#but that doesn't mean that it's wrong for ford to have wanted his own life??

[lostrealities0]

I honestly have never understood why this line is so hated. I have seen people use it to villainize Ford. I would like to say that I agree with all of your points. It was completely wrong for him to project his relationship with his brother onto Dipper. He definitely has convinced himself that his and Stan's relationship has always been bad.

We don't know much about how it was in the past. However, it seems that they were always grouped together as a pair. It was always Stan and Ford. Additionally, Stan gives off codependency vibes during the incident, while at the same time, Ford seems very independent. He has zero issues with the prospect of going to a university across the country.

I believe that this dynamic probably caused some issues. While I doubt teenage Ford thought of their relationship as suffocating, I'm sure he got annoyed and/or frustrated at times. He was never seen as his own person; he was just part of a pair. Stan probably loved it, maybe even encouraged it. Remember, it is not wrong to want to be your own person!

Again, I'm not saying that it was right in any way for Ford to say this. At least not to Dipper. This is very much a conversation he needs to have with Stan. What I'm trying to say is that I believe that there is a valid basis and some truth behind that statement and shouldn't be judged point blank.

I think so much about Ford's line "And isn't it suffocating?" when Dipper says he's never been away from Mabel. Side barring how insane it is to project onto a twelve yr old boy, I think it really shows how Ford's perception of his and Stan's relationship has perverted over the forty years they were apart. We know they were close at Mabel and Dipper's age. But Ford's convinced himself that it was always bad, that his brother always had poor intent for him, always held him back, because if that's wrong, if his brother really did make a mistake, then it means he doubted the brother that loved him and he loved in turn.

[honeqq]

So about the 9th route can you tell him about the info of Ford's reincarnation . Like his name , traits and what's his new nickname like "Sixer" or something ?

Okay

Name : Clifford Yale (Mc)Griffith (edit : this is based by most liked suggestions and what I like the most Combine )

Age : 27

Profession : 'A human Artist'

Personality : Actually a very cheerful guy , sassy , cunning and but very insecure about himself

He's a Artist who fighting in a ERA that all kind of art are created by AI , music , performer , writer everything is made out of Robot! Even claim yourself as a self artist will get you mocked and sue ! He are this dissapointment of the family cuz pursuing art rather be a scientist or something cuz art? That robot's Jobs!! When his age reach 25 he keep on getting new memory that he sure are not his , he keep on getting this glimpse of journal hiding in the forest. That he finally Tryin to find after 2 years pass.. and found Journal 4th in now so called out park. He Intrigued with content of the book , another human drawing that he rarely seen in real life ! It's a diamond artifacts! He keep on reading about this "Muse" who inspired the Author who wrote this book and decided to summon him . Maybe that Muse can inspire him to created a masterpiece that a robot can't created , something that they never see and possible change rules about Human can't created art anymore and have the right for their own. And also hoping this muse can help him out of the Artblock and prove his parents they're wrong

He actually a straight A student throughout his school years but Alway been passionate with art . Maybe he's not A super mega smart he just think he need to be smart to please his parents. He have a older brother who the success businessman and the golden child, his brother believing in his dreams and fund him with all his need. So he technical jobless who spent his brother wealth so easily (I mean he grew up in a wealthy family so it's effect him )

Bill Actually ended call him sevener or Twelve because he doesn't want to associate him with sixer

[zephrunsimperium]

Ford is a jerk to Fiddleford McGucket in Journal 3. Let's talk about that.

First I want to preface this post by saying that I adore Ford. He is a wonderful character who has influenced my life in countless ways for the better. All of the things he does in this list a) stem from his own insecurities that he's projecting b) are symptoms of Ford's narcissistic defense mechanisms c) or come from Bill's influence on him. However, just because there are reasons for his actions doesn't excuse them, especially considering just how many there are.

Here's the list of things he does, I'll analyze at the end of the post.

Let's get the petty things out of the way first.

The cubic's cube: I think it is just straight up an absolute jerk move to scramble this thing that's clearly a comfort to him and think it's funny.

Being in shape: It's obvious his comments here are from his own insecurity but on a deeper level it just speaks to how Ford sees him, I think.

Not telling Fidds about Bill: Obviously Bill was feeding him a lot of paranoia but it's the reasoning that he writes down that gets me. It's so condescending.

The Gremloblin & The Shapeshifter

Something I think that's worth taking note of is the way Ford illustrates both of these instances. He brushes off Fiddleford's concerns multiple times and then Fiddleford pays the price and Ford sees himself as some kind of hero and Fiddleford this helpless victim. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

And then afterwards the way he handles not just Fiddleford's anxiety but the genuine trauma he went through. I know he's an old man, I know that's how he was treated, but Fiddleford is supposed to be his friend.

The Portal Test

Specifically their interaction at the diner and Ford's reaction to Fiddleford quitting the project. Fiddleford SELFLESSLY spends untold hours on this thesis for Ford because he cares about him and sees him burning out, even though Ford hasn't been great to him and Fidds has been going through his own hard things - not just with the gremloblin and the Shapeshifter, but things with his family as well. Ford does not match that selfless devotion at all. In fact, he sees it as an insult.

Analysis

The reason I've been thinking about this is because of Book of Bill and how that's influenced the shipping atmosphere. There's this weird notion that FiddAuthor is a less toxic ship but I think that's absurd. Besides their hug at Weirdmageddon, these journal entries are pretty much all we see of Ford's relationship with Fiddleford and it doesn't paint a pretty picture. Yes Ford is excited to have Fiddleford come to see him, yes Ford has that sweet conversation with him under the stars, but I don't think it's a stretch to say that all the above evidence outweighs hat. At the very least it shouldn't be ignored.

That doesn't mean Ford is a terrible person and we should hate him. I believe strongly in nuance and Ford is a character that requires nuance. I don't think he's an evil person, but I also don't think he should be babied as this perfect wittle guy who can do no wrong either. Both readings do a disservice to him.

Ford clearly had a hard childhood. He's isolated himself his whole life and he's been severely traumatized by Bill. But that doesn't mean that he deserves Fiddleford's forgiveness - Ford wasn't really that kind to him and his actions inadvertently led to the memory gun/Fidds' exposure to Bill. Ultimately it's Fiddleford's choice to make; I wouldn't fault him if he didn't want to ever see Ford again, but I think it's a testament to his goodness that he still cares for Ford as much as he does.

So what do I personally think? Man. I'm just sad we don't know more about Fiddleford McGucket than we do. He's so essential to Bill's defeat and to Ford's past and he's such a cool character but we know so little about him. I want to know what his childhood was like, I want to know how he ended up in Backupsmore, I want to know why he cares about Ford as much as he does, I want to know why things ended so poorly with EmmaMay. But we may never know those things for certain. So with the things we're left... Yeah, I think FiddAuthor is a compelling reading, one that I certainly enjoy. I just worry about the fandom babying Ford.

[cardentist]

I'm like, 70% sure this is only an issue with the gravity falls fandom on twitter, but if I don't say something I think I'm gonna explode

there Doesn't Need to be a bad guy between fiddleford, emma-may, and ford ! we can recognize one character causing harm to another, both directly and indirectly, Without framing it like it's intentional or that it makes any of them inherently bad.

in particular, I think there's been pushback against people vilifying ford (both in general and as angst material for other characters) by just. shifting that blame over to another character instead and running with it.

so to get this out of my system:

Yes I agree that fiddleford and ford have a lot of queercoding between each other. I think it's always been there to an extent, but it's absolutely been reinforced with the book of bill and "thisisnotawebsite."

and even if you choose to read their relationship as platonic (which is fine ! a lot of people like to read ford as aroace, for instance), it's very clear that fiddleford's relationship with ford heavily put a strain on his relationship with his family and ultimately lead to his and emma-may's divorce.

and there's nothing wrong with exploring that! exploring how it hurt emma-may and tate, exploring how it's another facet of fiddleford ruining his own life without even thinking about it, exploring the complicated feelings that were happening in that cabin. and I don't even think there's anything wrong with joking about fiddleford being a cheater or ford and emma-may being rivals.

but it Really grinds my gears when people frame fiddleford as being inherently in the wrong for taking the job with ford, as if he was intentionally hurting his family or that he Genuinely went there to cheat.

1: one of the first things we're told about fiddleford in journal 3 is that he was raised dirt poor and wanted to climb the latter in the scientific community to give his family a better life than HE had.

and that's Exactly why he took the job in gravity falls ! it was someone he trusted as his good friend AND someone he trusted academically. the whole idea is that this was supposed to be a temporary job that would Both help a dear friend of his And open up opportunities for his future.

and like, this aspect of his character isn't insignificant. he is Very Much So an archetype of a poor person, and has been since his inception. it's part of what Makes him a match for ford, he's an intellectual match yes but he's also an Outcast that wants more out of life than what he has. this aspect isn't Malicious by any means, but it equally lead them to hurt people they cared about.

Yes he left emma-may and his young son, but it was Never supposed to be forever. he left FOR them, which is half of what makes what happened so tragic in the first place. in many ways, he hurt them Because he cared about them.

and Yes, I do love a queer reading of these characters (and I'll get to that), but it's Very clear in the source material that fiddleford Does care about his family. a big part of his falling out with ford in the first place was because Fiddleford thought they both needed to leave gravity falls to raise their own families, and it's something that fiddleford brings up earlier on in their stay together as well.

that doesn't excuse how he'd mistreat emma-may at all. she was absolutely in her right to divorce him (which I thought even before the book of bill dropped). but I feel like we're letting the subtext overtake the TEXT while examining these characters and their dynamic.

2: lets assume that fiddleford IS a closeted gay man (or bisexual, or that he and emma may are in a lavender relationship, or-), as I so often like to do.

while exploring the pain that could cause emma-may and tate is Very Interesting and fun, I think we're ignoring the systemic homophobia in the room.

fiddleford was born in the 1960s to a religious poor rural southern family, and emma-may and fiddleford's relationship happened in the 1980s.

I Do think fiddleford is definitely progressive for his time (and just overall a very chill dude), but his upbringing Also very clearly had an affect on him. if it's possible for a man who believes the world is a simulation to also believe in jesus then fiddleford's the one to have done it.

and this is implied directly in the text mind, whether fiddleford is still actively religious or not he gets on ford for doing things like taking the lord's name in vein. not something that someone who Wasn't affected by a religious upbringing would do.

there's also the textual (rather extreme) anxiety, and the Implied ocd (the hair pulling, the cubix cube, the moral fixation, etc).

with all that said !

YES it would be extremely painful for emma-may to be in love with a gay man who had a crush on someone else, whether fiddleford was aware of or even acted on those feelings or not.

but I do hope we can all understand why it's Not Great to frame fiddleford as being inherently in the wrong for this right? for either not realizing his feelings at all or deliberately repressing them in the wake of Probable religious trauma and Definite safety issues in the society he lived in? Yeah?

no we should not treat emma-may like she's "getting in the way" of our beautiful yaoi, but ignoring systemic homophobia to vilify a queer man being afraid of appearing as anything but straight in the 1980s is. um. Bad.

the thing that's Most interesting about this whole situation is that it's a tragedy through and through. you can't inherently blame Any of them for what happened, and trying to do so loses what actually makes the situation so complex and painful.

because fiddleford clearly DID care about them, ALL of them, very dearly. and he obviously wanted to do the right thing. and yet he hurt them all, and yet his entire life and mind fell apart to ash in his fingers.

it's Crazy, and it absolutely does a disservice to the situation to frame it as fiddleford just being a slutty lying cheater (or ford Ruining a perfectly good man by being abusive, or emma-may getting in the way of our old man yaoi).

except bill, we can vilify bill. I think he'd like that

[triptychcryptid]

I don't vibe with the "Ford can do no wrong," "what ego? He doesn't have an ego" mentality. Look, Ford and Stan are my FAVORITE characters in the show. And it's because they're so complex. Ford absolutely has a huge ego. Alex Hirsch even said in the podcast that it was a big point of his character. His ego was his hubris. Bill says on the website, and I BELIEVE in TBOB that Ford has a huge ego, too.

That, coupled with some crippling insecurities, is what made him so easy to manipulate. But that doesn't mean we should hate him, either. People aren't black and white. We operate in a LOT of gray area. He's grown and learned, and by the end of the show, he actually showed alot of maturity in regards to Stan and the kids. The fact that Stan sacrificed himself to save the universe showed Ford that Stan wasn't the selfish ass he spent 30 years believing he was. Don't get me wrong, Stan can be kinda selfish, but I think alot of it comes from spending so long being denied things.

Being denied love from his father. Being denied redemption from those around him because they all just saw him as a troublemaker. Seeing Ford get what he perceived as the emotional stability he so desperately craved and thinking Ford's life was so great because they'd BOTH been told it would be. Then after all the living out of his car and being in prison, beaten up, running from people who wanted to kill him, he faked his death and got a second chance. He was finally able to "be his own man" in a sense.

He could have the things he wanted, and he got the love he always wanted, from Dipper and Mabel. He'd become a beloved (if sometimes only tolerated) member of the Gravity Falls community. He wasn't about to give that up to Ford like he'd given up most things. But the incident with the portal obviously filled him with a lot of guilt and regret, and he was just SO happy to find out Ford was alive. Having the kids for the summer also showed an embittered, hardened old man that there were still things to live for. People to care about.

The thing with Stan is he's also got ego and insecurities, but he's not as easily manipulated because he's used to not trusting people's intentions. And I don't think Ford actually realized how much Stan kinda lived in his shadow. And in turn, Stan learned that there ARE trustworthy people in his life that love and care about him just for being the weird, grumpy, crazy old man that he is. Because they've learned that he will go to great lengths to protect the people he cares about, but he doesn't allow himself to care about deeply about many people because he's afraid he's going to hurt them, or they're going to hurt him.

