I started this primarily as painting practice and brush experimenting, based on a striking photo I saw. But it seemed like the natural environment to put the Sea Grunks into! (And I also wanted to experiment with “dramatically lit by campfire” stuff.)
As for the painting, ehn, there’s things I learned for next time. I really gotta do a tutorial on fire, ‘cause I’m not happy with that. See below the cut for the original photo.
While we are not yet in Week Three of @forduary, I think this counts for “Road Trip”, in a way. :)
(Stan and Ford walk down the street, people pass them by including a group of 6 kids, one with purple hair, and most of them in odd fashion.)
Stan (Thinking): Kids these days…
Stan (Aloud): You sure there’s actually some sort of weird anomaly in this place, Ford?
…
Ford?
(Stan turns to find Ford has disappeared… without warning… again.
He pokes his head around the corner to see his brother crouched in an alley next to the dumpster, his notebook in one hand and a pen vigorously scribbling in the other.)
Rat 1: Bread of wisdom grants us speech!
Rat 2: We desire more!
Ford:Fascinating!
Stan: Woof…. no thank you.
(He goes into the café and gets in line, ordering a coffee to pass the time until Ford gets done with the *whatever that was* he was doing in the alley.
He thanks the barista for the drink and take a sip before his eyes dart upward only to see… her!)
*SPIIIIIIT!*
(Coffee goes spewing, the barista ducking out of the line of fire thanks to her hard-earned customer service reflexes.)
Stan: M-M-M-Marilyn! It’s you!
Barista (exasperated): Are you friends with Marilyn too?
Stan (awkwardly): You… could say that. Haven’t seen her in years though. So what’s her story?
Barista: Yeah, she tried to pay for an order with a live racoon and got banned for life. She also enchanted the croissants which led to a bigger problem in the alley. It was cool at first, but now… eek…
Ford (busting through the door, both rats in a cage, complaining about bread): Stanley! I knew there was something interesting going on here! The readings on these rodents match our initial wave detection perfectly! We’re onto something! I told you sailing to Connecticut was a good idea!
Barista:Wait… Did the city send you guys to take care of the talking rats? Finally!? Yes! Please! Take them with you! Thank you!
Stan: Uh yeah, sure sure…. but I’m gonna need that photo there, too. For uh… for evidence?
(He points to the autographed headshot and the Barista hands it over gladly.)
Barista:DEAL!
(Stan takes the photo of Marilyn and sips his coffee contently as Ford continues to interview the weird rats.
They leave the café and proceed to wander about town.
All the creepy little rats wanted to talk about was bread.
Stan thought back to Tad Strange who also loved bread… maybe they could ditch these rats with him on their next visit to Gravity Falls?)
Stanley overhearing Caryn Pines talking about his future like a prediction and years later, when it comes true, re-evaluating if she actually was a real psychic predicting him sitting in a soggy motel room eating raw bread and not just somebody with eyes
I like to think Ford’s really big on stretching and yoga exercises. The man can fold himself like a lawn chair- Also helps against old man bones! Bonus! (Also Stanley teaching Mabel to box, because that is seriously the most wholesome thing)
Little speech bubble in the middle: Mabel and Stanley both: Fight! Fight! Fight!
Up in the right corner: Stanford: How’s the relaxation position, Stanley? Stanley: I know you’re makin’ fun a’me Sixer, but my back popped when I laid down 20 minutes ago, and now I cannot get up.
I made Stanford a playlist recently, because I felt bad I’d only made Stanley one, and “The Stupid, The proud” by IAMX was like…Madefor them. Probably by Bill, because the lyrics sounds right down Bill’s alley- But anyway
