and when we burst, start over [ OPEN ]

[cryptologic]

Who: Dipper & YOU
When: IC 5/26
Where: Various
What: Dipper died, but life goes on.
Rating/Warning: Talk of death

[ A: REENTRY ]

[ It’s all the same.

The Powerpoint. The spiel. The drop into VIVID. It’s even the same level he initially arrived in. He’s almost nauseous with the sense of deja vu - if he weren’t already nauseous with the feeling of being alive again.

He’s been dropped into the middle of the Tetris level, and he’s so disoriented at the simple impossibility of life that he reacts slower than he should. It’s not that he didn’t expect to be revived. Logically, he knew he would, but there’s only so far that logic can take him when something so final as death is so casually overwritten.

Finally, he does react - a Tetris block is about to flatten him, and he ducks out of the way. The block should clip his shoulder as he awkwardly run-falls away from it, but...it doesn’t. That’s weird. VIVID must be glitching.

It’s only then that he realizes he might not be the only one in this particular level right now. ]

[ B: REUNIONS ]

[ After logging out of VIVID, Dipper makes his way back to the apartment. It’s the obvious place to go, isn’t it? He definitely doesn’t want to go anywhere else. The thing is...he doesn’t really want to go there, either, and the thought of being isolated in his room once again makes his skin crawl with anxious dread. But he knows he can’t leave his roommates and friends hanging. Dipper can’t be sure who knows what happened to him, but he’s sure at least his close friends could probably guess if they weren’t outright told. They’re a sharp bunch.

He kind of wishes they weren’t so sharp right now.

Though he realizes with sharp responsibility that he can’t keep them in suspense forever, Dipper hesitates in front of the door, because he knows, he knows once he goes inside, the unavoidable things he’s been dreading will happen. He’ll have to own up to what happened. He’ll have to process the tidal wave of emotions he’s only just kept at bay with forced numbness. He’ll be reunited with his friends.

He’ll be reunited with the person who saw him die.

Swallowing against a dry throat, Dipper turns the handle on the front door and heads inside. ]

[ C: REPRIEVE ]

[ After talking to his roommates, there’s only so long that Dipper can stay in the apartment. There’s just too much of something he can’t name, and he has to leave.

Before he does that, he sends out a short message to Minato and Hiro. They knew what had happened to him, and they deserved to know he was back. There are probably others he should text, too, but sending messages to just the two of them already took more out of him than he wanted to admit.

And then, he leaves. Maybe it’s selfish - maybe he should stay where Yu and Rise could know he’s safe and well and alive, but he just can’t stay there anymore. He’s restless. So he heads out to take a walk.

He eventually makes his way to the gardens, hands shoved in his vest pockets and every so often, he turns quickly to glance over his shoulder. That’s strange, he could’ve sworn he saw someone watching him from the corner of his eye. He chalks it up to his nerves getting the better of him, but a nagging voice in the back of his head insists that there’s more to it than that.

The gardens aren’t really his typical go-to place to unwind, but at least they’re quiet and he doesn’t want much more than that at the moment. Eventually, he sits in front of one of the trees and leans back against it. It’s fine, for a moment, until something goes wrong and he falls backwards, right through the tree.

There is absolutely nothing to see here. There is definitely not a kid seemingly fused with the trunk of a tree. Move along. ]

Comments

C

[bewrightback]

[Phoenix happened to be wandering the gardens, to collect his thoughts in solitude, when suddenly he heard an odd noise. And he looks over to find a very familiar face peeking through the tree.

His eyes immediately widen in alarm.]

Dipper?!

[cryptologic]

[ For his part, Dipper attempts to look as casual as possible. Which is something of a feat, because he's kind of freaking out at this very moment. This shouldn't be happening. He should definitely not be inside a tree. ]

Oh - uh, hey, Phoenix...what's up?

[ This is all perfectly normal. ]

[bewrightback]

[He points in horrified disbelief.]

You're up! All... all up in a tree!