If you are in this man's purposefully small inner circle, you are a very lucky person.

[pix-writes]

"Ford is grateful for your patience and willingness to be involved in his life, especially as he knows he wasn't good at opening up to you when you were starting to become friends let alone a relationship." This is from Stanford HC, and I find it very interesting! How would he act at the beginning of the relationship? What does it take for him to become friends with someone, and that evolves into romance?

My thinking behind this part of my HCs is what Ford has been like through the series, he is shown throughout multiple media in the GF series, that he has continually pushed people away as part of his wound of feeling isolated due to his intellect and polydactly. Through this wound he's actually developed over the course of the series and his time in the portal a lone genius hero archetype that he wants to fit into, to compensate for the hurt he has continually felt from others and being an 'outsider'. (I could go into this in more depth about where this comes from in his childhood and how it affects his outlook when he comes across bill/building the portal, honeslty, but this is the jist of what I want to get across).

(rest under cut)

It's only really once we get to weirdmageddon and post-oddpocalypse, that Ford's arc comes full-circle into healing this wound for good --> as we know Ford has a fair few people in his life who love/care for him, in the past (Bill era) he was unable to see it, but once he exits the portal he begins to care for the twins and value them (and stan, even though he doesn't show it); this makes him take a similar route in trying to defeat Bill still largely on his own, because he doesn't want the people he loves to be in danger and blames himself for Bill's hold on their dimension, thus Ford thinks it's his problem to deal with --> Once they start working together to defeat Bill is the turning point for him to realise that he was wrong and that in order to defeat Bill, you have to work together. [I think he even says that he realises he was foolish for thinking he had to go it alone and that there are people who love him that he can share the buren with, I think in Journal 3 or TBOB (can't remember which rn).] I would argue that it's not until Stanley's great sacrifice in order to save the kids/the world, after screwing up the circle magic thingy, that reality hits him like a ton of bricks and he starts being more open and quickly starts to heal his biggest character wound.

So, considering this in a potential relationship, I think Ford, is generally closed-off, which hasn't helped him in the romance department in his life in the past! Whilst I can see the judgement of others and his outsider status socially would impact this as well, being closed-off and individualistic means that when he does come across someone who would be a good prospective partner, he just... assumes they'd not be interested or overlooks them because he's doing something important and isn't thinking of romance in the moment, so if the other person flirts with him he's not good on picking it up. [I'm finding this all terribly relatable!]

With the insecurity from his wound on top of this, it doesn't make for a good mix, Fiddleford, for example, was not only an assistant but quite a great friend to Ford that he didn't appreciate at the time and due to the added influence of Bill wanting to isolate him from people, Fiddleford ended up having his attempts of deeper connection being thrown back in his face! Whilst a lot of this was unintentionally done on Ford's part, he did tell him when he left that he "didn't need anyone". In the past at Backupsmore Uni, he says that there's not a lot of people he finds 'smart enough' to be on his level to be friends with - which is textbook classic defensiveness to reverse that 'no-one understands me' mentality into something that props up his ego instead. Pushing people away means that he won't have to face the rejection he continually experienced in his childhood, but it means he's potentially pushed away people who could like him as well!

So, I think that in the beginning of a budding friendship/potential relationship, Ford would not be the best at connection or communicating his feelings openly, he'd likely step on other people's toes (metaphorically) in social situations, without realising or meaning to offend someone.

That said, I think it'd be easy for him to become interested in someone who is clearly talented and intelligent, someone who similarly values higher education yet also has a similar love for that which doesn't fit the norm/is bizarre. Perhaps someone who is also deemed a societal 'outsider'. He's been feeling lonely for so long that if you're persistent and kind and can get him to talk on the subjects he loves, he'll start to see you as a friend. I think that being kind and thoughtful with gestures (acts of service) and gifts either to him or his grand-niece/nephew are other things that will make you stand out from the crowd, too, for him to see you as a genuine good person and friend.

However, he will struggle to open up and to let out his natural self (nerdy, passionate, dedicated, 'weird'), so it will take a while to deeply connect to Ford if you're friends, and even longer for him to realise you're interested in him romantically and to act on it.

I think in that stage of 'good friends that are attracted to each other', he would have fallen for you fast; but at the same time he doesn't trust that you are romantically interested in him, even if you have said that you are, part of his mind tells him that it's a trick, a joke. You might think you want to be with him, but you'll leave him soon enough when you realise he's so inexperienced in romance/relationships etc, etc. I think a lot of his old wounded mentality would surface and he's try to push you away, if you get together post-weirdmageddon, or would just shoot you down intentionally/unintentionally if you get together beforehand. Furthermore, he has been a 'loner' for most of his life, particularly after 30 years in the portal, so it's difficult at first in a relationship to share the more mundane things, since he's used to being on his own.

Ford would overthink things to the point of anxiety at the very beginning of a relationship and make it more awkward than if he just relaxed! ^^' He's a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to planning dates, too (reminds me of dipper with the list lol), though it's sweet, cause he cares so much to make it good for you! Once it goes wrong a couple times, you'll both find the humour in it and he'll realise he's being foolish again and relax a little. You'll have to give him reassurance and go at his slow pace in the start of a relationship and he'll find some confidence, probably quicker than either of you anticipated too! He's liked you for a long time by the time you get together, so whether he intends to or not his passionate nature leaks through ;)

[gravityrises]

Thinking about "Dipper and Mabel vs. the Future": And you know what? I'm not even going to defend Ford in this one, because he did in fact mess up. But there are still a few thoughts I wanted to share.

1. Ford took Dipper on a dangerous mission:

Well, there are a few things to point out. First, Ford most likely didn't think it would be dangerous at all. His plan was to retrieve the alien adhesive and be done with it. If along the way he could show some cool stuff to a twelve-year-old, that would be a plus, right?

Second, at least Ford was physically there, when all hell broke loose. Stan just allowed the kids to venture into a forest full of paranormal creatures completely on their own. Meanwhile, Ford understood that kids are curious by nature and it's impossible to contain their curiosity by simply denying everything. So, it would be better to go along with them.

Still, this does not absolve Ford of his wrongdoing, just because Stan sucks as a caretaker. "I did something bad, but other people have done worse" is a wrong attitude to have in general. Ford should've been more careful and not allowed Dipper to mess around with the controls on the alien ship. Which, I should probably add, wasn't the reason why the droids were activated. That was just generally irresponsible.

2."Just feel no fear", he said:

Yeah, I actually disagree with people who claim Ford was wrong in saying that. He wasn't asking Dipper to repress his feelings or whatever. It's actually more similar to being instructed to keep calm during a fire alarm. Which, you should. You absolutely should. Your life may depend on whether or not you manage to control your emotions. That doesn't mean you'll have to repress your feelings for the rest of your life, you can still deal with them after the crisis is over.

And was Ford expecting out of Dipper too much? Perhaps, but Dipper still had to know what was going on. Explaining how the security droids worked was the right call and I will stand by that.

3. Ford's apprenticeship offer:

Okay, let's get this out of the way, I do believe Dipper shouldn't have stayed with Ford after summer. And it wouldn't be healthy or good for a young boy to stay apart from his family and peers. Maybe it would've been okay, if he were slightly older and still interested in this field. But at this point Dipper is an impressionable kid, whose plans for the future might change a hundred times over until he reaches adulthood.

Something I failed to appreciate before is that wrong timing is something that affects Ford, as much as Dipper. And it's something Ford brings up himself, he is getting older. And who knows for how much longer he'll be able to continue his strenuous work in Gravity Falls. He was definitely under pressure to find someone who would be willing to learn about the anomalies. And not just by reading the journals: Some skills are better acquired in the field, by being shown how it's done and giving it a try yourself.

Still, as much as it is tempting to offer this apprenticeship to Dipper, Ford really needs to look for someone else.

[mischivousvoid]

This might be a weird take, but I feel like people's recent hate of Ford and ignorance of Bills crimes in the GF fandom says less about the fandom and more about how well Ford and Bill are written.

It's a well-known fact that most people online can't comprehend complex characters. It's going to happen, like, everywhere. But why is there not as many people blaming or hating the complex character who actually is a villain of the story? The one objectively more in the wrong?(Y'know, Bill)

Because Ford feels real. Bill doesn't.

Bill is a supernatural entity that nobody expects to ever meet in real life, it's easy to disconnect from his flaws because he's a walking talking triangle. And most importantly, despite being openly evil, he's charismatic in terms of personality and stupidly entertaining to watch.

Not to mention that before the book of Bill, everyone was already blatantly aware of Bill being evil, what they discovered upon reading the book is the opposite - things that would make you sympathetic towards him, his hurt and inner thoughts, something people could relate to. So, of course people would focus on those more. And exadurate it. And frankly, it's exactly what Bill wants. He's manipulated everyone into liking him by showing this, because now he wants something from you, the reader. You're no longer the passive audience, Bill has reached to you directly and is trying to make a deal. He's performing for you specifically. "See, I ain't so bad:)". Obviously he kinda fails in his usual ways due to his misunderstanding of humans and emotional instability making him vulnerable. But ultimately, he still got what he wanted from some people...

Then what about Ford? Well, frankly I think the book of Bill pushed him more "in the front" and people have started to actually analyse his character rather than overlooking it on the surface level.

And discovered that, oh wow, Ford has flaws.

He's always had them, but they're hidden in his behaviour and the framing of the show that's seen through the eyes of Dipper and Mabel just doesn't paint him in negative light. And seeing as there isn't even that much of interactions between Mabel and Ford, it's more so through Dippers eyes, who deeply admires Ford. You need to dig to see the flaws and well people haven't collectively done so until now, focusing more on the characters with more screentime.

And now that they have it's like. "Oh wow, this guy is kinda... morally gray". And more importantly, they notices that he's self-centered(not selfish, self-centered, big difference!). Ford is stuck in his own head, he's distrustful and paranoid, he has unhealthy coping mechanisms. And it shows. He's not a blatantly terrible person, but he's made terrible choices and decisions and he's hurt people. And some of it is because he was manipulated and abused by Bill, but some is just because of his core flaw. The self-centeredness. It feels like Ford doesn't see past his nose, he deeply believes that everything revolves around him and the only truth is his truth. He needs to feel important, to matter. Desperately. It doesn't just mean that he sees himself as the hero, the saviour and the genius. It also means that in the low moments he sees himself as so much lesser than and that he's absolutely convinced everyone does. That he's convinced all his paranoia is at all times justified. He fundamentally cannot put himself in other people's shoes. And yes that hurts others, and it also hurts him because he jumps to the worst conclusions (such as about Stanley and his intentions) and he becomes convinced he has to be right.

Ford is also, and I'm sorry for saying this, questionably likeable. He's socially awkward and nerdy and many people like that, but it's just objectively not as charismatic. His attempts at being cool, are, well... dorky. And it's endearing in a way, but it's not raw charisma. It doesn't captivate and capture as many people as Bill's fun personality, it doesn't distract from who Ford is. And that's on purpose, because Ford's personality is real. And Bill is performing constantly as part of the act to conceal for bad he is.

If you've had the misfortune of meeting a master manipulator like Bill, oh boy am I sorry for you. But I bet for a very long time you were convinced that person is cool before you escaped them, the experience was almost surreal, right? You can swear they were so fun to hang out with, you didn't even notice when it's gotten so bad. Or maybe, you never even got close to them and on the surface they were just so fun and then you find out how horrible they are through the grape vine, and you ask yourself "wow, really, that guy?".

And truly, most people won't even meet a person like that.

But Ford? You've met a Ford.

In a way, at least.

You've definitely met someone who's so in their head they aren't always pleasant. And that guy doesn't care about appearances - he's not lying to you. Just doesn't see things in a different way. And they're open about it, they will tell you that they're right.

And I bet that, if you got close to a person like that, they unintentionally hurt you. They're not... all that, no. But they're dismissive. They don't understand. They hold grudges because they just can't believe your perspective, not even because they do not want to. They will fluctuate between never taking accountability and defending their actions to death and apologizing and agonising so much that you have to comfort them about their own mistakes because suddenly they're the worst person in the world and everything is their fault. And you know, it hurts. It hurts because you love them, because there's so many genuinely good things about them. But it's so mentally exhausting to keep up with their emotional issues that you slowly start resenting them anyway.

And if you have never gotten close to someone like that, perhaps if you didn't find a part of them charming immediately, you've still met them - you just found them mildly annoying. It's the "Um, actually" guy. The "correct your grammar and pronounciation" guy. Even if they're right it's just so. "God, they're a stuck-up asshole." Even if that's objectively not true because they volunteer to rescue kittens every weekend and have invented the cure for cancer.

And it's so much easier to dislike the real problem. You've never met a dimension destroying monster, nor someone who could control your body in a literal way, nor, you know, a "demon". (At least I fucking hope so?). You've met someone who didn't mean to hurt you but couldn't help it. You've met an annoying kinda stuck-up smart guy. And now you see that guy in Ford and you cannot unsee it and you're projecting your feelings.

[fannishstuff]

How would Ford get kicked out instead of Stan?

So, a bit ago, @ckret2 posted an essay expressing frustration about the fandom portrayal of Filbrick. Filbrick is often characterized as violently and irredeemably abusive, whereas ckret2 cites some very convincing evidence that he was a well-meaning but authoritarian father - not a good dad, but not an evil person.

This discussion was prompted because ckret2 was considering an AU in which Ford never goes to college and ckret2 prefers the smallest possible change in AUs.

I wanted to link those posts because they have absolutely gotten me thinking about the subject. The following will make more sense if you've read that essay and this follow-up about Filbrick's regret over Stan's behavior. I accept the contents as canon for the purposes of this post.

