Maria takes little notice of his extra finger, simply noting it down in her much too tired brain and going forward with introductions on autopilot, so she shakes his wand without another thought, “Maria, simple enough I think, but I’ve been called Mary before.” Her mind briefly brings that little fact with the much bitter edge being called the second coming of another scorned royal with that name. Damn intrusive thoughts.
She laughs at the explanation, absurd yet all too mundane. Of course, the simplest solution is usually always the easiest. “Sounds to me they’re a good set of fresh eyes, then! I have a little sister like that, she always seemed to just say the answer I could never see. Y’see, I actually specialize in robotics, so…” Finally, something clicked in her brain. Stanford. Could be called ford. Is an uncle of… some kind. The exhaustion had dampened the system of her mind, but that machine could never truly be stopped, certainly not by something as little as sleep deprivation. Her smile fades away, but is replace with an expression of surprise and awe. “Wait. Stanford… Pines?” It’s gotta be, there’s no way this is just a coincidence.
Instantly her exhaustion fades into pure delight and excitement, like she had just taken a shot of espresso, “I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I moved here! I found your nephew’s videos when I first started researching, and I heard about you through those! They’re wonderful videos, even if… rather dangerous, but very educational on living here! I’d love if we could work together, you wouldn’t even need to pay me to help you, really! There’s no price you could put on pure passion!” Her eyes were wide, practically sparkly, and she had leaned forward so much and so quickly that her wheelchair had bumped into the desk the cash register stood on, stabilized by Maria’s hands as she propped herself up on it.
Robotics?! That’s intriguing, he’ll have to ask her about that when its convient.
He looks shocked. He wasn’t expecting her to recognise him. Often in Gravity Falls, he gets mistaken for Stan. A little bit frustrating since he was here first. Though he supposes Stan spent three decades in this small town; he was bound to build up a reputation...a stingy one at that! and in the name Stanford Pines...
Dipper’s videos. Yes, he’s not seen as many as he’d like, what with being out at sea for the last few months, but he’s seen the odd one and is quite impressed with his nephew’s work. Dipper’s apparently been working on some this summer too; he’ll have to make sure to dedicate some time to review the boy’s findings.
He watches her wheelchair lurch forward and is honestly quite taken back by her enthusiasm, in fact his social awkwardness is kicking in; funny that he once craved this sort of praise. ‘Oh well...um...I wouldn’t mind a hand with some of my studies, I suppose. What with my nephew working on his own findings.’
‘Though I must warn you I’m only in Gravity Falls until the end of summer.’