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I did!
[ Ford's answer is a bit more bright than the question really calls for, and he has the good sense to temper his reaction a moment later. ]
I hope that's alright. I never found the chance to work with someone's death crystal in Trench.
[ Ford's answer is a bit more bright than the question really calls for, and he has the good sense to temper his reaction a moment later. ]
I hope that's alright. I never found the chance to work with someone's death crystal in Trench.
Oh, no, I figured you might.
[He waves his hands like it's not that big of a deal. It probably should be, but this is the third time he's died and he knows his uncle wouldn't waste good resources. It's not like he's using that corpse, anyway.]
I have a friend who uh, likes to eat weird stuff. I thought maybe I'd give him a sample to see how his physiology reacts to a Sleeper.
[He waves his hands like it's not that big of a deal. It probably should be, but this is the third time he's died and he knows his uncle wouldn't waste good resources. It's not like he's using that corpse, anyway.]
I have a friend who uh, likes to eat weird stuff. I thought maybe I'd give him a sample to see how his physiology reacts to a Sleeper.
[ What a disturbing proposal! Naturally, Ford only looks deeply interested. ]
There's some more tests I want to run, but I have a few grams to spare. I suppose it's best for him to start with a small sample in any case.
There's some more tests I want to run, but I have a few grams to spare. I suppose it's best for him to start with a small sample in any case.
Small is good! I know he's eaten uh, much bigger. Like Moder? He ate Moder to purify her corruption. Which is a thing he can do, apparently. But, Sleepers are pretty weird so better safe than sorry.
[Does Dipper know the logistics of how Mizuki ate a two story tall skin deer? No. Doesn't he feel the need to question Mizuki's claim? Also no.]
Have your tests turned up anything interesting in the meantime? I've been kind of curious how our body react to being outside of Trench, considering the lack of blood pollution here.
[Does Dipper know the logistics of how Mizuki ate a two story tall skin deer? No. Doesn't he feel the need to question Mizuki's claim? Also no.]
Have your tests turned up anything interesting in the meantime? I've been kind of curious how our body react to being outside of Trench, considering the lack of blood pollution here.
Edited 2024-12-30 04:06 (UTC)
[ Wait, he ate Moder? Like, all of her? Ford lights up at the very idea, though Dipper is moving on to different questions before Ford can start pressing him for details. ]
Well, we confirmed that we do still turn into crystals when we die. That confirms that it's solely a matter of physiology, rather than anything inherent to Trench causing it. I also can't use the crystal as the basis any Paleblood based spellcasting—but it can act as a catalyst to improve the efficiency of said spells.
[ He pulls out his journal—a new one just for the Grove—and opens it up so Dipper can read his notes. ]
But I'd need to do more testing to determine why. It could be that a Paleblood death crystal interacts especially well with Paleblood spell reagents. Or it could be that any death crystal is an especially potent catalyst for a Paleblood spell, or that any death crystal can work with any blood type, or that a Paleblood's death crystal would be just as potent with any blood type.
Well, we confirmed that we do still turn into crystals when we die. That confirms that it's solely a matter of physiology, rather than anything inherent to Trench causing it. I also can't use the crystal as the basis any Paleblood based spellcasting—but it can act as a catalyst to improve the efficiency of said spells.
[ He pulls out his journal—a new one just for the Grove—and opens it up so Dipper can read his notes. ]
But I'd need to do more testing to determine why. It could be that a Paleblood death crystal interacts especially well with Paleblood spell reagents. Or it could be that any death crystal is an especially potent catalyst for a Paleblood spell, or that any death crystal can work with any blood type, or that a Paleblood's death crystal would be just as potent with any blood type.
I'm a little less surprised by that, considering how much my powers still work in this place. I haven't had any issues using blood magic here that would indicate the shift in environment heavily impacting my physiology. Waaay back when we first got to Trench, I remember Varian did a lot of microscopic study of someone's death crystals back before we really understood the process, and what he saw really backs that up: That its physiological. Our bodies are really something else.
