IC Inbox

[krmvgivv]

Hey, you've reached Dipper! I'm not here right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you soon!

...

But if this is paranormal-related? Hang up now, call back, let it ring exactly twice, then hang up again. Don't leave a message. I'll get back to you even sooner.


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Text 1/22

[singloversing]

[Wirt's not sure exactly what happened, but he waits a few days before he tries to contact Dipper. He hasn't seen him around in a little while, but if he's right then he already knows why and he has every right to be a little concerned.]

Hey. Are you okay? Did you wind up finding the Beast?

[krmvgivv]

[Okay? No. Not even a little. Everyone in his family died, no matter how temporarily, because of Dipper's curiosity.

He almost wants to pretend he didn't see it. Wirt's just going to tell him he told him so. But he makes himself. It's not like any of them stayed dead.]

we didn't find the beast, no. we just turned into trees. but we're fine now.

[singloversing]

["We just turned into trees."

Wirt stares at it for a long time, unsure how to respond. Usually he would be more reserved about things, and keep his stronger emotions to himself for fear of screwing things up and losing a friend. But...this all could have been avoided. No one had to turn into trees. He knew the answer before he asked, but hearing Dipper try and just brush it off like it's nothing is too much.

His hands are white-knuckled around his network device.]

So you died? Again? I told you guys NOT to go out there! And you should have known better anyway! That forest might literally be Purgatory and you're like one of the only people who knows that and you STILL went looking for something that you knew might kill you! What the heck is WRONG with you?! Why couldn't you just LISTEN to me?

[krmvgivv]

Look, you think EVERYTHING might kill you. I've been dealing with things that might kill me all summer. How was I to know this one would actually succeed?

[He and Mabel are supposed to be invincible when they work together. This isn't supposed to happen.]

Besides, it's not like it stuck. We're fine now.

[singloversing]

No, I don't! [Yes, he does.] Besides

[He starts to type, but hesitates. He's had his suspicions about the nature of this event and he's still not sure how much of it is right and how much of it is him worrying too much. But if he's right...if he's right it's another thing Dipper should have figured out.]

Besides what if that's why it happened at all? It came from my memories, right? You didn't meet the Beast because I'VE never met the Beast. How could it actually have been here if I don't remember it? But everyone who went out there died anyway. They all turned into Edelwood trees even though no one saw the Beast. So maybe it doesn't just take memories into account.

[Maybe the only reason the woods were dangerous is because Wirt was led to think they were dangerous, because he believed they were. Because the people from that inn or whatever it was all scared him and told him exactly what's supposed to happen.]

You already died once. That's not fine! Dipper, how is ANY of this okay?!

[krmvgivv]

[None of it is okay. And the logic makes perfect sense and makes Dipper feel even worse. He should have figured that out. He's smart enough, and he's been studying Wonderland, and it makes sense. But he didn't. So his entire family got to die.]

what do you want me to say? i'm sorry i died? do you want me to admit you were right? cause i feel like being a corpse for two days sort of made your point.

[singloversing]

No. [Ten seconds later:] I don't know???

[He feels like such a jerk. Dipper died. He of all people should know how hard it is, and yet at the same time he doesn't. He can't remember so he can't know, he can only speculate. Besides, he should have figured out there definitely wasn't a Beast sooner. It might have been the only argument they would have listened to.]

Look. If you really think it's okay or you really don't care, whatever. But that doesn't mean other people don't care? You don't get to just die and come back and act like no one's supposed to care that it happened! What, did you think I was just going to say "Oh, okay" and stop thinking about it?

[Probably, but it stings to assume Dipper would think that little of him. His event got Dipper and Mabel killed and it's that sobering thought that makes him really stop. He shouldn't be doing this. He probably said too much. He's such a jerk.

And so, another ten seconds later, he sends off his more typical kneejerk reaction:]

Sorry.

[krmvgivv]

[No, Dipper hadn't thought so little of Wirt. Hoped, perhaps. He feels guilty enough without feeling guilty about Wirt's emotions too. He's writhing inside, angry at Wonderland for taking away their invincibility and mourning the loss of his fearlessness. He can't die again. Does that mean he's done with adventures? Can he survive a life of safety now that he knows what it feels like to be a hero?

Can he survive making Mabel that sad again? Or worse, losing her entirely?

He wants to put Wirt off again, to tell him that coming back means that it didn't matter, not really, and come on, Wirt wouldn't even know if he hadn't known Dipper and Mabel were going to pursue the Beast. He wants to stop having this conversation. But the words that he actually types and sends before he can second guess himself are stark and candid, the thing he's actually thinking, not the words he's been shielding himself with.]

my sister died because of me

[singloversing]

[Wirt was expecting this to turn into more of a fight, to continue bickering via text, so when the next one from Dipper comes in...it's a punch to the gut.

It's several minutes before Wirt replies. He spends a long time staring at the text in horror, one hand over his mouth. Suddenly he's glad they aren't having this conversation in person, but he immediately feels guilty for that thought. This isn't the kind of text you get from someone who's okay, and he should be there or something, but he also feels so responsible. Mabel didn't die because of Dipper. They both died because of Wirt's event.

That won't help, but he doesn't know what else to say or do.]

Oh my god. I'm so sorry.

[It's both normal condolences and an admission of his own guilt, but it doesn't feel like enough. But what else can he say? Is there anything else he can say? He realizes that that's the answer though, and reaches out in a way he usually deliberately avoids.]

I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?

[krmvgivv]

Not really. I mostly just really don't want to talk about it. Obviously we both came back and everything's back to normal.

[Except Mabel's sunny disposition definitely has more than a few clouds and every time Dipper goes exploring there's a shadow of doubt that hangs over him as he worries far more than he ever has before about making a misstep. He can't die again. But he doesn't want that to stop him from living.]

[singloversing]

[As someone who's recently found out he might not be alive, Wirt knows a little too well that there's no way everything's just back to normal. But...he also doesn't want to make him talk about it. He's harrassed Dipper enough, especially when it was his event that made this happen.]

Right. Sure. Let me know if you need anything though?

[Other than space, probably. That's what Wirt would want, or at least he assumes so.]

[krmvgivv]

Yeah. I will.

[No he won't he won't tell anyone anything ever because he can't if he doesn't want to fall apart.]