#scene switch

Crabtree 4-Scene Smart Controller – 2 Module WiFi Touch Panel

So, whilst on the Cipher Hunt Discord, an idea for an AU struck me. It came out of nowhere and is probably kinda weird since I’ve never gathered my thoughts in one post before, but this new experience will be fun. Thanks to Tailskirby6 on Discord for the name idea!

The main concept is that the Mystery Shack is a boat. So it’s the Mystery Ship, an old, rickety boat that Stan presents as a haunted pirate ship to get money from the masses. He gives tours in it to show off pirate maps, fake treasure, treasure hunting, and all sorts, but as it’s a pirate ship all of the workers are dressed up in pirate gear to ‘complete the look’ and act as an attraction too. The ship itself is actually an old research boat Stanford used to investigate anomalies with, and quite a lot of the specimen are still locked up in parts of the ship that cannot be accessed and provide the creepy noises that intrigue the customers. Despite the fact that the Mystery Ship is Stan’s source of income, the building that would’ve been the shack still exists, and it’s where Stan and the kids sleep, relax, and have general family bonding stuff.

The Tent of Telepathy is still a tent, just a floating inflatable tent that has been popped by Stan in spite way too many times. Gideon has a gravity defying theme going on using the amulet rather than the mind reading to fit with the floating tent, and to also stop people being seasick on the floor. Gideon also holds up himself to stop any falling during a performance, since it’s unprofessional.

Greasy’s Diner, Dusk2Dawn, and most places in Gravity Falls are still there, just by the sea instead.

Dipper and Mabel go to see their Grunkle Stan at summer thinking that the trip will be freeing despite the boredom, only to find that they’re being made to dress up and work on the boat instead. When Dipper is sent to the shore to put up signs advertising the Mystery Ship, he finds an old waterlogged journal washed up on the beach, detailing sea creatures and supernatural entities that most wouldn’t dream of. Excited by his discovery, Mabel and Dipper make a habit of ‘borrowing’ a lifeboat from Stan and hunting for the mysterious creatures. They also failed to take into account their getup provoking some of the older sea residents who were hunted by pirates, and so can get into some serious trouble out at sea, usually escaping without leaving the lifeboat they’re using intact.

Soos and Wendy still work at the Ship, with them both retaining their positions, but with Soos dressed as a Swabbie as relevant to him keeping the ship in tip top shape, and Wendy dressed as a Boatswain as she keeps and sells the stock. Of course the roles they have aren’t totally accurate, due to Stan’s limited knowledge on pirates. Stan is, of course, the Captain of Mystery, and still gives tours and generally being his conning self as always. Mabel is the Quarter Master and charms the masses with her social skills and resolves conflicts in the public and in the ‘crew’. Dipper becomes known as the Sailing Master to his somewhat relief after showing his knowledge of maps and pirate history, initally going to be a Cabin Boy had Dipper not proven his worth. He’s still made to clean and do tasks quite a lot, albeit begrudgingly.

Some episodes, like Northwest Mansion Mystery, can be changed a little and keep a sea theme without changing too much simply by swapping the setting from the party in the mansion to a Northwest private Yacht party, but others aren’t so simple. Mermando could be a land cervitaur or -taur of some description to give a reason for Mabel not being able to visit much, and so the setting of that episode would change entirely, creating an entirely new spin on things, but this isn’t set in stone.