[Dipper sure does think about this a lot actually. He doesn't say it, but he does remember when Varian reported his findings, Dipper kind of had a little panic attack about it. You know, the whole existential question of what they were etc etc.]
[It freaks him out less now than it did before, which is also interesting to think about. Has he just gotten used to being semi-eldritch or did becoming semi-eldritch make it easier for him to adjust and not care?]
As cool as that would be to learn, hopefully you don't have access to the research materials anytime soon. I'm not planning on getting offed again anytime soon, and I really hope you and Stan feel the same.
[Dipper sure does think about this a lot actually. He doesn't say it, but he does remember when Varian reported his findings, Dipper kind of had a little panic attack about it. You know, the whole existential question of what they were etc etc.]
[It freaks him out less now than it did before, which is also interesting to think about. Has he just gotten used to being semi-eldritch or did becoming semi-eldritch make it easier for him to adjust and not care?]
As cool as that would be to learn, hopefully you don't have access to the research materials anytime soon. I'm not planning on getting offed again anytime soon, and I really hope you and Stan feel the same.
Yes, I thought that might be the case as well. But it's important to not make assumptions recklessly, considering how uncommon Sleepers are even in Trench.
[ ... But it seems the conversation is finally taking a somewhat more sober turn. Ford nods at Dipper's comment, the scientific glee fading from his expression. But at least even then he looks more melancholy than outright depressed. ]
Of course. And... I'm sorry, Dipper, that one of us wasn't there to help.
[ ... But it seems the conversation is finally taking a somewhat more sober turn. Ford nods at Dipper's comment, the scientific glee fading from his expression. But at least even then he looks more melancholy than outright depressed. ]
Of course. And... I'm sorry, Dipper, that one of us wasn't there to help.
Right, definitely.
[And- oh. He had hoped he was giving a bit of levity when he made that comment, not to make Ford feel guilty. That apology and all its sincerity hits him like a truck kind of unexpectedly.]
[Maybe because he was trying really hard to let the whole incident roll off of him, trying to shove it down and away so he didn't need to think about it now that it was over with.]
N-No. No, that wasn't your fault, you know that right? I was the one that- [Oh, wait, his voice is doing the thing he hates when he's trying to talk while upset.] I didn't react fast enough, and he got the upperhand. I shouldn't have tried to confront him, it was my fault.
[And- oh. He had hoped he was giving a bit of levity when he made that comment, not to make Ford feel guilty. That apology and all its sincerity hits him like a truck kind of unexpectedly.]
[Maybe because he was trying really hard to let the whole incident roll off of him, trying to shove it down and away so he didn't need to think about it now that it was over with.]
N-No. No, that wasn't your fault, you know that right? I was the one that- [Oh, wait, his voice is doing the thing he hates when he's trying to talk while upset.] I didn't react fast enough, and he got the upperhand. I shouldn't have tried to confront him, it was my fault.
[ Fern has been looking for the guy whose name he probably heard but doesn't remember since his talk with PV. Well, looking might be putting it a little strongly, but he's glad when he spots the man on a walk in the forest. ]
Oh, hey, uh... [ ...yeah, nope, does not remember his name. ] Hi.
Oh, hey, uh... [ ...yeah, nope, does not remember his name. ] Hi.
[ Fortunately, Ford's not hard to spot. It's probably pretty rare to find old men waist-deep in shrubbery trying to draw a weird looking bird.
And yet, Ford is the one who stares at Fern like he's doing something strange. Not something he's not supposed to be doing, mind. Just something unusual. ]
Fern?
And yet, Ford is the one who stares at Fern like he's doing something strange. Not something he's not supposed to be doing, mind. Just something unusual. ]
Fern?
Oh, that's...
[ Well, not okay? Ford is still a little put out about the lying thing. But he's not actually mad about it, either. ]
... understandable, I suppose, in a new place like this.
[ Well, not okay? Ford is still a little put out about the lying thing. But he's not actually mad about it, either. ]
... understandable, I suppose, in a new place like this.
[ He makes an uncomfortable sound like a grunt and turns to look at literally anything else. He just thought, maybe, he could be Finn! And technically, he is Finn, just with his name changed. But he's supposed to be apologizing, not making excuses. ]
Um... yeah. So, um... I, uh, wanted to apologize for... everything else, too. Causing all that trouble, and making a mess, and... uh...