(For completion's sake, the entire discussion was prompted by a Ford as a Trucker AU, but the following doesn't actually have anything to do with that.)

Let's make Ford the kind of person Filbrick would kick out of the house

Stan's eviction is the end result of many, many years of contention between Stan and Filbrick - an earnest last-ditch effort by a desperate father to get his delinquent son to shape up, and a decision he only made because he thought Stan was legitimately malicious. Most AUs in which Ford is kicked out instead of Stan will just rewrite the Science Fair scene so that Stan has more to lose than Ford. If we're talking "smallest possible change," though, I don't find that convincing. If Filbrick was an unpredictable maniac who's ready to ditch his kids at a moments notice? Yeah, fine, any small mistake by either one of them would work. But if Filbrick has been earnestly trying to be a good father, and just didn't feel like he was getting through? One mistake, even a big one, from his less troublesome son would be unlikely to prompt a disowning.

So, my question is: what "single small change" early in life would lead Stan and Ford to develop in a way that flipped Filbrick's expectations of them?

Personality traits and how they affect the relationships

Let's talk about Filbrick, Stanley, and Ford.

So, first of all: Filbrick wants is sons to be industrious, tough, honest, and hard-working. Those are the qualities that matter to him. He makes them box so that they'll be able to stand up for themselves and others. He fights with Stanley because Stanley is a thieving scam artist. He demands the kids be profitable and successful because that is a mark of success as an adult for him. If we assume that the twins were an unplanned pregnancy, then he also firmly believes in taking responsibility for your mistakes -- in owning up.

Stanley is a born liar. Like, even his playful and friendly interactions with his family involved good-natured lies. (He reminds me of one of my uncles, who was an avid prankster up until the time he went up against me, but that's a whole story that I won't get into here.) I think in order to be on Filbrick's good side, he'd have to prove that he was honest in his own way - for example, by defending people when it really mattered even at the expense of his own reputation, or by refusing to take advantage of someone who has wronged him. I don't think canon Stan would do either of those things for anyone except family, but canon Stan is also convinced that nothing he does will ever be good enough. His last, dying words were "I guess I was good for something." He never until that moment thought he was. We need to make sure that he earns some self-respect earlier in life.

Now we need to find a flaw in Ford to exacerbate to the scale Stan had in canon. This isn't really hard, honestly. Ford may have been the less troublesome kid in high school, but he is ruthlessly ambitious, and as an adult he will steal or destroy anything to get the results he wants. I think that the reason he was the less troublesome kid is because there really isn't a good way that a high schooler can be ambitious at the expense of the people around them on a scale that matters. The stakes are just too low. Maybe Ford put down his classmates to secure a win in a spelling bee or stole an answer key once or twice, but it's hard to imagine Filbrick caring about schoolkid drama. That said, if Ford did have an aspiration - a science project, for instance - that he became truly obsessed with, it's easy to imagine him stealing or breaking things to achieve it.

So, how would we make stealing and destroying things a pattern of behavior for Ford, instead of a single one-off mistake? And how would we make Stanley's good-heartedness and self-sacrificing nature something that is visible to his father and overwhelms his tendency to lie?

Oh, and one more thing:

The big fight didn't just happen because Ford lost something he wanted. The entire Tale of Two Stans is about two twins who are very close to each other when they're young drifting apart over time as their needs, ambitions, and hobbies begin to diverge.

How do we make this separation happen in a way that flips the script?

Ford as a more isolated kid

Ford has a one-track mind.

In order to make this alternate canon work, I want to isolate Stan and Ford from each other very quickly. Filbrick might not be violently abusive, but he does ignore the kids, and Ford is already isolated from his peers due to bullying and poor social skills. If Stan isn't spending all of his time with Ford, then Ford might become more and more withdrawn. I don't think he would even be unhappy! Maybe a little lonely, but he's a bright kid with varied interests, and he'd keep himself occupied. But he might get a little... unhinged.

My Ford sans Stan is a kid that gets into trouble. A lot of trouble. Way more trouble than parents should have to deal with.

He gets arrested for disassembling abandoned cars. He gets detention for melting things in the chemistry lab. He gets stitches and tetanus shots after climbing under bridges, or ends up in the burn ward because he stuck a fork in an outlet. (I knew multiple academically gifted children who did this, what is wrong with you guys.) He might make a weapon like a nail gun because he thinks it's cool, and while that wouldn't cause as many alarm bells in 1980 as in 2020, it gould get someone seriously hurt. And, moreover, no matter how many times he's yelled at or bailed out or suspended or has his privileges revoked, he just doesn't get it. He'll express genuine remorse every time, but Filbrick will stop believing him after a while because he never changes. He never changes because... well. Because he is incorrect about what's wrong.

This version of Ford is isolated from his peers and doesn't have his brother to entertain him, so he's extremely self-centered. He doesn't think about the consequences of his actions and he doesn't think about how they might affect others. Let's say he snuck into the chemistry lab after hours, did an experiment without adult supervision, and ended up catching a shelf on fire. When he is punished, he's contrite and apologetic. He earnest in his expression of grief. He feels horrible. You'll tell him what he did wrong, and he will say, "I know," and accept his punishment without complaint. But, if you were to actually ask him what he did wrong, the answer will be:

"I used the wrong solvent." Or, at best: "I wasn't careful enough."

Nothing about disrespect for property. Nothing about breaking the rules. Nothing that reflects the fact that he is a child using someone else's resources to try a dangerous experiment without permission or supervision.

I don't think the adults around him, least of all Filbrick, would notice the communication error. Filbrick isn't in the habit of asking young boys about their feelings. Even if they did notice it, I don't think they would handle it well; this is before modern mental health science, and it might actively frighten the adults around him to realize that he doesn't understand morality in the way the kids around him do.

I think that if we start with this version of Ford, it would be very, very easy for him to screw up so badly that Filbrick felt the need to kick him out.

Some ways we can reduce Stan's influence

Option One: Stan might actually be worse off.

Usually, these reverse AUs are about Stan being the golden child and Ford being the one who Filbrick has it out for. However, that doesn't necessarily have to happen in order for Ford to be the one who gets kicked out. If Stan gets caught (or framed) for a crime big enough to send him to juvie for a while, or for Filbrick to send him off to a reform school, Ford would be left alone for years - long enough for Ford to develop the habits I just described.

This AU would fit really well with the themes of canon, too. The show is about how, even though family has its ups and downs, we're better together than we are apart. If Stan is separated from Ford against his will, and the rest of the Pines live to regret it, we address that theme head-on.

In an AU where Stan goes to boarding school, juvie, or something like that, I personally think Stan would still love Ford dearly and do his best to support him. Ford would do his best to make his own way in the world after his falling out with his father, and Stan meets up with him whenever he can. They have their own lives but remain friends.

Option Two: The ever-so-beloved Sports Stan option! If Stan ends up in a successful hobby, it might keep him out of trouble enough to curb his more dishonest tendencies. If that's the case, Ford's isolation comes from Stan having more friends (teammates!), more extracurricular responsibilities, and possibly the kind of social life that keeps him busy during school hours. I figure that in this version, Stan might stand up for Ford getting bullied, and he would be listened to, because you don't fuck with the football team. That would leave Ford with neither friends nor enemies. Ford might hang out with the sports kids for a while, but it would be really awkward, since he's just Stan's brother and doesn't have much in common with these guys.

This version leaves Stan slightly less delinquent but otherwise the same as his canon counterpart. Sports keep him out of trouble, might get him a scholarship, but otherwise leave him pretty much intact.

My problem with both of these two options is that I feel like, for maximum effect, we need to isolate Ford in middle school or earlier - I think fifth grade would do it. Sports don't really get that serious until late middle school or high school, and it's hard for a ten-year-old to get in enough trouble to get sent away.

The sooner the twins begin to separate, the better for this narrative.

Option three: Boy Scouts (or something). In this version, Stanley doesn't just have a hobby he likes - he has a hobby that becomes a lifestyle. He joins a club or meets a mentor that has a profound impact on him as a person. This, I think, would be the biggest possible impact with the smallest possible change.

I'm going to use Boy Scouts as my example, even though I can't really imagine Stan joining a troop without Ford. Just know that this is a placeholder, and it could be anything: he might find a car repair shop with a kindly and avuncular war veteran mechanic, he might fall in with a volunteer group, et cetera. If we go with the boy scouts, though, here's what happens:

Stan is bored and frustrated and has too much energy as a prepubescent or barely pubescent kid. He ends up hanging out with some boy scouts, and they do things that he thinks are really cool. They're the first kids he meets who like boats as much as him, and they know all the rigging knots. Maybe one of them tells him all about how to take care of lizards, and that other kid knows how to light a fire using a flint.

He convinces his parents to let him join the troop. At first, he doesn't fit in at all. All of the other kids have been doing this since first grade, and he's bad at making friends. However, one of the troopmasters becomes a mentor to him: this man intentionally gives him attention, spends time with him, asks him about his interests, teaches him skills that he's missing, et cetera.

If you've ever been or known a young kid who didn't get enough attention and then, suddenly, met someone who made them feel included, you know what happens.

Stan would sell his soul for this guy.

Stan memorizes his handbook, he attends all the functions, he mentors the cubs, the whole shebang. I think Stan would have a blast, too. Boyscouts make up bullshit to tell the little kids constantly. They play pranks on each other and the troopmasters. They haze the new kids. The develop complex internal mythologies for their troops. They get up to all manner of ridiculous shenanigans, oftentimes with the help of knives, ropes and fire. Stan would love it.

By high school, he's working hard toward his Eagle Scout badge, and that means he isn't just attending troop functions. For those who have never been scouts, the whole program is supposed to be about leadership training. The Eagle Scout status is one you earn by doing a project of your own - usually some small but tangible improvement to your hometown, such as building some benches or making an improvement to a museum. So, in the Sports Stan version of events, Stan is busy because of regularly scheduled team sports; in the Scouts Stan version, he's spending a huge chunk of his own free time planning, fundraising for, and building his project.

But there's another thing at play here.

Boy Scouts have a strict code of honor. If Stan was a gung-ho boy scout, he would probably become exactly the kind of person Filbrick wants him to be.

And, well,

I think he'd also become judgemental as hell.

Yeah, he still loves his brother, but here Stan is living his best life and being a good citizen who contributes to society, while Ford's out there... drawing pictures of ghost he insists he saw? Reading about mermaids? Catching the chemistry lab on fire?

Like, seriously bro, you need to get a real hobby.

You know how by the end of high school, Ford was treating Stan as an immature and ignorant kid with no real aspirations who wasn't going to amount to anything in life? You know how Ford was so sickened by Stan's relative lack of ambition that he really believed that Stan would deliberately sabotage his science fair experiment just for a chance to hang out more?

Yeah.

Now imagine that reversed.

[glitterforashes]

𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐞. ; 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 (𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑) 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

>>>>> hey ya'll, first post since the beginning of time basically. happy new year! i was reading some cassian headcannons recently anddd i just don't like the way he's baby-fied. like, did you guys even pay attention in silver flames?? he's very much a tough love kinda guy. so i thought i'd share my take on how he'd treat you if you were his partner! also sorry if the formatting is weird, from this point on i'll be writing from my laptop!

he doesn't mind you wearing his clothes, but he prefers you don't.

he'd take it as you don't have enough of your own clothes to wear and would buy you more.

loves lethal but pretty women. like, knowing you could take down a full grown male whilst wearing a dress.. whoooo he will be allll over that.

needs a partner who doesn't depend on him to breathe. he values independence and strength within ones self.

checks on you, subtly. does not ask "are you okay?", just walks by wherever you are and gets a read on you and your body language to distinguish if you're alright or not.

if he deducts that you're not okay, then he'll ask.

he'd stand in front of you and just ask straight up what's wrong. won't ask "is something bothering you?"-- he already knows something is bothering you. he just needs to know why.

loves to instigate and push your buttons, only if you're grumpy. knows when to be serious.

imagine you're just in a pissy mood. he's the kind to poke your sides and say things to annoy you to see you pout / get mad.

ends up making you laugh in the end.

is a practical and sentimental gift giver. doesn't believe in buying crap you don't need. unless you ask nicely and give him a kiss.

his love language is acts of service. if you wake up before him in the mornings when he has a mission to make him coffee-- he loves that.

loves coming home after missions to you if you didn't go with him. first thing he's doing is scooping you up and holding you for a while.

isn't very affectionate in public. definitely favors that silent communication you guys have.

eyes you down from across the room, communicates through eye contact and small gestures and smirks.

around the inner circle he's a little better. becomes more flirtatious and teasing.

don't get it twisted-- he makes it known that you're reserved at home and out and about.

his scent is all. over. you.

is extremely jealous. it's not an insecurity thing though. it's more like "how dare this low-life have the audacity to speak to my woman?"

isn't very touchy unless it's behind closed doors. he's definitely a stereotypical elevator boyfriend. like, if you two were in an elevator, he'd be on you before you could blink.

is literally so funny unintentionally. makes you laugh so much you get stitches in your side.

eats. like. a. horse.

this man is huge. gigantic even. a ford f150. it's no surprise he has the appetite of a great white shark.

he would 100% dutch oven you. dies laughing everytime he does.

is undyingly loyal and loves you so much it would make him puke, but that doesn't mean he'll just throw away his own self respect and morals.

tells you when you've messed up or been rude. is always straight up and honest even if you're not going to like what he has to say, because he wants the best for you, but he's not going to spoon feed it to you.

he doesn't really care about physical appearance-- but he cares about the way you carry yourself. for example, if you're walking around the house in casual clothes that you've been in the past two days he doesn't care and will still be all over you, but if you show up to an important meeting in like leggings and a blouse he's gonna be upset.

everyone knows the night court has a certain appearance to upkeep. he will not tolerate you messing that up for yourself, or for the rest of the circle.

loves you though!

