#BMU Stan AU

[aliensubstance-011]

Fiddlestan AU!!

AU where Ford gets into West Coast Tech, but Stan manages to (somehow) get into Backupsmore and gets roomed with Fiddleford! 

Stan was kicked out after Ford left (because if his brother was ready to leave home, so was Stan). Stan lived in his car & the public libraries he found (all his fake IDs are just fake Library Cards lmao. nerd). Stan also discovered he was queer (did drag for the prize money, then went OH. All these queens are treating me like this because I'm a baby queer. That makes sense. Guess I’m doing guys now.).

I like to think that Stan spent a year or two studying up after Ford left so when he gets in Fiddleford is in his second or third year! This does result in a “I'm your new roommate. You first year?” and Fiddleford going “What in tarnation... I'm THIRD year? How did we end up in the same dorm????”

At first they HATE each other- Fiddleford thinks Stan is reckless, and doesn’t know what he’s doing there, and that he’s kind of stupid, while Stan thinks Fiddleford is some stuck-up hippie who formed an opinion on Stan too quickly (he did). Once they do start talking they have a very quick ‘oh you’re actually not that bad’ moment. Fiddleford leaves before Stan, obviously, but they keep in close contact even after Fiddleford moves in with Emma-Mae. 

Stan and Ford have a huge argument about Ford not needing Stan anymore. Cue: “Of course I need you, you're my brother” “WELL YOU DON'T ACT LIKE IT”, which is another reason that Stan and Fiddleford leave together. Not long after this, around Stan’s graduation,  Fiddleford has a 'I'm gay and don't love my wife' moment, and Stan casually suggests running away, just driving (maybe something a little nostalgic in it, maybe when Stan looks back at his car he feels like he can hear a distant New Jersey shore). The next day Fiddleford shows up with a duffle bag of things, and Stan realises Fiddleford took him seriously. That he’s willing to run away with him, even if it’s not on a boat, that Fiddleford wants to. Stan gets very, very close to realising he’s in love that day. 

They run away after Stan’s graduation and just drive until they get to Gravity Falls! They set up shop there, with Fiddleford doing auto repairs (and making inventions on the side). Fiddleford confesses to Stan when they’re staying in a motel- he thinks Stan is asleep, so he just says that he thinks he’s in love with him, while Stan is laying wide awake in the bed next to him. Stan spends the next few days Freaking The Fuck Out while Fiddleford doesn’t acknowledge what he said. Stan thinks Fiddleford knew he was awake, so when he confesses back he says something along the lines of “I think I’m in love with you, too” and Fiddleford bluescreens.

Just General HCs:

Stan falls first, but doesn't realise until Fiddleford confesses.

Ford is still self centred but doesn't hate Stan. Stan resents Ford for not doing anything when he was kicked out, and a little bit for leaving him. He understands, though, why stay with your good for nothing brother when you have dreams across the country to fulfil? 

Fiddleford is Repressed Gay until he confesses his Awful Secret to Stan who's just like....”okay?”. He does get to the point of marrying Emma-mae, before he confesses to Stan. 

I don't quite know what Stan will be doing, both in Backupsmore and once they move to Gravity Falls. I like a little bit about him either doing Art or Law, but I feel as though he’s not willing nor smart enough (respectively) for either one.

Stan IS smart, don’t get me wrong, he just needs it to be something ‘physical’ that he can interact with. Fiddleford helps a lot with this (having gotten a lot of hands-on work while he was on the farm). 

I think eventually Ford does end up in Gravity Falls too, but by this point he’s distanced himself from everyone not because of Bill, but because of his own hubris. 

Because of Stan and Fiddleford being queer, I don’t think Dipper and Mabel would be allowed to visit them until their parents have no other choice- though they do hear a lot about their Grunkles and see them from time to time. 

If I did include a Bill/main timeline ish plot it’d be Fiddleford who gets tricked- maybe after Ford gets to Gravity Falls, and Bill offers a way to keep Stan happy/repair his relationship with Ford (maybe Fiddleford thinks Stan is going to run away- just without him this time. He knows Stan would never, but he could.) 

I’d probably include a B-plot where Stan thinks Fiddleford will cheat on him with Ford- they click immediately and so much better, Ford is so much smarter, he’s the better twin, because insecure Stan is my favourite thing ever. Just a small detail, but I think that Fiddleford is a lot more confident and stable with Stan, mainly because Stan has encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone so often, and has proved time and time again that all Fiddleford has to do is ask and Stan is right there to catch him.

I'm still not sure what Stan should do, so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know! That and drawing requests god let me draw them PLEASE.

[tinfoil-jones]

Tate Pines AU 

(aka Tater McGucket is an oops baby Fiddlestan kid)

Note: LONG POST. This is me hyper fixating on a brain worm because the Gravity Falls Fandom roared back to life. This is probably misspelled in a lot of areas, and not the clearest or most concise post because this is me rambling at 2 in the morning. Also the characters are maybe OOC. Also, this is written without accents because I'm not from the Midwest or southern United States.

In this AU/Scenario, Stan is a transgender man, and 'encountered' Fiddleford during his vagabond years. It was a heavily drunk/high one-night-stand, so they never properly met or even knew each others names. This happens after Ford graduating Backupsmore University, and for this scenario to work let’s say that Fiddleford went to BMU for his undergraduate program, but then went to the local university in Palo Alto for his graduate studies.

Years later, just like in the OG show Fiddleford is Stanford's research partner in Gravity Falls, and married to Emma-May Dixon; but they don't have any children together at this time, and they got together *after* his encounter with Stan. So this isn't an affair baby scenario.

