entranceway | CLOSED } video } they left us alone, the kids in the dark, to burn out forever or light up a spark

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CLOSED } video } they left us alone, the kids in the dark, to burn out forever or light up a spark

[Closed to the Pines Family]

[It's not until they're on the boat that Dipper pulls out his communicator. He and Mabel are safe. It's time to think about everyone else.

Well, everyone else who it's not too late for. He shuts his eyes for a moment and tries not to picture Soos getting bitten by a zombie for the second time. Only this time he isn't sure the cure will work.

He pulls out his phone and turns it on, making sure that Mabel next to him is visible. He wants them being okay to be clear immediately. He just hopes his grunkles are okay enough to see it too. He smiles shakily.]

Hey, Great Uncle Ford? Grunkle Stan? You guys okay? Mabel and I are hiding out on the pirate ship. The zombies can't get out here, and the air's clear to keep the fungus out, and Henry's moms are insanely magical. So we're safe. Um, are you?

[Closed to Ellie]

So, how do you feel about testing that cure? Cause I have a good guinea pig. I even know it's worked on him before.

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Kids? Kids!

[Stan is so relieved, and it shows all over his face. With the event in full swing, he'd been starting to fear the worst - and he knows exactly what the worst is, since they've already seen it for themselves. But they're okay! The kids are okay!]

We've been worried sick about you little Gremlins! You're alright? Neither of you got bit or scratched or anythin', right? [Before they can answer, Stan calls over his shoulder.] FORD! IT'S THE KIDS!

Edited 2016-04-21 00:08 (UTC)

[From the background can be heard a WHAT ABOUT THEM ARE THEY ALRIGHT?! and thumping footsteps. Ford pushes his way into view.]

KIDS!! Are you safe? [He looks at Stan.] Are they safe?!

We're safe! We're safe. No bites or scratches or breathing in spores. [He hopes. They were careful, but it's so hard to know what you might have breathed in. He hesitates, then adds:]

But... but Soos...

[He swallows and shakes his head. It's hard to say the words. Soos doesn't deserve this.]

[Mabel pushes her brother aside a bit to move in. she looks very tired.] What did we do to deserve zombies THREE TIMES in our lives. And Soos already became a zombie once! He should be immune. [she's so upset.]

[Any relief Stan had at the kids being okay evaporates at mention of Soos.]

You've gotta be kiddin' me...again?

[He knows they're not, but he still looks like someone knocked the wind out of him. This isn't home. They're not going to be able to just cure him like it's nothing.]

What the heck happened?!

["Again"? Oh-- right, the zombies at home. Which are distinctly not the types of zombies they're dealing with here, so his antidote... very likely won't work. His face falls.

He'd hoped no one in the family would suffer a casualty this time around.]

Where-- How?

He saved us. [Like that makes it better. Like Dipper wouldn't have happily jumped in front of Soos to save him too.] Gave us time to get to the boat.

We fixed him once, right? We can do that again. [never mind that that didn't work for Dipper- they didn't even TRY it. of course they also didn't exactly have access to the supplies there. poor mabel and her bottomless pit of hope.]

He...

[Soos saved the kids. He saved the kids and he got bitten, and Stan looks absolutely devastated. He's still grateful the kids are safe, but the news about Soos makes his stomach sink like a rock. He loses his words for a second, and he can feel his eyes starting to water, but he blinks it away as best as he can.]

H-He did good. He did good, gettin' you kids outta there.

[It takes him a second, but his voice gets more and more sturdy as he goes on, as he talks his way into seeming more put together than he really is. He has absolutely no hope that a cure is going to work, but he offers Mabel a thin smile anyway.]

Hey, I bet someone's got the stuff for it around. ...Maybe it'll work out?

[He doesn't sound like he really thinks it will though. Who the hell just has formaldehyde laying around anyway?]

[... It won't work out. It's not the same affliction; it's not even close. Knowing that the kids are safe though, he can't just say that to them. Unable to bring himself to lie about it, he tries to shift the subject.]

He'll-- he'll be okay, kids. [When the event is over.] Before you know it, this'll all be over with and we're all going to be fine.

[Ford doesn't look hopeful about it; mostly grim and avoiding the kids' gaze through Stan's communicator.]

I've got someone on it. I've been prepared since last time. [Dipper can't even try to sound optimistic, though. He knows the stuff that works in their world so far has not had much luck with the zombies from other worlds. They really won the zombie lottery.]

[the more the adults talk, the more Mabel's unshakable faith seems to develop little hairline fractures and when she speaks, she has a slightly shaky quality to her voice.]

Yeah, this is Ellie's stuff. She can make it work.

[Stan wasn't expecting them to actually have a cure ready to go, but...it's for Soos. A million emotions cross his face - worry, frustration, fear. Finally, he takes a deep breath.]

Alright. Listen up, you two.

[There's an authority to his voice, usually reserved for ordering them around or telling them not to do something. This time though, it's scared parent voice.]

...I know it's Soos, and he means a lot to all of us. But if things get hairy, you get out of there, you hear me? If he looks like he's anywhere near turnin', I want you two gone - got it?

[No one wants Soos to die, but one body is better than three, and he's not sure he can take losing either of the kids to zombies again.]

Shit. Is someone infected?

[ Someone he knows. Maybe someone he's close with. I brought them here. ]

... Uh-- Yeah. It's worth a try, right?

Uh, yeah. My friend Soos. He's... he's a really good guy.

[He frowns at Ellie, looking serious.]

But only if you're sure you won't turn! I don't wanna lose more friends.

I'm sorry, Dipper.

[ She shakes her head. ]

I'm sure. Trust me, it would've happened--... a long time ago. So, what do I have to do?

The stuff's in my room. I've been keeping it ready just in case for a while now.

When do you want to do this? I can come over now, if... you're ready.

Yeah. I'm not there, but the door's unlocked. You'll find it on my desk with the instructions for how to administer it.

I guess I should try it on myself? But-- we won't know if it's worked, not without one of the machines that the military had. Or unless we're, um... trying it on your friend first.

[ That's the more important test, anyway. If they can cure someone... ]

Where is he?

Outside, last I checked. He... he helped us get to the dock. We wouldn't have made it without him.

Does he... want to try it? Because I'm not sure I can wrangle the guy on my own.

[ She's just a tiny girl and she's assuming this guy is a full grown man. ]

Of course he does! [But if he's a zombie... Dipper grimaces, looking down.] I'm sorry... I should have-- [But he couldn't stay. He promised Mabel. No more dying, and zombies have killed him or come close to killing him too many times.]

My Grunkles would probably help if you need it. Soos is... everyone cares about Soos.

Okay. Some people get... y'know, skittish about it.

[ Understandably so. Not many people want to or are ready to die. ]

Stan? I've heard about that guy. [ From Dipper and/or Mabel, in all likelihood. ] I'll give it a shot, see if he answers, and... I'll do what I can, okay? I promise. If I can help your friend-- Soos, then I will.

Thanks, Ellie. I'm sorry I can't help more. [Some hero he is.] Let me know how it goes. And really, if it gets dangerous, get out. I don't wanna lose two friends today.

Don't apologize. [ She says quickly, almost sharply. ] Come on, this isn't your fault. You've done everything you can.

[ And what they can do isn't much, unfortunately. ]

I'll be careful. Just stay out on that ship: I think you should be good up there.

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CLOSED } video } they left us alone, the kids in the dark, to burn out forever or light up a spark

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