"cass. go away." you grumbled, standing at the foot of your bed that was covered in various papers, maps, and documents you would rather throw into a fire than actually read through. cassian was hovering behind you, hands on his hips, dressed casually for once. he had just returned home from a three day long mission to the autumn court, and he was all but ready to get some much needed alone time with his partner. "i've been gone for days and you can't look away from your work long enough to kiss me?" his voice was suddenly against the curve of your ear and his arms had found their way around your waist. his chin came to rest atop your head as he looked down at the pile of papers as well, a small smile gracing his lips as he felt (and heard) the sigh you let out. "you're being a distraction." despite your uninterested tone and the furrow in your brow, you had to stop yourself from instantly melting into him. the familiarity and comfort of his warmth, scent, and general touch enveloped you all at once and made it hard to think straight.

"hmm," his hands began snaking down to your hips, being way too light and feathery with the touch to be purely innocent with no ulterior motive to tickle you. "you don't usually mind distractions when it's me." he teased. you turned in his arms and faced him, ready to tell him off for being annoying when suddenly your feet weren't touching the ground and your back was on the mattress. well, the papers that covered the mattress. in the blink of an eye cassian was straddling your thighs and tickling your waist, pinning you down with his enormous body. "cassian!" you shrieked, still annoyed at him but involuntarily starting to laugh at the sensation. you were simultaneously worried about ruining the documents and laughing at him as you flailed, the smile on his face only making things worse. or better. you couldn't decide just yet.

"say you missed me." he cooed, tone smooth and playful as you thrashed like a fish in a fishing net, hands uselessly slapping at his biceps and chest. you gasped for air, trying to force the words out and failing. you could only manage one word responses. "cassian--" you wheezed, "i missed-- stop it!" you pleaded, now too amused to care about the mess you were making of your previously meticulous layout. "cass i can't-- i can't breathe!" cassian laughed at the way your cheeks turned pink with the force of your laughter, his hands coming to a suspicious still. "say it," he chuckled, leaning down until your noses were touching. he gazed into your wide eyes with his lidded ones, a smirk on his face as he ran his hands up and down your abdomen, waiting.

"i missed you," you huffed, out of breath and still slightly giggling. mostly in fear that he'd start tickling you again but still. "awe, what was that? i can't quite hear you." he put his ear towards your lips as you laughed again, no longer angry or worried about anything in the world. "i said i missed you!" you tilted his face to you in the same moment he began laughing and pulled him into a kiss, both of you laughing and giggling through the entire thing. you broke apart smiling, watching him as he sat up and grabbed you by your hips before flipping the both of you over effortlessly, positioning you so that you were lying on his chest and he was lying on his back.

"let me hold you," he mumbled into your hair, making you laugh again. "i have work to do." "i'll help you do it later. let me hold you." he repeated, and you obliged. "what would i do without my big illyrian baby?" you mumbled against him, finding immense comfort in the rumble of his chest that came when he chuckled. "who knows?" he asked. and you decided you didn't even want to think about it.

[geeky-nightphilosopher]

Okay, okay. You all are probably ANNOYED about my Leverage posts- and I was on the fence about posting this one because I'm only on season 3. However, I just have SO many thoughts and I need to process them. So- here it goes;

*takes a deep breath*

Leverage is home. Like, I don't- I don't know to explain it. In another post I said the show was intoxicating and that's still true. But it's also- it's also home. Maybe I'm the only one, but when I watch it- I feel like I belong. Which is ridiculous. I'm not talented at all- but Leverage is almost like a security blanket. It's- it's safe and warm... it's home.

The only thing I can think of why it's home is because of them. Because they make it feel like home. They make feel safe and like your being cared for. Like your not alone. Even if you don't think your good at something- Leverage has your back. It gives you a sense of security. Which is weird because their criminals. But- like they said; Sometimes the bad guys are the only good guys you get.

I mean- you have Nate Ford who is always two to three spaces in front of the bad guy. Who sits there and listens to victims and gives them hope. Who talks to his team and bounces ideas off of them- instead of talking down to them. He's the kinda guy that watches from the background and sees all sorts of angles. Gets into the minds of both the victim and assailant. And if the con goes wrong- he has a second one ready to cover. Whose weakness is an empty bottle in an occupied barstool.

You have Sophie. A terrible actress whose good at acting. She can play any part. Be unseen- while being seen. Whose brave, kind, and gentle- but can kick butt when needed. She's not a damsel in distress- but she'll play the part. And the thing about that part is; it's so convincing- even she believes it too. Despite that- she's honest and sincere, she'll tell you what she thinks. Her heart is gold. Her trust is thin. She's like a snake- hypnotizing. Her weakness is the love she gave to a man who thinks too much and feels too little.

You have Eliot. A man that- if you just look at him- you'll just shrug him off. He's like any other brute. Big and brawny. And that's why you shouldn't ever judge a book by it's cover. He's so much more than that. Yes. He's brawn. A real southern charmer. But he has a brain and a heart. He's that big brother and gives you hugs and you can't help but melt into the security of that feeling. That feeling of safety that you just know has an ocean of anger underneath. But your not scared, you can't be scared. Not of him. He's the kinda guy you run towards- because you know he'll keep you safe. And yeah- maybe he'll use his brawn to keep you safe, but he'll also use his brain and his heart. He'll get you out of the situation in one piece with a grumble and a growl. His weakness is his kindness and that's why doesn't let it show.

You have Alec. The brainiac. The hacker- who isn't all that much to look at (compared to Eliot,) at least not at first glance. Yet, there's something about him that screams safe. Just as much as Eliot. He's outgoing and kind. Smart and funny. And the way that he's got everyone's back- even when it doesn't seem like it. He's your go to- to find any kind of internet mistakes and he's a good shoulder to cry on. He's that brother who is dorky, awkward, and nerdy- but he's honest and sincere. His weakness is not being able to be there when it really matters.

And- and you have Parker. The thief. The master thief- that didn't belong anywhere. Nimble and lean as she flips and slinks through vents. She's the little sister the family didn't know they even wanted. Until finally they realized she was what they needed. She's bright and cheerful despite how she grew up. Her life wasn't easy foster care and street living is a rough life- but she still believes in good things; Santa clause, Nate, Sophie, and Eliot. Most importantly she believed in Hardison. She was on her own until she was found and working with a team. Then she belonged to them. Everything she had done- was so that they knew she loved them. Her weakness is having the ability to not get caught.

To end this; Leverage is an amazing shoe- because it reminds us that no matter our background. No matter how many times we've messed up and haven't belonged- we are all human. It tells us that we will find our home, our tribe, our safety. That no matter our weakness- we'll always have somebody who can take our weakness and become our strength.

I'm only on season 3. I'll more than likely have more thoughts come by season 4/ season 5. (If you agree or disagree- don't hesitate to message me!

[lol-jackles]

When I hear the official (Jensen's) version of the casting, there is one thing that irritates me.

Maybe you can explain it or maybe someone else has facts about this. You describe Jensen as a personality actor who always plays the same type of person successfully. Be it in Smallville, Dark Angel or others, he always embodies the cool, easy-going roughneck with the soft core.

Jensen states that he was originally cast to play Sam. But that doesn't make any sense to me if Dean is exactly Jensen's personality character version. Why wouldn't they have cast him directly for Dean? And a Sam who is 26 and in college doesn't make any sense to me, especially since Dean should have been around thirty by then.

Somehow I can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong with this version.

As Jared said in the 36:00 timestamp, they sometimes make all actors audition for one character. Gil McKinney (Henry Winchester) also auditioned for Sam and he's only 1 year younger than Jensen.

.

Scripts, especially pilot scripts, are constantly being revised and what you see on screen are the final revision. If the producers were dead set on wanting Jensen as Sam Winchester, then the character would be rewritten as 26 yrs old living a quiet suburban life with his fiancé.

Lead roles are cast first because they need to cast supporting actors based on their chemistry with the lead actor. Jensen as Sam means they would look for actors who are older than Jensen for the role of Dean Winchester. Jared was obviously too young and wouldn't be cast.

But if producers liked the J2 chemistry and still wanted Jensen to play Sam, then they could have instructed the writers to age up Sam as the older rebellious son who left the family business to have his own life, like become a mechanic and work for Bobby Singer, and age down Dean as the younger loyal son who acts like a soldier of their father. But I couldn't see that working either because Kripke wrote the pilot with Sam and Dean as the Luke Skywalker and Han Solo archetypes. Try to imagine Harrison Ford as Luke and Mark Hamill as Han. Yeah, can't see that working.

[dr-futbol-blog]

Runner, Pt. 2

They gate to the planet with the high UV radiation index in a puddle jumper, and where Sheppard is obviously steering, McKay has taken the second seat. Previously, McKay usually sat behind Sheppard and Ford had the second seat, probably because it's the gunner's position and Ford was the most useful person to sit there and look at targets for him. Regardless, McKay has changed seats and taken what would be his rightful place by his side. Riding shotgun is the privilege of a significant other, and while they may not be together-together anymore, they are still significant to each other.

However, we don't know how McKay wound up sitting there--whether he claimed the seat, ended up there by chance, or whether Sheppard had wanted him to take the seat. Given that Lorne, his new second in command is on board, a case could be made for him to have taken the seat. But then, McKay and Teyla are on his own team, so the privilege should probably have gone to one of them. And a case could also be made for Teyla, as a lady, to have been given the privileged seat. But alas, it is McKay that we find next to Sheppard. And this is their usual seating arrangement from hereon out.

They land the jumper, and we find Sheppard and McKay bickering with that old married couple energy:

Sheppard: Life signs detector's useless. McKay: I told you so. Sheppard: Just preserving your streak of being right? Officially.

McKay's "told you so" is given with such gusto that it's pretty telling. It also informs us that we are once more missing a part of this scene because we did not, in fact, hear McKay "tell him so." But Sheppard's response to him here is strange. What does he mean, officially? Why does he say it with a playful smirk and raising his eyebrows in a way that indicates there's some backstory to this? When we look at the previous episode, McKay wasn't right the whole time and in fact Sheppard got more things right than McKay did. His streak of being right, whether official or unofficial, cannot be a reference to the events of the previous episode. And the way McKay says "told you so" makes it seem as though it's not the first time he's said it in recent times.

It's possible McKay has been pointing out more errors for Sheppard and in Sheppard's behaviour than he had done previously. It's not that he was previously giving Sheppard "best behaviour Rodney" but when someone is in love, they tend to see the other person through rose-coloured glasses, being blind to their flaws. When you're in love, letting their flaws slide is natural. But it seems as though by this time, they are both severely chafing on each other, intentionally or unintentionally getting under the other's skin, and so they are both bringing out the worst in each other in a vicious circle. McKay is behaving like a haughty know-it-all and Sheppard is being a snooty asshole, going back and forth, back and forth. Truly they are a match made in heaven. And while neither of them wants to be like this, they seem helpless to break the cycle.

But, even though it might not seem like it, they are both trying to make this work. They are putting in the effort to stay professional:

McKay: Doctor Parrish believes that the indigenous plant life retains enough residual radioactivity absorbed during the daylight to, well, to screw up our sensors. Sheppard: Making it the perfect place to hide. McKay: Yes, or the perfect place to be exposed to dangerously high levels of solar radiation!

McKay is being Sheppard's science officer. He is giving him factual information to make his decisions by. And he's not wrong, either. Especially for the two of them with their recent radiation exposure, this planet presents a clear risk. And while it's not even that Sheppard doesn't believe McKay, it's that he's being entirely too stubborn to actually hear what the other man is saying, and this stubbornness has very little to do with Ford. But Sheppard, too, is trying to remain professional, giving them orders based on his strategic evaluation of the situation.

He also gives a manly grunt as he adjusts his... weapon, which just may confirm Lorne's belief that Sheppard motivation for treating McKay the way he does here has to do with masculine performance, or McKay's lack of the same.

Sheppard: Start a sweep, teams of two. Radio contact every twenty minutes... How come it smells like I'm on vacation? McKay: Mmm, could it be the simulated tropical aroma of cocoa butter? Sheppard: Strong enough for anyone within five miles to smell you. McKay: Like they haven't been tipped off by the Aqua Velva? Sheppard: It's dark.

This exchange is fascinating.

For one, Sheppard loves the beach. We later learn that he likes surfing (in fact, he tells McKay in The Last Man (S04E20) that "surfing a thirty foot wave in Waimei is cool!", implying it's the best thing he knows). Also, when he has an actual vacation in Brain Storm (S05E15), he describes the destination as "a beach that's never been surfed or even touched" and in Travelers (S04E5), he's returning from "a tropical paradise" from a supply mission he had volunteered for. So, he loves the beach and ergo something that smells of vacation to him must be a really good smell. It's a smell that takes him right to his happy place (and also, while we're on his happy place, he turns to face McKay just as soon as he's out of the jumper; even now his body just cannot seem to bear to have his back turned to McKay). Interesting in this regard is the meaning of the name Rodney, often derived from "Rhoda's island" which is meant to evoke "images of breathtaking beaches, gold sand, and crystal clear water". And if this wasn't obvious enough, they later emphasize it by giving him the name Meredith, ruler or protector of the sea. John Sheppard loves the sea, is the thing. He loves the beach. And apparently when Sheppard is on vacation, cocoa butter is involved.

Now, did McKay know that it's one of Sheppard's favourite smells when he concocted the sunscreen? This, we can't tell. However, McKay himself seems to know what Sheppard smells like. Real up close and personal. He knows the aftershave Sheppard uses. He knows Sheppard's personal grooming habits. There is no earthly reason for a guy to know, and even less to have made a mental note of, another man's aftershave if they're just co-workers. And here, he's making a dig at Sheppard using this very personal information.

