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fakeloveaskblog · 3 years ago

Note

For the thruth or dare,

Remy, tell them what happened to your cane.

(cw Lots of mentions of U!Virgil)

The gang had been busy discussing the best high school movies when your question came in. They quieted and the twins sent Remy happy looks, expecting some funny story. Janus looked them up and down to see their reaction.

Remy's smile didn't falter. Their hands started to pierce the needle through the fabric they were holding faster and faster.

"Oh my cane? Pff that's tots boring. Wow this gal has never played truth or dare huh. Fucking newbie" They laughed out "Anyway y'all hear about that like halloween party that's gonna happen at the gay bar? Y'know the one"

Rowan's eyes widened. She shook Remus around "!!! I was supposed to be away filming during Halloween but if those plans have changed- which they have- that means I can celebrate Halloween here!!! I am gonna be so gay! Oh where is my Morticia!?"

Remus pretended to draw in the air while looking at his sister.

"Oh right! Dukey here have been sketching up some real banging costumes so you better be ready to be destroyed!"

"Girl please. You haven't seen me and my boyf. Halloween is the only time of the year I can get Virgil to parties. We go HARD. We've been Jack and sally, The demolition lovers, Jessica and Roger Rabbit, Murdoc and 2D and oh gosh girl we peaked at our JD and Veronica look when Virge was like obsessed with that movie!"

"I've only seen the musical but that does sound very fashionable. NOT as fashionable as me and Remus going as Mabel and Dipper in zombie form though"

'i was mabel' Remus added.

"A very annoying and good one yes!"

"There's a musical?!" Remy asked.

"OF COUrse there is!!!! People die Remington!"

She started to babble on about how good the heathers songs and costuming was. Remus added a few comments about the murders. Remy ranted back about the movie.

Janus sat silent among them. He was holding onto the fabric of his pants so hard his knuckles whitened. There was a choking feeling in his throat.

"-Yeah gal I even have like this scar on my wrist" Remy dragged their shirt down to show it "From when Virge wanted to like recreate that scene where JD lits a cigarette from Veronica's burn wound 'cause he thought it was tots romantic and super hot. Literally"

Rowan grimaced "I wouldn't per say see anything JD does as romantic but maybe he's different in the movie"

"Probs 'cause girl Virge wanted to be JD so bad. JD and Gerard Way. Coolest bitches he knew. Wouldn't stop talking 'bout them. Loved mimicki-"

'how are your hands still alive?' The sound of Remus' text to speech app interrupted them.

He pointed at their hands which was still flawlessly sewing together the requested trans flag even though they had been looking at the twins for the past 15 minutes.

'my hands would have been minced' He smiled at the thought 'remind me to draw that later. bloody. nails flailing off'

Remy looked down at the needle before quickly looking up again "Oh this? It's just like muscle memory. It's nothing"

'its cool. exclamation point. exclamation point. exclamation point. youre so smart with your not blood gushing fingers'

They started to blush and looked away in the way they always did every time anyone even implied they were good at anything "Nah babe it's stupid. I promise. Anyone could do it. It's- I'm just stupid"

Remus looked incredibly offended for their sake. He began to furiously write into the app but before he could finish his sentence-

"You didn't answer" Janus suddenly said.

"What?" Remy's smile tightened.

He looked at them as if he could see right into their bones "You didn't answer the question. last time I checked you're supposed to answer if you choose truth"

Remy put down the flag. It was half sewed. They turned to Janus and forced a happy expression that didn't reach their eyes.

"Girl it's just my cane it ain't that riveting"

'dont have to say if you dont want to' Remus reminded.

"Well if the story is nothing special then you shouldn't have a problem telling it" janus replied without taking his eyes off Remy.

Rowan glanced between the two. The tension was so palpable if she tried to touch it the tension would punch her into Canada. She reached for the popcorn.

"Well you didn't say anything about the halloween party! You going? I'm sure if you do you'll be with your nice lil Logie" Remy said with just a hint of venom on their tongue.

Janus wanted to snarl back how at least he wouldn't be with a person who called him a whore but he held it back "You're blatantly avoiding the question. Not suspicious at all" He did a fake gasp "Don't tell me you committed murder with that cane! What shock!"

They rolled their eyes "Fine! Sure! Virgil broke it! He hit it over the kitchen table until it split in two! Are you happy now? That's what you wanted to hear right!?"

"Don't you need that?" Rowan's voice was a bit quieter than usual as she asked. Her smile had disappeared in an instant "Why would he do that? Are you o-"

"It's not like that! Ugh girl this is why I didn't wanna have to talk about it. I knew you gals wouldn't get it! Look I'd suddenly just like been gone for over a day without any explanation! I barely even responded to any of his very many texts! So when he picked me up of course he's gonna be mad after I put him through like 24 hours of constant anxiety and panic attacks and- it was just a teensy argument that's all! The neighbors didn't even complain about the noise this time! That just shows how little he yelled!!"

It felt like a hole had been carved out in the middle of Janus' chest. Oh god it must have happened after they had been to the amusement park. He could have stopped it.

"So he just broke your cane?!" Rowan half exclaimed.

"He just had to make it even harder for you to leave huh" janus added in a much colder tone.

"Girl he wasn't thinking! He's not some evil mastermind like you seem to think! He just panicked okay!? He didn't mean to go that far! He said sorry and that obviously it will never happen again! He was the one who taped it together again for fucks sake!"

"I don't usually break my loved ones belongings when I panic. Especially not belongings that help alleviate pain" Janus spat back.

"I can't help but agree"

Remy looked at them like an animal backed into a corner. They glanced over to Remus who met their eyes.

'okay guys calm down. it was a mistake. a one time thing' Remus quickly wrote 'he didnt mean to. youre just stressing remy out'

"You being on their side just worries me more honestly" Rowan muttered.

"I am quite sure it takes more than a moment to forcibly take someones cane and break it. You can not seriously say it was just an accident!" Janus shot his arms out as he said it.

"AM I? Girl do you really think I am??? HOW STUPID DO YOU THINK I AM!?" They shut their eyes tightly to force back tears "Fuck! I just knew it! I just knew no matter what you said you think I'm just as stupid and annoying and useless as everyone else!"

Janus reached out to comfort them but they flinched back "I- I didn't mean to imply that. I think what Virgil is doing sounded wrong"

"Of course I know what Virgil did is wrong! Obviously!! That's why I'm mad at him!! I'm not speaking to him! I'm here ain't I! You all just make me sound fucking crazy every time Virgil is brought up 'cause you force me to defend him!"

'cant we go back to playing truth or dare?' Remus suggested but Rowan accidentally spoke over him.

"You shouldn't have to defend your partners action! Are you even hearing yourself right now!?" Janus nodded along.

"Oh girl please! As if Jannie here wouldn't defend his oh so precious Logan if I called him an overemotional whiny asshole!"

"It's not the same thing. I have a reason to be mad at Virgil at least! He's-"

"SHUT UP! I don't wanna hear whatever bullshit Logan has talked you into! I- I mean if Virgil was that bad wouldn't I be so fucking brainwashed so I wouldn't even be here right now?! Huh? I would have thought him breaking my cane was just fine Right? Gals you are just not making sense!"

"WELL THEN! I guess I am sorry I lo- care about you!" Janus was close to yelling.

"AND I'M SORRY THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS YOU IS SOME WHINY LIBRARIAN WHO LOVES YOU SO LITTLE HE HAS TO DATE OTHER PEOPLE TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT YOU LACK!!" Remy yelled back.

It took a moment before Remy realized what they'd said. They flinched and put their hand over their mouth. Janus didn't move, didn't say anything, his eyes filled with tears.

"I-" Remy's eyes darted across the room "I'm sorry. I didn't- I really didn't mean that. I just- You all were implying Virgil- I- I'm sorry"

They quickly stood up. They looked over to Remus for a moment but their friend had closed his eyes and covered his ears to try and force out the arguing.

Remy stormed out of the apartment. Leaving an emptiness to fill the room.

Rowan quietly took a piece of paper and scribbled down her number before handing it to Janus "Here. In case you ever need to call me to help them"

Janus held the note in his shaking hands. Rowan turned to her brother and mumbled reminders to breathe and gross jokes about biology to get him to calm down.

"....someone should go after them." Janus mumbled "..we can't just let them leave like that...I..we-"

'you need to stop turning every moment of caring about them or whatever into an argument. youre just making things worse like that' Remus wrote without looking at him.

"I know" He sighed "I know"

'it was just a one time mistake anyway. we're not a part of the relationship. we shouldnt butt in like some some buttholes. its their thing to sort out. youre all overeacting'

Rowan didn't have the energy to argue back against him right now. She knew it was useless. "It's not like all of us can go after them. That will make them feel trapped again"

Janus sighed even more "Seeing me will probably just make them more mad"

"And me and Remy are basically strangers" Rowan added.

Neither of them said anything but both thought that Remus was probably too mentally brittle to do much to help Remy right now.

"Then I suppose we have no idea who should go after them"

Janus and Rowan both turned to look at you, Remus looked down at the half sewn flag. You usually had the answers. Maybe you could have it this time as well.

