(open) hello boys and ghouls

[glitterateur]

WHO: Mabel, Dipper, and YOU (???)
WHERE: All the Porter cities, with special shoutout to Heropa 18's lawn
WHEN: June 19th-23rd
WHAT: Mabel and Dipper spread the good word on Summerween, trick or treat at unsuspecting houses, and then suffer for it
WARNINGS: n/a

a. gettin the word out (pre-22nd, all cities)

[Mabel, being the small and adorable power behind the management at the Candy Shoppe in downtown Heropa, has the power to declare sales and random holidays. For marketing purposes! And while this usually ends in things like bring your cat to the candy store day, today Mabel’s using her power to acknowledge a for realisies holiday. It’s Summerween!

To get the word out, Mabel and Dipper are both out on street corners in various cities on various days, handing out fliers to advertise the big!! big!! SUPER BIG!! savings at the store this week. The fliers are heavy and glittery and covered in watermelon stickers. Scratch and sniff watermelon stickers! Who wouldn’t take one of these?]


b. this is (summer)ween (the 22nd, all cities)

[So what if no one else in this entire world celebrates Summerween? That’s not going to stop Dipper and Mabel from getting free candy. Maybe most of the doors they knock on will end in nothing, but there’s a good chance (on account of them being cute) that at least a couple people will break down and share whatever they’ve got in the house. Plus, costumes!

So— wherever the city, whatever the living situation, there’s a pair of twins dressed like elves (plus a giant Newfoundland dog wearing bear ears) knocking on the door. They’re holding up a pair of pillow cases and grinning, declaring in unison:]

Trick or treat!


c. act iii: pain (post-22nd, Heropa 18)

[No matter how many suckers they convinced to give up free candy, the twins bought themselves a couple bags of mini chocolate bars and caramels and wafers just in case. Summerween’s gotta be celebrated, after all! Otherwise you get eaten by a being made entirely of sentient loser candy.

The morning after their Summerween spree, Mabel and Dipper are recovering the only way they know how: lying on their backs in the front yard of Heropa 18, elf ears still on, candy wrappers scattered in the grass around them like so many tiny reminders of their mistakes. Occasionally one of them breaks the silence by groaning quietly.

They have Regrets.]

Comments

c;

[amadaman]

[Here is Ken, sitting between them with his legs stretched out, perfectly healthy because he probably only trailed behind them during Summerween, not even dressed up because he thought it was a joke. He took pictures? And stole maybe a couple candy bars from Dipper. He's not on his back groaning like they are.

Instead, he glances between them, lying on either side of him, and watches a squirrel dash across the road in front of them before he raises both his hands, lowering them simultaneously towards the twins.

And gently but firmly presses on both their stomachs.]

[ursawhiner]

[Dipper immediately curls in on himself, biting back a yelp of surprise. The pain of betrayal!! As he struggles not to barf, Dipper manages to eke out a whimper:]

Ken, why??

[glitterateur]

Blaaaaarghhhh.

[This is a betrayal. Mabel slaps at his hand, weakly, uselessly. There's no way to escape Ken's wrath and she lets her hand fall dramatically to the ground.]

Let me suffer in peace!

c

[oldstandard]

[Standing over them is one very unimpressed Grunkle. Is he unimpressed that they don't seem to learn from their candy mistakes? Or is he unimpressed at the amount of candy they consumed before lying in the yard like quitters? It's hard to say.]

So. Was it worth it?

[He thumps his chest twice. For no reason. Definitely not heartburn, you have heartburn! Stop projecting!]

[glitterateur]

No, and I'd do it again! [She tries to sit up and gesture in order to emphasize her point-- but gives up halfway and curls up in the grass again.]

We gotta practice before Halloween.

[ursawhiner]

Don't... I can't answer that right now. Maybe in a couple hours. I've been compromised.