Interestingly, Aqua Velva is also a cocktail that one might have on a beach vacation, and McKay might be implying that he can tell Sheppard has been hitting the gin a little too much recently, which would admittedly put a pretty dark spin on this. Probably he didn't mean to imply this, as McKay is pretty straightforward with what he says, there's barely ever hidden meaning to his words. That's not how he operates, he's an open book. That, of course, doesn't mean Sheppard could have taken it that way, as he has a penchant for double entendre, especially in the case he actually had been drinking (and it's entirely within possibility that he has; the nights suddenly seem longer when you're not watching someone sleep like you used to).

Sheppard's response to McKay's dig is "It's dark," and the assumption is that this is an argument against wearing sunscreen. It's dark, hence the sun isn't up, hence there is no need for sunscreen. Only, he says "It's dark" as a response to McKay's line about the Aqua Velva. He makes it sound like his argument is that the enemies won't be able to smell his aftershave because it's dark, like that makes any sense. What Sheppard actually seems to have done is to ignore McKay's comment entirely, just skipping right over it, either because he didn't deem it worth answering or because he simply didn't have an answer to it. If he has been sleeping in his fatigues (and it seems as though he has), it's likely he has been skimping on other forms of grooming also, and splashing on some aftershave might have been an attempt at covering up the fact that he hadn't showered that morning. The fact that he was still wearing his fatigues from the previous day also suggests that this was the case; if one showered, they wouldn't put back on the rumpled clothes they slept in on. So, because McKay was still preserving his streak of being right, unofficially this time, he chose to ignore his comment instead.

But this whole exchange is again the two of them having a conversation inside a bubble of their own where the others are not invited. And given that most of the men are new recruits that don't really know either of them, it must be confusing for them to witness this interaction between their commander and his science officer. Sheppard is not behaving like a team leader and McKay is not behaving like someone who takes orders from this man. And the thing is, they don't need to be having this argument. They know where each other stands perfectly well without this exchange, and at the end of the day, they both want the same thing. They want to bring Ford back to Atlantis and fix him without getting skin cancer or losing the ability to procreate children, so they're not really at loggerheads. They don't have a disagreement.

What they have, at the present moment, is an inability to connect with the other man outside of this unending bickering, because even this is better than not having any connection to the other at all. So, they both say a lot of unnecessary things:

McKay: Yeah, and the sun will be up in two hours, forty three minutes and... ten seconds. Sheppard: It's raining! McKay: So we'll be cold and miserable. Look, the cloud cover will depreciate a small percentage of UV rays, but ninety-five percent of deadly is still deadly.

Again, the audience is made to think that McKay is being unreasonably cowardly when it probably hasn't been more than a week since they both got a nearly lethal dose of ionizing radiation. But we can't really point to either of them as the instigator of the this bickering, of making these digs at each other. They are both behaving this way, they are clearly acting and re-acting. Other people also seem to get caught in the cross-fire (and it's interesting with regards to the next episode that McKay seems to hold nothing but contempt toward the science of Botany). As soon as McKay turns his attention on Lorne, Sheppard tries to be the grown-up and actually splits himself and McKay up:

Sheppard: Teyla, you're with me; Coughlin, take Billick; Reed: you and Sherman cover the Gate; and Major, you've got McKay. Lorne: Oh, lucky me...

Now, Lorne clearly thinks that he got put on baby-sitting duty because McKay is the weakest link, he's the science officer with no field experience that needs looking after and as the second highest official, second most capable person militarily, he's the best person to look after him. And this is partially true. McKay is not a soldier, he has no combat experience. His field experience is limited. He does need someone to watch over him, to keep him safe. And it's logical for Lorne to come to this conclusion, as the tone Sheppard uses, he makes it sound like he's tired of McKay's bellyaching and hence wants someone else to take him on. Actually, Sheppard's internal conflict comes through in how he first says "And Major" with the tone of listen well, this is the most important thing in the world, but then the "You've got McKay" comes out in a tone that's more neener, neener, as he quickly takes off so as to avoid any backlash from McKay for his decision. Clearly, while he needs Lorne to look after McKay, he doesn't want either of them to know just how vulnerable this makes him.

Now, Sheppard could have either taken this task on himself or put anyone else on it. But Sheppard knows that since he himself is going after Ford, it would pose the most danger for McKay to be with him right now. He chose Lorne because he does think that he's the most capable fighter after himself. He chose Lorne to be McKay's personal bodyguard because he trusts him enough to be able to perform this task. He had chosen Lorne for his second in command, and he believed that Lorne would be able to take on Ford if it came down to that. Sheppard paired McKay with Lorne because he still cares about McKay, and he is damned if he's going t let anything happen to him. What ever Lorne might think, he didn't pair Lorne up with McKay but McKay with Lorne, and there's a world of difference in that.

Bitchy though he might (currently) be, McKay is the most important person in Sheppard's life, and he's not going to let anything happen to him. He's not taking any chances with his life. And the thing is--he chose not to take McKay with himself for that exact reason. He doesn't think that he's the best person to look over McKay and keep him safe, especially not now. He is distracted by McKay at the best of times but currently, the way they are bickering, if they had paired up together anyone would have heard them coming a mile away. There is no way they could have kept quiet. Even though neither of them wanted to talk about the important stuff, the stuff they should have talked about, neither of them could shut up around each other either. They both need each other's attention, and they'll clearly take it any way they can.

And given that Sheppard can't keep himself from making snide digs at McKay or from responding to the other man's subtle barbs, there is not a way in hell they can form a team of two on this mission. He needs to be able to concentrate, especially because a slip in his concentration might lead to McKay getting hurt. So, he chose the second best thing for McKay, his second in command. He trusts Lorne to keep him safe. But Lorne doesn't get this, doesn't get how much Sheppard is trusting him with, doesn't understand the importance of what he has been trusted with. He thinks he got shafted, for some reason. He got the short straw, the short end of the stick. Like maybe his commanding officer doesn't quite trust him yet, like Sheppard might be testing him or something. Lorne doesn't know what Sheppard and McKay are to each other and the way they're behaving, there's really no way for him to even begin to guess.

McKay himself, he seems fine with this. But we've got to remember that for McKay, not being wanted is his core issue. It was the fact that Sheppard seemed to choose death rather than him that had hurt him the most. While Sheppard does get in 'the last word' here with this, because he doesn't understand how McKay thinks about this, he also doesn't get how far below the belt this last jab is for him. Yes, they're trading barbs, but it's not their intention to really hurt the other. And yet, that's what Sheppard manages to do here, and he doesn't even realize it because his thinking is so very different from McKay's in this.

For him, McKay is the single most important person in his life. There is no one else in two galaxies that matters more to him, and that's a fact. Put next to anyone from either galaxy, he would choose McKay ten times out of ten any time of day. And because this is so obvious to him, he can't even begin to understand why what he did hurt McKay so much. As far as he's concerned, he's doing what he thinks is best for McKay, he wants to keep him alive and safe. That's what you do for someone you love. Even when that means protecting them from yourself, which is what he does here, pairing McKay up with Lorne. But for McKay, it's high school athletics class all over again. He's chosen last because no one wants him. He's pawned off to someone who makes it clear they don't want to be paired up with him. For him, what Sheppard does is cruel.

But at the same time, this is familiar to him. McKay knows how to deal with Majors. He can break in another one. He at least tries to make friends with Lorne:

McKay: Here, try some. SPF 100. Lorne: A hundred? McKay: Yeah, can't buy this kind of protection. Make it myself. Waterproof too.

This is pretty interesting, too. First of all, McKay makes it himself. Fair enough. But Sheppard knew that he does this. Earlier, back in Weir's office, Sheppard said "Bring your sunscreen". Not "bring sunscreen," not "bring the sunscreen," not "put on some sunscreen," not any number of things he could have said if he was referring to general sunscreen, or just making a snide comment. He told McKay to bring his sunscreen, knowing that McKay has made his own sunscreen. Knowing that McKay had sunscreen that he had made for himself. Sheppard knew about McKay's sunscreen. Which is interesting in and of itself.

But then he tells Lorne that it's waterproof. Sunscreens generally aren't water resistant, although obviously there are waterproof ones out there and, if one had aspirations of swimming while wearing it, it would make sense to make it waterproof. So, it's possible he had made it with swimming in mind, whether for himself or for someone else that might canonically enjoy the ocean. OK. But what on Earth made him try his hand at mixing up body lotions in the first place? What, he's suddenly Alfred Garnier of Atlantis? From what we can tell, this man barely knows how to cook and probably survived mostly on instant noodles outside of institutional cafeterias his whole life.

The thing is, they probably didn't have a whole hell of a lot in the way of lubrication the first time they came from Earth. We don't know what the expedition's policy was on sex and sexual hygiene, whether bringing condoms and other assorted paraphernalia was a priority, but how ever much of this stuff they did bring with them, at some point during the year, it would have run out, just like the coffee. If there was any lube intended for sexual purposes to begin with, it would eventually have run out. And after that, just like the beans they attempted to substitute coffee with, it would have been up to them to come up with alternatives. And here, McKay is suddenly an expert in mixing up waterproof lotions. And let's not glide over the fact that he's using this to bond with Major Lorne, very possibly a closeted gay man in the military. He's letting Lorne know that if he's ever in the need of waterproof lotion, he's the man to see about that on Atlantis.

Granted, this sunscreen that smells of cocoa butter is not something Sheppard has smelled before--at least outside of the context of a vacation. Sheppard is not familiar with this lotion. But this does seem to be a new mixture, the fact that it has the simulated aroma of cocoa butter is a new thing. But it is interesting that McKay specifies that the sunscreen is waterproof here when sunscreens most often are not, whereas personal lubricants used for sexual purposes which are particularly useful in all manner of sex acts between two men due to a distinct lack of natural lubrication, well. What we know now is that McKay had, at some point in his life, learned how to make waterproof lotions that made the skin slippery with its base of vegetable butter. And we, as the audience, apparently really really needed to know this. Safe sex is important, after all. And I'm not saying he had made this particular lotion as lube, although it probably would work as such. I'm saying, he clearly has acquired the know-how to make sunscreen and other lotions through personal necessity.

And now we know this about him. Now we know this about them. They might not currently have any use for it beyond staving off radiation but they have used it in the past and they will use it in the future. And Sheppard won't mind if McKay's new stuff smells like a beach vacation. He won't mind at all.

Continued in Pt. 3

[gravity-falls-dreamer]

Gravity Falls: Dreamer Chapter 4: Age Eater

Evalin’s room was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of incense curling up from the small burner on the table. Soft, flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the walls, making the room feel like a sanctuary of mystery and quiet magic. Mabel sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes wide with eager anticipation as she watched Evalin gather her notes.

“I’m ready!” Mabel said, her voice brimming with excitement.

Evalin smiled at her enthusiasm. “Good. Magic isn’t something to be taken lightly though. It’s a powerful force, and it needs to be understood.”

Just as Evalin was about to begin, the door creaked open, and Dipper hesitated in the doorway. He’d been asked to keep an eye on Evalin by Ford, though part of him was also genuinely curious about what she was teaching Mabel.

“Can I join?” he asked, his voice a little unsure.

Evalin looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. “Is that OK with you, Mabel?”

Mabel waved her hands eagerly. “Of course! The more, the merrier!” She patted the floor next to her, making room for her brother.

Dipper hesitated for a moment before stepping inside and sitting down next to Mabel, who quickly nudged him to get comfortable. “Just for today,” he reminded Evalin, a little self-consciously.

Evalin nodded. “Of course, Dipper. But remember, this is our little secret. I don’t want Stanley getting upset with me for teaching you kids about my Craft. He doesn't seem very fond of my magic.” She paused for a moment, then added with a smile, “But nevermind that. Let’s get started. Mabel, I want to go over something. What’s the main rule of our path?”

“HARM NONE!” Mabel shouted at the top of her lungs, startling her brother.

“Good job! Now, today we’re going to talk about price. To gain something, you have to give something in return. If you try to take without giving, the universe will find a way to balance things out. For example, if you want to have a better day, try doing something nice for someone. In exchange for that, your reward could be something as simple as a smile and gratitude. But if you do something bad, be prepared to pay the price. For example, let’s say someone steals from the Mystery Shack.”

“Grunkle Stan would flip his lid!” Mabel interrupted.

“Exactly! Stealing is wrong, not just to the person you steal from, but to the universe as well. The universe sees that wrong and will restore balance by taking something from the thief. Maybe their house catches fire and all their loot burns up.”

“Wait, wouldn’t that mean Grunkle Stan would lose some of his stuff?” Dipper asked.

“Yeah, but that’s a different situation. The universe didn’t take the item, so there’s no imbalance there. Your Grunkle would just be shit out of luck.”

“Well, that’s not fair,” Mabel huffed.

“Your Grunkle isn’t going to be rewarded for someone else’s punishment, especially if he didn’t take matters into his own hands. It’s really just a race between you and the universe to see who can fix the situation faster.”

Evalin paused for a moment before continuing. “This idea also applies to bigger things. If you murder someone, you have to be ready to pay the price. It might mean serving forty years in prison, or maybe it’s a life on the run, always looking over your shoulder, never at peace. Either way, it’s a pretty awful situation.”

“But murder is wrong!” Mabel blurted out.

“Unless it’s to protect yourself,” Evalin quickly added. “You have the right to defend what you love, whether it’s your family, your home, or even your own life. Survival comes first.”

Mabel and Dipper exchanged a smile and fist-bumped each other.