Tatum "Tate" Pines is 5 years old, living on the road with his dad, currently staying in a motel but they're about to move into a real apartment for the first time ever because Tate needs to start school soon. Stan is still a drifter and a con man, but he recently came upon a large sum of money because Tate accurately guessed the lottery number for the state they were currently in.

Stan still receives a postcard from Gravity Falls that says "Please Come", and is allegedly sent from his estranged Twin who he hasn't seen in almost 12 years. But this is roughly a few months before it would have happened in-canon.

Given Stan's disownment, no one knows that he even has a son, not even Ma Pines. Not like he'd want them to know. Having his own son and loving him unconditionally made him realize that his own dad Filbrick was a monster, who he didn't need to prove himself to. But he still wants to reconcile with Ford, so he decides to go just like in canon.

This post card, however, wasn't sent by Ford. It was sent by Fiddleford, who was watching Ford spiral in real time and hoped that if anyone could convince Ford that he was acting crazy and unstable, it was his twin brother.

While Stanford doesn't greet Stanley with a crossbow like in the original because this is before the portal test with Fiddleford, he's definitely shocked to not just see Stanley there, but Stanley with a tiny gap-toothed child in tow.

Stan doesn't know that Ford wasn't expecting them, and excitedly introduces Ford to his nephew.

Ford: Stanley, are you sure this child is yours? Stan: ...Ford, did you forget we're not identical twins?  Ford: ...Oh! Oh my, Stanley... Stan: *thinking* 'I don't know if I'm touched that you don't see me as anything other than a man... or insulted that you forgot something so fundamental about me'

Flabbergasted, Ford lets them both in; Fiddleford is welding something downstairs so he doesn't see or hear any of this. Ford plants Tate on the couch in front of the TV and practically drags Stan to the kitchen to talk to him privately; he's too surprised by Stan having a child to question why they were there in the first place.

Ford: Is there a... another parent..? Stan: ...It's just me and Tate. Always has been. Ford: How did...? Stan: I didn't plan a pregnancy... but I had no money for T-shots for months on end, and without the T, everything down stairs went to factory default.  Ford: Do you know who it is? The father- I mean, the other father? Stan: Not exactly, some southern guy, don't think I ever got his name. Ford: What happened? Stan: Funny you should ask. (FLASHBACK) Fiddleford, high out of his mind: -and that's how I won a golden fiddle. Stan, drunk out of his mind: That's crazy, dude. *grabs him aggressively by the shirt collar to pull him close* Now shut up and fuck me until I can't walk. Fiddleford, horny out of his mind: Hoo-whee, well don't you diddly-darn mind if'n I do. (END) Ford: Stanley? Stan: Hmm? Ford: Are you okay? You just said 'its funny that you ask', and then stared off into space for 10 seconds. Stan: Let's just say I never touched tequila ever again.

Eventually, Fiddleford does come upstairs when he notices Ford didn't come back downstairs, and see's the brothers in the kitchen just as Ford asks Stan why he even came here.

Fiddleford admits it was him who sent the postcard, that someone needed to 'talk some sense' into Ford, and then introduces himself to Stan.

While Stan isn't perplexed by Fiddleford because he was too drunk to remember a face- Fiddleford, who has very good memory, immediately knows he met Stan somewhere, he just can't quite place where, when, or why.

Ford does show Stan the portal, saying it's his life's work and he'll need to test it soon, and casually asks Stan if he wants to stay and help. Before Fiddleford can protest that's a bad idea and Ford should just stop, Stan agrees because he wants to reconnect (and also keep a roof over Tate's head, what were the chances they'd win another lottery?), it did hurt his feelings that Stanford hadn't reached out out to him after all, but maybe they could work on that.

While Ford hasn't exactly forgiven Stanley for the science fair incident, he can't just let his brother, a single father be homeless with a five-year-old (Stan had to drop the lease with their intended apartment to come to Gravity Falls). And... well, Ford gets attached to Tate quite early:

Tate: ... *staring at him* Ford: Can I help you with something, Tatum? Tate: Uncle, is your name "Stanford"?  Ford: Yes, but if you prefer you can call me Uncle Ford. Tate: Oh. Okay. It's funny, Stanford is my middle name. *later* Stan: Kiddo, why has your uncle been sobbing in his room for the past thirty minutes? Tate: *shrugs*

Not realizing the gravity (hehe) of the situation, Stan gets settled in the house and helps Ford and Fiddleford where he can (usually just moving heavy objects or punching paranormal creatures, or forcing Ford to shower). He does notice that Ford seems a bit... unhinged, and weirdly obsessed with some new geometry based religion, but people change after college right?

He does get unnerved by Fords weird episodes where his personality seems to shift and he goes into town to act like an absolute menace. Stan can't help but think that isn't Ford; its been years since he saw him but damnit he knew his brother and whatever entity possessed him just to slap a cops belly, *that* was not Ford. But Ford always brushed him off when he tried to bring it up, and one time 'Ford' even coldly reminded Stan that he could remove Stanley and his son from the home at any time if he wasn't going to be useful.

During this time, Stan and Fiddleford get to know each other, they get along quite well actually; Fiddleford is fond of little Tatum, who along with Stan enjoys listening to him play the banjo. One could say, given Fords obsession with his current passion project and prioritizing work over his relationships, that Stan and Fiddleford become close. 

Fiddleford picks up, however... that little Tate is a genius. Although he's a quiet kid, he has an advanced vocabulary for his age. He's able to read and write at what must be a 2nd or 3rd grade level despite not even starting kindergarten yet, and... one time Fiddleford left an 8x8 cubiks cube unattended, and came back no more than five minutes later to see that Tate had already solved it. And Stan had told him that Tate has actively predicted lottery numbers before.