[He tries to weakly raise a fist to shake at the sky, but his arm gets tangled in his elven rogue cloak.]

b

[dualismum]

[ Sasaki was in his home, minding his own business, unaware of whatever Summerween is, when he hears a knock. And as he opens the door and is faced with Mabel and Dipper dressed up as elves going "trick of treat" at him, he has to pause.

....... is this... a prank............... ]

.... isn't Halloween in October?

[glitterateur]

Uh-huh! That's why we're celebrating Summerween.

[She shakes her pillowcase a little, like she's trying to remind him of the important details.]

[ursawhiner]

We know what day it is. And today is Summerween.

[Dipper pauses, realising that maybe a holiday where people carve watermelons needs some explanation.]

...Possibly only in Gravity Falls, but we're hoping it'll catch on.

c also!

[annihiliner]

[There is now a water bottle sitting on the ground next to each of them and a mildly judgy Lexa standing nearby, just looking back and forth between them and not saying anything.

When did this become her life?]

[glitterateur]

[Mabel reaches out and gropes for the water bottle. Water is healthy, which means it'll cancel out the candy, right? She blinks up Lexa's judging, judgey face and whispers dramatically:]

Lexa... remember us as we were.

c

[givetheslip]

[Maria isn't really that into children, even older ones. Whatever shenanigans they get up to, that's between them and their guardians. But on her way back from running an errand, she can't help but notice their prone forms on the ground, and it gives her pause.]

Are you dying?

[glitterateur]

Yes.

[No. They make themselves this sick every year-- multiple times a year, in Mabel's case. But every time feels like the worst time.]

But we die as we lived!

b

[helpline]

[ Man it is just lucky for everybody that the Doctor answered the door of Heropa #11 and not one of the other residents (cough Hazel cough). He just lights up when he spots Mabel and Dipper despite the fact that he has absolutely no idea what's going on. Hey, he likes those kids and any excuse to hang out with them is great. ]

Trick or treat for what? Is it October already?

[glitterateur]

[Heropa 11 was a gamble, true, but 2/3rds of the residents are radical space dads. It was absolutely worth the risk of having Hazel answer the door.]

Nope! Still June. It's Summerween! Which is exactly like Halloween except it's in the summer.

b, I feel like this neighborhood needs a block party

[harrisonwells]

[No one answers the front door at Heropa 10. Instead, someone in all black with messy hair pokes his head out of the open garage door, frowning, and the frown doesn't ease up when he sees the visitors. Harrison steps into the driveway and leans against the garage, folding his arms.

It's a slow day, he'll listen to whatever this is. Maybe there's some world where Halloween is celebrated at Midsummer?]

Want to try that again?

heck yeah it does

[glitterateur]

[Mabel cranes her neck over to look over-- oh, well, that explains why there's no answer. She scampers over to the garage, bear-dog bouncing behind. She skids to a stop right in front of him.]

Yeah! [She clears her throat and holds the pillowcase up.] Trick or treat!

B

[dirtyredneck]

[De Chima #008 hadn't seen a lot of Daryl Dixon until the past week when people were all mixed up on what their lives had been like. Now he was almost used to living there, even though he'd pretty much moved back in with Rick. But he'd gotten into the habit of hitting the house and cleaning up.

He still wasn't expecting any visitors. Especially not ones dressed up like it was Halloween. Even more when he recognized the two from the brief video chat he'd had when Dipper was stuck to a fridge. Staring down at them, clearly confused, he grunted:]

What?

[glitterateur]

[Mabel's learned a lot from Stan, and one of the most important things is that once you've got somebody listening to you-- even if they're confused and grunting one word sentences-- you're basically already in. Mabel flashes Daryl her cutest smile, adorable enthusiasm stuffed into every word she says.]

Trick or treat! It's Summerween, which is Halloween but during the summer. It's a really important tradition where we're from.

b

[freckledninja]

[When they knock on one apartment door with their lovable in unison cry of Trick or Treat the person on the other side is in costume! FINALLY!!!!