“Now, a good way to defend ourselves from metaphysical harm is with salt,” Evalin continued. “Salt is a great starting point. It has purifying properties as it dries things out and sizzling away bad energies.”

“Um, real quick, what’s that?” Dipper asked, pointing at something on the floor.

Evalin’s gaze followed Dipper’s finger, landing on a small, black, slug-like creature slithering across the floor. It was a writhing mass of flesh covered in glassy slime, with small red hourglass-shaped markings dotting its back. Evalin’s eyes widened as recognition hit her.

“Kids! Get out of here!” she shouted, quickly moving to shield them from the creature. “That’s an Age Eater!”

Dipper and Mabel froze in place, giving the slug a chance to launch itself at them. Evalin reacted instantly, kicking the creature in a different direction.

“What’s going on in here?” Stan called from the doorway, walking right into the path of the Age Eater. The creature immediately latched onto him.

“Ew! Get it off me!” Stan yelled, flailing as he tried to pry the slug off, but it dug its sharp teeth into his skin and wouldn’t let go.

“Stanley, don’t move!” Evalin shouted. She sprinted over to him and summoned fire at her fingertips.

Stan panicked, knocking over pictures and taxidermy as he scrambled away. Evalin chased after him, the twins right behind her. Dipper and Mabel managed to tackle Stan to the ground, holding him still. Evalin swung her fire close enough to the Age Eater to burn it. The creature screeched in agony and released its grip on Stan.

“What in the world is going on up here?” Ford’s voice rang out as he appeared from behind the vending machine. Distracted by Ford’s entrance, Evalin didn’t see the slug lunge at him in time. The creature’s sudden leap caused Ford to stumble backward and fall down the stairs.

“Grunkle Ford!” the twins cried out in unison. Evalin immediately dashed after him.

At the bottom of the stairs, Ford was struggling to pull the slug off his leg. Evalin rushed over, her hand enveloped in an intense burst of flame. She grabbed the creature and held onto it, even as it released Ford.

“I GOT THE SALT!” Mabel shouted, running down the stairs with an entire container of salt.

Evalin quickly plunged her hand into the jar, and as soon as the salt touched the creature, it let out a high-pitched shriek and went silent. Evalin pulled her hand back to reveal her burnt skin, now a painful shade of red, while the slug lay lifeless in her grasp.

“Woah! Your hand!” Mabel gasped.

“It’s fine,” Evalin said, her voice steady despite the burn. “The Age Eater is dead. That’s what’s important.” She turned to Ford, who was slowly sitting up, holding his head. “Stanford, are you okay?”

“I think so… What in the world happened?” Ford asked, looking around in confusion. Evalin and Mabel stood frozen, equally dumbfounded. Ford’s once silvery-gray hair had turned a rich dark brown, his stubble and wrinkles vanished. He was no longer the older man they had known.

“Um, guys?!” Dipper’s voice called from upstairs. Ford, now filled with renewed energy, dashed up the stairs, with Evalin and Mabel close behind.

Stan was sitting on the floor, holding his head. Like Ford, he looked drastically younger, his hair thick and dark, his face smooth with youth.

“Stanley?” Ford reached out instinctively, his mind flooded with memories of their shared past. Without a doubt, this was his brother, the same one from all those years ago. Stan looked up, squinting, before removing his glasses and gasping.

“Poindexter?” Stan said, standing to his feet.

“Woah!” Mabel exclaimed, her eyes wide. “You two look like a couple of studs!”

“What just happened?” Ford asked, his tone still carrying the weight of confusion but with an undercurrent of realization creeping in. He glanced at Stan, taking in the drastic change.

“That was an Age Eater,” Evalin explained, her voice soft, as she nervously shifted her weight while staring at the floor. “It devours your years and turns you younger, faster than you can even notice. People usually end up as babies before anyone can stop it. I was just lucky to get to you both in time.”

Ford’s eyes narrowed slightly, a quick flicker of concern crossing his face before he masked it with a cool, analytical gaze. “So, no chance of fixing it then?” he asked, though it was more a statement than a question.

Evalin shook her head. “Once it’s done, it’s done. There’s no reversing it.”

Ford looked at Stan for a moment, the silence hanging between them as he processed the situation. After a long pause, a wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Well, that’s one way to get some youth back. Guess this is what happens when you get too comfortable being an old man.”

Stan chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Can’t say I’m complaining.”

“Hey, it’s not all bad, though!” Mabel chirped, offering a bright smile. “Now you guys get to make up for all that lost time!”

“We just went from old men to not-so-old men!” Stan said, flexing his arms dramatically. “I feel like I can take on the world again!”

“It’s a second chance, Stan!” Ford’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “We can use this opportunity to fix our mistakes. Imagine the difference we can make with all our knowledge, but now with rejuvenated bodies!”

Just then, Soos burst into the room, his eyes wide with shock. “AH! WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE PINE'S YOUNGER, MORE HANDSOME FACES?!”

“It’s Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford,” Dipper assured him, trying to calm him down.

“Yeah, this crazy slug thing tried to eat them into babies, but Evalin saved them! Now they’re young heartthrobs!” Mabel added enthusiastically. Both Ford and Stan turned bright red.

“Geez, Mabel, I wouldn’t go that far,” Ford muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh, come on, Grunkle Ford!” Mabel grinned, nudging him playfully. “You guys look amazing! Don’t you think so too, Evi?”

Evalin’s face turned an intense shade of crimson as her mind scrambled to find the right words. Her heart raced, and her thoughts felt like they were tripping over each other. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, her gaze darting between Ford and Stan, both now looking younger and more... well, handsome than ever. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth as she struggled to form a coherent sentence.

“Uh, you... you both- uh, you look...” she stammered, but the words seemed to get tangled up before she could finish. Her eyes flitted nervously, her hands fidgeting with the brim of her hat. “I mean, like, really... uh... good? You look really... good... in a... younger way. Not that you didn’t look good before, but- uh... well, you do. You just- uh...”

Her mind was spiraling, and nothing she said seemed to make sense. She felt utterly flustered, like she was saying the wrong thing, and it only made her more uncomfortable. Without another word, she snatched the jar containing the dead Age Eater off the table, the motion almost frantic, and hurried toward her room, her footsteps quick and uneven. She didn’t want to stay there any longer, not with the sudden rush of feelings she didn’t know how to handle.

The door to her room closed behind her with a soft thud, and she leaned against it, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

Dipper raised an eyebrow, watching Evalin hurry off into her room. He glanced at Mabel, who seemed oddly fascinated by Evalin’s abrupt departure.

“Did she just... run off?” Dipper asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. He narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know, something about that felt... weird.”

Mabel, her gaze still lingering on the door Evalin had disappeared through, shrugged with a small, knowing smile. “I dunno, Dipper. She was acting kinda... flustered? Like, I’ve never seen her that flustered before. Maybe she just got overwhelmed by the whole slug thing.”

Dipper wasn’t so sure, but he let it slide for the moment. “Uh-huh, sure. Overwhelmed.” His skeptical expression lingered as he glanced toward the door again.

Ford, oblivious to the tension in the air, stretched and rubbed his neck, his new youthful energy practically radiating off him. “Well, at least we’ve got a bit more time to make up for. I’ll have to dig through some of my old journals now that I’m feeling-” He paused, looking over at Stan with a grin. “-this good.”

Stan slapped his brother on the back with a playful smirk. “I don’t know about you, Sixer, but I’m feelin’ invincible right now. What do you say we test these new bodies out with a little race?”

“A race?” Ford raised an eyebrow, looking at Stan skeptically. “You sure you can keep up with me, now that you’re all... youthful again?”

“Oh, you bet I can!” Stan grinned widely, rolling up his sleeves. “I’m gonna smoke you, Poindexter.”

Without missing a beat, Ford grinned back, his competitive spirit coming to life. “We’ll see about that, Stanley.”

The two of them headed for the door with youthful enthusiasm, ready to take on the world with their newfound vitality. Mabel watched them go, still grinning, while Dipper stood behind her, deep in thought. Something was definitely off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“Race to the lake and back?” Mabel asked, turning to Dipper with a playful glint in her eye. “Betting on who wins?”

“Only if I can stay out of the way of the tornado those two are about to cause,” Dipper said, shaking his head with a grin. “But sure, I’ll play along.”

Before the kids could follow after the two older men, Soos, who had been standing by the vending machine, piped up from the back.

“Wait, am I, like, older than them now?” Soos asked, his eyes wide with realization.

Mabel shrugged casually. “I guess so?”

Soos looked up at the ceiling, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “This totally changes life now,” he muttered, lost in the possibility of his new role in the universe.

With a shared glance, Mabel and Dipper exchanged amused looks before chasing after Stan and Ford, the sound of their laughter filling the hallway as they prepared for their impromptu race.

Evalin packed her satchel, carefully placing a small jar of Fast Healing Herbs and a mini water bottle inside. She threw a cloak over her shoulders, the fabric falling gracefully over her black sundress, and slipped on her boots. Her gloves, a necessity to cover the burns on her hand, fit snugly as she adjusted them. She pulled her hat low, ready to head out.

But just as she reached the door, she froze.

"Where are you heading off to?" Ford’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

Evalin jumped, her heart racing as she instinctively waved her hand over her satchel to make it invisible. She hadn’t been expecting him to stop her. She flustered, trying to quickly cover her tracks.

“Well, I- um-well, I saw something flying above the cliffs earlier and I thought I’d check it out.” Her words stumbled out in a nervous rush, her chest fluttering. Ever since the incident with the Age Eater that morning, it felt harder to talk to Ford or even Stan. She couldn’t quite shake the way her thoughts would scatter when they were around.

Ford stepped closer, his posture relaxed yet somehow confident, his foot resting on the doorframe as he crossed his arms. The shift in him was subtle but noticeable. Gone was the grumpy, closed-off Ford of the past. He was different now, more sure of himself.

“Would you like some company?” he asked smoothly, his voice carrying that newfound ease.

Evalin’s breath hitched slightly. “I- I mean, if you want,” she stammered as she pulled her hat down to slightly cover her eyes. “I won’t stop you...”

Her words felt like they weren’t her own. It was hard to form coherent thoughts when Ford was standing there, so casual, so... himself in a way she wasn’t used to. Her eyes flickered from one spot to another, avoiding the warmth in his eyes, the way his presence seemed to fill the space between them.

She wanted to say more. To tell him she needed time to think. But with Ford standing there, looking at her with such quiet interest, the words just wouldn’t come.

"Perfect! I'll get ready!" Ford said with a bright grin, his voice filled with a sudden burst of energy. Without wasting a moment, he dashed off and returned almost immediately, a sturdy bag slung over his shoulder and a red journal in hand. He was dressed in his usual red turtleneck and long tan duster jacket, the familiar outfit now taking on a slightly more youthful, confident air. His black pants and hiking boots seemed perfectly suited for an adventure.

He smiled wide, the excitement in his eyes impossible to miss. "Let’s head out!"

Evalin hesitated for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. The sight of him, so effortlessly confident and eager, only made her more aware of how she was still struggling to keep her thoughts together. She forced herself to return a smile, even though her stomach fluttered uncomfortably.

“Right... let’s go,” she managed, her voice a little softer than usual.

Ford gave a playful nod, clearly unfazed by her more subdued reaction. He was already thinking ahead, eyes sparkling with anticipation for whatever they might find out there.

The two made their way through the dense forest, the familiar crunch of leaves and twigs beneath their boots blending with the occasional rustle of animals hidden in the underbrush. The path towards the cliffs was narrow, winding between trees that had grown thick with age, their branches hanging low in places as if trying to reach for the travelers. As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, its orange glow painted the landscape in soft hues, turning the forest into a dreamy mix of gold and shadows.

Evalin walked slightly ahead, her pace steady and purposeful, though her mind kept wandering. She kept her focus on the path before her, eyes scanning the terrain, making sure to avoid any sudden distractions. She had one goal in mind: get to the cliffs and figure out what exactly she’d seen earlier. She couldn’t afford to let her thoughts wander too much, especially when Ford was right there.

Ford, on the other hand, seemed almost giddy, taking in the surroundings with a sense of wonder that Evalin hadn’t seen in him before. His excitement was palpable, a quiet buzz in the air as he glanced at the trees and the sky above them. It was clear that exploring the wilderness was something he missed, a side of him that had been dormant for so long.

“So, you said you saw something above the cliffs. What exactly did you see?” Ford asked, breaking the silence with his voice as smooth as ever, but with an undertone of curiosity.

Evalin took a moment before answering, still carefully keeping her eyes on the trail ahead. “A fiery bird making its nest up on the cliff's ledge. I’m pretty sure it’s a phoenix,” she explained, the words rolling off her tongue with an odd mix of excitement and hesitation.

Ford’s eyes widened in an instant, his usual analytical expression replaced by one of genuine excitement. “Really? Here, of all places?” His smile grew, bright and eager, and for a moment, Evalin felt a flicker of warmth in her chest. She hadn’t expected him to react like this, and it made the excitement of the discovery feel a little more real.

She nodded, her expression softening but still guarded. “Yeah, I’m certain of it.”

Ford’s smile slowly faded, and he seemed to shift, his posture relaxing slightly as his concern bubbled to the surface. “I’ve been wanting to ask you... are you OK? You’ve seemed off since this morning.” His voice was gentler now, the change in tone almost imperceptible but unmistakable.

Evalin’s breath hitched, and she felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t meant to distance herself so obviously, but every time she tried to look at him, the rush of emotions was almost too overwhelming to bear. She swallowed, trying to ignore the fluttering in her chest.

“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, her tone perhaps a little too sharp. She caught herself and softened, though the words still felt like they didn’t entirely match her emotions. “It’s just... it’s been a lot. I guess I’m still processing everything.”

