I saw this post by @clownwry and thought "hey i could write a thing about this." And then I did. So i hope you enjoy it.
(Also on ao3!)
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“Grunkle Ford.” Mabel whined. She leaned over the side of her tank, dripping water onto the floorboards. “Where are Dipper and Stan? They said they’d be back with snacks for movie-noon hours ago.”
Her Grunkle stopped grooming himself and looked at her, his barbed tongue hanging out of his mouth. He turned his gaze from her to the Mystery Shack brand clock that hanged over Mabel’s fish tank. It was true that his brother and nephew were overdue from their trip into town, however they were only thirty minutes late. The Sphinx-man shook his head.
“Well this simply won’t do now will it?” He scratched his cheek.
“They owe us big time!” Mabel said. A vengeful grin spread across her adorable cheeks.
“And what would you be demanding of them?” Stanford said. He dug his paws into the carpet and stretched out his back.
“A million donuts.” Mabel punched the air. “No, a trillion!”
“Now, now, Mabel, what have we discussed about proper bargaining with Stanley?” Stanford said. He sat on his hind legs.
“To make sure we get the best deal.” Mabel said.
“Correct.” Stanford nodded. “And if he gives us trouble?”
“We bust out the cutest puppy dog eyes he’s ever seen.” Mabel smiled deviously. She tapped her fingers together, feeling like a villain from one of those spy movies that her brother watched all the time.
“Wonderful! How about we fly out and see if we can make them pick up the first cassette of that cartoon that Soos showed McGucket during the Oddpocalypse?” Stanford asked.
“Let’s do it!” Mabel cried. She jumped into the air, splashing her pink scaled mermaid tail as she did, making a mess of water on the floor.
“Stanley is very lucky that we got this floor varnished.” Stanford muttered.
The sphinx-man looked around the room for a moment before turning to his excited niece. “Mabel darling, where is your harness?”
“Right next to my tank, Grunkle Ford.” Mabel pointed to a long piece of dark fabric that hanged from a nail in the wall next to her.
“Ah right.” Stanford walked over and picked up the fabric in his mouth.
He lifted himself up so that he was holding the fabric into the tank. Mabel swam into the loop of the fabric, sitting in it like a swing in the park. Once she was securely positioned, she gave a firm tug on the harness. With his niece’s confirmation Stanford lifted her out of the tank and carried her out of the living room and out of the shack.
Soon the pair were soaring through the air, flying high above the trees of the woods of gravity falls. Stanford’s brightly coloured wings shone in the bright light of the afternoon sun. Normally Mabel would have loved to sit and watch them shimmer for hours, counting the colours that she could see; but right now she had an important mission to complete. Turning her gaze downward, she caught sight of the town of Gravity Falls far below both the two of them.
“I can’t see them from up here, can we go lower Grunkle Ford?” Mabel asked.
“Mm” stanford said. He stopped himself from nodding and fly nearer to the town, bringing colourful ants that were the citizens into a more recognisable view.
She turned her gaze to the grocery store, the home of all snacks, but couldn't see any dissipating smoke from a dropped smoke bomb or see a commotion caused by a certain old gargoyle’s pick-pocketing hands. Humming to herself, Mabel turned to the library, the home of all nerds, she didn’t see a trace of a deer struggling to drag a book bag thrice his size from the building.
“Where could they be?” Mabel tapped her chin.
“Mm” Stanford tapped her shoulder before pointing to the video store.
“Of course.” Mabel tapped her head. “Those two are probably bonding over scary movies.”
The pair descended, landing next to a grey gargoyle and a deer-centaur that stood outside of the video rental store. They were lost in a heavy debate about costume quality versus special effects and the implications for the future of cinema.
“Grunkle Stan!” Mabel said, breaking the pair’s discussion short. “Where have you been? The sun’s going to be down soon and you’ll miss movie-noon.”
“Sorry Pumpkin.” Stan said. He scratched the back of his neck. “Me and Dipper were on our way home with snacks when he saw a good movie for once and decided to complain about quality cinema.”
“It looks like someone’s first time using puppets.” Dipper crossed his arms.
Stanford stood on his hind legs and took the fabric seat that Mabel sat in out of his mouth. Choosing to hold it in his hand.
“Ugh we really need to wash that more often.” Stanford said. “Anyway. While I'm sure this is riveting, Mabel is correct. We really should be hurrying along.”
“Ugh fine. C’mon Dipper.” Stanley rolled his eyes. He bent over and picked Dipper up by his deer-stomach, letting him sit on Stanley’s large bicep. “And if I hear a peep outta you I’m letting you walk home.”
“Scared I’ll beat you there old man?” Dipper said with a surprising amount of confidence.
“Oh you’re on, kid.” Stanley said sinisterly. He let Dipper down and stared him down. “Last one has to do the other’s chores for a week.”
The pair spat in their hands and shook. And before Mabel could blink, Stanley was up in the air and her brother had taken off down the street. Leaving her and Stanford in their dust.
“Bet you 10 jelly beans, Grunkle Stan gets there first.” Mabel said after a beat.
“30 says he gets distracted by something and Dipper wins.” Stanford said.
“You’re on!” Mabel grinned, shaking Stanford’s free six fingered-paw.
Idk when I'll get the chance to scan/fix this...Sooo here's a piece I've been working on. It didn't turn out as well as I'd hope, but Mabel came out pretty dang cute. Plus that is the MOST boring bg ever.
