[ Stan plucks the card from his nieces hands, his eyes drawn to the various stones and decorations on the page. He tilts it forward, mesmerized by its glow and the warmth it brings, even before reading it. A valentines card? He can't remember the last time he'd seen one of these, never mind received one. Glancing back at his niece, Stan smiles at the thought before proceeding to open the card.
His smile grows wide, his pupils large at the radiant sparkles inside. It's hard to pull away from their shine but the smooth, silky surface beneath his thumb leads him to the goblin sewn in the corner. The detail is astounding and time Mabel must have spent on it even more so. He can feel the tears forming in his eyes but stubbornly holds them back.
Kneeling down to her level, Stan brings his arm around his niece and pulls her as close as his spikes allow. ] Thanks, sweetie. Happy Valentine's Day to you too.
Don't worry about dinner. If there's one thing I can do, it's cook. [ The enticing smell that had once coaxed inhabitants of the shack into the kitchen replaced by the stench of burnt food, Stan's reminded of the pancakes he'd been frying. The pan on the stove behind them bursts aflame and pulls Stan from his niece. ] Sweet lord!
[ Rising to his feet, he grasps the pan and lifts it from the element. Ice crawls out from beneath his hand, moving from the handle and encompassing the pan. It hisses, the flames quickly extinguished and excitement brought to and end as quickly as it started. ... okay, so, maybe having someone else cook for a change wasn't such a bad idea. Defeated, he gives in. ]
Your ice powers are so cool...I hope I get ice powers!
[Like seriously, they have been so useful so far, and would be so great. She could make it snow all the time, even in the middle of summer! She could use them to help her and all her friends cool off when it's too hot! Can you say ice skating rink whenever she wants? Plus literal ice skates? Or, better yet, an entire ice outfit!! She'd be the queen of winter! But she puffs her chest out proudly when it's left to her.]
Leave it to Mabel! It's going to have hand made dough and everything! The best dinner to share with a bunch of bachelors!
[She is going to make sure every Pines family member is at that table. And maybe Fiddleford?? If he's over for it??]
You're going to be so impressed you'll want me to cook dinner every night, I bet. But that's not all I wanted to talk to you about.
[ Looking from Mabel to the frozen pan, he laughs at the unintended pun before setting it back on the stove. While he may not share the same enthusiasm, Stan can't deny how useful his powers have proven.
Ice hadn't come nearly as easy as fire. When his blood boiled and veins ran hot, flames burst from his hands. He could always call on the anger that fueled it, summon from deep in the pit of his stomach the fierce storm flames that emerged from his mouth. Ice, on the other hand, it required concentration and practice to mold into anything even moderately impressive. He'd acquired the ability well over a year but of all the things Mabel dreams, he can only make a skating rink at most.
Listening to his niece boast, he turns off the stove element and walks to the fridge to hang her card. Stan suspects the pizza to consist of gemstones and glitter but has no intention of talking her out of it. He won't stifle his nieces creativity. Whatever she makes he's certain he'll enjoy, plastic and all. After all, no one has ever offered to treat him to dinner. ]
It's not about money, is it? [ She probably needed him to shell some gold for groceries. ]
[Needing all of that concentration just made it more impressive, though of course Mabel would be pleased as punch with fire just as much as she is with ice. Magic all around is great, and sometimes she kind of hopes she's a Goblin too. Because what isn't great about having magic? But her monster dreams are big and change almost hourly sometimes, and whatever she turns into, she's sure it'll be great. And will also nab her a vampire boyfriend.
And hey, surely in some countries plastic is good for you. Or you know...maybe it's good for monsters! Aren't there some monsters that eat things like rock? If monsters can eat rocks, they can eat plastic gemstones and glitter.]
Nope! [Wait. Would it?] Well...I guess maybe? I don't know, I've never built one before. But, do you think that we could build a treehouse? I was climbing trees when I got these arms, and it was really fun, and I think I just really like being in trees because I wanna hang out in them all the time. And someone I was talking to suggested getting myself a treehouse so that I could do that more comfortably! And I think that's a really great idea!!
[But she can't even do it on her own without help, plus she has no idea where she'd even be able to build it. She'd want it to be near home, not in the forest or anything...so that means she needs Stan's blessing. And she'll move to stand under him, and under the card he just put on the fridge, to smile up at him with big, pleading eyes.]
