Arcade {Gravity Falls}

By Chara426

72 8 24

Mabel drags Dipper to Piedmont's local arcade. A lot more interesting than it sounds! I promise! :) More

Arcade

72 8 24
By Chara426

"We're here!" Mabel exclaimed, practically pushing Dipper inside the door. Dipper looked up at his local arcade and gave a half smile. The arcade was one of his favorite places in Piedmont, but-

"I'm sorry Mabel, I just, don't feel like playing games today," Dipper sighed out. "I'm kind of tired. I want to go home," he explained. School had worn Dipper out, and he was anxious to go home for spring break.

Mabel pouted, "You're no fun!" She exclaimed, "I already signed you up for an escape room!" She explained.

Dipper was shocked, "Mabel, at least one person has to be eighteen to do an escape room! We're thirteen!"

But before he could protest more, Mabel was pushing him towards a bunker themed escape room.

The administrator looked up, "Ah. Is this Dipper Pines?"

"Yes he is!" Mabel answered for him.

"I'll take you inside!" She explained, leading him in.

The room looked very similar to a real bunker, but with extra locks and keys. A hooded figure who wore mittens stood in the corner. The administrator explained the rules, and where to start, along with some extra information before leaving the room.

Dipper looked at the other person. They didn't move. "I-uh... guess I'll look at the... the fridge where she said to start..." Dipper sighed, looking at the hint.

The figure nodded, before speaking, "That sounds like it would be the best course of action."

Dipper thought for a moment. That voice sounded so familiar. He shrugged this off a couple seconds later. His hood was probably muffling his voice. Still...

Dipper read the first hint and was quick to figure it out. It unlocked the clue to their next hint.

The two worked surprisingly well. Dipper wasn't even able to see this person's face, and the other person might've looked down on him because he was a child. However, this didn't interfere at all.

In fact, this made Dipper smile. He brought it up when they were about 75% done with the room, "Hey, thanks for listening to me, even though I'm just a kid. It means a lot. A lot of adults think I'm just a joke because I'm too young to know what's going on."

"I'm sorry to hear that," he replied. "Adults should give kids and teenagers more credit. They often know more about what's going on than we realize," he stated.

Dipper smiled, "Yeah. I wish more adults respected me. But, at least one person does," he smiled.

They were able to finish the escape room a few minutes later. As they exited the room, a question formed in Dipper's head.

"Hey, um, sir," Dipper went up to the mysterious man, "Um... why are you at the arcade exactly? I don't mean to be rude, but usually people do escape rooms with friends. I'm only here because my sister dragged me," he explained.

The hooded figure chuckled, "Surprise party for my great nephew," he explained.

Dipper nodded, "Ah! How old is he turning?"

"No, it's not his birthday," he explained, "His friends and family just wanted to do something special for him. Show him how much we appreciate him, y'know?"

Dipper nodded, "Wow. He's really lucky to have such caring friends and family."

"Well, we're all really lucky to have him as our family!" The man replied.

After that small interaction the two split up. Mystery man headed in the direction of the party while Dipper went to go find Mabel. All of a sudden, frantic shuffling was heard and mystery man had returned.

"Hey, um, they're not done sitting up yet, so... why don't I show you how to scientifically win some arcade games?" He asked.

Dipper was a bit taken aback, "Really?" He then thought for a moment, "But, shouldn't you be helping them sit up?"

The man waved this off, "They've got this under control," he stated, leading Dipper into the main arcade area, "Come on, I'll show you how to win those claw machine games a good 95% of the time,"

Dipper and mystery man headed towards a giant claw machine. Dipper swiped his card and did his best to grab the prize, which was a roll of tickets, in one go. He was close, but failed.

"Still trying to impress me?" The man asked, a hint of humor in his voice. Dipper was silent as the person started to laugh, "You don't need to. I'm already impressed by how you figured out that escape room. I'll admit, it was hard even for me,"

Dipper smiled, "Thank you."

"Alright, my first tip is to make sure you go for an easy target. This, a long with all the other claw machines, are rigged. However, the easier target, the lighter the grip can be."

Dipper followed his tips, and smiled brightly when his claw picked up a roll of 5,000 tickets.

"I should probably see if my family is done sitting up for my nephew's party," the man explained, leaving.

Dipper sighed. Whoever that man's great nephew was, was extremely lucky to have such a kind and smart man as his great uncle.

Time to look for Mabel again, he figured. "Mabel! Mabel, where'd you go off to?" He yelled, looking around the arcade. He was beginning to enter the party area of the place when he thought he saw Mabel and mystery man talking, almost as if they knew each other. Yet, before he could get any closer a loud skrt was heard, diverting his attention.

"Still not done sitting up yet," Dipper looked up to see the mysterious person at his side, "So... I've heard rumors you're good at laser tag," he suggested.

That was true. Dipper was often a high score player in the game, "Yeah, I am good at laser tag..."

The two began to walk to the laser tag arena. It wasn't until they were in the tutorial room Dipper realized something.

"Um, no disrespect sir, but you can't wear that into laser tag," Dipper explained, "Well, you can but, you're going to get worn out fast. I wouldn't really recommend layers in the game..."

"It's extremely light, such as a sheet," the man explained.

Dipper nodded, "Okay, b-but you can't wear mittens. How are you supposed to hold the trigger?"

"Opposable thumbs," the man answered. Dipper shrugged it off. A bit odd in his opinion, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

The two entered laser tag and were put onto the same team. Dipper was having a blast, as he quickly became the high score player. He absolutely beamed every time his vest said "You're the high score player." He even beat his own personal record too.

Dipper and mystery man walked out together. Both were tired and out of breath.

"You were right when you said I'd be over heated," the man stated, "But your strategy was very impressive, Mason," he commented.

Dipper looked up at him in shock. Only a select few people knew his real name. How did this complete stranger know-?

Dipper watched as the man took off his mittens to reveal his hands. His polydactyly hands. Dipper continued to watch in shock and awe as the man took off his hood revealing himself as-

"Grunkle Ford?" Dipper starred at the man for a few seconds before wrapping him in a hug. Ford was quick to hug back.

"You were the mysterious stranger this whole time?" Dipper exclaimed.

Ford smiled, "Yes I was."

"What are you doing here? Is Grunkle Stan here too?" Dipper asked.

Ford smiled and lead Dipper over to the party area of the arcade. There he was greeted by Wendy, Soos, Stan, and Mabel.

"Surprise!"

Dipper smiled running over to hug Stan. Stan rubbed his back.

"Wow, I don't know what to say," Dipper commented, "I can't believe you guys set all this up for me."

"Anything for you, Dipper," Stan commented, ruffling Dipper's hair.

Dipper looked around him. Words wouldn't be able to describe how happy he felt. How loved he felt.

"Thank you guys, for everything,"

"Thank you, Dipper," Ford replied, "For everything."

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