He brings it up with Stan, who admits that he already knows Tate is a genius, but he also knows what academic pressure and high expectations can do to someone (referring to Ford), and he just wants Tate to live life by his own terms, not let other people dictate that for him based on his IQ.

Fiddleford... also see's resemblances between himself and Tate. Sure, Tate has browner hair like Stan, but the wavier texture is just like his own. And while Stanley does have a prominent nose, it's not as prominent as Tates, which is much more similar to Fiddlefords. 

Fiddleford begins to ask Stan about his past, specifically bringing up that he believes they may have met before.

Fiddleford: Say, Stan, did we meet before you moved here? You're so familiar to me. Stan: I wonder where you could have possibly seen my face before? *glances at the lab* Fiddleford: No. I feel like we've met before - you ever been to Palo Alto? Stan: That city in Cali? Yeah. I'd say about six years ago. I was just passing by, resupplying, and selling weed to college students. Fiddleford: You were a weed dealer? Stan: Among other things, yeah. California's *the* place to go to for weed. I don't do it anymore. Fiddleford: Did you... ever visit the university there? Stan: A couple times. Hated going there because it reminded me of... well, I think you know. Why? Fiddleford: I did my graduate studies there, maybe I met you there? Stan: You think so? I only saw buyers, did you buy weed from me? Fiddleford: No... I had a dealer, but it wasn't you. Stan: Other than that, I did get invited to a frat party once. Think they were called "SigEp" or something. Fiddleford: That's 'Sigma Phi Epsilon'. That was the fraternity I belonged to. Did I see you at that party? Stan: Probably - oh man that party was crazy. I made so many bad decisions that night. Fiddleford: Stanley... how old did you say your son was? Stan: Five, why? Fiddleford: ... Fiddleford: Stanley... *reaches out* Stan: *jerks back, before pointing away* Hey look over there, a distraction! Fiddleford: What- *looks away* Stan: *jumps out the window and makes a run for it*

Stan does not entertain any further discussions with Fiddleford about his past, and goes out of his way to keep Tate with him and away from Fiddleford. Given his criminal past, he's afraid that if Fiddleford is correct, he could make legal actions to take Tate away from him.

Fiddleford eventually goes to Ford about his suspicions.

Fiddleford: Stanford I'm going to tell you something, and I need you to promise you'll stay calm. Stanford: *doesn't look up from microscope* Are you going to tell me you suspect you're Tatum's father because you slept with my brother around the time he would have been concieved? Fiddleford: ... Stanford: Because you are. Fiddleford: What in tar- Stanford: *tosses a file folder towards Fiddleford* I have all of our DNA on file - Fiddleford: You do???? Stanford: Of course I do! I store the DNA profile of everyone who's entered my residence, just in case there's a shifter afoot. Comparing yours and Stanley's DNA to Tatum's, there is only a 0.001% chance that he isn't your biological child. Fiddleford: ... *speechless* Stanford: Congratulations, according to science you're a father.

Fiddleford does eventually manage to talk to Stan about it, and clear the air between them. Stan is apprehensive because Fiddleford is married, but he's at least relieved that Tate happened before Fiddleford was in a relationship with Emma-May. Stan allows Fiddleford to spend more time with Tate (supervised), but they agree Tate doesn't need to know just yet what Fiddleford is to him.

Fiddleford also holds back on telling his wife about Tate, he'd prefer to tell her face-to-face.

But then the portal test happens and Fiddleford gets a glimpse of the horrors beyond the portal, which traumatizes him just like in the original. This doesn't convince him to leave, because Ford is becoming dangerous and Fiddleford is worried about what would happen if Stan and Tate were left alone with him. He invents the memory gun, but holds up on using it on himself.

The relationship Ford has with both Stan and Fiddleford  becomes more explosive. Stan and Fiddleford are both telling Ford that he's messing with forces beyond his control.

To get Fiddleford off of his back about the portals, Ford instead lashes out at him about something else.

Stanford: Fiddleford... you know you're my best friend right? Fiddleford: ...Of course. Stanford: Stanley and I don't have a good relationship... we haven't in a long time. *puts a hand on his shoulder* But don't you dare hurt my brother, or nephew. I don't care how strained things are between Stanley and myself, or how close you and I are... He's my brother, and I'll always protect him, even if it's from you. Fiddleford: Do you think I would try to steal Tatum, Stanford?! *Pushes him away* Also, if you're going to threaten me, you could at least not be such a hypocrite. Stanford: How dare- Fiddleford: You say you care about Stanley? That you'd protect him? He's been homeless for over a decade! You SAW him get kicked out of home when he was still a minor! He escaped three different prisons, had extremely shady black-market top-surgery, chewed his way out of the trunk of a car, and gave birth by himself in an alleyway! He had walking pneumonia for nearly a year straight and almost died from it because he had to choose between himself and Tate over who needed treatment more!  But you didn't know any of that, did you? Because you don't talk to him or try to reach out. You still avoid him. You still treat him like he's your enemy. You're still resentful about that damn science project.  You don't know him or what he went through. You didn't even want him here, I called him up here so maybe somebody could set you straight!  Working with this portal, messing with these forces beyond comprehension and control- the only threat to Stan and our son is you! Ford: Get the hell out of my lab- and stay the hell away from my twin.

But this 'Mystery Trio'-esque era of their lives has a Bad End:

After Ford gets sucked into the portal the same way as he did in the original, Stanley decides to take over his identity; Fiddleford helps him with everything up until Stan fakes his own death.