The forest around them grew quieter as they walked, the rustling of leaves replaced by the soft crunch of their footsteps. The fading sunlight cast long shadows across the path, and Evalin kept her gaze ahead, trying to ignore the uncomfortable flutter in her chest whenever she glanced at Ford.

Ford’s earlier question still lingered in her mind, and she wasn’t sure how to respond without feeling like she might unravel. She bit her lip, trying to push down the unease that crept up whenever she thought too much about it. She didn’t want to confront the strange new feeling, especially not now.

“Sorry, it’s just-” Evalin started, her voice quieter, as if the words weighed more than she wanted to admit. “Since I came here through that Portal Potty, I’ve been getting little bits of memory from time to time. That Age Eater reminded me of the time I first saw one eat someone completely. Freaky stuff.” She glanced over at Ford, but her eyes quickly flicked back to the path. “I feel like something bad happened before I got here. Something beyond terrible. I guess I feel so out of place. This phoenix… it feels familiar somehow. I think I need something from it.”

Ford fell quiet as he processed her words, frowning slightly. He was always thinking, she could tell, trying to connect the dots in his mind. The sound of their footsteps was the only noise between them for a moment before he spoke up.

“Memory problems... They could be tied to the interdimensional travel, or maybe even trauma from whatever happened before you arrived here,” he mused thoughtfully. “Listen, you’ve been through more than most people could handle, Evalin. But we’ll figure this out, okay? You don’t have to do it alone.”

Evalin felt the sudden urge to look anywhere but at him, her heart skipping a beat as his words settled in. When he said things like that, so comforting, so... honest, it made her feel vulnerable. She had spent so much of her life keeping everything locked away, but here, with Ford, it was harder to keep her walls up. She could feel herself starting to crack.

She let out a small, flustered sigh and threw her hands up in a dramatic gesture. “Ahhh, why do you have to sound so cheesy when you say stuff like that?”

Ford stopped walking for a moment, his face taken aback by her outburst. Then, after a beat, he let out a quiet chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

“I guess it’s a little cheesy,” he admitted with a grin, his shoulders relaxing as he continued walking beside her.

Evalin felt her face heat up. Great. Now she was acting like an awkward mess in front of him. But somehow, his easygoing reaction made her feel a little better. Not much, but a little. She let out a soft breath, trying to focus back on the task at hand.

The edge of the cliff grew steeper as they neared the nest, and the phoenix, with its fiery plumage, seemed to glow even brighter against the darkening sky. Ford pressed himself against the wall of the cliff, carefully maneuvering along the narrow path, and Evalin followed closely behind him, trying to keep her balance. The air felt thick with anticipation, and Evalin focused intently on every step, pushing away the distracting thoughts she had about Ford.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the path. Evalin’s foot slipped, her body lurching toward the edge. She gasped, her hand scrambling for anything, but there was nothing to grab onto. Just as she felt herself losing control, a firm grip wrapped around her wrist.

Ford’s hand closed around her burnt hand, and she winced at the sharp sting.

“Careful! You almost-” Ford’s voice was urgent, breathless. For a moment, neither of them moved. Ford’s grip tightened, and with a swift motion, he pulled her back to safety.

She steadied herself on the narrow ledge, heart racing from the close call. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she let out a nervous laugh.

“I-I guess I owe you one,” Evalin said sheepishly, still shaken from the near fall.

Ford glanced down at her hand in his, realizing the momentary intimacy of the gesture. His face flushed, and, with a small, embarrassed cough, he released her hand.

“You don’t owe me anything,” Ford said, his voice softer now. He gave her an apologetic look. “Besides, think of it as a thank you for saving me this morning. I’m sorry about your hand.”

Evalin waved it off with a dismissive shrug, masking her discomfort. “Eh, don’t worry about it. I’m pretty durable. It’s gonna take a lot more than a little fire to take me down!” She flexed an exaggerated muscle, trying to lighten the mood, though it only made her feel more awkward. Ford watched her, an amused smile tugging at his lips.

“Noted,” he said, chuckling.

They continued forward, reaching the clearing where the phoenix’s nest rested on a rock ledge. The majestic bird perched, its feathers like flowing embers in the fading light of the day. The warmth from its glow touched Evalin’s face, and she couldn’t help but be in awe of its beauty. The sight stirred something deep within her, an unexplainable pull.

“How beautiful...” Ford murmured, almost to himself, his voice filled with reverence.

Evalin turned to him, thinking he was still talking about the phoenix. But as she did, she caught Ford’s gaze, he was staring at her. His eyes held a certain kind of wonder, and for a moment, Evalin’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t looked at him like this since the Age Eater incident. The change in him, the way he seemed so full of life, left her speechless. It was as though something had shifted between them, something unspoken.

After a few seconds of silence, Ford snapped back to reality. He cleared his throat, his face flushed with the realization of how long he had been staring.

“Th-the phoenix,” he stammered, quickly looking away. “I mean… It’s-uh-it’s amazing, right?”

“Y-yeah,” Evalin replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her chest tightened as she looked back at the phoenix, but her mind was still on Ford. The warmth from the bird's fire felt nothing compared to the heat that rose in her cheeks.

She quickly turned her attention back to the glowing bird, desperately trying to calm the racing of her heart. The sudden shift in their dynamic, so subtle, yet so overwhelming, was something she wasn’t sure how to handle. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words got stuck in her throat.

Ford seemed just as lost in thought as she was, his gaze drifting between the phoenix and Evalin. The air around them felt charged, like there was something more between them now, something both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

As Ford and Evalin stepped into the clearing, the phoenix in its nest perked up at their arrival. Its fiery plumage flared slightly, casting an ethereal glow across the rocky outcrop. Its amber eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto the two of them. Evalin could feel the tension in the air as the bird shifted in its nest, wary of their approach. Its gaze was unblinking, its posture defensive, wings twitching slightly as if ready to take flight at the slightest threat.

Evalin’s breath caught in her throat. There was something primal about the phoenix's stare, a mix of curiosity and danger that made her instinctively slow her pace. The fire in its feathers seemed to dance with an almost unnatural brilliance, but its eyes never left them, forever calculating and vigilant.

Ford, sensing the bird’s wariness, slowed his steps. With a measured calm, he reached into his pocket and carefully pulled out something small, keeping his movements slow and deliberate so as not to startle the creature. He held it out in front of him. Evalin’s eyes widened when she saw what he was offering: a Tinder Mouse, a creature she recognized from her travels. The mouse-like animal was small and round, its fur made of super-fine flint that shimmered like embers.

The Tinder Mouse wriggled in Ford’s hand, its fiery coat giving off a faint glow of its own, and it seemed to notice the phoenix’s intense gaze. The phoenix tilted its head slightly, intrigued but still cautious, watching the mouse as if it could sense the connection between the two.

Ford carefully crouched down, extending his arm toward the phoenix, holding the Tinder Mouse in front of him like a peace offering. He spoke softly, his voice calm and steady. “It’s all right. We mean you no harm. Just thought you might like a little company.”

Evalin stood a few paces behind, holding her breath, watching the interaction carefully while confused on when Ford picked up the mouse. Her heart raced a little as she observed the delicate balance Ford was trying to strike with the powerful creature.

The phoenix hesitated for a moment longer, then, with an almost imperceptible nod of its head, it slowly inched closer. Its fiery eyes never left Ford’s, yet there was a subtle shift in its posture. It seemed less tense, less ready to flee.

As the phoenix moved closer, Ford gently placed the Tinder Mouse on the ground in front of it. The creature hesitated for a moment before it lowered its head, inspecting the mouse curiously. Then, without warning, it snapped its beak down, devouring the creature in one swift motion.

Evalin let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The phoenix, now satisfied, ruffled its feathers and stood tall, its dangerous eyes still fixed on them, but it no longer seemed as hostile. Instead, it regarded them with a wary curiosity, as if it were deciding whether they were friends or just another passing threat.

“Well,” Ford said, standing up slowly, “I guess that worked.”

As the phoenix finished the Tinder Mouse, its attention slowly drifted back to its nest. It stood tall and regal, its fiery feathers glowing softly in the dying light of the day. The moment felt right. Its gaze had softened, and the air between them felt a little less tense.

“Now's our chance to carefully pluck a few feathers while it's distracted,” Evalin whispered to Ford, her voice low and cautious.

Ford nodded, his eyes still trained on the phoenix. “Let’s be quick. We don’t want to push our luck.”

Evalin crouched beside him, her movements fluid and quiet. They both reached out toward the bird, carefully picking their way through the rocks to avoid disturbing it. The phoenix's feathers, now that it had eaten and seemed calmer, radiated a warm glow, almost like the embers of a dying fire. The heat from them felt comforting against Evalin’s skin as she gently ran her fingers over the soft, yet firm strands. The feathers shimmered in the fading light as she plucked a few, taking care not to harm the bird.

Each feather glowed brighter in their hands for a moment, then began to dim as they were separated from the phoenix’s body. It felt like a piece of living fire had been transferred to their palms, each feather carrying with it a small trace of the bird’s fiery essence.

“Alright, this should be more than enough,” Ford murmured as he placed the last feather in his bag. “Let’s get out of here before it changes its mind.”

Evalin gave a nod of agreement, carefully folding her fingers around the gathered feathers. She and Ford stood up, making sure to give the phoenix space as they backed away slowly.

They both bowed toward the bird in a quiet gesture of respect. The phoenix watched them for a moment, its amber eyes gleaming in the last rays of sunlight. To Evalin’s surprise, it bowed its head in return, an acknowledgment of their presence and their peaceful intent.

With the feathers safely tucked away, they turned and made their way back down the narrow path, stepping carefully and quietly as they retraced their steps through the dense forest. The wind had calmed, and the air felt less heavy now, as if the encounter with the phoenix had shifted something between them.

The stars twinkled above, casting a soft glow on the darkened path as Ford and Evalin made their way down from the cliffs. The phoenix feathers they had gathered glowed faintly in the dimming light, guiding their way through the forest. The night air was cool, and the only sounds were the crunch of leaves underfoot and the rustle of branches in the wind.

As they walked side by side, Evalin replayed the events of the day in her mind, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Her thoughts kept circling back to Ford, his words, his actions, the way he had been there for her. It was all so different from what she was used to.

“You know," Evalin began quietly, breaking the silence, "I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone look out for me the way you did today."

Ford glanced over at her, his expression softening. "Well, you’ve done a lot for us... for the Pines family. It’s the least I can do."

Evalin looked away, a small, almost shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You don’t need to say that. I've noticed you’re not one for sentimentality."

Ford chuckled softly, the sound warm in the cool night air. “Maybe not. I’m not usually the type to express... feelings. But sometimes, it’s worth saying what’s on your mind, don’t you think?”

Evalin’s chest tightened slightly at his words. Her heart skipped a beat as she glanced at him, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. There was a warmth there, something deeper than she was used to seeing from him, a glimmer that caught her off guard.

"Yeah..." she murmured, her voice quieter than usual. "I suppose you're right."

For a moment, they continued walking in silence, the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them like a fragile thread. Evalin’s heart was racing, and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the way Ford’s presence seemed to fill the space around them, or the way his words had settled in her chest.

After a few more steps, Ford cleared his throat, perhaps sensing the shift in the air. “These feathers... they’ll help us. But we’ve got to be careful with them. With all the weirdness in Gravity Falls, I think it’d be best if we keep a low profile for a while.”

He chuckled lightly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Evalin nodded, thankful for the change in topic.

“Yeah, probably a good idea,” she agreed, though her voice was still soft. She wasn’t sure whether it was the danger of their situation or something else that had her feeling so unsettled, but the tension between them was thick enough to cut.

As they reached the edge of the forest, the first hints of the shack coming into view, Evalin couldn’t help but glance at Ford once more. He seemed so... different tonight. And she, for reasons she couldn’t quite explain, felt a strange pull toward him. It was a quiet, unspoken thing, something more than gratitude, but too complicated to define.

Ford caught her gaze for a brief moment, then looked away, as if embarrassed by the quiet that had settled between them. “Let’s get back before it gets any darker.”

“Right,” Evalin said softly, and though she didn’t fully understand what was happening, she knew one thing for sure: something was shifting between them.

As Ford and Evalin neared the shack, they both stopped short, blinking in confusion at the strange sight before them. The trees were adorned with paper snowflakes, delicate, geometric cutouts that looked like they’d been hastily taped to the branches, creating an oddly festive yet chaotic atmosphere. And, standing in the middle of it all, was Stan, wearing a full animal costume that looked like something out of a bad theme park, and trapped inside a cage, banging his fists against the bars.

"Soos! Come on!" Stan called, exasperated, from inside the cage. "I’m starting to sweat in this thing!"

"Soos is working on it, Grunkle Stan," came Dipper's voice as he stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with a look of mild disbelief. "I don’t think he’s having much luck."

"You're back!" Mabel chirped, bouncing up to greet Evalin and Ford with a bright grin. "You totally missed the whole show!"

Ford glanced at Mabel, then at the snowflakes, and finally at the spectacle of Stan, and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

Dipper sighed dramatically. "Grunkle Stan tried to create this extravagant event called the Mystical Yeti Hunt. Of course, it was a complete disaster."

Mabel chimed in enthusiastically, ignoring the chaos. “I got to make the decorations!” she said proudly, gesturing to the paper snowflakes, which seemed hastily cut and uneven, some even hanging upside down.

Stan, still in his costume, gave a groan of frustration. "Yeah, I thought I could dress up as some Yeti and fake a sighting to scare the tourists. Quick cash grab, you know? Make ‘em think they saw something supernatural, get ‘em all riled up, then cash in. Simple."

