Sincerely Yours, Bill Cipher

Just What He Needs

In order for Pacifica to get a little rest before we leave, we wait for morning to begin our search for a Jinni. Yule is thrilled with my idea.
Pacifica's just come back from her house with a backpack of clothes, food, and some cash. I have the same.
We inform the adults of what we are doing, and get Ford's advice.
"I don't have incredibly much experience with Jinn," Ford admits with a frown. "In fact, I've never met or seen one before. But I do know that they can look like literally anything. Many are anthropomorphic. And most are connected to an object- a vessel. It's usually by luck that one would come across a Genie."
"So how are we supposed to find one intentionally?" I ask.
"That's a tough question," Ford replies with his hands down on the table. "I'd personally suggest looking in antique stores, particularly for Arabic and Islamic wares. Maybe find a collector of such things. Perhaps even find one who is still superstitious and believes in the supernatural. Of course, you could look for a Jinn community, but if you don't know where to look, that would be nearly impossible. Go for a Genie with a vessel. They're easier to find. Perhaps connected to a lamp, a bottle, a jar, heck, even a ring could do."
"That's it?" Pacifica asks, confusion written across her face. "That's all we have to go off of?" Her expression falls in frustration. "We don't have weeks! We could have a few hours at best! Who knows? There must be a more secure way to find one of these things!" Her lip quivers as she panics. "I don't want them to die," she adds in a hushed whisper.
"They won't," I assure her, taking her hand in mine. "We'll make sure of that." I sigh and set my mind straight. "Okay. There aren't any antique stores or collectors in Gravity Falls. So we'll have to go a little ways..." I pause. I honestly have no idea where we're going to go.
     "Wait, I know!" Yule exclaims excitedly, raising his hand in the air. "Merrily's parents are monster hunters, remember? They're some of the few in Gravity Falls that admit belief in the supernatural, and even pursue it! If we can talk to them, they might know how to help us!"
     I brighten at his revelation. "That's right! Quick thinking, Yule! This is just the lead we need." I shoot a glance at Ford. "We'll be going, now. Call us if there are any emergencies."
     He nods. "Will do."
     And we're off.
                       _________
Ding-Dong!
     We stand in front of the Bluff's house in mid-morning. Mr. Bluff is the one to answer the door.
     His eyes widen in surprise when he sees us. "Oh. Hello!" he greets. His expression turns into a warming smile. That expression makes him look very much like Merrily. His salt and pepper hair is already combed, and he's already dressed for his day. I wonder if Merrily's up and ready, too. "You're... Bill and Pacifica, right?"
     "That's right. It's nice to see you, Mr. Bluff," Pacifica says amiably.
     "We were wondering if you could spare the time for us to ask you a few questions," I tell him, shoving my hands in my pockets. "They're quite urgent," I add.
     "Me, personally?" he asks, surprised, pointing to himself. "You're not here for Merrily?"
     "Of course we'd like to see her," I put in, "but our questions are more tailored to you and your wife."
     "Well, then," he decides, "I'm sure that would be fine. We're not busy." He turns and calls up the stairwell, "Merrily! You're friends are here, honey!" He turns back to us. "Is Yule here, too?"
     I'm sure the shock is as evident on my face as it is on Pacifica's. But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Merrily's parents are monster hunters. Merrily is immortal, for heaven's sake! Of course she'd tell her parents about her ghost boyfriend.
     Yule smiles awkwardly. "Heyyyyy," he drones with a pointless wave.
     "Y-Yeah, he's with us," Pacifica replies. She points to what must look like an empty space next to us. "Right here."
     Mr. Bluff turns toward Yule with an apologetic grin. "Sorry, son. I still have trouble recognizing your presence. Merrily will be happy to see you. Come on in, guys."
     Pacifica and I step in, but as soon as Yule crosses the threshold, he gasps and doubles over in pain. He cries out in sudden agony and falls to his knees, his eyes wide with fright. Pacifica and I hurry to his side, asking what the matter is. "Yule, what's is it?" we ask in unison.
     Merrily bounds down the stairs. Horror crosses her face as she sees Yule on the floor, writhing. "Dad!" she screams at her father. "The sage! Shoot! We didn't get rid of it yet?"
     "Shoot!" Mr. Bluff echoes. "We didn't! I'll go get it out! You three try to get him out, if you can." With that, he turns on his heel and dashes to another room.
     "Yule, Yule," Merrily says urgently, kneeling in front of him as he trembles and yells in anguish. "You're going to be fine, okay? Can you stand for me, darling?" He bites his lip to keep from screaming again.  "I guess not," she says in pained frustration. "I'm sorry. We were working with a poltergeist and the white sage is still burning. You're going to be fine because we started with it a while ago and forgot it was still in here and we aren't pairing it with religious chants. I know it's hurting you, though. Just try to hang on, and you'll be okay in just a minute, you hear me? I'm right here, okay, love?"
     A door slams in the back of the house, and Yule begins to ease. Though he still looks a bit sick, he's looking so much better than he did a moment ago.
Mr. Bluff returns, out of breath. "I'm so sorry!" he apologizes, frazzled.
Mrs. Bluff comes in as well. "I think we were able to get almost all the fragrance out of the house. Yule, baby, are you okay?"
     It amazes me how much the Bluffs treat Yule like their family already. He's been to their house once. That was the night before he decided to go back to his home for a few days, the night Omi visited, about a week ago. I wonder if Merrily was the one who convinced him that it was okay to go home and see his family again. He must have grown close to her parents in that short a time, too. They treat him with so much love, like he's their own son. That's just what he needs right now.
     Yule nods and stands. "Yes. I'm fine now, I just-" he stops and puts a hand to his head. "Wow. Yeah. Yeah, I'm good. I feel back to normal now." Merrily relays his words to her parents.
     Mrs. Bluff puts a hand to her heart. "I'm glad, sweetheart. I'm sorry, again! We often get carried away, and we didn't know you were coming, but still..." She shoots her husband a look.
     He throws up his hands. "My fault, Matilda, I know! I wasn't thinking!"
     Mrs. Bluff sighs. "It's alright. What are a couple of monster hunters without mistakes?"
     Merrily laughs. "Ones without an immortal daughter!"
     Her parents smile along, but their gazes hold a bit of pain. They tell us that they'll bring some folding chairs outside for us to talk in just case there're any sage fumes left inside the house.
"Now," Mrs. Bluff says with her hands folded once we have our seats. "What did you want to talk to us about, dears?"
"I'm not sure if you're aware, but we have a problem..." I recap the story for them quickly, as Merrily says she's told them it before. "We're extremely cut for time," I continue, "so we were wondering if you could get us access to a Jinni? Or if you could help us find one?"
Grins pass over both of their faces. "That," Mr. Bluff says, "we can probably help you with."