#sanders sides #remy sanders #janus sanders #remus sanders #thanks for the ask!#(:#what a fun game of truth or dare #mini fic #roman sanders

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dp-marvel94 · 4 years ago

Text

The Mystery Shack Spooks- Part 3

For Holiday Truce 2020

Summary: Elle Fenton had hoped for a normal summer, a chance to make normal friends with people who know nothing about her crazy family, ghosts, or, most importantly, her status as a clone. But ghosts always seem to find her, even in Gravity Falls. Now the Mystery Shack is haunted by a unknown apparition with an unknown connection to Dipper and Mabel, and to Elle herself. The half ghost struggles to open up to her new friends and to find a way to help this lonely ghost.

Part 1 -> Part 2 -> Part 3(Here) -> Part 4 -> Part 5

Also on AO3 and fanfiction.net

The half ghost sat, waiting on her bed and hoping that the Shack's mysterious ghost would reappear. Sadness swirled in her heart as the scene replayed in her head- the panic, the desperation as the misty figure begged to be seen. Why did he react that extremely, that devastated? She puzzled over Dipper’s explanation. Maybe that was correct; the ghost was upset about still being unseen and unheard. But there had to be more, didn’t there? It was almost like….he was upset that Dipper and Mabel couldn’t see him specifically.

The half ghost’s frowned. The ghost…he’d been moving Dipper and Mabel’s things. He’d latched on to her because she could see him but he’d first started with moving the twins’ things and following them…. almost like he was trying to get their attention, But why?

Wait... It's me, he’d said to Dipper. Like the boy should have recognized the ghost, like he knew him. But, how could he? If the twins closely knew someone who’d died, wouldn’t they have brought up the idea that their loved one was trying to get their attention from beyond the grave?

Unless…Elle’s eyes widened. Unless they thought it was impossible for him could come back because…. The half ghost’s breath caught in her throat as pieces slid together. He…the boy had died…maybe died… in the Mystery Shack. He was about her and Dipper and Mabel’s age. His name started with a T. But��no, that’s-

Elle’s heart stopped, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. Back at the beginning when Dipper’s journal went missing, she’d…she’d asked who the figure was, and he’d shown the copier in the book. The Copier meaning….No, it couldn’t be…but….The ghost’s height, it…it matched Dipper’s exactly. And the brief coloration she’s seen- white and blue like Dipper’s hat and vest. Oh god, he even paced like Dipper did.

“Tyrone.” She whispered. “Oh my god. He’s Tyrone.”

No, the half ghost shook her head. No, that was impossible. It couldn’t be…he couldn’t be. A clone made out of paper, who’d been alive for all of a few hours. There couldn’t have been enough emotion, enough sense of self to form a ghost. But…the clone had helped to choose his own name, part of her argued. That required a degree of independence, a sense of himself as different from Dipper Pines. So maybe he was Tyrone. Maybe a magically created paper clone had managed to be reborn as a ghost. She bit her lip. Maybe…. maybe she should tell Dipper and Mabel her idea….

No, the girl bit her lip. She shouldn’t get their hopes up. If she was right, this would be an incredible miracle. But if she was wrong….Dipper’s wavered voice and downcast eyes as he talked about losing Tyrone rang in her head…if she was wrong, this would crush them. But maybe she could get proof.

Talking a deep breath, she stood. “Hey, if you’re here…” She looked up at the ceiling. “I think…I think I know who you are. You’re…you’re Tyrone, Dipper’s clone.”

Silence.

“Are you there?” She called.

Nothing. Elle sighed. Was he ignoring her? Or… he had used a lot of energy to make the lights flicker, float objects, and freeze the floor (Elle had ice powers so she knew how tiring that was). Maybe he didn’t have enough power to appear even to her.

“Okay. If…if you are Tyrone, can you give me some sigh? Or…show up so I can talk to you?”

No response. “Alright then. I’m gonna go to bed.”

Elle tossed and turned for a while, struggling to sleep without her answer but none came.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The half ghost girl blinked awake to sunlight streaming through her window. She groaned sleepily and went to bury her head back in her pillow when the sound of something heavy falling to the floor rang through the room. Suddenly startled, the girl sat up.

In the middle of the room and suspiciously far from any furniture was a thick, heavy book. Beside the object, a misty blue and white figure floated for a second before flickering out of existence.

“Are you avoiding me now?” The girl rubbed her eyes. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t ask you if you wanted to see Dipper and Mabel. I probably should have and I get why you’d be upset if you’re…..” She trailed off, the lack of response deepening her frown. “Come out and talk to me, please. I…I just want to know if you are... who I think you are.”

The room remained silent, except for the flutter of paper on the desk. Stupid window must be….Elle looked to window, eyes widening. It was closed.

Heart pounding, the girl leapt to her feet. She practically ran to the desk. It was covered with the normal mix of knick knacks and school supplies but…there was a colorful piece of paper that hadn’t been there yesterday. With shaking hands, the half ghost picked the piece up. It was white cardstock covered with green pine trees, probably a Christmas themed piece from Mabel’s art and craft stock. In thick black marker, it read ‘Tyrone.’

Elle’s brain short circuited for a moment as she stared at the paper. What was…what did…how… The paper dropped through her fingers and into the desk. She whipped around, eyes hungrily searching for a blurry figure.

“Tyrone. You’re Tyrone. Dipper’s Tyrone. You’re….” She ran a hand through her hair. “I…I can’t believe this. How…how did this even happen? I mean I know how but…”

The girl blinked for a long moment as an insubstantial apparition appeared in front of her. Despite his flickering, translucent body and pale blue tint covering his figure, the ghost wore a surprisingly familiar looking appearance. As a clone, he looked almost exactly like Dipper, complete with the typical vest and hat, though Tyrone’s hat bore the number 2 instead of a picture of a pine tree.

Elle’s mouth fell open. “I can see you.”

The ghost boy frowned (frowned! As in she could actually see his mouth to see his frown!) and gave her an exacerbated look.

Elle shook her head. “No. Your face, I can actually see your face!”

Tyrone pursed his lips in confusion for a moment before his eyes widened in understanding. He opened his mouth and excited sounding static exited.

That sobered the half ghost. “Your voice still sounds like a broken TV though.”

He frowned, crossing his arms. Clearly, he was displeased. A sliver of sadness tugged at her heart too but she could actually see him!

Elle marched forward. “I mean…I wish we could actually talk with words, but I can actually see your facial expressions now! I can read your body language. I could…I could learn to read your lips or we could learn sign language…or…”

Tyrone’s eyes lit up at the last suggestion, a smile stretching across his face as he nodded enthusiastically.

The half ghost grinned. “Man you’re…you’re actually him. You’re Tyrone, Dipper’s clone.” Her eyes widened, a realization filling her with awe. “You’re a clone, like I am.”

The boy nodded but there was no shock, no surprise.

Elle stumbled towards her bed, the weight of what she’d said hitting her. She’d feared even uttering the word clone in front of Dipper or Mabel but… she’d just spit it out. The girl glanced up at the other ghost. And Tyrone wasn’t even shocked.

The half ghost put a hand on her head. “You already know. You heard me after…after I found out about the copier.”

Static buzzed for his answer, but Elle knew it was a yes. To her surprise, the conformation didn’t make her feel nervous or exposed. Instead…her core hummed with some emotion she couldn’t place.

Tyrone drifted forward, shifting in the air until he was floating crossed legged at her eyes level. He focused compassionate eyes on her. You’re like me. He said and this time she understood. Not just because that was the first thing he’d said to her that she understood. Instead….she knew the meaning. They were both ghosts. They were both clones, supposed copies of someone else but they were not alone.

Elle’s core purred in her chest and she subtly smiled. This was part of the reason he’d warmed up to her and she’d become comfortable with him so quickly. There was a connection she hadn’t recognized until now. A kinship she’d felt since….

The other clones, her first brothers were still alive. Her face fell at the thought, at the memories. Playing with tag with Tiny. Watching the clouds with Bones. Petting the cat that wandered the garden with Muscles. Sitting on the floor reading to the prime clone, Daniel.

Something cold brushed against her arm, drawing her attention. She looked up, registering the mostly insubstantial hand on her arm. She met the other clone’s eyes. ‘What?’ He mouthed.

Elle shook her head. “It’s just…I haven’t talked to another clone since…since the others were still around but…they’re all gone now. It’s just me.”

Tyrone’s eyes softened in understanding. ‘Same.’ He looked down, expression full of sorrow.

The half ghost startled at the answer before nodding. “Right. You weren’t the only one either.” There had been nine or ten others and….she paled at thought….he’d seen all them melt, barely escaping that fate just to meet his demise minutes later.

Tyrone seemed to be thinking about the same thing, a queasy look on his face.

The girl sighed. “It’s okay now.” She gave her best comforting smile. “We’re both here. We both survived.”

The other ghost blanched at the thought, looking questioningly down at his translucent body. He then pinned her with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, you…that. But…” Elle shook her head. “You came back. Most people don’t.”

She looked down. Very few people came back as ghosts but…. (The other clones, maybe they could too. Maybe they were out there somewhere, waiting. If one of Dipper’s clones became a ghost… a jab of jealousy…. Why hadn’t any of her clone brothers come back to her?) No, Elle forced the dangerously intoxicating thoughts down. This wasn’t about her and her lost siblings.

The corner of her lip turned up as she forced her voice to sound lite. “Besides, being a ghost isn’t that bad. You’ve got cool powers and you…uhhh…more durable than before.” The girl smiled sheepishly, unsure if she should have said that as soon as it left her mouth.