[ It's not an unreasonable request. Stan had always thought the attic to be an acceptable space however a treehouse would give her a place to call her own. It'd also reduce the foot traffic through the house and keep guests from getting too close to his treasure. The material wouldn't be much trouble to find and with plenty of trees surrounding the shack, it'd be right in the backyard.
No, a treehouse wouldn't be trouble at all. What bothers him are the implications of her words. The behavior she describes is not of an ice-wielding monster but one of the skies. His expression changes from thoughtful to a frown. Maybe she's some sort of winged creature like a harpy or demon.
Looking down at his niece, his expression softens at her pleading eyes before hardening again. He averts his gaze, knowing he'll weaken if he looks too long into those brown eyes. ] I'll think about it. Trouble with birdhouses is you never know who might move in.
Eeeeeeeee!! [She immediately attaches to his waist with as tight of a hug as she can manage (which is probably pretty impressive with those long arms and the fact that she's happy this time, compared to the last time she tried to cut of circulation to his legs.]
Thank you, thank you, thank you! And don't worry, I won't let anyone move in! It'd basically be a big glowing "Pines Only" sign! Except not very glowy, since I don't know if they have Christmas lights here or anything.
[But many that'd be cool if they did. Do they have jars? Maybe she can do that "string up mason jars and put tea lights in them" trick...]
Oof! [ Mabel might not squeeze the life out of him but she certainly comes close. ] They've got string lights, Mabel. It's not the eighteen hundreds. At least, I don't think it is. [ Who knew with this place.
He places a hand on her head and ruffles her hair affectionally. Gruff as his voice, the trace of a smile can be found on his face. He may not have agreed to the treehouse but they both knew it was a matter of time before he caved. Stan starts to pull away from her hold. ] Alright alright. That's enough. Get off of me. You got a big day ahead of you, pumpkin. Make sure you eat something.
[ Short a handyman, Stan wonders if his brother could help with such a project. ]
Are you sure? Sometimes this place seems pretty old. [Like older than you, old. But alright she'll let up, reaching up to fix her hair with a grin.]
Oh I'll make sure to eat plenty, don't you worry! Gotta whole lot planned today! Gotta make that pizza, hand out the last three Valentines I have, plus some super special decorating for tonight's dinner. Going to have to keep my energy up.
[Meaning she's gonna go straight for the sugar when she gets the chance.]
You better be prepared for the best bromantic dinner of your life!
[Haha bromantic, get it? Since you'll both be dining with your brothers?]
[ Apart from their exports, the neighbouring towns kept to their own. Rota and Kullen showed no interest in abandoning their ways, those looking for change moving to Bavan or the now prosperous Vandare. They were more the sort he suspects Mabel is thinking of, farming and working by candlelight.
Looking around the kitchen, Stan ponders the special decorating his niece has planned. The room differs little from that in Oregon, saws and axes on the walls and the occasional taxidermy project on the countertop. A tablecloth alone would suffice but he suspects there's far more in store. So long as she doesn't let any sunlight in, she has more or less free rein.
He narrows his eyes, uncertain of the idea of a 'bromantic' evening. He's certain Soos has used the word before or something similar. The implications are incredibly questionable. ]
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no subject
His smile grows wide, his pupils large at the radiant sparkles inside. It's hard to pull away from their shine but the smooth, silky surface beneath his thumb leads him to the goblin sewn in the corner. The detail is astounding and time Mabel must have spent on it even more so. He can feel the tears forming in his eyes but stubbornly holds them back.
Kneeling down to her level, Stan brings his arm around his niece and pulls her as close as his spikes allow. ] Thanks, sweetie. Happy Valentine's Day to you too.
Don't worry about dinner. If there's one thing I can do, it's cook. [ The enticing smell that had once coaxed inhabitants of the shack into the kitchen replaced by the stench of burnt food, Stan's reminded of the pancakes he'd been frying. The pan on the stove behind them bursts aflame and pulls Stan from his niece. ] Sweet lord!
[ Rising to his feet, he grasps the pan and lifts it from the element. Ice crawls out from beneath his hand, moving from the handle and encompassing the pan. It hisses, the flames quickly extinguished and excitement brought to and end as quickly as it started.
