[MINGLE LOG] I'M GLAD IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

[powerofmabel]

Who: The Pines Twins and EVERYONE (MINGLE LOG)
Where: The Jolly Roger
When: September 2nd
Rating: G
Summary: The Pines Twins are technically turning thirteen, and are having a giant birthday party to celebrate. EVERYONE COME EAT CAKE.
The Story:

The Jolly Roger has been decked out with enough streamers to give its previous owner a small heart attack, but at least the streamers are done up in red, black, and white to go with the pirate theme and not something colorful and obscene like Mabel might design if left to her own devices. Most of the tables for snacks ( including oranges to ward off scurvy) have been set up on the beach to give the guests plenty of room to mingle around without overcrowding the ship, and at various places around the party areas are large barrels full of fake plastic pirate weapons, eyepatches, hats, and other pirate accessories so everyone can get into the spirit of things.

The deck of the Jolly Roger has been turned into a sort of makeshift dance floor for people willing to get up and get their groove on for the entertainment of everyone on the beach, which is entirely Mabel's idea, because who wouldn't want to have a dance party on the deck of a pirate ship.

For the most part, it's a free-for-all, since the twins can't possibly organize that many people, but they're here, there, and everywhere, making sure everyone's having a good time and basking in all the birthday excitement.

Comments

[singloversing]

[Wirt shrugs.] I dunno. It just kind of happened, I guess?

[He doesn't know if they would necessarily think of him as a friend in return, but they've been nice enough and they don't seem to mind him. And they didn't even totally write him off after a certain deal he made that he's never talking about again if he can avoid it.

Mention of a purple woman catches him by surprise though, and he laughs awkwardly.] That's Amethyst. She, uh...she's like that. A lot. I'm not even a little surprised.

[Spoken like someone who's been pushed around by said crazy purple lady before, but...almost fondly? They're friends too, probably. Maybe.]

[eatyourdirt]

Of course it did. [There are fond undertones in her voice, though, even as she rolls her eyes. Wirt Isn't really the kind of guy who would actively seek out friends. But accidentally happening into a friendship seems like just his style. She glances up at his description of Amethyst.]

She doesn't seem to understand birds very well. I put her off by pointing out she could eat the cake if I didn't.

[singloversing]

I...don't think she has a good grasp of what is and isn't food in general. The first time I talked to her she drank a bunch of laundry detergent in front of me and nearly gave me a heart attack. I think that kind of thing's...normal, for her? [He shrugs.] At least she wasn't like, trying to make you eat cheese dust or a stick of butter or something.

[All of which are things she's mentioned eating before. Wirt's still not over it.]

[eatyourdirt]

[Beatrice eyes him for a moment, then nods decisively, like everything's fallen into place for her.]

Oh, so that's why you were invited! These people just have terrible tastes.

[singloversing]

[Oh, he sure missed all this bluebird sass.]

They invited everyone...and I mean. You're here too?

[eatyourdirt]

I followed you. [What, she never said she had good taste.] I don't particularly want to be here.

[singloversing]

Then...wait. Why are you here? [A pause.] ...Did you really only come because I did?

[He's a little baffled. People don't usually follow him around.]

[eatyourdirt]

[Oh my god is this going to get into feelings territory. She doesn't want to go around admitting actual affection for him. She rolls her eyes.]

You're the only person in this place that I know, okay? I didn't want to just... be alone.

[Don't you dare make a thing out of it.]

[singloversing]

[Wirt...does't know what to say to that. His eyes go wide, but then dart down to the floorboards beneath them.

It's too late. He's making a thing out of it in his head. She really should have known better though - Wirt makes a thing out of everything.]

Well...a lot of people here know you. That's...something, probably. I dunno. I mean, not that I mind or anything, but...you know.

[Wirt shrugs. He knows he's kind of a loser. Beatrice can seriously do better than only having him for a friend.]