Across from her, Tyrone shivered. Then he gave a rye smile and said something equally sheepish. Elle tilted her head in question and he tried again, carefully enunciating the words. The girl watched his mouth. Was he saying ‘can’t melt now’? He repeated the words a third time and Elle was sure.

She fought not to grimace. Well….that wasn’t actually true. Ghosts could melt as she well knew but…she wasn’t exactly going to tell him that right now. Instead, she shrugged uncertainly. “Yeah. Water can’t actually hurt you now.”

The boy let out a relieved breath for a moment before his shoulder’s fell. More static exited his mouth. The half ghost continued to patiently study him until the other ghost again realized she couldn’t understand him.

With a huff, he uncrossed his legs and floated around the room, looking for something. He paused at one of the end tables as Elle came to stand beside him. The ghost boy reached for a strip of photos on the desk and then gritted his teeth as his fingers passed through. An intense look of concentration crossed his face (it reminded Elle greatly of Dipper yesterday) and he reached again. It took several tries but he managed to pick up the pictures.

Elle tilted her head. It was a line of photo booth pictures she had taken with the twins at the arcade. Tyrone pointed at the two siblings with his free hand.

“Dipper and Mabel?” She questioned.

The boy nodded. In that moment, his concertation lapsed and the pictures fell through his hand. He groaned in displeasure.

Elle bent down to take the paper, studying it. Then she looked at the other ghost again. “What about Dipper and Mabel?”

Tyrone frowned. Deliberately, he pointed at each twin. Then he shook his head, covering his ears and then his eyes.

“Oh.” Elle also frowned. “They still can’t see or hear you.”

The ghost nodded, a deep sadness in his eyes. The half ghost felt a similar sadness. Though she now knew that the ghost haunting the shack was Tyrone and could see him, he was still invisible to everyone else. He can’t show himself or talk to Dipper and Mabel. It was almost he wasn’t even here. Except that he was.

Tyrone had come back as a ghost and Elle didn’t know the true extent of his relationship to the twins. She didn’t know what he actually thought of Dipper especially. And she didn’t know what the twins actually thought about him, how they would react if he showed up again. But…

She remembered Dipper’s sadness talking about Tyrone melting, Mabel’s uncharacteristic soberness during that conversation. She remembered last night- Tyrone begging and crying in front of them. Please, it’s me. I’m right in front of you. He wanted to connect with them, didn’t he? But he couldn’t do that alone.

“We’ll figure something out.” Elle ran a hand through her hair. “But for now, what am I gonna tell Dipper and Mabel?”

Tyrone’s eyes widened, a panicked look crossing his face. He vigorously shook his head.

The girl stared at him. “Tyrone. I figured out who you are. I can actually see you. I have to tell them something.”

The ghost boy continued to shake his head exaggeratedly.

Elle raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to tell them?”

His voice buzzed as panicked static and she didn’t need to understand the words to know he was saying no.

The girl held out her hands. “Why not? I saw how upset you got last night. You want to talk to them. And…I think they’d want to talk to you too.” She said that last part with less certainty but it was true, right?

At some point, the ghostly clone had started pacing. He stopped to stare at her. He waved his arms, motioning to his mouth.

Elle scowled before catching. “You can’t talk to them…and they can’t see you.” Her lips turned down.

Tyrone nodded, more static popping. Some words broke through the noise. “Can’t see…how can…like not here….and….can’t break their hearts….”

“You don’t want to hurt them.” The half ghost said softly.

The boy confirmed with a nod.

Elle frowned. “But..” She started to argue.

Tyrone floated forward, holding up his hands. He closed his eyes, concentrating before he opened his mouth. “Please, wait until we figure this out.” He motioned to his still insubstantial form.

“They could help us with that, if they knew.” She argued.

He still shook his head, before biting his lip. “No, I’m…not ready…..” There was a long pause when the half ghost thought he wouldn’t say anything else. “I’m…Just a copy. Aren’t I? But….I don’t know…what will they think of me?” The last words rang with doubt and fear but somehow they were more real and solid than anything she’d heard from him.

Elle frowned, trying to make sense of the words. Except they made too much sense. She knew all the self-worth issues that came with being a clone, all the fear of people knowing what a freak you are, not being ready to face the truth. Or…maybe she was projecting what she felt on to him. Maybe he wasn’t feeling insecure because of his clone status. Maybe he was just afraid of hurting Dipper and Mabel and being physically unable to comfort them.

After long consideration, the half ghost sighed. “Alright. I won’t tell them. But we’ll find a way for them to see and hear you. And then you’ll have to face them.”

Tyrone swallowed nervously but nodded in agreement. Then he offered her a half-smile and a mouthed ‘Thank you,’ before he disappeared, leaving Elle to get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe agreeing not to tell Dipper or Mabel about Tyrone was a bad idea, Elle thought ruefully. The fair had come early this year and she was supposed to be having fun with the twins. Mabel was talking about their time travel adventure last year, gushing about how she won Waddles and chuckling about how Dipper kept hitting Wendy in the eyes with a baseball, to the boy’s groaning.

“Yeah, we never figured out what that time anomaly thing was.” The female twin shrugged.

“Mabel, that was us.” Dipper stated flatly.

“That’s just silly bro. Us, cause a time anomaly. Psh.” She waved her hand flippantly. Dipper rolled his eyes, exacerbated. Elle wasn’t sure if Mabel was being serious or not but before she could say anything, the other girl’s eyes widened. “Candy! Grenda!”

As Mabel ran off to meet her friends, Elle sighed, and Dipper’s smile fell. A moment later, he looked at the other teen and sighed. “So…what do you want to do?”

Elle shrugged, frowning. “I don’t know. Whatever.”

If she was honest, she wasn’t in the mood for fun, not after this morning. She was feeling blue and Dipper didn’t seem to be doing much better. Elle had noticed it as soon as she saw him at breakfast this morning. The tension in his shoulders, the bags under his sunken eyes, the way he kept wringing his hands. He looked like he had barely slept, deeply bothered by something.

“How about we go get some food?” The boy offered halfheartedly.

“Sure.” Elle agreed, her thoughts away from her friend’s sour mood.

The pair walked to one of the food trucks, ordering cheeseburgers, fries, and cans of Pit Cola. They sit down to eat at a picnic table, beside some of the older teens.

Elle listlessly picked at her food, while passively watching people pass by their table. Across from her, Dipper was in a similar mood, his eyes fixed down while he nibbled at his fries. He remained silent which was fine with Elle; she wasn’t in a talking mood today either.

If she’s been in a better mood, she might have wondered about what was bothering him and asked about it. But instead, her head remained filled with her own troubled thoughts. She couldn’t stop thinking about Tyrone who was in the Shack somewhere, still invisible. Elle sighed. She knew his name now but what did that matter? She still had no idea how to actually help him.

A blue tinted figure drew Elle’s attention away. She looked up, her frown deepening. There in the attic window was Tyrone. He was watching them with one hand on the window; even from this distance she could make out the sad look in his eyes.

“What are you looking at?” The living boy across from her asked, startling her.

Elle whipped to look at him. A moment later, she recognized the question. “Oh…our ghostly friend.” It wasn’t a lie, technically, right? “He’s in the window of your bedroom.” She looked back up and pointed, causing the boy to swivel around to see and then frowned. “Or he was.” Tyrone had disappeared in second she looked away.

“Oh.” Dipper frowned. “What was he doing?”

“Just looking out the window. Watching the fair I guess.” She shrugged, trying to sound unbothered. But she was bothered. He was watching them, with the expression of someone on the outside looking in.

Despite her efforts, the boy mostly likely picked up on the unease anyway. “He must be really lonely.”

“Yeah.” The girl nodded, putting her arms around herself. Jazz had said as much earlier and Elle herself thought that was well. She shivered. “No one being able to see and hear you must be horrible.”

Dipper swallowed. “It is. It’s awful.”

The sureness of the statement giving her pause, Elle blinked at him in surprise. “You sound...very sure about that.”

The boy’s shoulders rose, and he paled, looking like he’d been caught. Then a deep look of consideration covered his face. He looked around cautiously. “There’s a reason for that.” He lowered his voice. “We shouldn’t talk about it here.”

With that, the boy stood. He grabbed his food and Elle followed with her own food as he led her away from the picnic tables. With another cautious glance, he darted behind one of the game stales. With a food truck to their backs and the back of the stall in front of them, it formed a secluded little alley away from listening ears.

Dipper took a seat, slumping into the grass. He bit his lip, mulling over something silently before meeting her eyes. “I..I kinda know what it’s like to be a ghost.”

Elle frowned in surprise. “What?”

The boy opened and closed his mouth, searching for words. He nervously rubbed one of his arms. “I…When Bill Cipher possessed me, I got kicked out of my own body. While that demon,” His voice pitched up in anger at the word, before dipping down in sadness. “was tramping around in my body. I was just floating there. I couldn't touch anything. And no one could see or hear me. I yelled in people’s ears, waved in their faces but…nothing.” He looked at his hands. “It’s like…I didn’t even exist. I wasn’t even there, like I was a….”

“A ghost.” The girl’s eyes lit up in understanding. “It’s like you were a ghost.”

