✦ Party Crashers

[radscience]

The portal appears out of nowhere. It’s a giant, opposing mass that, even though it obviously doesn't belong, seems to draw you in as though it’s meant just for you. You have two options; you can walk into it of your own violation, or be forcibly dragged into the unknown. Either way, you end up speeding through an endless void.

“It works!”

You hear the voice from somewhere in the distance and you lurch towards it, tumbling out into a brightly colored, unfamiliar room. The trip leaves you feeling woozy, making the world seem like a kaleidoscopic blur. Someone approaches, offering a hand to help you to your feet before moving on to someone near you. When your vision finally clears, you see Peppermint Butler stepping away from the last traveler, moving to Princess Bubblegum’s side as she smiles and waves to the small gathering of new-comers.

“Welcome, travelers! Good, you all seem to have arrived in one piece, so please do not be alarmed by the sudden change in scenery. I can assure you that everything is going as planned. Now, I’m sure you all must be very confused, so let the questions commence! ”

Comments

[rocks]

[ It doesn't take her long to realize something is wrong. For one, the sound of water is gone, replaced by unfamiliar voices and a ground with an unnatural, grainy texture. It stumps her, and at first she attributes it all to the dizzying sensation that accompanied her arrival, but once it passes and she's still unable to sense the vibrations like she usually does? Well, she can't help but wonder just what the heck is going on. It wasn't wood, or any stone tile she was familiar with, so what was it? And why does everything smell like sugar?

Without paying anyone any attention, and shrugging off any attempt to stop her, Toph storms from the room as quickly and loudly as she can. (but with some difficulty, given her inability to sense where anything is.) She eventually finds herself outside, though much to her annoyance, the chocolate in the ground underneath the Candy Kingdom just proves to block her Earthbending further. ]

What is wrong with this place!?

[ She stays there for a while, and anyone walking by will just see a blind girl doing some form of martial arts. She seems to get more and more frustrated as time goes on, though, and finally she stops, shouting as she kicks up a clump of dirt in frustration. ]

[bedazzling]

[Contrary to what most of the newcomers to Ooo felt about the situation, Mabel found herself enjoying her new surroundings and was especially intrigued by the Candy Kingdom. It was as if her dreams had come true: an entire land made up of sweets and other sugary delicacies... and the citizens that lived there were the absolute cutest! Whilst exploration was most certainly on her mental to-do list, she didn't think there would be much of a problem if she lingered around in the Candy Kingdom for a few days.

As she passes by, the girl's strange motions grab her attention and hold it for quite a while, actually. She hasn't really seen martial arts, let alone someone performing them in real life, so she stands there in a mixture of confusion and amusement until her interest finally fades when the other stops, only to scream and kick up dirt in a bout of anger. Mabel takes that as her cue to step forward and tilt her head to the side as she stares at the other girl questioningly.]

What's the matter? Something wrong?

[rocks]

[ Toph turns to the Mabel when she speaks, but she doesn't really look at her, her eyes fixed on some immovable point just past the girl's shoulder. It was weird, being unable to feel Mabel's approach, the vibrations Toph was usually able to feel through the Earth silent, dulled, non-existent. It was almost like she wasn't standing on dirt and grass at all, but some fake substitute for them. So needless to say, it was unnerving. She'd never had her bending go completely silent like this before, and she has no idea how to fix it.

It takes her a moment to respond, and despite not being angry with Mabel, she still stands defensively, with a frown etched into her features and her hands clenched by her sides. ]

Of course something's wrong. My earthbending isn't working.

[bedazzling]

[Mabel listens quietly as Toph explains the situation but to no avail, she's already lost by just the mere mention of 'earthbending'. Was that what the other was doing with her gesticulations and movements then? Nonetheless, she tilts her head to the side, raising an eyebrow in confusion.]

Earthbending...? What's that, and why's it not working?

[rocks]

You don't know? [ She's not sure how Mabel could have gone on so long not knowing what earthbending is, so Toph actually looks surprised at her confusion. ]

Earthbending lets me control the Earth, but I don't know why it's not working. It's like there's something wrong with the dirt in this place. [ Not that she actually knows where 'this place' is, but she'll worry about that later. ]

[bedazzling]

[From the tone of Toph's voice, it sounds as though it's pretty important and that Mabel should have at least heard of it. So, she pauses to think and see if she can recall any mention of earthbending, but nothing comes to mind. Maybe later she'll ask Dipper (or look through it herself) if the journal has anything written down about earthbending.]

Nope, never heard of it! But you can control the Earth? Whoa, that's, like, super cool!

[Excitement replaces her previous confusion, and a large grin comes onto her lips. It was like a superpower of some sort! Of course, she doesn't let her amusement overwhelm her just yet. There's still the mystery as to why it doesn't work... but Mabel can come up with an answer for that enigma in a matter of seconds.]

Oh, you're in the Candy Kingdom! There's no real dirt here since everything's made out of candy and other sweets. The ground's chocolate, so maybe that's why it's not working!

[tibetanpeople]

[Now, Cooper isn't as savvy with martial arts as he is with philosophy, but the girl seemed to be making some very interesting movements. Something seems off about the situation, other than the massive rage. Admittedly, his deductive skills might be a bit rusty, but he can still tell there's something else wrong here.]

Hello there! Very interesting exercises, if you don't mind my saying so.

You seem quite... upset.

[rocks]

[ She turns to him, though it's pretty apparent that she can't actually see him, her eyes looking not at, but past Cooper. ]

Of course I'm upset! [ She gestures to her feet, and the ground below them. ] These aren't supposed to be just exercises, stupid. I'm trying to earthbend, and it's not working! [ It was almost like there wasn't any Earth in the area, and that's not a thought she's very fond of. ]

[tibetanpeople]

[Blind. Shoot. In his excitement, he'd forgotten how others might not be taking their trip as well as him. He could only imagine how freaked out this girl must be. His tone gets a little more sympathetic, which he desperately hopes isn't demeaning.]

Earth... Sorry, is that a type of spiritual work-out? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it.

[rocks]

[ She ignores the tone in his voice--it was something she'd grown used to--but does look mildly surprised at his comment. ]

You don't know what bending is? [ What, does this guy live under a rock? ] It's controlling the elements. As an earthbender, I can move the earth beneath me to my will. Waterbenders control water, and, well, you get the picture.

[tibetanpeople]

[Tibetan Buddhism runs on the idea of thinking about what one has heard. A person must mentally discuss, debate, and entertain doubt on any subject that comes to mind. Under this practice, skepticism is highly encouraged and Tibetans believe that testing the word of Buddha (or others) is completely natural.

In essence, Cooper's mental response to learning of "controlling the elements" is as follows:

wat.]

And that's... normal. To you.