[Video]

[maybeitsmabelline]

[The video coming on is somewhat accidental. Whoever is fumbling with it was clearly trying to get it out of wherever it was--a pocket? A bag?--and they must have flipped it on in the process. After a few seconds they manage to get it out of wherever it was stuck and the video goes a bit crazy as the ‘gear clatters to the ground.

A soft glow illuminates the room briefly as a Minior comes into view, the red little star Pokemon smiling dumbly at the screen before it’s suddenly grabbed--well, more like hugged, actually, as a little girl comes into view.]

Did it break, Little Dipper? Oh, hey, I think it’s recording--hi everyone that can see this!!

[Mabel grins and picks her ‘gear up with her free hand, her Minior currently tucked underneath her other arm and looking rather pleased about it.]

I’m Mabel and this is Little Dipper! Oh and this is my brother Dipper!

[Cue her turning the camera on her brother.]

Dipper say hi!

[There’s a boy in the background, with a Phantump floating next to him. They seem to be studying where they are. At least they were, before Dipper turns to see the gear pointed at him.]

Mabel! What are you doing? No one needs to see this!

Don’t be such a spoilsport, Dipper! It’s just a new adventure!

[Under her arm, Little Dipper thrummed though whether it was in agreement or just because he could was hard to say.]

Plus we can’t be the first people to end up here…

[By now it should be clear that they are in a jail cell. Dipper folds his arms]

For trying to steal an old ladies kittens? Or should I say, accessory to SOMEONE trying to make off with a bunch of kittens?

If you had helped we totally could have gotten away but noooo!

You shouldn’t have been doing it in the first place! Now we have to break out of jail! ...uh...ignore that last part people ….. I meant serve our time….

[Whispers to Mabel.]

I really think you should stop broadcasting this now….

[Insert a snort from Mabel as she turns the ‘gear back on herself properly and playfully rolls her eyes.]

Don’t mind him! He’s just nervous because the Jenny ladies said we have to stay here for a few days. Anyway, maybe someone out there watching knows how we can get out of here, Dipper! Did you ever think of that??

[Cue her sticking her tongue out as Little Dipper thrums again.]

Yeah and their advice is probably going to be, you got arrested, do your time.

[Meanwhile his own pokemon is examining the bars and lock. Dipper is just going to move to hide the pokemon from the view of the gear.]

Maybe, maybe not! Only one way to find out! [A pause as she looks over at them and narrows her eyes, slowly grinning.] What’s Crafty doing?

Uh...nothing...nothing...just um looking around! Right Crafty?

[The Phantump looks over and nods...very normal]

...You two are trying to break out aren’t you??

Mabel turn the gear off!

Oh you are so going to break us out of here! Go Crafty go! You can do it!

Mabel!

[There is a sudden child scramble for the gear and in the chaos it gets turned off.]



[ooc: replies will be from both Dipper and Mabel. Threadjacking is a possibility.]

Comments

[gobblewonked]

[Luckily, McGucket has gotten pretty used to everyone around him knowing more than him over the last thirty years, so this isn't all that weird. He doesn't question it. He rubs the back of his neck and stares off to the side at some of the very trendy wood paneling cockpit detail.]

Eeeeeeh....it's sort of a complicated sitchy-ation.

[starry_forehead]

Do...you want to talk about it?

[He's done complicated before, it was their entire summer.]

[gobblewonked]

[He hesitates, fidgeting. Short answer: maybe? This has been weighing on McGucket's mind for a while, and he hasn't told Jean, and Ford already knows so there wasn't really a need to talk about it. Sure, he feels guilty and unsure, but he's gotten used to talking about very personal things pretty easily. Dipper's asking, and he trusts Dipper. Besides...]

Aw, fiddlestrings. I might as well. You kids are gonna find out sooner or later, and it's prob'ly somethin' you oughta know about.

You two ever hear of Team Rocket?

[starry_forehead]

[Dipper will look over at Mabel.]

Yeah. Only a bit though. Someone thought we were part of it when we got put in jail.

[maybeitsmabelline]

[Mabel had been peering out one of the Pidgey eye windows again but this particular turn of conversation has her looking over, briefly meeting Dipper's gaze looking at McGucket.]

Sasha told me they were bad guys that steal Pokemon from people and hurt them!

[gobblewonked]

That's them! And uh, well...

[He takes a deep breath, shuts his eyes, and blows it out. There's whine in his voice as he confesses miserably:]

I been buildin' them robomajigs!

1/2

[starry_forehead]

What?!

[That's what? No, that can't be true. They said team rocket was evil and bad so why would McGucket....He trusts McGucket.]

2/2

[starry_forehead]

[There has to be something else. Dipper didn't trust Stan, or Mabel or even Ford at points, enough in the past. He knows better now. He can't just understand....there has to be another reason.]

You're a good person McGucket, you're...not a bad guy.....

Is...is someone forcing you to help them? Because we'll help you get out of it!

[maybeitsmabelline]

[Mabel is momentarily horrified because Sasha had told her that Team Rocket hurts Pokemon--does terrible things to them and McGucket was helping them?! That--]

No that..that's..you're just--you're a double agent! Right? Like in the movies! A secret agent that's going to make them fall apart from the inside!

[She's trying to make the best of this, a hopeful smile on her face as she hugs her Minior close.]

That's what you're doing, right?

[gobblewonked]

[Now that he's made that initial confession, the floodgates are open. He shakes his head sadly and launches into the story.]