Dipper nodded. “It was horrible. I felt so…helpless. Cipher was running around, doing whatever he wanted to do to me and I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t get anyone to help me, because they couldn’t see me. It was…one of the most horrible things that's ever happened to me.” He almost whispered that last part before shaking his head. “It turned out okay though. I possessed one of Mabel’s sock puppets to talk to her and she helped get the demon out of me.” Elle’s eyes widened at the last part, wanting to ask more about that story but Dipper continued before she could. “But the point is…I was stuck like that for a few hours and it was awful. But the ghost in the Shack…he’s been like that for who knows how long.”

Elle shook her head, considering the words. “I can’t even imagine that. Well…Well no, I can...”

The boy gave her a curious look and the girl pinched her mouth shut. She didn’t want to bring that up, not right now, not when it could lead to…other revelations but….she met Dipper’s eyes. He’d already spilled deep secrets to her. He trusted her, repeatedly, and she still remained closed off.

Elle hazarded a cautious glance at Dipper. "I...uhh….I have something to tell you about..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "About why I can see the ghost but no one else can. It's uhhh.. it's not because I've been living above a ghost portal."

The boy seemed to pick up on her somber tone, his frowning deepening. "What do you mean? Is there no portal?"

The halfa wrung her hands. "No, I mean…Mom and Dad do have a portal and it is in our basement. So I have been living above it but… I know what's not why I can see the ghost."

"Then why?"

Elle could hardly believe she was saying this, she was trying to confess this as she stammered. "I...uhh...I..umm… it's...it's complicated and weird. And...I'm … I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but I thought...well.. it's silly but…" Her voice quieted. "Please don't be mad."

Dipper's expression softened. "Elle, it's okay. You can tell me whatever it is."

The girl took a breath and closed her eyes. She braced herself. She would say it. She was gonna actually say it and it would be fine because she could trust Dipper and he'd believe her and...She spit out the words. "I'm half ghost."

There was a long moment of silence when the other teen didn't react. Tentatively, she peaked her eyes open and took in his bewildered expression.

"What?" He finally said.

"I'm half ghost." Elle forced the words out again. "That's why I can see the Shack's ghost, 'cause I'm one too." She glanced up, meeting Dipper's still confused gaze, before looking down again. She then continued as the other boy remained silent. “So yeah...I’ve got all the typical powers. I can turn invisible.” In demonstration, her hand disappeared. “Intangible.” Her hand took on a bluish tint before she passed it into the ground. “Make ectoblasts.” Pulling her hand back up, she summoned neon green energy into her palm. “I can do ice too and float but those are….uhh...harder in this form….”

She trailed off at the end, blushing under Dipper’s slack jawed stare. The girl bit her lip. Had she gone too fast? Should she have explained better? Should she transform? No that was a stupid idea. This was stupid idea. Stupid! She just broke her friend. He probably thought-

“You’re a ghost.” Dipper’s uncharacteristically quiet voice cut through her growing panic. “You’re a ghost. I can’t believe this.” His voice was quickly growing in volume as he spoke faster. “In the Shack, right under our noses the whole time. You told me...you told me your parents are ghost experts. And...you’ve gone through the ghost portal.... Earlier, I thought I saw your eyes glow like that.” His eyes flickered between her face and her still lit hand as he pointed. “You’ve really a ghost which means you’re…” His speech slowed as his eyes widened, shining with sadness. “You’re dead.” He practically leapt to his feet, waving his arms. “You’re dead. You’ve been dead this entire time. You’re-”

“Dipper! Stop!” Elle cut the boy off as she rose to her feet and extinguished her ectoenergy. She grabbed one of his arms. “I’m not dead.”

The boy suddenly stopped, jaw falling again. "But.. you just said you were a ghost."

"I'm half ghost." She corrected pointedly.

"Half ghost?" Dipper questioned.

Elle blew out a breath at her friend's lingering confusion. “Yeah, Half ghost and half human. I’m a...human-ghost hybrid.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I am a ghost but I’m a human too. And…. I’m not dead…”

The boy continued to study her, his expression equal parts confused and distressed. “But...how can you be both? Ghosts are the spirits of dead people and you’re…” He looked down at her hand that was still around his wrists. “You’re solid and warm and..you’re breathing but…” He pulled away. “Are you possessed? Is this you trying to tell me you’re possessed because if you are-”

Elle cut him off again. “Dipper, I’m not possessed. These are my powers.” Again, she demonstrated, deliberately turning a hand invisible. “See. I’m doing this. There isn’t a ghost controlling me. It’s just...this is just me.” The boy said nothing, staring at her hand. Elle bit her lip. “Maybe….I should transform. That might help you understand.”

Dipper’s eyes flickered back up to her face. “Transform?”

“Yeah uhh...into my ghost form. Since I have a human form.” She motioned down her body. “And a ghost form.”

The boy nodded, seeming to follow what she was saying even if the blank look suggested he still had no idea what she meant.

Elle took a step back. “Okay. So...there’s this light that's gonna form around me and I’ll change. You...uhh...might not want to look directly at me. It’s bright.”

With another nod from the other teen, the half ghost summoned the ring of light. Dipper’s eyes widened at the sight and remained fixed even as the light moved across Elle’s form. The light passed Elle’s head, stealing the breath from her lungs. A moment later, the familiar chill and weightlessness enveloped her, leaving the girl floating in ghost form a few inches above the ground.

As Dipper hadn’t looked away, he squinted at her, blinking the spots from his vision. After what felt like minutes but was really seconds, he focused on her face again. “Elle?” He took a tentative step forward. “Is that really you?”

The girl nodded. “Yeah. I know I kinda look different but… it’s still me.”

The boy took another cautious step forward, the shocked look on his face morphing into awe. “Wow. You do look so different.” Elle frowned, shifting nervously in the air. Dipper shook his head, noticing her reaction. “No, I mean...you look so different from the other ghost I’ve seen. You’re not see-through at all. You look solid…” He reached a hand forward. “Can I...uh… touch you?”

The girl blushed. “Uh...sure?” She put an arm forward and let Dipper take it.

His eyes lit up. “You are solid but...you’re so cold.” His lips turned down. “And you’re not...you’re not dead?”

Elle shook her head. “No. I even still have a heartbeat in this form. Here if you press down on my pulse point, you should feel it.”

With a hum, the boy did so. Slowly, he smiled, his voice ringing with relief. “You do.”

“Yeah.” Elle gently removed her arm from his grasp. “So not dead. Or half dead. Or anything like that.”

Dipper blinked. “But then how...how are you like this?”

The girl paled. “Well that’s...that’s complicated.” She bit her lip, again shifting nervously.

The other teen stepped back. “Oh...sorry. Sorry if that’s personal. You don’t have to tell me.” Clearly he’d picked up on her discomfort but despite the words, Elle could still see the pure curious interest in his eyes.

The half ghost sighed. “No...I wanna tell you but...it’s hard to talk about and…”

Dipper’s expression softened. “It’s okay.”

Elle shook her head. “I’ll just say...I was in a bad place with a bad person. That bastard. I was…I was an experiment to him. He hurt me and…” She swallowed. “And other people too.” She clenched and unclenched her fists, thinking about the other clones. “He tried to get me to help him. I...I should’ve died. I should be dead.” Dipper’s eyes widened in alarm at the statement but she continued. “I almost died but...Danny saved me.” A small smile spread across her face at the statement.

“Danny?” The boy raised a brow. “You mean your brother?”

The half ghost blinked, realizing what she said. “Yeah...I guess I should mention….Danny’s half ghost like me.”

“Your brother’s...half ghost?” He put a hand on his head. “But how..wait, is this genetic or something?”

“Or something.” Elle shrugged, trying to avoid the topic. “Anyway, Danny’s half ghost too and he saved my life. He got me out of that place or...guess we helped each other escape really. But still...I would have probably died that day without him.” Her face fell at the last part, remembering Vlad’s hate filled face, how the man would have driven her to the point of destabilization if Danny hadn’t refused to fight her. She swallowed. “And...I got really sick after that.” She shivered, the memory of her body numb and dripping green fashed in her mind. Those dark, cold nights when her body was threatening to fall apart and she’d feared that she’d died there on the streets. But- “Danny found a way to make me better. He...he saved me. He saved my life, again. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.” In more ways than one, she thought almost ruefully. But she smiled fondly anyway.

Dipper frowned for a long moment, taking in all she said. “Wow, that’s...that’s a lot. That sounds really awful.”

“Yeah. It sucked.” Elle rubbed the back of her neck. “But everything’s okay now.” Which was true for the most part. “I’m healthy. That fruitloop is out of my life. I’ve got an incredible family and…” She smiled very deliberately at Dipper. “I finally have friends.”

The boy blushed at the attention, though he also smiled. “Yeah, friends. And...I’m happy things are better for you know.”

Elle sighed, feeling happiness at his agreement along with a sense of relief. She’d shared the barest hint of all she’d gone through but it felt good to say at least a portion of it. Although...she looked back at Dipper who was looking at her thoughtfully.Her stomach flopped as she wondered what he was thinking.

“You’re taking this well.” She said, slightly skeptically. “But...I guess you’re kinda used to the paranormal.”

Dipper raised a brow. “I don’t think there’s any getting used to your friend secretly being a supernatural creature.”

“Part supernatural creature.” She snorted. “So….do you have any more questions?”

“Do I? Well…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dipper of course had dozens of questions for the newly revealed halfa. After posing several questions about her powers and requests to demonstrate, Elle turned human and asked to go somewhere more secluded. The pair made their way away from the field hosting the fair and into the woods, far enough to not be seen by any of the townsfolk but close enough to easily find their way back to the Shack.

