#Stan and ford

[misteria247]

Me watching the episode of Bill Cipher entering Stan's mind

Stan talking about how he was a crybaby and how he took boxing lessons due to his dad

Me: Wait.....do you think that the reason Stan stayed in these lessons wasn't just to impress his old man, but to also become strong enough to defend Ford from bullies and whatnot??? Like he forced himself to toughen up so Ford could rely on him instead of Stan not being able to do anything.

Me:

[joicecubes]

recently saw this quote again:

"stan has no idea, but he did it. he saved the world. he saved me. you’re our hero, stanley."

and i just. i can’t stop thinking about ford saying “stan has no idea.” because stan getting his mind, his memory, his SELF erased as a sacrifice for the people he loves most in the world is something ford never could have done, and it’s what ultimately makes him admire stan so much more than he ever did. ford, who has always been so obsessed with being a hero and a visionary, could ironically never have been the one to throw away his knowledge of the sacrifice he’s making. his arrogance and craving for validation is exactly WHY he could never have truly been the hero. it had to be stan.

because stan did it for all the right reasons. there was a part of him that always wanted to do something great like ford, who desperately wanted to be more than just a “screw-up,” but when it came down to this moment, he wasn’t sacrificing himself to prove anything. he says “guess i was good for something after all,” as he holds a photo of his niece and nephew, because he does it for them. not for validation. not for fame. not for any sort of reputation. and he wakes up having no clue what he even did. and this, to ford, is the most noble thing he could have ever done. it’s better than any scientific achievement, any of his 12 phds, his decades of research. it’s why he ultimately resigns himself to not be the hero, but to be a “hero’s brother.” and for the first time in his life, he’s perfectly content with stepping off his pedestal.

[thisispersonal]

I don’t think the timelines right but who cares. it’s fiddleford’s copy btw.

[raspberry-radiation]

I wanted to see what the Stan's version of their fight might've been in reverse falls. A comic is on its way for this!

[go-star-sailor]

strange old guys

[creepst-crypt]

Pt 2 to “A name you can still kinda trust!!!”

Politics aside, rest in peace to the people who died and my condolences to anyone who was hurt in the audience.

(I’m nowhere near right winged, I do not like tr*mp ^^^^)

[thatonedudeinthecorner]

Thank you @petrichorandarson for suggesting I draw them hugging because “WDYM FORD JUST PUNCHES HIM AND MOVES TF ON”

[mortalfaerie]

imagine you're stan pines.

you've been through the fucking meat grinder of life. you've been banned from multiple states, went to prison in columbia, had a horrific falling out with your twin brother, spoke to him for the first time in ten years just to lose him again and then have to pretend to be him in his house for another thirty while you try to get him back. and jesus, you're lonely.

and then your nephew - who you don't know all that well and also thinks you're the wrong twin - calls and asks if you'll host his kids (oh right, twins!) for a summer. and you say yes.

so the kids arrive and from the get go, they're so familiar. and it's a bumpy start - they almost run away - but then they stay and you get to know them better. sure, they can be whiney preteens and bemoan hanging out with their great uncle, but they're good kids.

you see so much of yourself in the girl. she's so enthusiastic and stubborn and headstrong and she's so much like a version of you before the world got to you. she likes watching your soap operas and knits you a sweater - and before you know it, you've got a pig living in the house because jesus you just can't say no to this kid.

the boy's familiar, too. he's quieter and sensitive and smarter than he has any right to be, and you feel conflicted because you expect him to push you away or shut you out just like your own twin did. it's hard for you to understand each other, but you work on it - not without bumps. but you save his ass from zombies and they help you run for mayor, and slowly he starts to trust you. if only you could keep that trust this time.

[evilincoperated]

Look how happy he is to be besties with his brother again 😭

[chaoscartoonz]

Always up to some tomfoolery 🙄 

[sorrowfulrosebud]

No bc the fact that the og pines twins use the same comments and speaking mannerisms at time after being apart for 40+ years genuinely wrecks me. Here’s some things that tear me apart about the og pines.

