OPEN } i'm gonna set things straight again, i'm gonna prove them wrong

[krmvgivv]

Who: Dipper Pines and YOU
Where: Out and around the hot springs
When: at night when the GHOSTS are out
Rating: G for GHOSTS
Summary: Dipper can't relax like a normal person, so he's out hunting GHOSTS!
The Story:

[The hot springs are all very nice (if a little more naked than Dipper is comfortable with in his swimming), but he's way more interested in the rumors that this place is haunted. His last ghost encounter didn't go so well, but he knows a lot more about ghosts now. He knows a lot more about everything.

Well, possibly not about the yukata. He's definitely wearing it wrong, and he's got his shorts on underneath. It feels weird otherwise. Well, weirder. He'd really prefer a shirt.

But it doesn't matter. He's ready for any ghosts that come his way. He's got anointed water, he's got a sensor to try and catch ghostly readings, and he's got his journal. Time to set a few traps and hope he can catch the ghost by the time the event ends. Sure, it means not sleeping much, since obviously nighttime is when ghosts are most common, and it means not enjoying the relaxing vacation but, well, vacations aren't nearly as interesting as ghosts are, and it's not like he was sleeping anyway. Slumber parties are the worst, even when it's boys, not girls.]

Comments

[brainmeme]

No! [She throws her hands up in the air in frustration.] I'm a Crystal Gem. I protect humanity! We're the reason you guys are still around! [So be grateful.]

[singloversing]

...Oh. Right. I guess that's kind of bad.

[Why does he have this weird feeling of déjà vu though? He's pretty sure he's never had this conversation before...unable to think of a good reason behind it, he shrugs it off.]

Maybe you could...I-I dunno. Talk to them, or something? Shouting for them to die a second time seems...kind of needlessly antagonistic.

[krmvgivv]

Okay, but that still proves my point that you're supernatural.

[krmvgivv]

...I mean, I've met ghosts before, so apparently yes. [Dipper frowns, rubbing his chin as he thinks. He pulls Journal 3 out and starts flipping through it.] Must be more than just energy and emotion, then. Ectoplasm, maybe?

[krmvgivv]

....oh. I might have gotten carried away. [He looks slightly embarrassed, at least. But only slightly.] Hunting ghosts, you know? It's pretty exciting!

[brainmeme]

[She folds her arms.] Fine, whatever. I'm just like all your vampires and sasquatches and chupacabras. Now show me your dumb ghost already.

[itwouldbeatragedy]

What is ectoplasm?

[Other than "something ghost-y."]

[singloversing]

I guess so? I-I don't usually go looking for that kind of excitement, to be honest. [Wirt sighs.] Lately it's been finding me anyway though...

[He definitely doesn't sound thrilled about it.]

[krmvgivv]

...something ghost-y?

[Yep, that's about all Dipper's got too.]

[krmvgivv]

Are all aliens this moody? I already told you I don't know if there's a ghost. I've been trying to find it all event and so far no luck.

[itwouldbeatragedy]

...So how do you know your device can detect it? ["If you don't know what the heck it is?" is implied.]

[brainmeme]

[No, just her. And Lapis, actually.] Well, if it's there, you're not gonna find it standing around talking to me.

[halfwinchester]

_{[He's older, he gets to decide what's a knock off and what isn't. When Dipper's his age and lives a few centuries in a Hell dimension, then he can take the reins.]}

You, I guess.

_{[This earns an amused twitch of his lips.]}

Ghost Harassers just sounds like you're pissing them off without knowing what you're doing.

_{[Sound at all familiar, kid?]}

[krmvgivv]

...You don't look as excited about it as I would be. [What is wrong with you, Wirt. Why don't you want to chase after ghosts and magic?]

[krmvgivv]

I followed very precise instructions from a reliable source.

[The journal's never let him down before.]

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper knows EXACTLY what he's doing, excuse you.]

And what do busters do? Throw statues of just heads and shoulders at them? That's just dumb.

[itwouldbeatragedy]

I guess that's all it takes sometimes.

[He smiles a little. He'll be amazed if this works, but mainly because he's not really convinced there's anything to detect in this setting, and not so much because he doesn't think the device will work as it's meant to.]

Then let's look around the building and see if there's anything there. I'll make sure to stay out of the way.

[singloversing]

Well...I'm not. Is it really that weird?

[He's feeling kind of defensive about it, now that Dipper's pointed it out.]

I mean, things like that are dangerous. I-I've met skeletons that had weird, creepy harvest festivals, and there was this Beast out in the woods...it's not really something I'd want to have to deal with if I didn't want to.

[krmvgivv]

....but that all sounds so interesting. What kind of beast? Can you describe it? [Dipper already has the journal out, flipping through the pages to see if he can find any mention of any of these things.] I raised zombies once by accident but they didn't have any kinds of festivals. They just... wanted to eat my brains.

[singloversing]

N-Not...really? No one really said what it was. They just said he's lurking out in the Unknown, and that he-- [Wirt frowns. Once again he realizes things from the Unknown sound absolutely bananas when he tries to actually explain them to people.] ...h-he turns people into trees, I guess? That's what the Tavernkeeper said - "Once your will begins to spoil, he'll turn you to a tree of oil and use you in his lantern for to burn." I...think it might have been this Woodsman guy, but...

[Wirt shrugs. He doesn't know for sure at this point. He's just glad they got Beatrice away from that guy. He probably is the Beast, and probably led them astray on purpose.]

And they weren't really zombies? I-I mean, I guess by definition it would count but they didn't eat brains? They just...wore pumpkin costumes and danced around their...leader? [What the heck was that Enoch guy anyway??]

[halfwinchester]

_{[Adam avoids giving a straight answer to that question. Explaining the plot of the movie won't make it sound any less dumb, honestly.]}

Look, I'll loan you a copy if it makes you happy.

<sub>[Said a little wryly, not a serious suggestion. Once this inn memory is over, he doubts he and this kid will have much reason to cross paths again.

His eyebrow quirks up.]</sub>

You never said how you became such a know-it-all. Don't tell me you got it all from the movies.

[krmvgivv]

No thanks, I'm happy with Ghost Harassers. It's classic.

[Grumble grumble. He doesn't want your stupid busters.]

I've dealt with ghosts before, back in Gravity Falls. I've dealt with a lot of stuff this summer.

[krmvgivv]

Turns people into trees? Hmm... [It all does sound a little bananas, but hey, Dipper's seen a lot of bananas things. He's not judging.] I don't think I've come across anything like that. [He closes the journal.] Skeletons in pumpkin costumes. Are you sure they weren't just... weird pumpkin creatures?

[singloversing]

No, they were definitely skeletons. They put me and Greg to work in their fields, and they had us digging these holes? A-And the holes, they had skeletons in them and they actually got up and put pumpkin costumes on to join everyone else.

[Wirt speaks about it as though it's one of the most terrifying things he's ever seen, and honestly it probably was. Dead things are supposed to stay dead. They're not supposed to get up and dance and wear vegetable costumes.]

[halfwinchester]

_[Knock-off.]

So you just run into weird things and teach yourself how to deal with them from the back of the cereal box?

<sub>[Well, look at you, Scooby-Doo. Adam sounds more genuinely interested in the answer than patronizing. Somehow Sam and Dean had survived being a hunter's kid, after all, probably because they'd had someone like John to show them the ropes.

Though maybe Dipper's just from a world where reality isn't a factor and the good guys always get their ghost.]</sub>