ghostharasser | Open Post

[Yes, okay, good, so Mason has like, sort of a manic expression. It's definitely not bad, he looks excited, but in a really harried kind of way. It's probably an unusual expression for him!! But he grins and drags out a piece of paper, a really big one and tacks it on their wall. It looks like a hand drawn map of their town and a lot of the surrounding desert.]

Okay, so, get this- the SEAMEN organization has been hunting for some holy grail of resources that they suspected was somewhere underground but impossible to actually get to because it's solid steel under the desert, right? Right.

[He starts drawing circles around outpost spots. Places where successful expeditions have gone.]

Here, here, here, and here are all points that seem like entry points that lead to some tunnels, and they follow this way...

[He's drawing more lines as they all seem to ...converge.]

So I started to look at the map and it occurred to me that the tunnel system they've been talking about- I know what it actually is. You do too! Stanley, what does this look like?

Edited 2024-08-21 06:37 (UTC)

[When Dipper mentions the organization, for just a split second, Stanley is an ordinary teenager biting his bottom lip and trying not to laugh. Pfft. SEAMEN. It's always gonna be a little funny.

He's back to listening as best as he can after that, because Mason is going pretty fast and assuming he can follow. And to his credit, he kind of is, but there's something about that last question that makes him bristle nervously as though this is some kind of pop quiz that he could fail somehow.

But...it does make sense that the lines all connect together. After hesitating for a second, Stanley grabs his journal and locks in his guess to show Mason.]

SUBWAY RIGHT?

[Except he can't handle that his guess might be a bad guess, so he tacks on a second, less serious answer - you know, just in case he's wrong so he can play it off like he was joking.]

OR A SEWER.

[He's drawn stink lines coming off of the word "SEWER". Gross!]

[Mason waits for Stanley to reply and when he sees he got the answer his face breaks out into the widest grin. He smacks his hand on the map!!]

A subway!! It's a subway!! But the people here have no idea what subways are or what they were used for so it's all lost history!

[He turns back to the map and draws a big line down the center and as it goes further away from the town he draws a big circle.]

I found the main line, and this holy grail of resources has to be a grand central station! Can you imagine what we could scavenge from that?

[Woah. He was right on the first try!

This immediately puts Stanley at ease, and lets him finally match Mason's excitement a little. He grins big and wide, and then starts scribbling again, so focused that his tongue sticks out in a little blep of concentration. It's been a really long time since he's been on a subway. What's in a grand central station again...?]

NEWSSTANDS HAVE BOTTLE CAPS!!!
AND SOUVENIRS TO SELL HERE FOR MORE CAPS!!!
EASY SCRAP METAL TOO
MAYBE FREE TOOLS?
BET THERE'S REAL FIRST AID KITS SOMEWHERE
SPINNY ABC LETTERS FROM THE SIGNS??
OH WINDSHIELD GLASS! FROM THE TRAINS YOU KNOW THE KIND
(WE'D BE TRAIN ROBBERS!!!!)
THERE'S GOTTA BE SO MUCH SHIT DOWN THERE!!!!
Y'KNOW IF NO ONE'S PICKED IT CLEAN YET

[This list is already like, the whole page.]

[It's because Stanley is smart and Mason knew this!!]

[Anyway, Mason comes over to see what he's scribbling, nodding as he starts listing everything off.]

They will be so much scrap for us to pick apart. If any of the shops are intact we can get a hold of tons of old clothing and fabric. There might also be books and maps of the old civilization!

[Nerd...]

[Anyway, he pulls out some of his papers and writing material.]

There's a tunnel I want to scout out, to see if it will lead us into the mainline. I haven't brought this up with the rest of the organization because I want to be sure I'm right first, but, it would be pretty dangerous to go alone...

[He probably doesn't have to ask, but well, he'd like him to feel included.]

[Mason doesn't have to ask, but Stanley still excitedly points to himself as if to confirm what's unspoken here. Of course he nods, and then signs something he hasn't had to since Deerington - a jerked thumb backward that turns into a sharp point up at the ceiling. Back-up. Obviously Mason needs his trusty back-up!

Plus, going ahead of the organization is a good idea anyway. It means they get first dibs on whatever treasures they find!]

WHEN?

[It's just a simple one-word question, but Stanley holds the journal out in front of him like a shield and grins WIDE behind it - the look of a boy who would happily follow Mason basically anywhere, any time. Though, Mason might find it familiar for a different reason.]

[Ah. That nostalgia hits him like a brick. He smiles, but there is something else behind it. Something that Stanley has probably seen before- the kind of look Mason gets when he is remembering something from a lifetime ago. It happens every so often around the Stans.]

[But. that passes quickly. They have an adventure top plot!!]

Let's leave in two days at the crack of dawn. We can gather up supplies and I can double check my coordinates.

[Has Stanley ever seen Mason look this just, purely excited? Probably not, honestly. It's been happening a lot more often in this place.]

[He really hasn't - there was never a lot to be excited about back in Deerington, and it still feels almost like a novelty here. He feels it, but something still whispers that he shouldn't get used to it, that the rug could get pulled out from under them at any time.

Still, Stanley's pretty damn excited himself. He nods!]

ENOUGH TIME FOR A COUPLE MORE JOBS TO GET GOOD SUPPLIES!

[That makes him remember his own exciting news though, and he gets up all of a sudden, abandoning the journal to cross the room and rummage in one of their money jars. When he returns he has just one bottle cap, but it's a different color than the ones he usually earns - a bright orange.

He holds it up proudly for Mason to see, and then sets it down on the journal and draws an arrow to it.]

GOT THIS FOR MILKING A WEIRD PLANT TODAY!!!
GUY SAID IT'S WORTH 10 STRAWBERRY CAPS!
$$$$$$$$$$

[Yes, writing out every single dollar sign was 100% necessary. Stanley is very proud of himself; let him have this.]

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