[ He kicks at the ground, somehow looking even farther away now. ]
what... you saw.
[ He clears his throat. ]
Um. Yeah. I'm really, really sorry.
Um... yeah. So, um... I, uh, wanted to apologize for... everything else, too. Causing all that trouble, and making a mess, and... uh...
[ He kicks at the ground, somehow looking even farther away now. ]
what... you saw.
[ He clears his throat. ]
Um. Yeah. I'm really, really sorry.
[ Again, Ford's instinctive inclination here is that while he's not really mad at Fern, he doesn't actually forgive him. As Ford sees it, a lot of the trauma all of them went through could have been avoided with a smidgen of honesty, and Dipper wouldn't have ended up doing... all of that.
But... Fern is apologizing. And while Ford doesn't know this Fern, he does know a Fern, and he knows that Fern well enough for an apology like this to strike him as noteworthy. ]
That's...
[ Ford heaves a sigh and starts extracting himself from the shrubbery. ]
Listen. Did Stanley explain anything about Trench to you?
But... Fern is apologizing. And while Ford doesn't know this Fern, he does know a Fern, and he knows that Fern well enough for an apology like this to strike him as noteworthy. ]
That's...
[ Ford heaves a sigh and starts extracting himself from the shrubbery. ]
Listen. Did Stanley explain anything about Trench to you?
[ He takes a step back on instinct, trying to give Ford plenty of space. He doesn't seem angry, but he doesn't seem to like Fern very much either. He probably doesn't want the kid coming too close.
He frowns. Why would Stan have explained anything to him? ]
A trench...? [ That sounds sorta familiar. ] That's... a place, right?
He frowns. Why would Stan have explained anything to him? ]
A trench...? [ That sounds sorta familiar. ] That's... a place, right?
[ Yeah, that's not a surprise. ]
Not 'a' trench. Just Trench. It's the city that Stanley, Dipper, and I lived in before we arrived here. It was similar to the Grove, in that it was another dimension that ended up drawing many people from other dimensions towards it.
[ Which is probably simplifying things, but they don't really have time for much else. ]
And while we were there we... met Fern. Not you, but another version of yourself.
Not 'a' trench. Just Trench. It's the city that Stanley, Dipper, and I lived in before we arrived here. It was similar to the Grove, in that it was another dimension that ended up drawing many people from other dimensions towards it.
[ Which is probably simplifying things, but they don't really have time for much else. ]
And while we were there we... met Fern. Not you, but another version of yourself.
That's right. And as I said, he's not you. But... well...
[ What's a good example... ]
If I told you that one of the first things I ever saw him do was trying to fight a horde of zombies alone, would that surprise you at all?
[ What's a good example... ]
If I told you that one of the first things I ever saw him do was trying to fight a horde of zombies alone, would that surprise you at all?
Exactly. I'm not going to tell you I'm not angry, because I am. But... once I realized you were Fern, I wasn't surprised.
[ Ugh, it's so hard to get his point across here. ]
What I'm trying to say is, I didn't hear many apologies from the other Fern I knew. So I think I know what it means that you're offering one now.
[ Ugh, it's so hard to get his point across here. ]
What I'm trying to say is, I didn't hear many apologies from the other Fern I knew. So I think I know what it means that you're offering one now.
[ He stares at the ground and scratches his head while he thinks.
That's... he's not sure how he feels about that. Not great? It sounds like he appreciates the apology, but it doesn't really sound like he accepts it. He's just not surprised, because... he didn't expect any better from Fern.
He stops scratching his head to rub at his arm, his head turned towards the depths of the forest now. This is uncomfortable. He expected it to suck, but he didn't expect it to make him feel worse than he already did. ]
Not surprised... that I said I was Finn? Or...
[ Not surprised that he killed someone? Was it that obvious to everyone else that he was a monster just pretending to be a person? ]
That's... he's not sure how he feels about that. Not great? It sounds like he appreciates the apology, but it doesn't really sound like he accepts it. He's just not surprised, because... he didn't expect any better from Fern.
