Chapter Text
It was the next summer for the pine twins. And everything was swell as ever. More chaos, their grunkles back in town. And the weirdness that keeps going on.
Wendy was at the counter reading a new book she got. Just vibing as she waited for the tour group to come back from the show rooms. Mabel spinning on the globe at the front as Dipper was sweeping.
The door opens, the usual. Not out of the norm. But this stranger. Wore all leather. A motorcycle helmet… in this weather? It was strange. And it didn't help that they were tall. Taller than most they have seen. Even taller than Grunkle Ford. Wendy watched as they walked in. Seeing them pull out a phone. Typing something…
The stranger walks over to the counter and holds the phone out. The words “do you know where the bathroom is?” On a notesapp
Wendy looks up at it. Then to the stranger and chuckles, “over there. But you’ll have to buy something after. Its policy, sadly.” The stranger then nods and starts over to it. Mabel staring WAY too long as they did so.
“HOLY MOLY! They were TALL!” She squeals.
Dipper groans. He knew she was; boy crazy still, “mabel, its an adult, of course they would be tall.”
“But STILL!” she spins off the globe and goes over to Wendy, “Here! Five bucks he had a deep voice!”
“Ill take your bet dude” she snorts at Mabel's words, “but i dont think they talk, knowing they showed their phone for the question they asked.”
Mabel seems to pout a bit. She didn’t seem impressed. Already knowing off the bat she lost the bet. Pulling out a five dollar bill and putting it in the tip jar with a mumbling of words.
After a few more minutes the stranger walks out. Going straight for the snacks in the vending machine. They get water and some chips. Then take a walk over to the gift shop's items. Listening to Wendy’s early words of needing to buy something.
They get a lot of items. Maybe getting gifts for a group of folks with them waiting outside? They come to the counter with 5 question mark key chains, a snow globe, and a mug with a question mark that simply says the shack’s normal slogan. Then they type on their phone as Wendy rings it all up.
The stranger holds the phone out. The words read “how much is that jar of eyes or is it decor?”
Wendy looks at it. Reading the $29.99 tag that was faded as all hell and looks back to them, “its for sale. We have been trying to get rid of this thing for a long time. So its yours if you want it.”
the stranger nods and types again. Facing the phone back again, “yes. One of my family members would love this. He likes weird shit”
Wendy chuckles as she scans it and moves all the stuff in bags. “And that's all coming to $68.57. A lot for a bathroom payment. But I’ll guess your getting stuff as you said: for your fam”
The stranger seems to chuckle, its silence but it's obvious its happening as they pull their card out. Turning the phone around another time. “Did you hear by chance… of the circus coming here?”
Wendy paused as she read it, “circus? Like one here?”
Mabel and Dipper looked up fast. The idea of a Circus caught their attention as fast as ever.
The stranger nods and puts the card down for her to swipe it for him as he types. “Yes. There is one coming to town in a few days. I saw it on a board near the cemetery while I was touring the town. How fun is that?”
Wendy hasn’t remembered the last time she went to the Circus as a kid. Only the fun carnival events that Stan hosted or the town hosted. (Mostly the ones Stan hosted). But before she could speak more. Mabel almost screams. Getting half way onto the counter. “A CIRCUS! That sounds amazing!”
The stranger flinched. Not expecting Mabel but seemed to find the energy funny in a way. They turn their phone again, "I agree. I plan to see it myself. But I must go now.”
Wendy she answered fast, “yeah yeah- oh here’s your bags. And your card. Thanks for telling me. I didn’t realize there was one.”
The stranger nods and waves as they leave. A silent your welcome.
Mabel goes to Dipper and shakes him, “DIPPER! I NEED- NO! We all need to go! It’ll be fun! We never got to go to a circus before!”
“I don't know mabel… im not really a fan of clowns-“
Mabel squashed Dipper’s cheek, “Come on bro-bro! We faced demons and monsters. Are you telling me you're still scared of clowns??”
Dipper looked sheepish. His voice cracked like a squeaky toy. “Yes”
Mabel groans and shakes him, “oh come on!”
“Whats this about a circus I heard?” Stan walks in with Ford. Both seemed to have been busy organizing Ford’s findings as both had boxes.
Wendy looks to stan and waves, “a strange tall guy in full leather walked in and talked. Or more texted about it. He said he saw it on one of the bulletin boards.”
“Strange tall man in full leather?” Ford asked
Mabel nods. Letting Dipper free from her grasp. “Yep! And wore a helmet too”
“Probably a vampire then…” Stan pokes fun at the fact. Crossing his arms, “did he buy something at least?”
“Yep. $68 bucks of stuff.” Wendy smiles wide.
“Sweet Moses. Gonna have to figure out how that happened.” He laughs. Turning to his brother and poking fun at this. “Looks like that was a steal of a sale wasn’t it?”
Ford shakes his head, “maybe. But weird.”
“What? Is buying stuff now weird to you?” Stan frowns a bit.
Ford shakes his head again. Frustrated. “No Stanley. I saw them before they left. They just didn’t sit right with me. It felt all odd. And I know you were joking about them being a vampire. But what if it’s more than it seemed.”
“I think you're overreacting again sixer. Lighten up. Just someone buying stuff.” He pats his brother back as he continues outside to his car. Where they were bringing the boxes anyways.
Ford shakes his head and follows along carrying another one of the boxes. Mabel looks at Wendy. A smile on her face. “We should go see the circus!”
Wendy chuckled. “Sure dude. I'll see if the others are down to possibly come see it too while we are at it”