When You're a Mystery Kid

Picture Day

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters featured here.

Neil used to give his grandpa so much flak for his scrapbooking hobby. He used to think it was so lame. It was just such a 'grandpa' thing to do, which now that he is thinking about it, that's probably why his grandpa was into it in the first place. Oh, if only his grandpa could look at him now, suddenly making his own scrapbook, completely on his own. Scrapbooking, as it turns out, is actually a lot of fun! He kind of wish he could take back all of the mean things he ever said about scrapbooking to his grandpa now. Maybe he'll do that the next time he meets grandpa. Or, if grandpa's still lingering around, he'll ask Norman to pass a message along. Maybe also an apology because technically it was Neil's dare that caused him to choke and collapse his lung. He kind of felt bad for that one too.

Anyway, scrapbooking! A lot of fun! Especially when the subject material is about his mystery-hunting, paranormal-busting, and monster-killing team. Right now, he's in the photo-collecting phase of the scrapbooking process. That photo collection will be split into two different categories; 'on the hunt' photos and 'chilling out' photos. Getting the first category was a total cakewalk; the team was already taking photos whenever they can while on missions, usually by Dipper or by yours truly, so it was only a matter of compiling and printing them all. The second category takes quite a bit more effort. That is why he's been going around with his phone, taking candid shots of his friends as they go about their everyday business. He took extra effort to make sure the shots were candid, so the result looks as natural as possible. So far, he's already got a shot or two of almost everyone in the team. Now, it's time to photograph the most dangerous one of them all.

Lili.

Carefully peeking around the corner, Neil quickly scanned the backyard of the Shack. Just as he predicted, Lili was there, tending to her small garden that she set up a bit near the woods. Neil watched as Lili poured out a delicate stream of water from a watering can onto a tiny sapling, smiling contently all the while. She set the watering can aside, bent down closer to the sapling, and started murmuring and ever so gently petting the tiny sapling. Seeing this, Neil's first reaction was to practically melt at the unexpected but still adorable sight before him. He quickly shook himself out of it though; now is not the time to dwell on cute things. Any other day, sure, but today, he's on a mission. A scrapbooking mission.

Neil whipped out his phone, opened the camera app, and took aim. Going through the steps that he's done dozens of time by now; zooming in, steadying his arm, waiting for the camera to focus. Guessing that he has a perfect shot, Neil pressed the button.

Click!

That distinctive, quiet click occurred as the picture was taken. Unexpectedly, and unfortunately, the quiet click was also accompanied by a bright, white flash.

Lili's head whipped to his direction.

Neil froze.

Forgot to turn the flash off, oh shi-

Neil barely got two steps away before his feet was pulled out from under him, suddenly finding himself dangling upside down lifted up by his right foot. The environment rushed past him, before he is suddenly facing the upside down, very annoyed face of Lili Zanotto.

"Uh..." Right, time to think of something to say fast before she does something horrible to him. "... how's it hanging?"

"I'm giving you ten seconds to explain yourself."

"Uh, taking pictures! For a scrapbook! That I'm making! About us!" Neil quickly blurted out. He thought it's probably the best to just tell the truth, especially when you're hanging upside down in the mercy of a psychic.