Forest of Riddles (Reverse Falls, S1)

SBP: Part Seven

"Welcome to the Gleeful Mansion."

Gideon's eyes widened as a huge set of double doors opened to reveal the Gleeful Mansion. It was enormous.

Beside him, Mabel grinned. "Wonderful, isn't it?" she sighed happily. "I haven't been here for over a year."

Gideon didn't pay attention, and instead he gaped at the giant chandelier hanging in the lobby. It vaguely reminded him of last night's "date".

"Follow me!" Mabel grabbed Gideon's wrist, her eyes sparkling. "Let me show you around!"

~

The mansion proved to be huge. Mabel, despite her saying she hadn't been there in over a year, knew where everything was and was excited to show Gideon all of it. Gideon couldn't help but get happy when he saw Mabel excited - it was a little cute.

Mabel also briefly introduced him to the employees of the Tent of Telepathy. Wendy Valentino scowled at him, and Gideon tried to end that conversation quickly (they weren't on the best terms after they had met at the Tent's ticket booth); the stagehand, Soos, was very kind and nice and Gideon took a liking to him instantly.

They did eventually run into Dipper Gleeful, however.

Mabel and Gideon had decided to take a break and rest in one of the living rooms (or, as Mabel referred to it, the "parlor rooms"). Gideon flopped onto one of the sofas immediately.

"Wow," Gideon said, wriggling around like a worm on the couch. "This is really comfy."

"We're Gleefuls, what do you expect?" Mabel sat down on the sofa next to Gideon. "I fell asleep on these all the time when I was little."

"So -" Gideon turned over onto his stomach and rested his chin in his hand. "How did you make your show seem so real?"

Mabel flashed him a smile. "A psychic never reveals her secrets," she said, ending her sentence with a wink. "But it's all the special effects and props - like my amulet." She briefly gestured to the headband with her amulet. Her amulet was in various places on her clothing every day - most of the time it was tied around her neck, like a choker, but sometimes, like today, she had her amulet on a headband. It was strange to keep a simple stone as a staple accessory, but Gideon dismissed it.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Gideon sat up on the sofa and glanced at Mabel out of the corner of her eye; she was absentmindedly smoothing out her black dress, the dress that had been partnered with a pretty sailor-like-style blouse.

Gideon opened his mouth to comment on the pink stone on her headband when both froze - someone behind them had coughed.

The two turned their heads to the doorway.

Dipper Gleeful stood in the living room, scowling. "What are you doing here?" he said, staring at Gideon.

"We're on a date," Mabel said smoothly.

Dipper snorted. "Sure, right. Because dates usually take place at someone's home."

"This is a mansion," Mabel reminded him. "We went whole days without seeing Stanley."

The name "Stanley" sounded familiar to Gideon, but he couldn't figure out where he had heard it from.

Dipper narrowed his eyes. "Your point?"

Mabel sighed and stood up, grabbing Gideon's wrist. "Let's go, Gideon," she said, glaring at Dipper. "My brother isn't being very polite."

Gideon couldn't help but glance at Dipper as Mabel pulled him out of the living room. Dipper noticed Gideon's stare and glared back, to which Gideon quickly turned around.