As Tate's biological (other) father, and Stan having recently altered Tate's birth certificate to add Fiddleford, the boy is given to Fiddleford right away following Stan's 'death' and not put into foster care or an orphanage. This window of time is also when Fiddleford establishes the Society of The Blind Eye, but he chooses a leader after he founds it rather than leading it himself.

When Stan makes it clear he's going to dedicate himself to fixing the portal and bringing Ford back, Fiddleford makes a drastic decision. 

Knowing what the portal obsession did to Stanford, Fiddleford doesn't want Tate to be around if- no, when, the same thing happens to Stan. 

He uses the memory gun on Stan to make him forget about their son entirely. He does the same thing to Tate to make him forget about Stanley, legally changes his name to Tater McGucket, and takes him back to California with him.

He makes this decision because in this scenario he never used the memory gun on himself, so the memory of what's on the other side of the portal still haunts him, making him more desperate and callous, especially with a child involved.

It breaks his heart that he did this, but he doesn't want Tate to be dragged into Pines drama. He takes the boy home and tells his wife that he was conceived before they were together (looking at Tate's age, he was born at least a year before they started dating), and uses the news clipping about Stan's death to explain how he got custody without any trouble, and Emma-May adopts Tate. Tates memory gaps are excused by his young age, and the trauma of losing a parent at such a young age, so Fiddleford and Emma-May decide not to tell him about Stanley.

Stan forgets about both Tate and Fiddleford, but he has this deep sense of loss and betrayal that he can't place. He figures over the years that maybe it's just some of his feelings about Ford having gone through the portal...

Decades later, and after a divorce, Fiddleford moves back to Gravity Falls, bringing Tate with him so Tate can start his Bait and Tackle Shop somewhere quiet. Fiddleford is there to check up on the Society of the Blind Eye, and also to check on Stanley because he feels guilty about what he did. Although he knows that this is Stanley pretending to be Stanford, he says nothing to anybody about it, it's the least he could do.

When Stan see's Fiddleford again - he doesn't know why, because he's 'never met the guy', but just looking at his face pisses him off. And every time Stan see's Fiddleford from then on, whether its across the street or at the shops or what have you, he is openly hostile towards him even if he can't adequately explain why he feels this way about Fiddleford. Also strangely attracted to him, particularly his banjo playing, but its overshadowed by his hostility.

Stan meets Tate shortly after the Tate and Backles Bait and Tackle shop is opened... and he doesn't know why, but this young man he's never met makes him feel sad. But also... Relieved? Elated? Proud?? He comes by often, sometimes not even buying (or stealing) anything, he just chats with Tate (and Backle to a lesser degree).

Tate himself feels strangely fond of this frequent flier customer. Like he's met a dear old friend. He is awfully confused why Stan will sometimes call him 'Tatum', seemingly without noticing, and why he never feels like correcting him. 

Fiddleford knows why, because he never erased his own memory, and he feels so guilty. But it's been 30 years, he can't say anything without ruining his relationship with Tate (which became strained after the divorce, which in this timeline happened maybe around Tate's late teen/early adult years). 

One way that this whole thing can be revealed is when Dipper and Mabel deal with The Blind Eye society, they find two memory tubes, one labelled "Tatum S. Pines" and another labeled "Stan Pines" take it with them because it has their last name, and Grunkle Stans name, on them.

They play the one labeled Stan Pines at first, and realize it's Tates early childhood memories of Stan.

When they play the one labeled "Tatum S. Pines" they see it's all of Grunkle Stans memories of Tate, leading up to his confrontation with Fiddleford.

(MEMORY) Stan, backing up: Wait, what is that thing? Fiddleford, what are you doing with that?! Fiddleford, pointing the memory gun at him: I'm sorry Stan, I truly am. But I can't let you drag our son into this... I do care for you, and I wish things could have been different. But you're just like him!  **BLAST** (END OF MEMORY)

This horrifies them, and they have a real moral conundrum of if they tell Stan and Tate, or if they keep it to themselves to keep the peace. 

They deserve to know... but it'd be so painful. And this would take place before "The Tale of Two Stans" so they don't even know what Fiddleford was talking about to justify stealing Tate, or who 'him' is.

Eventually, it's Wendy and Soos who confront McGucket and tell him that he better be honest with Stan and Tate, or they're going to do it for him. That he's a selfish coward who ripped someone's young child from their arms.

Or, an alternative scenario; Fiddleford never stored those memories in the first place, or at least didn't store them with the Society of the Blind Eye, and it's Ford who brings this all up to Stan. Ford was already through the portal when Fiddleford decided that parental abduction was totally okay if there was amnesia involved.

Ford: Are these Tatum's children? *motioning to Dipper and Mabel*. Stan: They're Shermie's grandkids, and - who? Ford: ...Tatum? Tatum Stanford Pines? Your son. Stan: ...I don't- I don't have a son. *tears gathers in the corner of his eyes, but he either doesn't notice, or chooses to not react* And if I did, I wouldn't give him your name as a middle. Ford: Yes you do, and yes you did. You introduced us right before the portal incident. I even DNA-sequenced him to confirm that his other father was Fiddleford. Stan: WHAT? And- who?? Ford: Here, look *pulls up his DNA files from ones of his secret safes in the lab and shows it to Stanley, which not only has the DNA results but also pictures of Stanley, Fiddleford, and Tate from the time* Honestly Stanley, how could you forget a child you car-.

Ford realizes something is wrong when it's clear that Stanley is distressed, but also confused, like having a son is legitimately a surprise to him. He's so shocked he has to lie down for a bit. His eyes keep leaking tears but he doesn't know why 'Fords cruel and oddly elaborate joke' is making him so upset, because 'clearly it's not true'.