Key examples:

“What are ya waiting for, a kiss on the cheek?”

Being able to do perfect impressions of each other.

The fact Ford remember’s his brother almost perfectly after spending 40+ years away from him.

Stan tends to refer to Ford more as his brother, whereas Ford refers to him by Stanley.

Stanley kept the bunker in the basement identical to how Stanford left it.

The fact that Ford immediately stopped trying to fight Stan when they fought pre portal after Stan got branded.

In the Gobblewonker episode, his boat was named the Stan o’ War, a reference to the boat he and Ford named the boat from their childhood.

When Stan gave dipper the key to Ford’s bedroom because he reminded him of Ford.

Finding Ford’s glasses and wiping them clean.

Good god they tear me apart

[misteria247]

Firmly believe that after everything Ford becomes hella protective of Stan. Like I'm talking he'll fuck your shit up if you prove to be a threat to his little brother kind of protective. Like Ford immediately wants to let Stan know that he's got his back the way Stan's had his for their entire lives and it throws Stan for a loop everytime Ford steps up and throws hands.

[joicecubes]

the implications of ford pulling this photo out of his trenchcoat in the last episode you guys… THE IMPLICATIONS.

look at the state of this thing!! look at its rips! the stain in the bottom right corner! it’s dog-eared, the color is faded, the paper has browned… he’s kept this photo of them since they were kids. through all the years he stubbornly swore to hold a grudge, all the years he and stan never spoke, he kept this photo.

and we can assume he probably didn’t have it dimension-hopping, since i find it hard to believe he would’ve had it on him when he initially got sucked in, but ford pulling it out of his trenchcoat here!! implies!! that he had been CARRYING IT AROUND WITH HIM for some time after he got back!

imagine if he found it in some of his old stuff the night he returned, after punching and yelling at stan, after being sure to keep as much emotional distance between them as possible, and he finds this photo. would he have stared down at it? for a little while? smoothed the creases out on his desk? thumbed the torn, loved edges while he mourned a simpler time? then pocketed the thing to always have it with him?

i dunno. maybe i’m looking too far into it. but i can’t help but wonder if ford kept it because, against all his big dreams and ambitions, deep down he always wondered what his life might have been like if he sailed away with his brother when they were teenagers. never able to throw it away because doing so would symbolically destroy the last remnants of a childhood fantasy, the last piece of him that remains young and hopeful of a future at his brother’s side.

[thisispersonal]

Don’t joke about that.

[saturn-star-light]

a thought just dawned on me. you know how when young stanley finally leaves the shack for like grocery shopping and stuff post-ford getting sucked into the portal? and everyone in town is like “omg hi mysterious science guy!!! you’re so cool show us your cool science stuff!!!”

and so like that whole time the thought ford was this cool mysterious man of science and meanwhile he was making out with a triangle and being manipulated in a toxic situationship with said triangle.

if only they had known

[tremendouscreationperson]

At Stan's sham funeral you have a strange conversation with 'Ford'

Part 2

Going to Stanley's funeral was surreal to say the least.

And worse was that his mother had to tell you. She called you, quietly sobbing down the line, late at night to inform you.

You couldn't believe it.

Stanley.

Your Stanley.

Well no. He was never yours.

He could have been...

In another life maybe.

You packed for a small stay and arrived at the shitty hotel, which upon further inspection was semi-decent but that did nothing to brighten your mood.

Memories of you, Ford and Stan at school flashed across your mind. The twins were your only friends, you weren't popular to begin with and even as your body changed and you filled out, being associated with them didn't change your reputation. But you loved them.

Ford was scarily intelligent and lightning fast with comebacks you were too stupid to understand.

And Stan was brilliant.

You knew he hated being the 'shitty' twin. The 'useless' one. The 'spare' Stan. But he wasn't!! Stan was amazing.

He had a brilliant imagination and you loved seeing him really throw himself into a task. He hadn't liked boxing to begin with but as he grew up and got better you'd go to his matches, cheering him on.