[cryptologic]

Yeah, no kidding.

[ Thanks, Captain Obvious. Dipper props up hie head with his hand, his torso and most of his legs still within the tree. ]

[bewrightback]

...

...You wanna... talk about it maybe...?

[This is no time to live up to your name, Mr. Pines.]

[cryptologic]

About being stuck in a tree? There's not much to talk about. It's very...woody.

[ Because that's obviously what Phoenix is asking about, right?? ]

[bewrightback]

[At least he doesn't seem to be in pain, as horrifying as this looks.]

But...

Why, Dipper? Why?

gore what even is that icon

[cryptologic]

Why...not?

[ Is this even working? ]

that is a dad

[bewrightback]

[It is not even working!]

Why are you in a tree?!

[cryptologic]

[ He opens his mouth, hoping some kind of genius lie will come to him, but...it doesn't.

He sighs a long, drawn-out breath. ]

...I don't...really want to talk about it.

[ The answer to that question isn't simple at all. ]

[bewrightback]

[He had honestly expected to hear about some new brand of CERES tomfoolery, or maybe about some odd tree-related powers he had hidden. But once again, it sounds like Dipper's hiding something heavy. And again, Phoenix isn't going to force it out of him.]

...Then you don't have to, Dipper. [He looks down at the tree boy with a frown.] But is there anything I can do to help?

[cryptologic]

[ He almost answers "no", but...he trusts Phoenix. He's one of Dipper's friends. And he's been here as long as just about anyone he knows. Maybe...he might have some insight into this. ]

Have you ever seen this happen before? Phasing through objects that should be solid outside of VIVID?

[bewrightback]

As a matter of fact? [He taps at his chin casually.] Yes, yes I have.

There was one time a few months ago... It was pretty hectic, and pretty much all of us in the colony starting exhibiting one of several odd effects. One of them seemed to be phasing through solid objects randomly - my friend Larry had it.

[Congratulations, Dipper. You have something in common with The Butz.]

[cryptologic]

[ His greatest achievement in life. ]

Really? [ Dipper perks up. Maybe it's not just him, then! ] Have you seen it happening to anyone else since we got back to the city?

[bewrightback]

Well... Not recently, no. [He frowns thoughtfully.] I mean, it's not like I've been out much since we got back, but...

[He shakes his head.]

It's seemed like things have been back to normal around here for the most part.

[cryptologic]

[ While, normally, that would be a cause for relief, Dipper actually looks crestfallen. ]

...Oh. Okay, then. So...it's just me.

[bewrightback]

Um... Maybe. It's hard to say.

But don't be so glum! You know these things always wear off eventually.

[cryptologic]

[ Dipper absently rubs at the back of his neck (yes, through the tree). ]

...R-right, yeah. I'm sure it's - nothing.

[bewrightback]

Maybe it's just... a hiccup of a glitch? [His eyes do widen some more at his hand's movement.]

Whatever's happening, it doesn't seem to like consistency.

[cryptologic]

Oh, it's definitely a glitch.

[ It shouldn't be happening, which means somewhere between his death and arrival, something went wrong.

As if the shock of finding himself in the Nexus Code after he'd died wasn't enough.

His shoulders sag as he sighs. ]

It's...probably for the best this isn't a consistent thing.

[bewrightback]

R-right. [He scratches at his hair sheepishly as he overlooks Dipper's position.] Maybe you just have to... twist yourself the right way to get yourself out?

[cryptologic]

It's not that simple.

[ Okay, maybe he's talking about more than just being stuck in the tree now. ]

[bewrightback]

[Now he refocuses his attention on Dipper's face, speaking with concern.]

What do you mean, Dipper?

[cryptologic]

[ After a quiet moment, Dipper looks into his hands. ]

...Do you really want to know? You're not going to like what you hear.

[bewrightback]

[Now he looks on more seriously.]

That doesn't matter. It's no excuse to turn away from the truth. If you want to speak, Dipper, then I'm here to listen to you.