No wait, he's like that naturally. For a moment the turtle just looks down at them, confused. Then he brightens up like it's Christmas D--er, Halloween. Summerween!]

It's Halloween already?? Dude! I thought it was in October! I was gonna miss Halloween!

I never had a Halloween before! I gotta hook you two up with something, right?

Re: b

[glitterateur]

[Holy dang somebody actually adopt Summerween-- no, nope, it's that pizza turtle from the network. Still! Awesome.]

You didn't miss Halloween, it's Summerween! Which is-- wait wait hold up, you've never had a Halloween before?! [Congrats Mikey you've horrified a small (technically a teen) child.] I am so sorry.

A

[glitchinthesystem]

[ Glitch had actually been in said city to well...take a test.

A test that would remain secret until much later.

However, his stomach his hankering for food and his taste buds want candy. So he's going to step inside and oh, hey. It's his favourite girl! ]

Yo, Mabes what's-

[and seeing the summerween thing...]

Okay, be honest: Are you trying to get free candy from people? Because I know better ways than a fake holiday.

[glitterateur]

[Glitch gets an enthusiastic wave in greeting, which sends more than a couple of fliers flying out of her hand.]

Nooo, it's not just that! Summerween's a totally real holiday, people here just don't know about it yet.

b

[icebear]

[Huh. Well that's unexpected. The small humans (elves?) are at his door looking for... treats? In June?

Ice Bear looks down at the tray of danishes he's just pulled out of the oven moments before. Then he looks at the Pines. Then back at the steaming hot tray he's holding in oven mitt'd hands. ...Those are treats right?

He holds the danishes out to the twins.]

[glitterateur]

[So far the best discovery they've made on this wild Summerween journey is that people will just give you baked goods. In the future Mabel will never warn anyone about the holiday-- why would she, when there's stuff like fresh danishes available??]

--can we!?

[She doesn't even wait for him to answer. She's totally grabbing for one and then making small distressed noises as she tosses it from one hand to the other. This is painful but so worth it.]

Ow ow ow these smell really great ow!!

b

[23wishes]

[There are some problems here. The most important one is that on Gaia, where Aerith is from, Halloween isn't a thing. (Let alone Summerween...) And so, by extension, trick or treating is a completely new concept to her. Forgive her for looking somewhat bewildered at the twins and their outstretched pillowcases standing on the stoop of Nonah 06.]

Trick or... what? I don't want to be tricked.

[glitterateur]

Or treat! [Mabel gives her a look, like she's trying to decide whether Aerith is messing with them, or if she didn't hear them right the first time. After a few seconds she decides to settle on the best and worst explanation-- Aerith's sad future probably doesn't have Halloween at all.]

It's a Halloween thing! And also a Summerween thing. You go from house to house in costumes and you say trick or treat and people give you candy.

b;

[rideme]

... Aren't you a little early?

[He vaguely remembers Halloween. But he's pretty sure he remembers it being in the fall. Not the summer. He stands there, in the doorway, regarding the two kids with a raised eyebrow and utmost skepticism.]

[Especially when he notes the ears.]

Those supposed to be a joke?

[glitterateur]

No, Bull, it's Summerween! [In retrospect it was a mistake to just assume Ken would pass on the Summerween message to his household. Mabel's not sure Ken even fully understands the holiday himself.] It's Halloween but in the summer. It's a thing from home!

B

[gainedlove]

[That's...um.]

Huh?

[Frisk looks over the twins' costumes...glances back to a calendar on the wall...then back to the Pines.]

But 's not even October yet.

[glitterateur]

Nope! That's why this is Summerween and not Halloween. It's a holiday where we come from!

b

[callhousekeeping]

[In Maurtia Falls, a hotel full of permanent residents and no one who cares enough to stop poorly-timed trick or treating? It's a great place to knock on doors. If they suffer through the weirdos and drug addicts on the lower levels and make it up to the penthouse though, they'll be handsomely rewarded.

