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[mothmansplaining]

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"Stanford Pines. Leave a message."

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[supposedtochange]

"And...and if they never forgive me," she says softly, "that's their decision. I just...keep trying to be good. And trying...trying not to put anyone in the place where I put them. Knowing it's okay to make mistakes, like you said, so long as I know that's what they are."

She looks to him, her eyes large and unsure.

"Right?"

[mothmansplaining]

He nods.

"Right," Ford says. "And for every mistake, there's going to be a time when you get it right. You're a really remarkable person, Rose, and I'm glad I have the chance to know you."

[supposedtochange]

"Me too! I mean - I'm glad I had the chance to know you too, Ford - "

She leans over and engulfs him in a big, gentle Gem hug.

[mothmansplaining]

You know what you two broken teacups need? To hug it out. Hug train's coming in the station. Hugapalooza 2000. She gets a big, sincere hug, because she is a person who deserves love and a second chance and definitely hugs.

"But no more secrets, okay?" he tells her, playful rather than condemning. "Take it from me - it's much easier to make mistakes when you don't seek out good advice. Or listen to it when it's given to you."

[supposedtochange]

"I see that now," she says quietly. "I mean, not just see it any more. I understand it. No more secrets."

She's too busy hugging to notice the appearance of a plate of cookies with pink frosting.

[mothmansplaining]

Ford's thinking about all the times he didn't listen to advice and all the mistakes he could have avoided making if he'd told people what he was doing and being glad Rose's good intentions have the chance of manifesting as more good for the universe when a flash of color in the corner of his vision catches his eye.

He pulls back from the hug enough to look.

"That's funny. I'm sure those weren't there before."

[supposedtochange]

"I'm sure I would have noticed," Rose agrees, brows furrowing. "Is...is there a kind of flood that gives people cookies?"

That'd be...unusually benign.

[mothmansplaining]

"I've heard about floods where eating candy makes you share memories," Ford says. He pulls a scanner out of his coat and scans the cookies.

"Hm. They seem normal," he says, looking at the readout dubiously. "Of course, there's always the other possibility. They could be from the Admiral."

[supposedtochange]

"Hmm."

Rose reaches out, picking up a cookie with what should be normal strength in her inmate-limited state - and it shatters into crumbs between her fingertips.

"Oh!"

She looks over at Ford.

"....I think I have my powers back."

[mothmansplaining]

He reacts with surprise, too, as the cookie is accidentally crushed -- looking from Rose to the sugary crumbs and back.

"Really? Well, what are you waiting for?" he asks with excitement. "Try something out!"

Spam!

[mothmansplaining]

[He nods.]

There are a lot of people on this ship they should allow out of breaches. Losing your identity and conscious control over yourself can be very upsetting, depending on your history. I've seen people absolutely furious about it.

[supposedtochange]

"Okay, let's see -"

She gets to her feet, making some distance between herself and Ford, then summons her sword - a huge, opalescent pink blade with a rose-patterned hilt.

Surprise makes her smile.

"Look!"

[mothmansplaining]

"Rose, that's incredible!" Ford exclaims. "I definitely didn't request that one back! You know what this means, don't you?"

He's beaming. As arbitrary, frustrating, and made-to-entertain as graduation is, the fact that Rose is alive and free again is something to be happy about.

[supposedtochange]

"I don't..."

But then she does. The celebratory snacks out of nowhere, the abilities she couldn't access? It all adds up, and she whoops a laugh and picks him up into a much bigger hug like he weighs nothing.

"Ford!"

[mothmansplaining]

He bursts into laughter too -- shamelessly joyful, too secure in the happiness of what's happened to fuss about being picked up like a kid.

"You did it!" he cries. "You really did it! Rose, you get to go home! You're free!"

[supposedtochange]

Rose remembers herself and sets him down, gently, still laughing.

"And you get your deal, Ford! This is wonderful."

[mothmansplaining]

Yes, he...he supposes he does.

Ford brushes off his sweater, a twinge of doubt nagging at his mind.

He wants his deal -- wants to see if the Admiral will give him the ability he wants, to get his family out of Gravity Falls and into a temporally open dimension. But...

It doesn't sit quite right with him to take the deal and walk away, as though all of this had just been a transaction. Ford hadn't really thought he could get anyone to graduation. It wasn't why he'd stayed. He'd meant to be a friend to Rose, not a moral guide, and she was the one who had done the work. Maybe he could find a way to get what he needed anyway, with enough time and science.

He wouldn't be able to sit peacefully with himself, as someone concerned about inmates' wellbeing, if he didn't ask her.

"Actually, about that," Ford says, his face turning serious. "I wanted to ask you -- do you want to take the deal? It doesn't feel right for me to take it, not without seeing if there was anything you needed first. You're the one whose life was in danger, who had to grow and change. I was...all I did was be your friend."

[supposedtochange]

Rose freezes up for a moment, then just smiles and shakes her head.

"Ford, I didn't even want a second chance when I first came here. Remember? My existence ended in the first place because I wanted it to. I didn't risk something that I hadn't already decided to give away."

[mothmansplaining]

"But that changed," Ford replies. "Being here changes what you want. If there's one thing the Barge does right, it's waiting until graduation to decide what the deal needs to be. Are you sure there's nothing you need it for?"

[supposedtochange]

"...Of course there are things I could do. But if I decide I know exactly how to fix everything that's gone wrong, without even asking the people it's affected..."

She shakes her head.

"Then I haven't learned anything, have I? It's your deal, Ford. Please take it."

[mothmansplaining]

Ford -- breaks into a smile.

"You're right," he says, feeling very, very proud of her. "You're absolutely right. Rose, I think you're going to do just fine."

Okay. He'll take the deal.

[supposedtochange]

Hug #3 commencing...now.

"So are you, Ford. I'm so glad you're my friend."

[mothmansplaining]

He gives her a tight, heartfelt squeeze. Not wardens, not inmates - friends.

"Thank you," he says. Then, Ford asks: "How long do you think you're going to stick around?"

[supposedtochange]

"...Not long," she says. "I need to talk to Beetlejuice, and give people time to talk to me if they want to."

If. She's not failing to recognise how short a time ago it was that...all those things happened.

"But...I need to get home."

[mothmansplaining]

Ford nods, once, seriously. He respects that -- talking to her might give some of the people who were hurt and frightened by what happened some closure. It takes guts to open yourself up like that.

"I understand," he says. Then, with a smile -- "I'm going to miss you."