[eatyourdirt]

That doesn't help. [She flutters over to the bulkhead looking out at the sea rather than at Wirt. She really didn't want to get into feelings territory.] I don't like hanging out with people who know everything about me when I can barely keep track of their names. It's weird.

[singloversing]

I guess so...I wouldn't really know.

[It didn't happen to him, not the way it's happening to Beatrice. He follows over to where she's landed, looking out at the sea with her.]

I mean. When I first got here, you actually got here first? So, some people knew who I was already, because you'd been looking for me and Greg. It wasn't really the same as this, but...it was still pretty weird.

[eatyourdirt]

And then I vanished and forgot all that. [She scratches the wood she's perched on idly, looking down at the waves.] It just seems so pointless. What's the point of doing anything here if we're just gonna forget about it?

[singloversing]

[Wirt thinks for a moment before he answers. He does have a thought, but he wants to make sure he says it exactly the way he wants to.]

...I dunno. It's still happening to us now, so even if we don't remember it later, it's still important. Isn't it? I mean...I-I dunno. We don't remember dreams, or being really little kids, or every second of every day of our lives, but that stuff still matters. It still informs all of our experiences after that, and makes us who we are as people. ...I-if that makes any sense.

[eatyourdirt]

[It's oddly comforting, though not because she cares about the nostalgic aspects of it. It's just so Wirt that it's sort of endearing.

Which is weird and gross. When did Wirt's sappy nature become endearing?]

Does it, though? When we go home, will we act any differently than if we hadn't come here?

[singloversing]

[It really is kind of comforting. Not his own words - that might be a little weird - but there's something calm and familiar about this moment, something that reminds him of the closeness they had before she left.

Wirt shrugs though.]

I have no idea. I still haven't been back, so I wouldn't know.

[He could just compare Beatrice to the last time she was here, but he mostly feels like that'll just annoy her. ...That, and if she's different then it doesn't show enough to be a sufficient comfort, so it's probably better to just not go there.]

[eatyourdirt]

Guess we'll have to wait and find out.

[And they won't remember when it happens, so they really won't know even then. She almost wants to ask about the last time she was here, but she isn't sure she'll like the answer. She isn't even sure what answer she'd want to hear. So she just sighs, letting her head droop a little.]

Last time we were on a boat, we were being chased by the frog police. This is nicer.

[singloversing]

Yeah, I...I heard about that.

[He hesitates because she told him, but he honestly can't remember if she mentioned the frog police this time around or not and he doesn't want to reopen that "not being able to remember Wonderland" wound so soon.]

I'm pretty sure a lot of things are better than that though. Frog Jail sounds pretty terrible. ...And this is kind of nice.

[Being on a boat and looking out at the water is kind of soothing, even if they aren't actually going anywhere.]

[eatyourdirt]

[Nice enough that Beatrice doesn't even complain that it's getting kind of feelsy here. She just looks out at sea and looks more peaceful than usual.

But only for a minute or two. Then she looks over at Wirt.]

Shouldn't you be hanging out with your friends? Since it's their party and everything.

[singloversing]

[That minute or two is enough for Wirt to lose himself in a thought, and he has to flutter back down to Earth from whatever cloud his head was stuck in before he responds.]

Hm? Oh. ...I dunno? There's a lot of people here. They'll probably come find me if they want to hang out. [He pauses sheepishly, as if that's an incorrect answer somehow.] ...I-I'm. I'm not very good at parties.

[eatyourdirt]

[He is such a nerd. Beatrice rolls her eyes.] Go find your friends, Wirt. That's how you keep them friends.

[singloversing]

[Wow, it sounds so obvious when she says it.] O-Oh. Well. ...Okay.

[He hesitates though.] Um...what about you though? Did you want to come with, or...? [He doesn't want to just like, ditch her.]

[eatyourdirt]

No, I don't like the hat kid. He asks way too many questions. [She shoes him off with her wings.] I'll be fine.

[singloversing]

Well...if you say so.

[And since she does say so, Wirt turns and heads down to the beach, where Dipper and Mabel currently are.]