I didn't start out in New Bark Town like you fellers. When I first got here, I woke up in this dark, scaaaary room with almost nothin' in it except a bed and a uniform with a big ol' R on it! I thought those government agents who were watchin' Gravity Falls had finally gotten me -- they knew I knew too much and they'd locked me away for good! So I figured, McGucket, you'd better act just like your old self or they'll hauuuul you in for questionin' and interrygation and incarceration and all those other things government fellers do! So I...I went along with it. Before I knew it they had me stealin' Pokeymons, and when they found out I could build giant death bots, they set me straight to work!

One thing led to another, and....oh, it's a big ol' mess I've gotten myself into this time.

I still don't know if them agents are watchin' us. Sure, we've found ourselves in another world, but I dunno if that's enough to shake the feds. What I do know is that Team Rocket means business, and I've seen what they do to the folks what try to leave!

You kids would be better off stayin' well out of it.

[Miserably:]

You prob'ly better avoid old McGucket altogether.

[starry_forehead]

WHAT?

[Also yes, good they were right about him not being evil. This is why he needs to trust people more. Also Dipper is just ....]

McGucket there's no way we're just going to leave you like this! It's a mess maybe but we've gotten out of messes before and you're our friend! If anyone tries to hurt you for getting out they'll have to go through the Pines family.

[He's including Ford in this.]

[meteorman]

[Damn straight you're including Ford in this he'll throw down any time for Fiddleford McGucket

He's got a lot of making up for things to do okay]

[maybeitsmabelline]

Whatever those Team Rocket losers are planning, the Pines Family will be there to stop them! And the Pines Family always takes care of their friends, like Dipper said! You don't have to worry about anything!

[Mabel is right there backing her brother on this one, having let go of her Minior--yep there he goes floating up to clank against the top of the cockpit--holding her fists up with a very Stan-like grin.]

We'll take all of them on, McGucket, and make sure to get you out of there! And we'll save all the Pokemon too!~

[gobblewonked]

[McGucket only looks more distressed. His knee has begun to bounce; it's a good thing it's not working any of the pedals right now.]

Jumpin' junebugs! Team Rocket goin' through you three is exactly what I been worryin' about!

[He slaps the knee. It stops, for now.]

That's why Ford and I ain't exactly talkin' much. Your grunkle's got a real impressive collection of rare an' powerful Pokemon. He's already on the Rockets' radar! It ain't safe. They're watchin' the roads, they're watchin' the Pokeygears, they're watchin' me!

If anything happened to him or you kids because of somethin' I did, why -- I'd never forgive myself.

[They're extraordinary kids. McGucket knows that. He saw them take down a thirty-year-old cult. But still--still. He doesn't want to see any trouble come down on them on his account.

Bump bump bump bumpbumpbump goes that knee again.]

[starry_forehead]

[Oh McGucket.]

Well then we just have to get you out of there and not get hurt. We've dealt with things and people that watch everything before and won.

[Bill, Gideon...He wants to say they survived the end of the world. But it's too much to bring up right now when he's the only who remembers the details.]

And team Rocket or not, we're not leaving you.....trapped! I know Ford will want to help. Between the four of us, we can think up something.

[gobblewonked]

[He makes an unhappy kind of eeeeh noise, and looks from Dipper to Mabel, back and forth, unsure, hesitating.]

[starry_forehead]

We're not going to give up on you, McGucket.

[Dipper folds his arms.]

We know you're smart and we know you're a good person. Nothing you say is going to convince us otherwise. You're our friend. So we are going to help you.

[maybeitsmabelline]

[Mabel puts her hands on her hips now and gives a firm nod.]

You're not a bad guy, McGucket! It's not your fault Team Rocket captured you when you first got here! But I bet we can use it against them! Dipper, For-- [A pause.] --Grunkle Ford, and I are going to do everything we can to help you!

[She moves over to him now and doesn't hesitate to rest her hands on his bouncing knee.]

Plus, how do you think we'd feel if something happened to you? Awful, that's how! So let us help, okay? That's what friends do!

[gobblewonked]

[Aw horsefeathers.

It's a funny feeling, realizing there's people now who really, truly aren't going to give up on him. It's funny and tickly and warm, like rubbing your face in a nest of baby possums, but without any of the tiny claws or teeth.

He can't just keep on going like he has, Fiddleford realizes -- not now that Dipper and Mabel are here, and everything's out in the open. He could try, of course, but...

...but he can't bring himself to disappoint these kids. He's already disappointed everyone in his life once before. It's happening again, and he's going to have to do something about that.

The deep, mopey frown on McGucket's face turns into an impossibly bright smile.]

Well, if you put it that way, I guess I don't have a choice! I gotta let you help!

[The knee-bouncing has stopped. McGucket reaches out to pull the two of them into a hug, wrapping one twin in each wiry, knobbly arm. He gives them a quick squeeze, then--

--oh dear, the Pidgeytron doesn't have an autopilot. The robot lurches, and McGucket quickly grabs at the controls to straighten out their flight path.]

Sorry! Sorry. Better save the friendship-huggin' for when I ain't flyin' fifteen tons of sheet metal.

[starry_forehead]

[Yes they did it! They're ...being hugged! Okay-


...no, no not okay! Dipper will stumble backwards as McGucket stops them from falling more.]

Yeah....yeah that sounds like a good plan.

[High-five for Mabel though.]

unless y'all have more to ask him, we can timeskip to Goldenrod!

[gobblewonked]

[They believed in him when nobody else did. How can he let them down after that?]

Well, go on, make yourselves at home. You better get comfortable -- even with this tailwind, it's a three and a half hour flight back to Goldenrod City!

[It's going to be nearly sunset by the time they get there.]