He stops scratching his head to rub at his arm, his head turned towards the depths of the forest now. This is uncomfortable. He expected it to suck, but he didn't expect it to make him feel worse than he already did. ]
Not surprised... that I said I was Finn? Or...
[ Not surprised that he killed someone? Was it that obvious to everyone else that he was a monster just pretending to be a person? ]
[Stan hadn't planned on being gone all that long. He was just running some errands, picking up stuff he'd been meaning to get. Something that hasn't happened in a long while happened on his way back though, and he still feels a little off from it. It's tough to describe, and he doesn't really want to describe it, but...there's at least one person in the house who should know.
After dropping off everything in the kitchen (even Bona Lisa, sorry girl), Stan gets to the top of the basement stairs and hesitates. There's a lot of things Stan would rather keep to himself, even if he's supposed to be talking to the family more, but this one...the more he sits with it the more unsettling it feels. Like forcing a puzzle piece that doesn't fit right.
Finally he steels himself, knocks on the door frame, and calls out.]
Ford? You down there? I, uh.
[Last chance to chicken out. He pauses, and takes a breath.]
......I had a memory thing happen.
After dropping off everything in the kitchen (even Bona Lisa, sorry girl), Stan gets to the top of the basement stairs and hesitates. There's a lot of things Stan would rather keep to himself, even if he's supposed to be talking to the family more, but this one...the more he sits with it the more unsettling it feels. Like forcing a puzzle piece that doesn't fit right.
Finally he steels himself, knocks on the door frame, and calls out.]
Ford? You down there? I, uh.
[Last chance to chicken out. He pauses, and takes a breath.]
......I had a memory thing happen.
[ Fortunately (?) Ford still easily loses track of time these days. Stan is gone longer than he means to be, and at no point does Ford notice long enough to worry.
But he's not so preoccupied that he doesn't hear the knock—and when he opens the door and hears what Stan has to say, he completely forgets about his project downstairs. ]
What kind of memory thing?
[ Cause there's a few options! There's Stan's normal memory thing, and while he hasn't had one of those in a while it's not impossible. Then there's the Grove-specific kind with the past lives. And then there's the general memory related fuckery that's happened to them at least a few times a year since the day they first woke up in Deerington. ]
But he's not so preoccupied that he doesn't hear the knock—and when he opens the door and hears what Stan has to say, he completely forgets about his project downstairs. ]
What kind of memory thing?
[ Cause there's a few options! There's Stan's normal memory thing, and while he hasn't had one of those in a while it's not impossible. Then there's the Grove-specific kind with the past lives. And then there's the general memory related fuckery that's happened to them at least a few times a year since the day they first woke up in Deerington. ]
[Thankfully Stan looks to be generally himself, so it isn't any sort of backslide in his cognition, or immediate and obvious general fuckery. He does seem a little uncertain though, and he rubs the back of his neck.]
One of those flashbacks that hits like a punch to the face. Except, uh. It doesn't really fit with anything else...?
["Punch to the face" is clearly the only explanation for any redness around the eyes, and nothing else. Nope, this wasn't an upsetting memory at all!]
I guess that means it's something from here?
One of those flashbacks that hits like a punch to the face. Except, uh. It doesn't really fit with anything else...?
["Punch to the face" is clearly the only explanation for any redness around the eyes, and nothing else. Nope, this wasn't an upsetting memory at all!]
I guess that means it's something from here?
Edited 2025-05-01 16:38 (UTC)
[ Okay. Stan looks normal (aside from redness around his eyes that Ford sees no reason to acknowledge) and this sounds like it might be a Grove memory. Those are both good signs! It means nothing exceptionally weird is going on. ]
I would assume it's from here, yes. Do you...
[ He waffles, like he so often does with emotional subjects, but not for as long as he might have before. ]
Want to talk about it? Downstairs?
I would assume it's from here, yes. Do you...
[ He waffles, like he so often does with emotional subjects, but not for as long as he might have before. ]
Want to talk about it? Downstairs?
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