Elle demonstrated her powers and the two talked more about the Ghost Zone and ghosts. Dipper even learned about Elle’s superhero alter-ego and Phantom’s real identity . Again, it was nice sharing the truth with someone. The boy wasn’t angry that she’d waited or distrustful of her. Instead, his enthusiasm and wonder was infectious, lifting her spirits. He clearly thought what she was, what she could do was wondrous and incredible, not weird and inhuman. In an odd way, it reminded her of her dad and the child-like wonder he exhibited when talking about ghosts. The man had worn similar expressions when watching either of his two half ghost children display their powers. The reaction made her literally glow with happiness. Until…

“Hey, Elle.” Dipper put down the journal he’d been jotting down notes in. “Thanks for showing me all this. I could tell how nervous you were earlier about telling me so...thank you for trusting me with your secret.”

And just like that, an underlying tension surged. She’d shared a secret but not her biggest one, not about her origin as a clone. Her stomach flopped. She could tell him about that now, right?. He accepted her being a halfa; learning that she was a clone too wouldn’t change that. But…doubt stabbed in her heart. It would change the way he saw her. He’d know that she was not a real person but a fake, a copy, a hateful voice whispered.

No, Elle shook her head. She wasn’t those things. She’s been over this again and again, reassured by her family. She was a real person, her own person.

“Come on.” Dipper interrupted her thoughts. “Let’s head back to the fair.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.” Elle shrugged, returning to human form.

The boy led her back to the field, stopping as they cleared the trees. “Do you want to play some games?” He pointed. “I’m pretty good at balloon darts.”

“Let’s do it.” The girl agreed.

With that, the pair of friends walked to the stall and played the game. All the while, Elle’s thoughts tumbled her head. She really should tell him about how she really got her powers and....She watched Mabel walk by with her friends...She needed to tell the other girl as well. Elle frowned. Well, one thing at a time then. She’d talk to Mabel about being half ghost and then...figure out what to do next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About an hour later, Mabel joined back up with Elle and Dipper. “Candy and Grenda had to leave so I’m back!” She grinned. Then she wiggled her eyebrows. “Did you two have fun?”

Elle raised a brow at that tone; what exactly was she implying?

Dipper either didn’t pick up in the expression or chose to ignore it. Instead he excitedly said. “Yeah! Mabel you won’t believe what Elle-”

The half ghost elbowed the boy in the side, cutting him off. “Dipper.”

“What?” He shrugged, slightly confused and slightly incredulous. Elle gave him a pointed look and a moment later, understanding dawned on his face. “Oh, right. I guess you should tell her yourself.“

“Tell me what?” Mabel questioned.

Elle bit her lip. “More like show you. Let’s...let’s go somewhere private.”

Without further questions, the group went back to the area in the woods where Elle and Dipper talked earlier. Once they arrived, the half ghost turned around to face her two friends.

“So...I’m half ghost.” She started, already cursing herself for not deciding to tell both twins at the same time. Really, why did she keep doing this? It wasn’t that she didn’t like or trust Mabel so why...

She pushed the idea out of her head to focus on explaining and showing off her powers. Much as she had with Dipper, she gave a very vague explanation of why she was half ghost and the awful things that happened before she was stabilized.

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” Mabel said, after she finished.

With a huff, the girl touched down on the ground. “Yeah..it was really bad but...I came out okay.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “And like I said, Danny helped me.”

The other girl’s expression softened. “He sounds like a good brother.”

Elle nodded. “He really is.” That was true, no matter the complicated feelings she had about being his clone.

“Are you two close?” The halfa rose a brow Mabel’s question and the other girl continued. “The two of you have the same powers and all the stuff you went through together? I know with all the crazy stuff that happened last summer, all the times I had to save Dipper’s butt.”

“Hey!” Said boy gave a somewhat indignant cry. “You saved my butt? I saved your butt!”

Mabel glared at him without heat. “We saved each other’s butts. But anyway...we got closer, after everything that happened.”

Dipper lowered his pointed finger. “You’re right.” His expression turned fond. “We did.”

Elle glanced between the brother and sister, fondness entering her heart at the thought of her own living siblings. “You’re right. Danny and me are close. Well...I’m closer to him than Jazz anyway. Some of that is being half ghost.” Though some was, she had known him longer than she had known Jazz. “He got his powers first so he’s taught me things. And all the stuff that happened with the fruitloop…” She bit her lip. “I know he’ll always have my back.” Elle shook her head; she could say more, a lot more. Her relationship with the older teen was complicated. “I mean...he sometimes drives me nuts and...” This was saying a lot from a clone. “I wonder how the heck we’re even related.”

That earned a laugh from Mabel. “Same. I mean, brothers?” She jabbed a thumb at Dipper. “What are you gonna do with them?”

The mentioned boy rolled his eyes. “I love you too.”

His sister stuck out her tongue and Elle giggled.

The halfa then shrugged. “But yeah….I guess the point is...it’s not always perfect. But Danny’s my big bro. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

There was a pause as Elle let the statement settle and the silence stretched. From the fond looks the pair of twins traded, the half ghost was sure each thought the same of their respective sibling even if neither was going to say it out loud. Granted, Elle wasn’t sure how much of that said she would say to Danny out loud but...maybe she should. Maybe after this, she’d call Jazz and Danny and thank them for encouraging her to trust Dipper and Mabel. She’d tell the two how much she loved them.

Speaking of trusting….she did have more to tell them but…

“Elle! Can you show us your ice again?” Dipper grinned excitedly.

Mabel beamed similarity. “Can you make snowballs?! Oh, can we have a snowball fight?”

The halfa laughed, forming a snowball in her hands. “I don’t know…” She threw it at Mabel and smiled. “Can we?”

A shocked expression crossed the girl’s face before she shrieked with laughter. “No fair. Me and Dipper need snowballs too!”

With that, the half ghost made a pile of snowballs. As the three had a snowball fight in the middle of the summer, Elle was again happy that she told her friends about her powers and she could share this with them. There was still that little secret about being a clone which kept rearing its head. But for now…. Elle laughed as a snowball hit her in the back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the impromptu snowball fight, the group went back to the fair. Elle looked side to side; there were noticeably less people around and many of the game and food stalls were closed.

Mabel frowned. “I guess we ended up talking for a long time.”

“Sorry you didn’t get to see much of the fair.” Dipper said.

“That’s okay. I still had fun with you guys.” Elle shrugged.

The twins both smiled at the statement. Mabel then waved. “Come on. Let’s ride the Ferris wheel before they close.”

The three got in line for the ride and soon after loaded onto one of the cars. The group happily chatted. As they rose higher, Dipper and Mabel oohed and awed at the sight. Elle looked around with considerably less awe. The sight was beautiful but she could see it all time she liked; she could fly of her own power after all. But still she smiled, enjoying her friends’ reactions.

That is...until she looked through one of the windows of the Shack and again, saw the misty form of Tyrone. Her smile fell; there he was in the window again, watching, waiting and probably hoping she’d come up with a way to make him fully visible and audible. Guilt wrapped around Elle’s heart; she’d forgotten about him all day, too busy hanging out with Dipper and Mabel and thinking about herself. She’d been worried about telling them about her status as a clone but there was another clone to worry about. She still needed to figure out how to tell them about Tyrone. But how to have that conversation, that definitely painful conversation that Tyrone didn’t want to have yet?

“Look! It’s the water tower!” Mabel grabbed her arm and pointed, drawing Elle out of the train of thought.

The halfa tilted her head. “Is that a muffin painted on the side?”

Dipper waved exaggeratedly. “That’s what I said!” The boy crossed his arms. “Robbie says it’s an explosion, though.”

“An explosion?” Elle raised a brow. “Huh? I can kinda see it.”

The boy’s mouth fell open and his nose wrinkled. “Traitor.” He muttered.

At that, Mabel laughed. “I think Elle’s right. It does look like an explosion.”

The two girls continued to laugh at the other teen’s offended expression. More quips were traded as the Ferris Wheel spun around. After several minutes, the ride ended. The trio walked around the fair for a while as the sun set before going back to the Shack after the fair closed.

As soon as Elle walked into the living room, her ghost sense stirred in his chest before exiting her mouth. She crossed her eyes, looking at the blue mist.

“What was that?” Dipper asked, apparently having noticed.

“Ghost sense. I guess...our friend’s around.” She frowned. “I don’t see him though. I’ll just…” She looked side to side. Seeing no one around, she summoned the rings. “I’ll look for him.”

Elle half-smiled, enjoying the twin’s awed looks at her transformation. But she was still worried about the ghost she’d sensed. After that conversation this morning, he’d been alone all day and based on glimpses, Tyrone had been watching the going-ons at the fair. She sighed as she phased through the ceiling, wondering what she’d say when she found the ghostly clone. And what would she tell Dipper and Mabel?

In quick succession, she invisibly flew through the house, searching. Where was he? Her core pulsed with the familiar cold of sensing another ghost. But there was no mist, no semi transparent figure. Where was Tyrone?

Five minutes later, Elle returned to her friends.

“Did you find him?” Dipper asked hopefully.

The half ghost shook her head. “No..I sensed him a few more times but he’s nowhere to be found.”

“Oh.” Dipper seemed to sober at that. “Do you think he’s still upset about last night?”