When Ford hears Fiddleford lives in Gravity Falls, he seeks him out and demands answers.

At first, Fiddleford tries to play it off like maybe Ford was remembering things wrong - but with enough pressure, and a ray gun pointed at his chest, Fiddleford finally comes clean. About what he did. Why he did it.

Ford is still angry at Stan for getting him trapped in the Nightmare Realm Multiverse for 30 years; and then stealing his name, identity, and house, but that's still his twin brother. And what Fiddleford did was to him was horrendous, especially after Stanford had already warned him years ago to not to hurt Stan or Tate. This was a crime against the whole Pines family. 

So Ford beats him up. No, he doesn't kill or maim him, but he beats the living dog shit out of him until Fiddleford promises the glass tubes of Stan and Tate's memories in exchange for mercy.

Mabel, Dipper (and Soos/Wendy) are clearly confused (because they wouldn't have seen the memories in the "The Hall of the Forgotten"). Although, this whole revelation does bring Dipper closer to Stan, because Dipper had no idea he wasn't the only transgender person in the family.

Ford shows these memories to Stan first, who is going through all kinds of emotions especially after getting Ford back and their bitter reunion. This allows Ford and Stan to somewhat reconcile early; just like how Ford lost 30 years of his life to the portal, Stanley lost 30 years with his own son because of his conviction to fix it.

Ford also has to physically stop Stan from hunting down and murdering Fiddleford (who Stan only knew as McGucket up to this point) with his bare hands. Reminding him that it's more important that he reaches out to Tate.

But Stan is conflicted. He wants to be Tate's dad again but... Tate is in his mid-thirties, he doesn't need him like he did when he was 5. And Tate already has two loving parents, both of which don't have an extensive criminal record, and who provided him with a stable home, which Stan never did because they were homeless the whole time.

Does he really want to uproot Tate's life and/or peace of mind with a revelation this big?  

This goes all the way to Weirdmageddon, where everyone gathers in the Mystery Shack for security; faced with a possible end of the world, Stan takes Tate to the side, dragging Fiddleford with them, and tells him the truth. Fiddleford confirms it all, ashamed and apologetic. Finally, they give Tate his memory tube, which he watches.

For a moment Stan and Fiddleford have a moment of solidarity; Stan can see that Fiddleford really did want to spare Tate from whatever unknown-at-the-time fate had befallen Stanford because of the portal.

Fiddleford finally faces his past mistakes, and apologizes for what he did. That what he did was wrong, and he can never make it up to them, but if they survive this maybe he could try to make things right.

This is their last family moment between the three of them pre memory-wipe.

The mind wipe thing still happens. Gravity Falls is saved. Mabel and Dipper manage to jog Stan's memory but there's no way to make him remember Tate - the glass memory tubes have already been used, and Stan didn't keep any photos from his homeless era because he couldn't afford it most of the time, and when he could he always managed to get kicked out of whatever state they were in before the photos were done developing.

Once again, Ford comes in clutch. Throughout his last journal, just like how he made entries about Fiddleford, he also made entries about Stan and Tate, including detailed sketches. How Tate liked to get into high places, exasperating Stanley who was afraid of heights. How Stan would take him to the woods to follow the creeks because Tate was intrigued by waterways. How Tate said so few words but Stan always seemed to know exactly what he wanted or needed at any given time. How Tate only liked eating the green M&M's but Stan was fine with it because he got to eat the rest. 

Now while Stan's heartwarming memories of his son come back, so does his desire to break Fiddlefords neck. 

Fiddleford still buys the Northwest Mansion and converts it to "McGucket's Hootenanny Hut", but because the Pines families are the heroes of Gravity Falls, they (Ford) manage to convince the local government to put Fiddleford on house arrest for an indeterminate amount of time as punishment for 30-something years of parental abduction and alienation (also the whole starting a Cult thing). Fiddleford accepts this, and Tate still lives with him.

Post memory-wipe Stan still reconciles with both of them, and his relationship with Fiddleford is... weird, but not entirely bad. It's like they're dating, but with a lot of emotional distance. Like, Stan still tells Ford he wants to murder him... but also tells him to never, ever, check their texting history. 

Stan still goes to sail the world with Ford on the Stan O'War II. They do invite Tate, who declines because "He'd rather just live the simple life in Gravity Falls, and not get involved in whatever supernatural gobbledygook his dad and uncle are sure to get into".

And Stan is so proud of him... because just like he said thirty years, there's nothing he wanted more for Tate than to live his life by his own terms. He video chat's with him as often as he does with Dipper and Mabel. 

Tate ends up keeping McGucket as his last name, but he changes his first and middle back to what it was originally.

And that's the end of this tale, thanks for sticking with me. Here's a passage where Ford teases Stan while they're on their sea adventure;

Ford: It was so sweet of you to give your son my name. Stan: Poindexter, I swear to Moses. Ford: Even after a decade apart. Admit it, you missed me so much. Stan: *rolls his eyes* Of course I did. Stan: Stan: But the real reason that's his middle name is because he was conceived at Stanford University. Ford: I- Ford: I really didn't want to know or think about that.

The End... Go home.

[fettucine-afraido]

Au where Filbrick favours Stanley over Stanford

Think about it, Stan's stronger, more assertive, and has the mind of a good businessman.

Ford's only saving grace is that he's smart.

But what if Filbrick saw the potential in the strength Stanley has? Nurtured those strengths and made sure he had everything he needed to succeed?

What if he'd done what many parents do and left Ford entirely to his own devices, since he's so smart?