He always came to your side after a match - win or lose - always claiming you were his good luck charm.

It was bliss until it wasn't.

Until the twins fell out. Until Stan was kicked to the curb.

You had resented Ford for letting their dad throw him away.

Stan had stopped by yours one evening to say goodbye, you knew his cocky "don't miss me"s were an act and knew he was hurting but didn't want to ruin the evening. If you had, you might've followed him.

Seemingly overnight, they were both suddenly gone and you were alone.

~~

The service was tiny.

A man in a shabby suit stood at the door, scowling at the coffin. Caryn was standing at it crying silent tears as Ford rubbed her back. They were both in black, Caryn wearing a posh dress with a shawl wrapped around her shaking shoulders and Ford in a suit.

You hadn't physically seen them in years.

Drifting apart unnaturally when the rift formed.

You stepped up and stood on Caryn's free side. She noticed the movement and immediately squeezed you in a hug.

"Oh, love." She whispered into your hair, pulling back and cupping your cheeks. "I'm glad to see you."

You agreed. It had been too long. "I wish it was under different circumstances."

She nodded, turning back to the closed wooden box.

Next to it was a photo of Stan shyly smiling. You had taken it using your Christmas present. God you adored that camera, adored taking stupid photos with it. The photo was from when he decided to grow a mullet, his hair was longer than usual and as he smirked into the camera he looked younger than you knew him to be. He'd always be younger than you now.

You had to force your eyes away and they landed on Ford, he was staring at you, brows pulled. It was hard to look at him. Had he always looked that much like Stan?

"Hey." He scratched his chin with a gloved hand.

"Hi." You stepped back to not speak over his mom.

"You came."

Why wouldn't you?

Well, you hadn't been sent an invitation.

Maybe he didn't want you here.

You didn't care.

"Of course I'm here." Your eyes watered. Was he going to turn you away? "Stan meant the world to me."

"He did?" Ford's words were small.

You nod once, biting the inside of your cheek as you willed the tears to stay put.

The three of you stood there staring at the coffin in silence.

What more could you do?

A few words here and there were spoken but none of you had the heart for anything grand. He deserved it but you couldn't.

You had to excuse yourself after the silence became too suffocating. Sitting on the steps outside. It was cold.

It didn't take long for Ford to find you.

He sat next to you, twiddling his thumbs. You were going to be sick, that was something Stan did. When did Ford pick up the habit?

He had brought the silence out here. If you were alone it was merely you being alone but now the two of you weren't speaking. It was silent.

"I loved him you know?" You spoke to no one, eyes glued to your knees. Why had you confessed? That wasn't something you thought you'd do today.

"Don't say that." Ford pulled out a packet of cigarettes, offering you one. Fuck, even that was reminiscent of his brother.

"It's true." You shook your head at the offer. "Had the fattest crush." A dark chuckle escaped you as he lit the cigarette. "He was way outta my league, though."

Ford coughed, spluttering at your words. "Fuck off."

Patting his back you replied, "It's true. I could never compete with little miss hot pants."

Ford was staring at you. It wasn't freakish or weird but it was for a prolonged amount of time. You didn't care. It wasn't as if you were lying.

He took a drag of the cigarette. "He was leagues below you."

"Don't do that." Your tone wasn't forceful but you felt an anger simmer. "I know you guys argued but he was brilliant. Truly brilliant."

Ford eyes were glossy, his face contorting in pain. You spied his hand hovering near yours before it closed and he pulled it to his side. The man let out a sigh before hugging himself.

"He-he loved you."

You rolled your eyes. "You don't have to pretend, I'm alright."

"I'm not pretending, he truly loved you. You were his favourite person. He talked about you in his sleep." You raised an eyebrow. "I'm serious. He was only with 'hot pants' because he didn't want to fuck it up with you."

That hurt.

He loved you.

Fuck.

You both liked each other and wasted your time.

Shit.

You buried your head, weeping.

.

.

.

Part 2