“Maybe…” Elle’s stomach flopped at the idea. Maybe he was still upset. It wasn’t like him, just disappearing. Again she worried. Was he moping? Avoiding her? Avoiding the twins? “Maybe he...he doesn’t want to see any of us.”

That was kinda hard to believe but...with how upset he got seeing the twins, how he didn’t want to tell them about his true identity...maybe he didn’t want to see them. And her….what exactly were they gonna talk about after that bombshell?”

Mabel frowned. “What do we do now?”

Elle swallowed. "I guess...he’ll show up again eventually.”

“And we keep researching.” Dipper said, eyes downcast. “I wish we could do something.”

Guilt churned in her gut as part of her whispered, she could do something. She could tell Dipper and Mabel that the ghost was Tyrone but… the ghostly clone’s uncertain and distraught face flashed in her mind. Would it be more painful for him if the two knew but he remained unseen and unheard? Won’t he be angry if she told them without his permission?

Heart aching, Elle remained silent.

#Danny Phantom #gravity falls #holiday truce #holiday truce 2020 #dp holiday truce #dani phantom #elle phantom #Elle Fenton #dipper pines #mabel pines #clone angst #My fic

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portalford · 5 years ago

Text

Nothing Separating You and Me

AO3

“Grunkle Stan!”

Stan lights up when the video call finally goes through. “Mabel! How’ve you been, kiddo?”

“I’m good,” Mabel says cheerfully. “Just a sec.” She leans back and shouts “Dipper! Get in here!” at a volume that has Stan wincing and turning the sound down on the computer. She turns back around with a bright smile. “He had something to show Grunkle Ford.” Her smile dims slightly. “Where is he?”

“He’s in bed—”

“Is he sick?” Mabel cries. If she wasn’t so obviously upset it would be funny how fast she jumped to a conclusion that wasn’t “Ford went to bed early,” because debilitating illness was more likely than Stanford Pines going to bed at a reasonable hour.

“Who’s sick?” And Dipper makes an appearance.

“Nobody,” Stan assures them. “Ford took a nasty fall this morning and strained his hip, but he’ll be—”

“Is that the kids?” Ford pokes his head around the kitchen doorway.

Stan scowls at his brother and finishes his sentence pointedly. “—fine, as long as he stays in bed and doesn’t keep getting up to walk around like an idiot.”

“It’s a mild strain, Stanley, nothing more, and I can rest out here just as easily as I can in bed.” Ford limps to the other chair and sits down cautiously, leg stretched out in front of him.

Mabel is so close to the webcam her face blots out everything, including a protesting Dipper. “Ohmygosh Grunkle Ford are you okay?!”

“Fine, Mabel.” Ford smiles encouragingly. “I’ve had worse.”

“Yeah, that’s not reassuring at all.” The sarcastic bite to Stan’s words is somewhat undercut by his immediate tilting of the laptop so Ford can see the kids better.

“What happened, Great-uncle Ford?” Dipper is trying to shove Mabel aside so he can be seen, and Mabel is shoving him back, so they’re both having a silent push war with identical expressions of genuine worry on their faces.

Stan beats Ford to the reply.

“Sixer here was trying to draw a seal—”

“It was a selkie, Stanley, and—”

“—and he got up on the railing for a better look, except it wasn’t stable, because this is a ship, and when we hit a swell he hit the deck hard.” Stan has slightly less amusing memories of being belowdeck when he heard the thump and Ford’s startled noise of pain, and the fear when he’d run up to see Ford on the ground. Now, though, he’s going to milk this for all it’s worth. Payback is payback, regardless of how petty. “How many PhDs do you have again?”

Ford’s distinctly peevish with his reply. “I don’t see what doctorates have to do with—”

“You’re supposed to be smart, Stanford! Smart people don’t try to stand on boat railings!”

“I tried to stand on the stair railing once,” Mabel offers.

“Sure, sweetie, that’s ‘cause you’ve got talent.”

Mabel beams.

Dipper says, “She fell off and broke her arm.”

“I did,” Mabel says, undeterred. “And I drew all over my cast so that it wouldn’t be sad and boring anymore.”

“That’s the spirit.” Stan kicks at Ford’s uninjured leg. “Want to get a cast to draw on, Sixer?”

“My hip is strained, Stanley, not broken.” Ford’s using that snippy tone he gets when he’s mad about something, but knows better than to try and start an argument. “Besides, we don’t have the materials to make a hip cast.”

“I’m sure I could whip somethin’ up. Besides, if I really thought you needed a cast, I’d win that argument. You don’t have a leg to stand on.”

Ford sighs. Dipper mutters something about that one being ‘pretty good, actually.’ Mabel lifts her hand and says, “air high five!”

Stan high fives in her general direction, and Mabel does the same. She probably would have connected with his nose in real life, but hurray for the wonders of technology.

“So,” Dipper says loudly, clearly changing the subject, “how long do you think you’ll have to stay off your leg, Grunkle Ford?”

“No more than a few days. It’s more bruised than anything else, so I just can’t exacerbate it with too much activity.”

“That’s a few days if he actually stays put,” Stan amends. “The way he’s been, it’ll take a week or two.”

“I know my own limits, Stanley.”

“You’re not a doctor, Stanford.”

“Technically—”

“A PhD isn’t an MD, even I know that.”

“I have a doctorate in biology.”

“That still ain’t an MD.”

“No, but it makes me more qualified than you.”

“Guys, guys!” Mabel waves her hands at the screen. “We’re all qualified here. Grunkle Ford, it would make me really happy if you took some you-time until your hip stops being hurty.” Her eyes get big and dewy and she blinks two or three times, just to make sure it’s really sunk in. “Please? For me?”

Ford is visibly torn between extreme frustration and reluctant amusement, but collapses like a card house nonetheless. “All right, Mabel. I’ll be careful.”

“Yay!” Mabel’s expression shifts to delight, then determination. She points at Stan. “You look after him, Grunkle Stan.”

“I’m trying, pumpkin, honest! He’s worse than Dipper.”

“Nobody’s worse than Dipper,” Mabel says. Her tone was one of a person who has Seen Things.

“Ford is absolutely worse than Dipper,” Stan replies. His tone was one of a person who has also Seen Things, but bigger, and with more teeth.

“We are sitting right here,” Dipper says, but he’s distracted by a pamphlet that fell out of his backpack, so he might have missed chunks of the conversation.

“And? We want you to hear this. Every one of my grey hairs is something stupid Stanford did.”

“Age—”

“Nothin’ to do with it.” Stan chops the air with his hand for emphasis. “I’m a spring chicken.”

Dipper frowns. “Then how come you made me do so many chores because you were ‘too old’ to do them?”

“Don’t question my logic, kid.”

Mabel interrupts, all but throwing a sketchbook at the camera in her excitement to show them. “I’m taking an art class at school!”

Stan smiles. Mabel has her ups and downs with high school, but she never stops loving art. “Show me what you got.”

She does, and the conversation wanders from art to history to board games; then, as it often does, meanders back through Gravity Falls. It’s almost like the hikes he and Ford took the kids on before they left that summer, and it gives Stan the kind of stupid nostalgia he swore he’d never feel for anything.

He wouldn’t give it up for the world.

They venture through the trees to the mountains to the sea, out to a sturdy little boat currently bobbing somewhere off the coast of Iceland, and they stay up way past the kids’ bedtime.

Nobody tells them to stop.

#gravity falls #gravity falls fanfiction #stanley pines #stanford pines #dipper pines #mabel pines #my writing #do i like this? unsure. am i posting it anyway? absolutely #wonderland round 2 is on right now and i'm feeling brave #and also extremely sleep deprived

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ununniliad · 5 years ago

Text

Burst Beetle Tweseveny #5: "2007: The Web we Weave and the Things Up Our Sleeve!"

Tweseveny and Time-Waster Lad, at the LNH reception desk! Two figures, one young and manic, the other hooded and smelly!

"That's right," says the hooded figure, working enthusiasm into his voice. "The devilish duo of trans-temporal terror!"

The woman raises her hourglass! "Mother Time and the Time Crapper!"

Tweseveny rolls into a fighting pose, hand just above the transformational buckle at her belt! "The Time Crapper, again!?"

The seeming Time Crapper pauses in his dramatic posing, as Mother Time looks up at him, confused! "...again?"

"...oh, no, sorry, right," says Tweseveny, shaking her head. "You're a different Time Crapper than last time." This wasn't the nihilistic avatar of the dark future that she'd faced alongside Carolyn Forge [in Burst Beetle Tweseveny #2-3 - Cyber Footnote Girl]; there were many time-traveling net.villains who - for reasons of their own, Tweseveny supposes - take up the terrible name of the Time Crapper! As a time traveller herself, it makes sense that she's crossing paths with them!

This one... she thinks back to the Infinite Leadership Crisis that she's currently in, and the LNH stories about it. He's supposed to be a version of the very first time Crapper, right? She labels him in her head as Time Crapper I.

Mother Time steps forward aggressively. "My babe's the only one with that stupid name, thanks."

That confirms the 'very first' thing, thinks Tweseveny, but she only vaguely remembers Mother Time. Hadn't they broken up? Repeatedly, in a confusing time-travel manner? Perhaps this is before that?? Oh, does she wish to have the Eyrie Archive on-hand!

"I'm sorry," says Time Crapper I, taking half a step in front of Mother Time, "do I know you?"

