Gold Dust Woman (Stanford Pines x OC)

1.) You've Got A Friend

all you've gotta do is call and i'll be there, you've got a friend

  

  Following along a winding road through the dense forests of Oregon in a convertible would normally draw attention. The sun is beginning to set, casting a golden glow over everything, and the wind whips through her hair as she speeds down the road. The soft hum of a Billy Joel song plays on the radio, blending with the rustle of the trees and the roar of the engine.

  She sings along, not a care in the world with her sunglasses on and a scarf in her hair because of the wind. Celia Thorncroft, better known in the music scene under a different name, is looking to escape from the pressures of her music career and the exhaustion of being constantly in the spotlight.

  It's a lot of fun and it seems like the drinks and the drugs and the parties just keep roaring on but the longing for a simpler, quieter life is stronger. So, she's driving until she finds somewhere to settle, at least for a while. Although, the more she drives the more she's wondering if this spontaneous road trip will give her the peace she craves or if she's just running from herself.

  But it's too late for that now, she's sold her house and packed up everything she owns in her car. And with the smell of the pine trees filling her senses like the smell of freedom with the sun warming her skin, it's hard to think that this could be a mistake.

  She came to the human realm at 15, running away from home. Celia grew up in the Boiling Isles, where she developed her love for music amidst the chaos of wild magic. Her departure from the Isles was due to the ban on wild magic, which left her feeling stifled and yearning for freedom. Her parents along with the world tried to force her into a coven so she got out.

  What else is there to do for a young kid to do in California but mess around? She hid her ears and headed to the strip where she instantly fit it. That wasn't necessarily a good thing. That got her into some deep shit she shouldn't have been in. But it also helped her get big in music. Now at 19, she's taking a break from it all. With two hit records, she has enough money to hold her off for a whole.

  The road twists and turns and the sun dips lower, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Celia keeps her eyes on the winding path ahead, her mind drifting between the exhilaration of her impromptu escape and the shadows of her past. The music playing on the radio fades into the background as her thoughts become more reflective.

  That's when she passes a sign for a small town ahead, Gravity Falls. She decides to stop there for the night. She slows the convertible and takes the turnoff, the engine rumbling softly as she enters the quaint town.

  Gravity Falls is a stark contrast from Los Angeles. The streets are lined with charming, old-fashioned storefronts and cozy, dimly lit cafes. The town has a peculiar, almost timeless quality, with an air of enchantment that feels oddly familiar to Celia.

  She pulls into a small gas station, the kind with a vintage pump and a weathered sign that says "General Store" hanging overhead. As she steps out of the car, she's greeted by the faint smell of freshly cut grass and the distant chirping of crickets. Celia stretches, savoring the simplicity of the moment, before putting an illusion to cover her ears and heading into the store.

  The bell above the door jingles as she enters and heads straight to the refrigerators. It's almost empty in here so she drops the illusions on her ears and sighs. She doesn't realize that she's naturally an attention grabber in this small town.

  She catches the attention of Stanford Pines, who's buying cheap salty snacks behind her. Surprisingly, he hadn't even seen her ears. Just her teeny tiny crochet top, and baggy shorts, perfectly embodying her carefree spirit. She has an effortless beauty, sun-kissed skin, and a smile that hints at a world of secrets. Little does he know, she's smiling because her song is playing on the store's radio.