Both twins succeed but Stan has the pressure of his father looming over him at all times.

The Stans are still close, of course; Ford is Stan's only real reprieve from the weight of having to constantly be better.

They realise that Filbrick sucks ass and leave (The Stanmobile still exists).

Ford gets accepted to West Side but Stan doesn't despite being just as smart as Ford (Ford convinced him to apply) and they're separated for about a year, still in touch but further apart (Stan goes to Backupsmore).

Stan meets Fiddleford, they end up being an unlikely pair of friends, a force to be reckoned with. Maybe Fiddleford even meets Ford in this time through his visits to Stan.

Eventually Ford moves to BMU because he's miserable in West Side, completely unchallenged, works twice as hard with Stan making sure that he isn't overworking himself.

Fast forward to graduation, Ford with his 12 PhDs, Stan with a Master's in economics and physics (he also minored in Cryptology because codes are fun), Fiddleford with whatever degrees he got in the show, and they're all still friends.

Ford gets a grant to go to Gravity Falls and Stan tags along, keeping Ford out of trouble, fighting anomalies, etc.

Fiddleford ends up in Gravity Falls during his divorce (he only really has Stan and Ford to turn to; his parents are too judgy) and now it's just three best friends living together in the Shack.

Then Bill gets involved.

[unreliable-narrator-2845]

massive info dump abt an au im working on below ( +art)

some doodles from an au im working on w/ some friends... it's kind of a riff off of both the portal swap au and mr bill pines au... essentially, the brothers are swapped from the beginning - stanley is seen as the smart, successful one, and ford a bit of an outcast black sheep of the family, seen as bad luck because of his extra fingers. stanley is the good, normal one, the one with all the people skills, and ford is the 'brute' slacker, and seen as far more stupid than he really is. stanley is the one who invented the perpetual motion machine - and ford destroys it on purpose out of frustration and jealousy, and is the one that gets kicked out.

ford goes down the path of crime, like stan did, but he's a little more, uh... intense about it. he can't go off of people skills, he's gotta bring actual stuff to the table, so he travels to weirdness pockets (smaller than gravity falls) and basically turns the whole criminal underground on its head by his uncanny ability to harness this stuff. people do not like him, but he's VERY useful, so he gets to live in constant fear of whether people doing deals with him are going to leave him alone after or kill him after, since he can't tell which is which.

unlike stanley, who i think would absolutely hesitate to actually do severe physical violence (past beating people up) even while during his homeless years, i think ford wouldn't hesitate as much. ford has absolutely killed people. he will kill again.

how i see it going down is that bill, doing his usual dealings and such, has one of his hosts killed by ford while he's in it after ford witnesses a crime. he goes "haha! oh shit! a witness!" and then gets his neck fucking snapped the moment he advances on him. bill is Not Particularly Pleased, until he actually gets into ford's dreams, and is... impressed.

i am a simp for bill being a simp - in this au bill doesn't bother manipulating him, he wants this rugged badass to be his husband NOW. when they make a deal, ford writes a paper contract that they regularly update. bill and ford have a very mutual deal, to say the least, and they get married - and ford is the one to take his last name, since he cut contact with the family who kicked him out, so he's mr. stanford cipher (which i think is a good au name?). stanley is the one w/ the middle name filbrick in this au btw.

behind the eye scar: ford got into some shit with the cartel. this happens after his and bill's marriage, but what bill can do is limited w/o being physically present, so he has to watch in horror as they torture ford as he tries to find a way to get his husband out. this is the inciting incident that makes him particularly antsy about getting a portal up and going.

meanwhile stanley in gravity falls comes across an interesting cave...

trivia:

bill could minorly heal the eye, but only so much. the eye is now permanently bill's, or at least in his coloration. ford keeps it closed, but it opens fully when bill is fully possessing him. their contract details that bill can come and go only with ford's explicit permission. they often have a half-possession going, where bill can enhance ford and take only mild control, if any at all.

ford has 4 depictions of bill across his body, all tats. he has lots of vague triangle tattoos also, and the portal shape on his back. bill is fond of possessing the depiction on his throat, which he can move around as he pleases

bill's priorities during the initial writing of the contract were extremely funny. ford was trying to figure out the exact details of mind access, body access, etc, and bill was just gushing about "WE NEED RINGS!!!" and "i get to take you on 4 dates before i propose hehe"

stanley went to BMU and was dormmates w/ fiddleford. they are covertly (not legally) married (because 1980s) and went to gravity falls together. stanley and ford both have an interest in cryptozoology in this. ford avoids gravity falls like the plague because he knows stanley would probably be there

^^ addition to the above: stanley's full name is Stanley Filbrick Pines-McGucket, though he is only Pines-McGucket informally

stanley also still has his mullet. sue me. also he has glasses because he needs them and he's a nerdy science guy in this one

i really enjoy the pre-portal 1980s part of the timeline. can you tell. there's so much potential here. i am frothing at the mouth.

anyways............................................. more content soon. repurposed an old empty sideblog to maybe dedicate to this au/gf content. we shall see.

[moxxienolastname]

have some silly au stuff I made up. idk what a good name for an au like this is, but here ya go

in this au ford went to west coast tech (stan never ‘sabotaged’ him). fiddleford didn’t meet ford in college, but ended up moving to gravity falls to start his own tech and robotics company after BMU :)

[oatmealdaydreams]

My Gravity Falls AUs (So Far)

I caved, and so here's me yapping about my collection of AUs...except The Spoiler One.

Calming Seas AU

The basic premise is qpp Fiddlestan in college at BMU in the 70s because Stan didn't break his brother's project in this universe. Murder mystery thriller plotline with some queerplatonic realizations from Fiddlestan. Made multiple posts about this already. Main au I'm working on.