Well, Tweseveny remembered the early Crapper stories well enough - Cry.sig, Retcon Hour, the Cosmic Plot Device Caper, so... "...yeah!" She nudges Time-Waster Lad, and whispers, "Play along!" She straightens up and chirps, "I'm a time traveler too, and your future's my past!"

Time-Waster Lad blinks thoughtfully at Mother Time. "...didn't we play World of Warcraft together that one time?"

Mother Time blinks, and her eyes light up, a hint of a genuine smile playing over her edgy pose. "...oh hi, how are you?"

"Well," says Time Crapper I, straightening and putting on a deep, properly villainous tone that echoes thru the lobby, "I certainly hope you aren't going to get in the way of our ascension to power!"

Tweseveny immediately resolves to get in the way of their ascension to power! "No, of course not," she says, "I am absolutely of gray morality myself, definitely. But, ah, what is your quest?"

"Some quest for a ring of power," says Time Crapper I, getting into it, gesturing grandly! "But we quest... for a rung of power!"

"The Rung of Revamp," says Mother Time, grinning. "We got a hot tip that the LNH would be almost undefended today - only two net.heroes on the premises. So we're gonna break into the Plot Device Room and power me up!" She lets out a snotty cackle, whipping her hair around like a swish of silver!

A hot tip... no, it can't be-- no, it probably actually is Tweseveny's nemesis apparent, Burst Beetle M-Plot, sending not one but two powerful villains to battle her. Though Tweseveny's only tangled with her once, it absolutely sounds like the kind of thing she'd do!

But perhaps she can beat them at their own game! She senses the emotions swirling in this strange, mixed-up couple! Hot dog! Perhaps she can foil this plot simply by talking the plotters through their problems! Wouldn't that put a rocket up M-Plot's caboose!

Tweseveny shakes herself out. Right, one step at a time. "Well, no problem from us! Ever since, um, Time-Waster Lad went mad with power and took over the LNH, we haven't seen a single net.hero."

"Took over the LNH?" says Time Crapper I, looking at Time-Waster Lad with new attention from under his hood - attention under which the young man squirms!

"Yeah, he's the leader now," says Tweseveny, pointing. "See the button?"

"Oh, huh," nods Time Crapper I. "Fair."

"Then there won't be any problem with getting the Rung of Revamp!" Mother Time cackles in glorious triumph!

Oh, shoot, thinks Tweseveny. "Uh, oh, sorry, you can't, there's a... bear."

Mother Time, Time Crapper I, and Time-Waster Lad all turn to look at Tweseveny, blinking in confusion. "...a bear?" says Time Crapper I.

"Yeah, the, uh, Cosmic Bear, from, um, the Big Dipper," speaks Tweseveny, prevaricating desperate fabrications off both cuffs! "It got into the Plot Device Room to take... the Cosmic Honeycomb, yeah. The automated defense systems are driving it off, because we don't, um, don't want to go fight it ourselves, because the fight scene would draw in net.heroes. Really inconvenient, we should have it out of the way soon, sorry."

"Oh. Well..." Time Crapper I turns his hidden gaze to Mother Time, shrugs a bit, then turns back to Tweseveny. "I suppose that's all right."

Mother Time looks slightly rankled, wrinkling her bejeweled nose. Time Crapper I sets his hand on her shoulder. The malefic mistress of chronological chaos wrinkles harder for a moment, then lets out a little sigh and puts on her big maniacal grin. "I guess that's okay. After all, we've got all the time in the world!"

"Haha yeah," says Time-Waster Lad in an extraordinarily fabricated cheerful voice. "Hey, could you two sit tight for just a minute, I have to go speak to my, um, henchman, Tweseveny could you just..."

He takes her wrist and pulls her off into the coat check, and whispers urgently inbetween the Neon Trenchcoat (from Easily-Discovered Man's attempt at joining the Net.Trenchcoat Brigade) and the Inside-Out Overcoat (from Pocket Man's attempt at putting a pocket inside a pocket). "Good job getting them to stop for a second but now what do we do?"

"Look," says Tweseveny, putting her hands on his shoulders. "I know from, uh, time that these two have this really messed-up relationship. So!" She smiles confidently! "What we do is, we talk to them, and we get them to come to some..." She considers for a second. "Like, some good emotional realizations about why they're doing this or such. And then they probably won't want to be net.villains anymore!" She gives Time-Waster Lad a thumbs up!

"...you really think that'll work?" Time-Waster Lad's skepticism face is a thing to behold!

"Maybe! But!" Tweseveny points a finger in the air. "Also, if we keep them talking for long enough, the other net.heroes will come back from missions and help us stop them!"

"...okay, fair," Time-Waster Lad admits. "But I don't think I can get two net.villains to sit down and talk forever!"

"If anybody can, you can!" Tweseveny squeezes his shoulder and leans in, whispering with passion and determination! "Time-Waster Lad, this is your strength! It's worth something very real - in this moment, you are the net.hero we need!"

Time-Waster Lad's eyes go wide and sparkly for a moment - he shakes it off, but a smile remains. "Okay. Well..." He peeks thru the crack, watching the two sitting on one of the foyer's comfy waiting couches, Mother Time murmuring something into the Crapper's invisible ear. "If we wanna talk them thru relationship stuff, we've got to separate them. I'll take Mother Time, and you take the Crapper, if that's okay."

"Right!" Tweseveny throws open the door of the coat check, walks up to the two net.villains and claps her hands. "You must be hungry, I know how hard it is to keep track of mealtimes when you're zipping back and forth thru the temporal stream. Illustrious leader, why don't you take Mother Time to the cafeteria, while I stay with the Time Crapper so he can know when the Cosmic Bear's done?"

Mother Time looks them over with a suspicious eyebrow! But Time Crapper I puts his hand on her arm, and she glances at him, and the edge of her lips curls up. "I could eat, yeah." She pushes herself up off the couch and walks over to Time-Waster Lad, crossing her arms. "Which way?"

"Uh, this way," says Time-Waster Lad, mind whirling. Okay, engage the villain in a time-consuming discussion. Easy peasy. You've done this a bunch of times. "So..."

"Yeah?" says Mother Time, taking him in with a calculating gaze that, despite his years at a net.hero, makes goosebumps crawl up Time-Waster Lad's limbs.

Waste a moment yourself, an extra couple seconds taking her in, and... focus on the interesting thing! "Sorry, it's just that I love your palette. The silver and purple go really well together."

"Oh!" Mother Time startles back a touch, unused to unprompted compliments! "Well, thank you. I accessorized around the Hourglass."

"Of course! You want your net.hero, er, your net.villain persona to be coherent. I'm not great at it myself," admits Time-Waster Lad.

"Oh, I think it really expresses the concept of 'wasting time'..."

Tweseveny smiles, watching them head down the hallway, and turns to her quarry, rubbing her hands. Time to friendship this motherfucker!

<<<*>>>

Author's Note: "Oh hi, how are you?" is a Bob's Burgers reference.

#Original Fiction #Superheroes #Adventure #Silliness #Drama #Legion of Net.Heroes #Classic LNH #Burst Beetle Tweseveny

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kittyboones · 5 years ago

Note

😍💤 w/ robbie?

thank you so much for the ask, Ollie!!!!!!!! and, your f/os love you so so much!!! :D

😍: Name your three favorite things about your f/oOh god, I would say everything except the fact he nearly beat up Dipper, but I have to list my top 3 favorite things... oh well,,, well I guess I kind of make fun of him for this, but I really love his art, although it isn’t the best. I just find it really adorable and wish we got more examples of his drawings. Another of my favorite things is his idle posture, he kind of hunches over but not that much, only so his legs are kind of bending, and his hands are like,,, idk, but it looks like this;

Like it’s a very bad screenshot because the gravity falls wiki didn’t have a huge collection of screenshots that fitted what i was thinking. and it’s such a stupid thing to like, but seeing him with his hands just like... idk, it just gives me butterflies and i just want to grab his hand and kissy kissy and kissy and make him flustered. anyways, onto number three, numero tres, anyways yes, the last and my third favorite thing about Robster is his expressions. He just has this really long face and most of his expressions are either really funny, sad or just incredibly cute. like , i hate saying it but when he looks like, I don't know what to call it, is kind of cute, like,,, look at him.... babie

💤: Do you sleep together? If so, describe your sleeping positions and patterns (E.g. who steals the blankets, are either of you insomniacs, etc.)

I can’t remember a lot of my headcanons about Robbie sleeping, but I do know this boy really love being the big spoon, so we usually spoon. Other than spooning, we usually lie in that one position, the Sweetheart’s cradle I think it’s called? Could be wrong though. Robbie realized pretty early in our relationship that I was a blanket thief, so we decided to get two blankets instead of just one, in case i become a master thief and he’s freezing. I am kind of an insomniac, but whenever Robbie and a soft surface I can sleep on, my whole body goes into hibernating mode, pretty much. I have also realized Robbie sometimes speaks in his sleep, so sometimes he has started threatening what I would assume is Dipper in his dream. So sometimes i hear him threatening a 12-year old, so that’s.... interesting.

