[ She's a little disappointed. She'd hoped for a brief moment that Loop might be there, connecting them. But, huh. It never occurred to her to try that with anyone else. Then again, she hasn't felt the need for it, either. ]
They're missing, if that's what you mean. I haven't been able to contact them either.
[ She's doing pretty badly, actually. She has all of her usual worries over the many things she can't control right now, but she's also gotten... depressed. It isn't a state she allows herself to stay in for long, usually. But usually there are things she can do to take hold of the situation.
[ A blatant lie, and an equally blatant attempt to get her outside. Stan is... trying to help. It's actually very sweet.
She would love to refuse. But that would be like admitting she's not doing well, and she can't do that. It might also make him worry, and his sunny facade might turn into outright sympathy, and that would be even worse for her pride.
After a lengthy pause and a barely audible sigh, she answers. ]
[ Ah, she's just speaking to the air now. What does he mean, don't freak out? The last time she saw him he was a giant flaming dog, does it have something to do with that?
Well now she's worried as well as obligated. She has no choice but to drag herself out of her chair and head over to Stan's, where she knocks on the door. ]
[He means exactly what he said! Maybe he shouldn't've gone that far but...well, she's kind of like Ford. Bare minimum, the curiosity will get her to swing by if his company alone doesn't do it. Besides, she and everyone else will wind out one way or another, so he might as well rip off the band-aid now. And he warned her! He warned her so it's not his fault if she gets weirded out. That's what he's going to keep telling himself anyway.
Stan is the one who opens the door, and he is...a wild sight, to be sure. It's as if he didn't totally finish transforming back to himself after the fire dog incident. He's gone back to being person-shaped and his normal height, but his skin is grey and ashy, literally flaking in places. His extra blue flame eyes are still clustered around his right eye and they emote as he does (they're all going for somewhere between "happy to see her" and "a little nervous about all this"). When he grins she'll see fangs, but she'll also see them when he doesn't because they don't quite fit in his mouth right. His ashy skin has burned a couple of holes in his clothes that leave him smoldering a little, but he isn't fully engulfed in flames the way he was.
He's...uncharacteristically awkward. Probably because he still looks a little more beast than person and hasn't quite figured out what that means for interacting with anyone yet.]
Oh, uh. Hey! How's it hanging?
[He holds up a hand to wave in greeting and then remembers he still has dark inky claws and hurried buries it in his pocket.]
C'mon in, we can catch up over coffee or tea or something--
[And he moves to let her come in, if she still wants to.]
[ She gives him a long looking over. She might have been freaked out, sure, if she hadn't already come to terms with the idea of Stan as a giant dog with almost no memory of himself. Instead her concern and mild alarm is well hidden under a look of disapproval. ]
...Your brother and nephew are aware of your condition, yes?
[ "They'd better be" seems safely implied. She enters with no other hesitation than that. ]
[He probably should have expected that. Granted, he has no reason to assume she wouldn't be shocked and appalled, since his memories of being a dog are foggy and weird. When he rolls his eyes, all six of them roll.]
Yeah, yeah. They know all about it, unfortunately. Can't keep anything from those two.
[His family loves him, but not being able to hide his troubles from them is frustrating and difficult, even if they insist it's for his own good. Even if he also knows it's for his own good.
Once she's in, he shuts the door behind her and leads them to the kitchen, where he gets a kettle of water going on the stove. It feels weird to not just be lighting his hands on fire and heating it that way, but part of his recovery is he's supposed to be using his powers as little as possible. He takes a seat at the table while they wait, inviting her to do the same.]
Anyway, uh. Sorry I missed everyone taking off on you. Kinda a long story but I guess I was some kinda flaming hellhound all month?
[He is absolutely going to try and just shrug that off like it's not worth elaborating on.]
[ She raises her eyebrows, unimpressed. It seems he doesn't remember much, but that's no surprise considering the state he'd been in. ]
Yes, I had noticed. Strange that no one else seemed to lose themselves quite so thoroughly when they transformed. No one else seems to have suffered lasting side effects, either.
[ If he doesn't want to talk about it, that's fine, but he should know that she is very much on to him. ]
Oh. I, uh. Guess you must've run into me then, huh.
[There isn't really any point in hiding it since she's made it clear she saw him. She's not just onto him, she's completely got his number.]
We think it's 'cause of the whole blood magic and blood corruption thing. Instead of turning into a normal monster like everyone else, I kinda...turned into a beast instead, I guess? It's never happened to me before. And when they finally got me to step on the mushrooms again, I wound up with this nightmare face.
[He flippantly waves at like. His whole everything. The extra eyes, the ashy skin. Then he crosses his arms, stubborn as ever.]
I'm supposed to rest and "not use my powers" so that it starts going away, or something like that.
Relax, relax. I'm not gonna do anything. It's just annoying. It's stupid, not being able to do the stuff I usually do around here.
[He huffs. It's more than just the magic, really. Resting is hard. He wants to do things and contribute and not just hang around like he's a freeloader in his own damn house.]
[He's used to looks like that, unfortunately. They're kind of worse now that he knows there's actually weird things about his face to look at. But surprisingly, she lets it go and moves onto the practical things.]
Oh, uh. Yeah, actually. It's usually either me or Dipper who does the cooking. Ford's not allowed - if we let him he'd probably serve us a perfectly balanced pill on a platter or something.
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Stanley?!
[ No, that was in her head. She makes the hand sign. ]
Stanley? Is that you?