... okay, so, maybe having someone else cook for a change wasn't such a bad idea. Defeated, he gives in. ]
Alright. Tonight dinner's on you.
no subject
[Like seriously, they have been so useful so far, and would be so great. She could make it snow all the time, even in the middle of summer! She could use them to help her and all her friends cool off when it's too hot! Can you say ice skating rink whenever she wants? Plus literal ice skates? Or, better yet, an entire ice outfit!! She'd be the queen of winter! But she puffs her chest out proudly when it's left to her.]
Leave it to Mabel! It's going to have hand made dough and everything! The best dinner to share with a bunch of bachelors!
[She is going to make sure every Pines family member is at that table. And maybe Fiddleford?? If he's over for it??]
You're going to be so impressed you'll want me to cook dinner every night, I bet. But that's not all I wanted to talk to you about.
no subject
Ice hadn't come nearly as easy as fire. When his blood boiled and veins ran hot, flames burst from his hands. He could always call on the anger that fueled it, summon from deep in the pit of his stomach the fierce storm flames that emerged from his mouth. Ice, on the other hand, it required concentration and practice to mold into anything even moderately impressive. He'd acquired the ability well over a year but of all the things Mabel dreams, he can only make a skating rink at most.
Listening to his niece boast, he turns off the stove element and walks to the fridge to hang her card. Stan suspects the pizza to consist of gemstones and glitter but has no intention of talking her out of it. He won't stifle his nieces creativity. Whatever she makes he's certain he'll enjoy, plastic and all. After all, no one has ever offered to treat him to dinner. ]
It's not about money, is it? [ She probably needed him to shell some gold for groceries. ]
no subject
And hey, surely in some countries plastic is good for you. Or you know...maybe it's good for monsters! Aren't there some monsters that eat things like rock? If monsters can eat rocks, they can eat plastic gemstones and glitter.]
Nope! [Wait. Would it?] Well...I guess maybe? I don't know, I've never built one before. But, do you think that we could build a treehouse? I was climbing trees when I got these arms, and it was really fun, and I think I just really like being in trees because I wanna hang out in them all the time. And someone I was talking to suggested getting myself a treehouse so that I could do that more comfortably! And I think that's a really great idea!!
[But she can't even do it on her own without help, plus she has no idea where she'd even be able to build it. She'd want it to be near home, not in the forest or anything...so that means she needs Stan's blessing. And she'll move to stand under him, and under the card he just put on the fridge, to smile up at him with big, pleading eyes.]
Pleeeaaaaasssee?
no subject
No, a treehouse wouldn't be trouble at all. What bothers him are the implications of her words. The behavior she describes is not of an ice-wielding monster but one of the skies. His expression changes from thoughtful to a frown. Maybe she's some sort of winged creature like a harpy or demon.
Looking down at his niece, his expression softens at her pleading eyes before hardening again. He averts his gaze, knowing he'll weaken if he looks too long into those brown eyes. ] I'll think about it. Trouble with birdhouses is you never know who might move in.
no subject
Thank you, thank you, thank you! And don't worry, I won't let anyone move in! It'd basically be a big glowing "Pines Only" sign! Except not very glowy, since I don't know if they have Christmas lights here or anything.
[But many that'd be cool if they did. Do they have jars? Maybe she can do that "string up mason jars and put tea lights in them" trick...]
no subject
He places a hand on her head and ruffles her hair affectionally. Gruff as his voice, the trace of a smile can be found on his face. He may not have agreed to the treehouse but they both knew it was a matter of time before he caved. Stan starts to pull away from her hold. ] Alright alright. That's enough. Get off of me. You got a big day ahead of you, pumpkin. Make sure you eat something.
[ Short a handyman, Stan wonders if his brother could help with such a project. ]
no subject
Oh I'll make sure to eat plenty, don't you worry! Gotta whole lot planned today! Gotta make that pizza, hand out the last three Valentines I have, plus some super special decorating for tonight's dinner. Going to have to keep my energy up.
[Meaning she's gonna go straight for the sugar when she gets the chance.]
You better be prepared for the best bromantic dinner of your life!
[Haha bromantic, get it? Since you'll both be dining with your brothers?]
no subject
Looking around the kitchen, Stan ponders the special decorating his niece has planned. The room differs little from that in Oregon, saws and axes on the walls and the occasional taxidermy project on the countertop. A tablecloth alone would suffice but he suspects there's far more in store. So long as she doesn't let any sunlight in, she has more or less free rein.
He narrows his eyes, uncertain of the idea of a 'bromantic' evening. He's certain Soos has used the word before or something similar. The implications are incredibly questionable. ]
The best... what?