Ford stared at the scene, blinking as he processed it all. "And...?"

"And it backfired," Dipper finished, shaking his head. "Grunkle Stan’s head fell off the costume, and Soos’s Yeti trap went off too early."

"Yeah," Mabel added nonchalantly, “I’m pretty sure it was the trap that caught Grunkle Stan, not a Yeti.”

From inside the cage, Stan shot a glare. "The head wasn’t supposed to fall off! And the trap was supposed to get the tourists, not me! I’m just saying, I’m not the one who messed up."

"Don't worry, Mr. Pines," Soos said from a few feet away, his voice muffled as he fiddled with the lock on the cage using a screwdriver. "I’ll get you out of here in a jiffy!"

Ford chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched Soos’s failed attempts. “Take your time, Soos,” he said, voice dripping with dry humor. “That crazy animal could use a night in a cage.”

Everyone laughed, even Stan, who let out a gruff chuckle, though he still seemed a little embarrassed by the whole ordeal.

"Alright, alright, very funny," Stan grumbled, sinking into the corner of the cage, crossing his arms. "Now let me out of here!"

Soos grunted as he turned the screwdriver with a loud squeak, clearly not having much luck. "One of these days, this thing's gonna work, I swear."

Evalin, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but snicker at the absurdity of it all. “This is... chaotic.”

"You have no idea," Dipper muttered, a bemused expression on his face as he glanced at the cage. “It’s usually like this around here.”

Ford gave Stan a look, his lips curling into a small, almost affectionate smile. “Stan, maybe this time you should stick to something a little less... theatrical.”

“Hey, you know me, Sixer,” Stan said with a wink, though his eyes betrayed a hint of pride. “Theatrics are my thing!”

“Yeah, well, maybe next time you should try a less... messy version of ‘theatrics,’” Ford shot back, his tone light.

Stan raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You don't think this is impressive?" He gestured to himself in the animal costume. "I’m a freakin’ Yeti! I’m practically a living legend!"

Soos sighed and gave one last twist with the screwdriver. With a loud click, the cage door swung open.

“Freedom!” Stan shouted dramatically, stumbling out of the cage. "Finally!"

Ford couldn’t help but chuckle again, shaking his head. “You know, for someone who likes to pretend to be a mythical creature, you sure spend a lot of time locked up in cages.”

Stan gave Ford a look of mock offense. “What can I say? Being a Yeti is tough work!”

As the group laughed together, Evalin stood back a little, her eyes flicking between the eccentric group of people. She had a feeling that things in Gravity Falls would always be this chaotic which made her feel at ease.

The lab was dimly lit, the hum of various machines softly vibrating through the air. The glow of several pieces of equipment bathed the room in an almost ethereal light as Ford bent over his desk, scribbling notes furiously in a worn journal. His focus was so intense that he barely noticed the figure standing in the doorway until a quiet voice broke the silence.

“Knock knock,” Evalin's soft voice echoed through the room, causing Ford to jump slightly. He adjusted his glasses, his eyes widening as he looked up to see her standing there.

"Evalin?" Ford asked, startled. “What brings you here so late?”

Evalin stepped into the room, her movements graceful, as if she were trying not to disturb the peaceful rhythm of the lab. She walked over to his desk and pulled out a few incense sticks, their dark, intricate carvings catching the light.

“Well,” she began, her voice gentle but purposeful, “I wanted to thank you for coming with me today. It meant a lot. I thought maybe... this might help us both unwind for a bit.” She paused, her gaze briefly flicking to the incense sticks. “It’s a meditation technique, but a little more... magical.”

“Magical meditation?” Ford raised an intrigued eyebrow, clearly curious now. “Sounds interesting. What kind of magic are we talking about?”

Evalin gave him a soft smile, her eyes gleaming with mystery. “The kind that lets you see the world a little differently. Trust me?” she asked, extending her hand toward him.

Ford hesitated for just a moment, a slight smile playing on his lips as he took her hand. “Alright. I trust you.”

She led him to a clear spot on the floor, where she placed a few pillows in front of them, arranging them carefully. Evalin settled onto one, while Ford sat across from her, mirroring her position. She lit the incense with a flick of her fingers, the flame dancing briefly before it was extinguished. The incense began to emit a silvery smoke that curled upward, carrying with it a deep earthy scent mixed with something floral and sweet.

“Breathe it in,” Evalin said softly, her voice low and soothing. “It won’t hurt, I promise.”

Ford inhaled, the scent enveloping him, and he felt a surprising weight lift from his shoulders. His tense muscles slowly relaxed, and the world around him seemed to soften. As the smoke thickened around them, their breathing deepened, and the air itself seemed to shimmer.

“Now, close your eyes,” Evalin instructed, her voice like a quiet whisper in the darkness. “Focus on the feeling of the air around you. Let the incense guide your mind.”

As Ford followed her guidance, his thoughts started to drift. The room seemed to blur, the hum of the machines blending into an oddly melodic rhythm, aligning with the pace of their breath. It felt as though the space was expanding, becoming more than just a lab. The very air felt alive.

Then, suddenly, Ford felt a rush, a sensation of his mind stretching, reaching out beyond the confines of his body. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped in awe. The lab looked different, as if it had been transformed into something far more vibrant. The walls shimmered with energy, glowing with an ethereal light. Everything seemed alive, as though the room itself was breathing. But the most striking thing was Evalin. Her presence was almost radiant, her aura glowing in hues Ford couldn’t quite place, colors he'd never seen before.

Evalin opened her eyes too, and their gazes met. The magic in the air swirled around them, their connection deepening with each passing second. Ford felt a flutter in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.

“This... this is incredible,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Is this what you experience when you use the magic you told me about?”

Evalin nodded gently, her smile soft but knowing. “Sometimes,” she replied quietly. “It’s a way of seeing beyond what we normally can. The boundaries of the world blur, and everything feels connected. It’s... it’s hard to explain.”

Ford’s mind, usually so logical and controlled, struggled to keep up with the beauty and the rawness of the moment. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Her face, so serene and full of life, seemed to radiate something he couldn’t quite understand. Something more than just magic. It was as if she were a part of the world itself, woven into the fabric of it.

He spoke again, his voice filled with awe. “I never imagined magic was like this. So personal. So... powerful.”

Evalin’s eyes softened, her expression warm. “It’s always been there, Stanford. You just needed to open your mind a little.”

They sat in the silence that followed, lost in the connection that the magic had brought between them. The world around them felt like a dream, and for the first time in a long while, Ford didn’t feel the need to question everything. He just let himself exist in the moment, allowing it to wash over him. Evalin, too, was calm, her usual hesitance faded as she sat with him, her presence grounding him in a way he didn’t quite understand.

Finally, the magic began to fade, the air returning to its normal, grounded state. Evalin slowly broke the silence, her voice soft but sincere.

“I’m glad you trusted me enough to do this with me,” she said, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

Ford, his chest still tight with the intensity of the experience, nodded slowly. He paused, a small, sincere smile playing on his face. “Thank you for trusting me to share this with me.”

Evalin stood, gently brushing the cushions as she began to tidy up. “Alright, alright, you. I think that’s enough for tonight,” she said with a playful tone. “I’m heading off to bed. You should think about doing the same.”

Ford chuckled, a tired but content sound. “I might. Thank you for tonight,” he said softly, standing up as well. “Good night, Evalin.”

“Good night, Stanford,” Evalin replied, her voice quieter now, but filled with warmth.

As she left the room, Ford remained standing there for a moment, his mind still reeling from the experience. The room was dim again, the machines humming softly, but for a moment, it felt like the world had shifted.

<< Chapter 1 // < Chapter 3 // Chapter 5 >

[itsblasttothepast]

What are you ideas about the meeting of dan with horner? and the max/dan video? do you think checo is out now?

Uh, I had to google the Dan-Horner thing because I didn't have the context. Honestly, all the things I have seen so far is about an allegedly meeting happening tomorrow to discuss Checo's future, but the press always takes everything out of proportion.

Like the Max/Daniel thing.... they are friends, besties, and contrary to common belief, Max and Checo aren't tied to each other's hips so they go together everywhere. Checo has a life of his own, and so does Max, and that doesn't mean that Checo is out of RBR, although at this point it wouldn't be that bad, to be honest (as long as he gets another seat for the 2025 season... in Audi... WITH NICO!).

Here I see three options:

Checo stays and keeps complaining about the shitty car, unless they actually do something in this break to fix it instead of just relying on whatever thing they believe it works. However, this option has the downside of everyone still blaming him for anything that goes wrong with the team (this brings another bunch of conspiracy theories about Max going to Mercedes and Carlos hired in RBR, but that's another rabbit hole).

Checo ends this year fully, and moves to another team for 2025. This seems like the most likely option, if RBR keeps their bullshit policy of 'performance'. But for this, Checo needs to know that this will be his last year and his two year contract will be cancelled or something, so he can check his options with other teams (Audi... with Nico).

The most popular by the haters and the European Press: Checo is fired right now and he doesn't come back from summer break to RBR; this means promoting someone from VR Cash (Alpha Tauri/Toro Rosso or whatever name they want to use), and apparently Horner's favorite is Ricciardo. This means a break for Checo as well, and he could join Carlos in the search for a new team (Audi... with Nico).

But whatever happens, as a Checo fan, I'll be with him all the way. However, something to remember... Ford wants Checo, so that's important in whatever decision RBR makes, and also, if they want to have their 'drivers' test' with potential replacements for Checo (as the press is speculating), they should do it in the RB20 that Checo drives, with the set up it has now and with the shitty strategies they give him, it's only fair.

Finally, the press loves to make things up to stir the pot, and RBR helps a lot with that, so I've learned to take it with a grain of salt. If Checo leaves, we leave with him, if Checo stays, we suffer with him... whatever happens, let's just hope for the best.

I rewatched 'Mean Girls' today, so I'll add to my anon asks a meme from the movie.

[ckret2]

I'm curious about Ford's thoughts on the situation! Is he scared, angry? Does he really believe Bill is as powerless as he says he is? How does he feel about Bill being around his family and other people in town?

So at the end of April I got this question paired with another question about Ford's reaction to having human Bill around, I answered the other question, went "I'll answer this one soon," and then it got buried in my inbox lmao BUT I'M ANSWERING IT NOW!

(Here's the other half of this question I already answered! I also talk a bit about Ford's thoughts on Bill being around here and here so I'll try not to rehash stuff I've already said too much!)

Yeah, "scared" and "angry" are probably the top two emotions Ford's feeling when he thinks about Bill being back.

He's scared that if he does the wrong thing, Bill's human body will crack open and Bill will escape again, and the world will end, and this time they won't be able to stop Bill because they've already used up all the clever tricks they had the last time they tried to stop him. He's scared that Bill will find some slick way to worm himself into somebody else's mind—that he'll talk Soos into doing something innocent-seeming with devastating consequences, or that he'll get into the kids' heads (emotionally or literally) the way he got into Ford's head and turn them against the family, or that he'll secretly make contact with somebody on the outside and fast talk them into being his accomplice when they don't know what he is.

And he's furious that Bill's here, furious that he's NOT DEAD, furious that after trying every murder tactic Ford could think of from every angle imaginable he STILL hasn't gotten rid of this damn triangle. And furious that he's in Ford's life again, in ALL their lives—and that he's acting NORMAL. Like a NORMAL PERSON. He eats and sleeps and watches TV and complains about what's on TV and plays board games and tries to wheedle Ford into playing board games and acts like a person, instead of the monster Ford knows he is. Ford's mad that Bill is both a monster AND a person and he's mad that he has to see Bill being a person and he's mad that Bill has an opportunity to live like a person, waiting here on death row. He feels irrational. He's mad that he feels irrational.

(He's mad that he kind of wants to play board games—with the version of Bill he was fooled into thinking existed thirty years ago, the version that was Ford's "friend," and he's mad that Bill still CAN put on the "friend" mask and DOES put on the "friend" mask even though Ford knows it's all lies.)

Not long into Bill's captivity, Ford's decided he's pretty sure Bill won't hurt people—because right now, it's more useful for Bill to use people than harm people. He's not going to fight his way free, but he could scheme his way free. So, at the moment, he isn't worried for his family's physical safety—but he IS worried about what the things Bill could say to them, what he could persuade them, what he might talk them into. He's less concerned about Stan than the kids. And letting Bill fully loose in the town, to start making up his own story and identity to the townspeople, could be devastating. Ford canNOT let that happen.

(It's already happening. Trying to keep Bill's influence contained feels like trying to squeeze a handful of sand. Ford wishes they could just lock Bill in a tiny room with no contact with the outside world until Ford figures out a way to kill him for good—but Ford really does believe Bill when he says he'd just kill himself in that scenario, and Ford won't risk 50/50 odds that Human Bill dying would mean the return of Triangle Bill. So what can he do?)

He doesn't believe for a second that Bill is totally powerless. Not even Bill is making a strong effort to convince Ford that he's totally helpless; one second he'll say with a wink and a nudge "I'd try to tell you I don't have any powers left, but even if it's true you won't believe me, will you?" and then the next second he'll casually do a minor magic feat. The problem is, Ford doesn't know WHAT Bill can and can't do. He's trying to mentally divide Bill's skills into separate categories—what things could he only do because he was an energy being in the mindscape? He probably can't do those now. What magic spells did Bill teach Ford to do decades ago? He can probably still do those as a human—etc.

But these are just educated guesses. Even after thirty years of trying to learn more about Bill, Ford still doesn't know enough about him to list what all his powers were, where they came from, and which he might still have access to as a human. 

This is all Ford knows for sure: WHATEVER powers Bill currently has, they're not enough to let him kill the Pines and escape Gravity Falls—or he would have done so already.