"The Spoiler One"

After the Calming Seas fic is finished, I'll reveal what this one is about. For now: it's OC-centric and kinda basic. I like drawing for it though, so there's art already (not that I've posted any yet). It has an actual name but um. Spoilers.

Starry Gods AU

Basic idea is this: Mabel accidentally gets transformed into a shape god like Bill. This is post-Bill's Death, so...not currently a shape god around Gravity Falls. The Pines family has to now figure out how to turn Mabel back. She's referred to as "Shooting Star" by most other people while in this form. Gravity Falls typical adventures ensue. Waddles is very confused.

The rest AUs below are all variations of basic Time Stuck AU concept

Standard TimeTrap AU

Time Stuck except the twins being stuck in time wasn't accidental! It's from a time trap leftover by Bill before he died as a backup plan. It's set pre-Portal Incident. Mabel ends up with Ford (who still gets possessed by Bill at times), and Dipper ends up with homeless Stan. Otherwise, the usual Time Stuck AU of the twins reuniting and finding a way back home because the Time Tape is broken. Usual family drama between the Stan Twins.

Papa Fiddle AU

Time Stuck except it's before Fiddleford stops being Ford's assistant. Mabel ends up with Ford & Fiddleford. Dipper ends up with homeless Stan. The twins are separated briefly; they reunite pretty early on. Set before Stan is supposed to go to Gravity Falls, but Dipper convinces him to go so he can get back home. Ford assumes Dipper is Stan's child upon meeting him. Because Stan is kinda emotionally unavailable & Ford is Bill-obsessed-and-possessed still, Fiddleford is the most stable person for the kids to be around. Thinking this is before Fiddleford goes obsessive with the memory gun, so he's pretty intact mentally. In this universe, he's freshly divorced and missing his son, Tate, a lot. Sees the kids and immediately gets attached to them, especially since he's literally a dad and they kinda remind him of Tate a little bit. Fiddleford is protective over the twins, and he's pretty good at taking care of them. Lots more with this one, but there's only so much I can write at once. Otherwise, standard Time Tape is broken & the twins need to get back to their own timeline.

Accidental Fatherhood AU

Time Stuck except both of the twins end up homeless Stan while he's on his way to Gravity Falls & he immediately attaches to them. He thinks they're a pair of homeless kids that got kicked out or something. Dipper is trans, and when that's revealed to Stan, he thinks that's why these kids were kicked out because this is the 80s. Gets really protective over them. Especially when it comes to Dipper and others asking why he's a little "feminine" compared to other boys his age. Makes it clear to Ford that if anything happens to his kids, Stan will not hesitate to protect by any means. He still loves his brother, he always will, but his kids come first. Ford thinks the twins are like Stan's biological kids upon first meeting them. Stan does not admit nor deny if that's true. Otherwise, standard Time Stuck AU with broken Time Tape, needing to get the twins back home, etc.

New Visions AU

Time Stuck except it's Wendy, Tate, and Mabel who get stuck in the past. They end up with homeless Stan who's living on the road because it puts them about 5 years before he's supposed to go to Gravity Falls. This happened because of an accident on a fishing day at the lake, and they were all together because of different connections to McGucket. Now, see, past!Stan sees a trio of homeless people on the side of the road that consists of a child and two young adults. What the heck is he supposed to do when they look so roughed-up? He assumes their homeless and/or run-aways. The trio convinces Stan to go to Gravity Falls way earlier than he's supposed to because it's "the way to get them home". This is during while Fiddleford is still Ford's assistant & Ford is still Bill-obsessed-and-possessed. Tate gets to meet a younger version of his dad before all the memory loss and mental decline, and he has a chat with him about not being there for his son (because in this universe, Fiddleford has been recently divorced and only talking to his child-age son through phone calls). Fiddleford explains how he fears he's already messed up with his kid and that there's no hope in trying to fix things at this point. Tate sees his dad in a whole new light. Past!Stan and Wendy bond over being raised by fathers who teach them how to be tough instead of giving them the comfort they needed as a kid. Wendy starts seeing Stan in a whole new light as she learns what his life has been like and why he's such a grump in the future. Mabel learns more about her Grunkle Stan, more about McGucket/Fiddleford, and more about how Ford & Stan are towards each other. She starts seeing both Stan and McGucket in a whole new light. Wendy & Mabel get closer to Tate as everything is going on. MEANWHILE: in the present, Stan, Ford, Soos, and Dipper are all trying to figure out a way to get the Time Stuck Trio back. One of Wendy's younger brothers even pays a visit at some point because he's wondering where his big sister is. The rest is the standard Time Stuck AU with a broken Time Tape, needing to get back home, etc.

[revityfalls]

Welcome...to gravity falls!

Specify who you are speaking to when you send an ask, or I will default to whoevers funniest. (Please specify anyway)

No DNI but Admin will block if uncomfortable.

The way Stanford speaks

The way Dipper speaks

The way Mabel speaks

The way Stanley speaks

The way Fiddleford speaks

The way Will speaks

The way the gleefuls speak

The way the northwests speak

^ Subject to change. You should also be able to tell whos speaking through context, I dont want you to have to rely on this only.

ABOUT MY REVERSE FALLS AU:

Everything starts normal- Each familys background is the same, everyone is raised the same.

The change begins when Ford gets into West Coast Tech. He becomes a very rich and influential scientist- but is mostly the same person at this point in time. He becomes a recluse in gravity falls, all on his own this time, because he didnt meet Fiddleford at BMU.

