the lines.]

Can you read minds? [A beat.] Wait, are you a ghost? Is that what you meant by "player?" [He doesn't look like a ghost, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.] Is that another one of those things that won't actually help me because I'm not one?

[holdthephones]

[Neku just keeps himself from grimacing at first, but being called out on being dead does him in. Yeah, he's regretting this. Goddammit this is what he gets for trying to form trust with honesty.

He nervously tugs a strand of hair out of his eyes. Dryly:] I'm a flesh-eating ghost, actually. Here to eat your appendix and drag you to hell.

[He crosses his arms] No, you can't read minds with it. But you don't need dead juice for the shields to work. It should protect you at least. I just have the one, but if you use those closets? Or if there's some psycho store around here . . . maybe you can get your hands on one.

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper ain't the brains of the Mystery Twins for nothing. If there's one thing he's good at, it's making connections. He squints, trying to figure out if the sarcasm is real or not. The fact that he didn't exactly answer Dipper's question--he had asked if Neku could read minds, not if Dipper could--doesn't escape his notice. Dipper also can't ride whirlwinds. Is that a "dead juice" thing too?

For now, he doesn't press. But he does think YOUR TURTLENECK LOOKS STUPID as loudly as he can. Just in case.]

A... psycho store? [Is that a store for crazy people?] We need them on a massive scale. Everyone here needs to be protected.

[holdthephones]

[Neku doesn't react to the thought in the slightest. because he's not actively scanning right now. HA POINT ONE FOR NEKU. and he certainly doesn't try to eat Dipper, so that must be a good sign, right?

instead, he frowns thoughtfully] I dunno if you could find that many. You're right, we need to do our best to protect everyone. But you're the guy who knows the most about the demonic onigiri. You and your team should be priority. We can work on mass producing magic pins later.

[krmvgivv]

Don't suppose you've got a spare on you, right? [That would be too convenient. But it's still good to know. If he can score one for him and one for Mabel, well, that's about all he really needs. Everyone else can wait until they figure out how to do it on a bigger scale.]

[holdthephones]

No, I . . . Wait a minute. [Neku digs around in his shorts pocket, then raises his eyebrows, pleasantly surprised. he frowns, removing his hand with . . . nothing]

That's funny, I remembered I had an extra, but-- [he checks his other pocket] I still would've kept it for my Partner, my . . . friend, he's my priority. But-- No, it's not here!

[Neku removes both hands from his pockets and looks down to Dipper. his tone is urgent]

Someone took my pin. [He knows]

[krmvgivv]

[The fact that he wouldn't have given it to Dipper anyway makes it a lot less Dipper's problem, so he just shrugs.]

Try retracing your footsteps?

[holdthephones]

Dude, you're not listening. [he gestures at the Player Pin on his shirt, touching the tips of his fingers to it. which is really so he can focus and start scanning Dipper] No one else knew about it. I didn't know about it. And I just happened to screw with your demon earlier today.

Can he do something like this?

[krmvgivv]

Well, he's intagible, so probably not. Unless he made a deal with someone to get it or something.

[holdthephones]

It's still weird . . . Everything else is here.

[he shakes his head. he can't do anything about it now] Whatever. I shared my notes. What're yours? Anything else about Private Eye or that head-hopping ritual? [and here, he's listening to Dipper's surface thoughts]

[krmvgivv]

Still on a need to know basis. [It's not even like Dipper's got it memorized, so he won't get anything besides general suspicion and a lot of worries. And general discontent because he doesn't feel like Neku's notes didn't help much besides revealing that there's something that could block Bill out. But he'll probably have to go to the vendors for it, and from what he's heard, the prices they charge are bad.]

[holdthephones]

[goddammit. Neku stops scanning, then, deeming this kid useless until Bill fucks them all over, and then it'll be too late. mostly, he's frustrated he put himself out there, especially with the "I'm dead and can read minds!" thing, and it seems like Dipper isn't even trying]

Wow, great. Good luck getting Player Pins for your secret club, man, because when it comes down to it? When this demon pulls the rug out from under us because you won't share helpful information? Everyone will turn to you. And they'll be pissed.

[he turns to go] Tell me when it all goes to hell, because despite your paranoid bull? Me and Joshua will still help. Because there are people on the line here.

[krmvgivv]

What, you mean you won't just read my mind to figure it out? [He sure hasn't forgotten that Neku hasn't confirmed or denied that, and the dead thing was... inconclusive in the way deflective sarcasm often is. For obvious reasons, Dipper's a little tetchy about the idea right now. He's got enough problems keeping his thoughts private right now.]

[holdthephones]

[he's started to go before Dipper's even finished his sentence, but then he stops, which is telling. Neku says over his shoulder:] I'm not your demon, Dipper. [then he turns a quarter of the way] And neither is anyone else in Wonderland in your same position. I get this place breeds paranoia, but take it from a guy who's starting to get it: you can't block everyone out. It'll screw you over.

[krmvgivv]

Pretty okay blocking out anyone who wants to get in my mind.

[And it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you. He scowls and turns to leave, heading in the opposite direction. He knows the caves well enough that he can find his way out the other exit without too much trouble.]