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[Yes! He loves when his dumb ideas actually work!]
Oh right, uh. Yeah! It's me. I tried calling Loop earlier and it didn't work so I figured, y'know. Might as well give it a shot?
[Then, a little more seriously--]
Did they take off, or something? I know the other kids did.
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[ She's a little disappointed. She'd hoped for a brief moment that Loop might be there, connecting them. But, huh. It never occurred to her to try that with anyone else. Then again, she hasn't felt the need for it, either. ]
They're missing, if that's what you mean. I haven't been able to contact them either.
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Oh, uh. Sorry to hear it. ...You holding up alright?
[He doesn't say it out loud, but they both know why he's asking - because Loop was the last of her "kids" here in the Grove.]
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She hasn't felt this powerless in a long time.
Her tone is as casual as ever. ]
As well as can be expected.
Did you need Loop for something?
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--Nah. I was looking for you actually!
[This is a bold-faced lie and he isn't even trying to hide it. He literally just said he was trying to CALL LOOP.]
I was, uh. Wondering if you wanted to swing by! You know, get a little air, get outta that big empty house...c'mon, it'll do you some good, probably!
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She would love to refuse. But that would be like admitting she's not doing well, and she can't do that. It might also make him worry, and his sunny facade might turn into outright sympathy, and that would be even worse for her pride.
After a lengthy pause and a barely audible sigh, she answers. ]
I suppose, if you insist, I can keep you company.
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[He pauses, but doesn't hang up just yet. Then, he awkwardly blurts out:]
Oh, and uh. Promise not to freak out when you see me, alright? --See ya later!
[He absolutely does not give her the opportunity to promise or not promise, he just says his goodbyes and hangs up! Not ominous at all!]
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[ Ah, she's just speaking to the air now. What does he mean, don't freak out? The last time she saw him he was a giant flaming dog, does it have something to do with that?
Well now she's worried as well as obligated. She has no choice but to drag herself out of her chair and head over to Stan's, where she knocks on the door. ]
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Stan is the one who opens the door, and he is...a wild sight, to be sure. It's as if he didn't totally finish transforming back to himself after the fire dog incident. He's gone back to being person-shaped and his normal height, but his skin is grey and ashy, literally flaking in places. His extra blue flame eyes are still clustered around his right eye and they emote as he does (they're all going for somewhere between "happy to see her" and "a little nervous about all this"). When he grins she'll see fangs, but she'll also see them when he doesn't because they don't quite fit in his mouth right. His ashy skin has burned a couple of holes in his clothes that leave him smoldering a little, but he isn't fully engulfed in flames the way he was.
He's...uncharacteristically awkward. Probably because he still looks a little more beast than person and hasn't quite figured out what that means for interacting with anyone yet.]
Oh, uh. Hey! How's it hanging?
[He holds up a hand to wave in greeting and then remembers he still has dark inky claws and hurried buries it in his pocket.]
C'mon in, we can catch up over coffee or tea or something--
[And he moves to let her come in, if she still wants to.]
no subject
...Your brother and nephew are aware of your condition, yes?
[ "They'd better be" seems safely implied. She enters with no other hesitation than that. ]
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Yeah, yeah. They know all about it, unfortunately. Can't keep anything from those two.
[His family loves him, but not being able to hide his troubles from them is frustrating and difficult, even if they insist it's for his own good. Even if he also knows it's for his own good.
Once she's in, he shuts the door behind her and leads them to the kitchen, where he gets a kettle of water going on the stove. It feels weird to not just be lighting his hands on fire and heating it that way, but part of his recovery is he's supposed to be using his powers as little as possible. He takes a seat at the table while they wait, inviting her to do the same.]
Anyway, uh. Sorry I missed everyone taking off on you. Kinda a long story but I guess I was some kinda flaming hellhound all month?
[He is absolutely going to try and just shrug that off like it's not worth elaborating on.]
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Yes, I had noticed. Strange that no one else seemed to lose themselves quite so thoroughly when they transformed. No one else seems to have suffered lasting side effects, either.
[ If he doesn't want to talk about it, that's fine, but he should know that she is very much on to him. ]
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[There isn't really any point in hiding it since she's made it clear she saw him. She's not just onto him, she's completely got his number.]
We think it's 'cause of the whole blood magic and blood corruption thing. Instead of turning into a normal monster like everyone else, I kinda...turned into a beast instead, I guess? It's never happened to me before. And when they finally got me to step on the mushrooms again, I wound up with this nightmare face.
[He flippantly waves at like. His whole everything. The extra eyes, the ashy skin. Then he crosses his arms, stubborn as ever.]
I'm supposed to rest and "not use my powers" so that it starts going away, or something like that.
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I would find that more reassuring if I couldn't hear the quotation marks in your tone.
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[He huffs. It's more than just the magic, really. Resting is hard. He wants to do things and contribute and not just hang around like he's a freeloader in his own damn house.]
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[ She eyes him doubtfully for another few moments, then figures that's enough looking for now. ]
Is one of those things cooking dinner?
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Oh, uh. Yeah, actually. It's usually either me or Dipper who does the cooking. Ford's not allowed - if we let him he'd probably serve us a perfectly balanced pill on a platter or something.
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She raises her eyebrows, amused. ]
Hardly a new idea... I'll be impressed if he can make it taste like anything but dirt.
I suppose you're adjusting to using a normal stove, then.