The Countess loves children. Brunette ones much less than blondes, but she loves them nonetheless. So when a very fancy-looking lady answers the door, she blinks with surprise, then smiles widely.]

You know, in my day, we had to wait until October. But you're in luck.

[Stepping out into the hall, she opens a secret door in the wall next to her own, then beckons the twins inside. It is a room of literally nothing but walls of video games and candy dispensers and cushy sofas.]

[glitterateur]

[A lot of the sketchier doors get skipped over-- the twins have some survival instincts, at least. But fancy people live in hotels sometimes, and fancy people usually have some kind of candy hanging around. It's worth climbing the stairs and knocking on more and more doors before they eventually make it all the way to the top of the hotel. It's been a lot of work and Mabel's sweating a little bit under her cool elven archer cloak, but there's gotta be something cool up at the top. Someone's going to give them something! At this point, honestly, she'd settle for a mint.

But apparently this time there's no need to settle. Mabel grins right back at the Countess when she opens the door, and follows after her with a quick shrug and a hurried explanation.]

Well yeah most people still have to! But where we come from there's this thing called Summerween andooooh my gosh!!

[This is amazing. Mabel drops her bag inside the door and gawks. It's a room! Full of cool stuff! They've hit the jackpot.]

This is yours?!

b, because i'm literally required

[sidequestings]

[ bet you two weren't expecting an Actual Elf to come to the door.

mahanon has no idea what halloween--much less summerween--is, so this whole setup confuses him when he comes face to face with the siblings. if this were thedas and the twins were adults, he'd think this was some sort of cruel, racist joke. however.. this isn't thedas, and the twins are children. and he recognizes dipper from the network and their conversation there.

he blinks, then smiles a little, tucking his hair behind an ear (his are real, of course). ]

I'm afraid you'll have to explain this one to me. [ starting with why you're sort of dressed like one of his people???? he thinks??? ]

[glitterateur]

[They might have forgotten that there are actual elves hanging around the imPort community while they were coming up with their costumes. At least Mabel did.

She notices his ears and realizes it, finally. Oops! Time to up her cuteness factor and hope their explanation is good enough that they don't get in trouble for being insensitive.]

It's Summerween! You dress up as characters from things you like or cute stuff and then you go around and knock on doors for candy? Like Halloween, but in the summer?

b.

[puppydoctor]

[It takes George several moments after opening the door to even process what he's seeing. Elves. A dog. Pillowcases. Twins.

... What?

Wait, he's seen these kids. They're the ones with the... the two-butt horse thing. Nothing about this can be good.]

Um. Did I miss a few months?

[ursawhiner]

[This guy seems vaguely familiar. But Dipper's used to that feeling since their escapades draw more than their fair share of attention. Maybe he replied to the post where Dipper was stuck to the fridge?]

It's still June 22nd. Which, coincidentally, is Summerween! ....Trick or Treat?

C

[justanotherlink]

[Pacifica has a little pile of candy and baked goods she swiped from the twins when they were busy gorging, and now that they're finished she's sitting cross-legged on the ground behind them, munching quietly and playing with her phone.]

[When there's a particularly lucid groan the blonde looks up.]

Not dead then?

[glitterateur]

I wish. [Another groan, this one quieter but somehow more pathetic.] I thought we were ready! I was... I was so wrong.

A

[failureisntachoice]

[ She's gotten used to the Pine twins being a source of constant shenanigans. That doesn't mean she's expecting to be handed a flier by either of them as she's walking down the street. There's a pause as she reads it before her gaze moves slowly from the flier back to them. ]

Summerween? Do I want to know what that is?

[glitterateur]

It's a holiday! Back in Gravity Falls. [Which is 100% true and not just a made up excuse to get into some shenanigans here.] It's Halloween but in the summer? You know, so nobody has to worry about school or bad weather ruining everything.