When he discovers the Northwests crimes, his own money and power mixed with the general morality of the town gets them shunned and arrested. Ford buys and now lives in Northwest Manor, now known as the Pines Mansion. He gives his cabin in the woods to his estranged brother for free, as an olive branch for the argument they had before he left for college (though the project wasnt destroyed) and the fact Ford abandoned him when he became a recluse.

Stan jumps on the opertunity immediately, and the two are very close. In the current day, they run the town. Instead of sweeping its oddities under the rug, its been made into the weirdness capitol of the globe and embraces itself as such. Normality is shunned. To be odd is to be attractive. Stan runs the mystery shack out of the cabin, and has amassed his own independent wealth, though nobody bothers making the distinction between his money and Stanfords- not even the twins themselves.

Speaking of the twins, they grow up normal too! ...until they dont. When 12, they visit their uncles for the first time, and change drastically. A huge wedge is drived between them as Dipper becomes a studious recluse, enjoying the towns oddities but not the gaze of its citizens, while Mabel is the complete oposite, reveling in the popularity garnered by simply being a Pines.

When Dipper finally meets Ford- who rarely comes down from his mansion- he is offered an apprenticeship. Less offered, more forced opon him. Ford is by this point a far different man. Dipper moves in with Ford, and Mabel moves in with Stan- perhaps wanting to stay near her brother despite their recent falling out, or is she just jealous he gets to stay?

What happened to the northwests:

After Ford got them arrested and bought the manor, a young Preston Northwest was left high and dry. Desperate for the power and attention he had growing up, and even more desperate to forget this shame...he purchases the memory gun from Fiddleford. He is now known as Old Man Northwest.

Before he completey loses his mind, he has Pacifica. She has no memories of her birth father, really, but still pays the price for being a Northwest in this town. Her mother remarried to Bud Gleeful and had Giddeon- her half brother.

What happened to Fiddleford:

He still went to BMU, but that doesnt mean hes safe. He became a famous inventor, steve jobs type. Then he invented somthing he shouldnt have, somthing too dangerous, and was promptly arrested, his tech empire falling to the ground. Ford sees this on the news and thinks "Ah, a rich, intellectual, mad scientist. Precisely what I need on my team." essentially buys him from prison, and the rest is history.

APPEARANCES:

^ Better art and edits may be added at some point.

Mabel wears platform shoes and sparkly, over the top, typically asymmetrical outfits.

Dipper is forced to wear "proper" clothing, and slick back his hair to show off his birthmark.

Ford looks about the same. Dresses fancy. Hates facial hair, is not only clean shaven but forces it on McGucket as well. Bit of a control freak.

Stanley dyed his hair, got veneers, probobly botox, got lazer eye surgery...whole nine yards. Spends thousands on his appearance. Only reason he hasnt gotten a nose job or changed his ears is because of how much he values being and looking like Fords twin brother. If you accuse him of looking like anything other than his twin despite how much younger he attempts to look, he'll punch you. Point out the contradiction in his actions and he'll punch you again.

Bill wears a tag so other monster hunters and cryptids alike know who owns him. He's also a perfect equilateral. Stanford made sure of it. ✂️

Main account: @animnightmare

Other RP accounts: @papa-mcgucket @pyramid-steven @lil-stanley @filbrick-pines @sophie-pines @hanahaki-fiddleford and many, many more.

[aliensubstance-011]

Silly half-finished doodles :)

I have so many ideas but I'm all tuckered out from uni </3

[aliensubstance-011]

BMU Stan AU Part 2

Grunkle Fidds is a lot like Grunkle Ford, but a lot more dangerous in a mechanical sense than in a paranormal sense- a lot of places for the kids to get their little fingers trapped! He encourages the kids to tinker and learn, even on their summer break, and really connects with Dipper! (He does notice how much Dipper must remind Stan of his brother- he can't miss how his husband looks at his nephew). They play DDMD with each other (and sometimes bully ‘read: ask nicely’ Stan into playing too) 

Grunkle Fidds is a little like Grunkle Ford in his relationship with Dipper- they both play DDMD, they’re both incredibly smart, and Fiddleford sees that same lack of confidence that he used to have in the boy. He also finds it deeply endearing just how similar he is to Stan in the way he loves people- fiercely and protectively, above all else- even if they have few other similarities. He does try to keep Dipper away from Stan at times, as he can see how much Dipper makes Stan ache for his brother (mainly when Stan is already upset)

Grunkle Fidds with Mabel is a whole other story- they both go crazy. Fiddleford has a little bit of southern insanity in him, and Mabel is, well, Mabel. They gossip over boys (and Fidds grosses her out by swooning over Stan), he builds her little devices and helps her with the electronics she knits into her sweaters! He is very happy to encourage her doing make-up on him & Stan, dressing up with her, spending time with her and her friends. 

Fiddleford keeps the biggest eye on the kids’ safety, out of him & Stan, making sure they’re careful and patched up if they do get hurt. Stan is a little more liberal about their safety- look how he was as a kid, and he turned out just fine! Though he does spend 90% of his time worrying about them, he’s very good at not letting it show and ‘toughening them up’... which he completely fails at as soon as they’re actually hurt. One teary-eyed ‘Grunkle Staaaannn’ and he’s over by them in seconds. Got distracted what was I talking about. 

OH, paranormal adventures- now, in this AU, the journals don’t exist- but Dipper’s fascination with the paranormal does, so he starts doing research of his own! This prompts both Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Fidds to join the twins on many different adventures- to keep them safe and mostly out of trouble. At first Stan tries avoiding talking about the paranormal altogether, while Fidds denies its existence, until they both can’t deny it anymore.