#sage.txt #f/o: robbie valentino #sh: Love Like Woe💜#Love Like Woe💜

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orangeoctopi7 · 6 years ago

Text

Stanswap AU Part 34

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20

Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25

Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30

Part 31 Part 32 Part 33

Here it is, the last chapter! Special thanks to @digikate813 and @eregyrn-falls for consistently reading and reblogging, along with anyone else who ever reblogged this story, it’s because of you that this story has spread. Thanks to @blaiddraws and @hntrgurl13 for drawing fanart (even if I did commission hntrgurl13, still grateful) and of course thanks to @busket because even if our AUs were developed independently, I still took a lot of inspiration from them and their way awesome art.

Speaking of which, this chapter draws a lot of inspiration from these posts.

Chapter 34: Hero Complex

The house was still in one piece when the kids got back. There was no evidence whether the shield spell was still holding or not, but they were all just happy to find a familiar structure to hide out in. They were about to open the door when they all heard something inside. Dipper picked up a golf club that'd been sitting on the porch, Wendy pulled out her crossbow, Mabel readied her grappling hook, and Soos took a karate stance.

“Yaaaaah!” The four friends yelled as they kicked the door open.

“Yaaaaah!” A ragtag group of townsfolk and magical creatures from the woods led by Stan yelled, ready to defend their turf.

“Wait, Stan!?” Dipper and Mabel gasped when they realized who it was.

“Kids!?” Stan disengaged the weapons system in his prosthetic, “I can't believe it! I thought I'd lost you two!”

The three of them shared a happy reunion hug. Tears flowed more freely than at least two of them would care to admit. Wendy and Soos soon joined in the hug. Even if they didn't know Stan all that well, it was still nice to see a friend after everything that had happened.

“It's good to have you knuckleheads back.” Stan said as he finally broke away from the hug.

“Why… what's everyone doing here?” Dipper asked as he surveyed the room. There were Candy and Grenda, dressed like Mad Max cosplayers, and Pacifica, who was wearing a pillowcase or something, and the Multibear, who was wearing an eye-patch on his main head, along with some gnomes, a manotaur, and the boy band Sev’ral Timez.

“Welcome to the survivors’ club.” Stan shrugged.

“Whaaa?” The kids asked.

“Eyebat!!” A gnome cried before anyone could explain. Everyone in the house scrambled to put out all the lights and close all the shutters and curtains. Dipper and Mabel couldn't help but peek outside between some blinds. Sure enough, an eyebat was flapping around outside. The sweeping beam of its paralysing gaze was stopped by a shimmering pink shield the moment it looked towards the house.

“So the shield is still working!” Dipper observed.

“Grunkle Stan, how'd this happen?” Mabel asked once the eyebat passed.

“Well, after seein’ my brother turned to gold and thinkin’ Dipper here’d been eaten, I didn't know what else to do except come back here. That's when I ran into possum breath here” Stan jabbed a mechanical thumb towards McGucket, “leading a group of stragglers through the woods. They needed a place to stay, so I took 'em all in and made myself chief. Plan is to stay here and live off Ford's food storage long as we can. Then I vote we eat the gnomes.”

“Hey, I'm short, not deaf!!” Jeff protested.

“Grunkle Stan, we can't just hide out here, there's a town in need of saving!” Dipper protested.

“Look, kiddo, we’ve got a good deal here.” Stan explained. “It ain’t ideal, I know, but we’ve got everything we need in here. A lot of these guys may look like monsters, but they’re actually pretty nice. Bear-bear here even knows Shiatzu!”

“Yes, I’ve been taking some classes.” The multi-bear nodded.

“We can stay here where it’s safe as long as we need to.”

“Grunkle Stan, you don’t actually think if we wait it out long enough Bill will just go away!?” Mabel was scandalized.

“Yeah, what happened?” Dipper asked, “Before you were all about taking the fight to Bill and not waiting a second, and now you just wanna hole up inside as long as you can?”

“Look what trying to fight Bill got us!” Stan snapped, “I wasted my only shot, that shazbot took my know-it-all brother as a literal trophy, and until you kids showed up on the doorstep a moment ago, I thought you all were dead! At least in here we can live some sort of life, out there all that’s waiting for us is death or worse!”

“But… what about our families?” Soos asked quietly.

Stan didn’t have an answer for that. He just looked away, but as his eyes swept across the room, he saw almost everyone wore the same expression: worry for their loved ones. Not long before the kids had showed up, they’d picked up a broadcast on the TV from inside the Fearamid, where they saw most everyone in Gravity Falls frozen in stone and stacked into a throne for Bill.

“Guys, don’t you see?” Mabel encouraged them as she climbed to the top of the stairs where everyone could see her, “Our friends need us, but we can only save them if we fight back!”

“Mabel’s right!” Dipper joined her, “Bill wants us to run and hide. He wants us to think he’s invincible, but Ford told me before he was turned to gold he knows Bill’s secret weakness!”

“Yeah, and then his oh-so-special research Journals were destroyed.” Stan scoffed. “We got no leads kid. I spent twelve years tryin’ to fight against Bill, and never heard nothin’ about any ‘secret weakness’.”

“Then we’ll rescue him!” The boy exclaimed, “If Ford’s the only one who knows about Bill’s weakness then we’ll have to get it from him! If we all work together, we might be able to save Gravity Falls!”

Everyone cheered, except Stan, who still seemed skeptical. “And how d’you plan on doin’ that? This is the only place where we’re safe, and it’s not like we can carry the shield spell around with us.”

“W-whoa! Holey Hootenanny! Flapjacks an’ Tiddlywinks!” McGucket suddenly burst out, his knee bouncing up and down as he thumped his foot against the floor. “Sorry, sorry,” He said sheepishly as everyone stared at him. “Just got excited is all. But I got an idea hows about we can fight Bill an’ rescue Ford! But I’ll need all’a y’all’s help!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa people, let’s not forget who’s in charge here!” Stan snorted indignantly, “I’ve been on the run from that psycho for the better part of twelve years, and now you want me to just waltz up to the guy’s front door?”

“Grunkle Stan, I’m sure we’re not gonna just walk up to the Fearamid,” Mabel assured him, “Just hear McGucket out!”

“No! There’s no way I’m leaving this house!”

Stan was not particularly happy to hear the plan involved literally taking the house to Bill. Sure, it seemed like a good idea on paper. If the only thing protecting them from Bill was attached to the house, it made sense to bring the house with them. But turning the place into a giant fighting robot!? That was just ridiculous! Nevermind the dimension he’d visited with actual fifty-foot fighting treehouse robots. He was pretty sure that was a spectator sport, and not for actual combat. Certainly not for fighting against the all-powerful ruler of the nightmare realm.

Still, as they began cutting holes in the walls and using leftover parts from the portal to build actual working giant robot arms and legs, Stan began to think this might actually work. Not that he’d ever admit that to anyone.

He’d nearly lost it when people started leaving the safety of the shield spell to try and raid more stuff they needed from outside, but so far everyone who had left for the junkyard and the amber mines had come back safely.

Now the “Shacktron”, as Soos had dubbed it after a comment on the house’s state by Pacifica, was nearly complete, and everyone was enjoying a bonfire as Mabel passed out sweaters, celebrating all they’d already accomplished and what they hoped to accomplish tomorrow.

“Uhg, I go through all this trouble to keep these survivors safe, and they’re gonna risk it all; for what? The chance that Stanford might know Bill’s weakness?” Stan complained to the only person who would listen to him, an ugly gnome who didn’t say much. “It’s a load of… of…” Stan searched his considerable vocabulary of alien swears for an appropriate phrase.

“Shmebulock!” The gnome exclaimed.

“Yeah! It’s a load of Shmebulock!” the old con man agreed. But his rage quickly died into a sigh. “It’s my own fault though. We wouldn't have to go save my brother if I hadn’t talked him into confrontin’ Bill right away in the first place. ...Bill wouldn’t even be in our dimension if my brother hadn’t opened that portal for me….”

“Grunkle Stan, is something wrong?” Mabel asked as she and Dipper suddenly walked into his field of vision. Stan jumped. He was losing his touch in his old age, he hadn’t even noticed they were there.

“Wh-bu-pft-I’m not-- I’m fine!” He spluttered. “How long have you kids been standin’ there listenin’ to me mouth off?”

“We just saw you acting grumpier than usual and wanted to make sure everything’s ok.” Mabel shrugged.

“It’s this plan to save my stupid brother!” Stan harrumphed. “I’ve been working hard to keep everybody safe, and what thanks do I get? Nothin’! But maybe he knows somethin’ about stoppin’ Bill, and suddenly everybody’s ready to risk their lives to save him. No matter what I do, it’s always ‘Stan’s the screw-up, Ford’s the hero’.”

Dipper frowned. He’d heard what Stan was saying to Shmebulock before. “Grunkle Stan, you’re not a screw up. This isn’t your fault any more than it is Mabel’s. Bill tricked you, because that’s what he does! Of course you wanted to come home! Of course you wanted to try anything to stop Bill as quickly as possible! And yeah, things went wrong, but that doesn’t mean you should hide away and beat yourself up for it! We have a chance to fix things now, and yeah, it’s risky, but at least there’s a chance that we’ll be able to save the world, instead of just accepting that this is the way things are now!”

“Yeah!” Mabel agreed, “Besides, you love risk!”

Stan gave a fond sigh and hugged the two of them. “Heh, alright, you kids’ve convinced me. I’ll get on board with Project: Long Odds. Whatever you want me to do, just ask.”

“Yes!” Mabel cheered, “Trust me, guys, tomorrow's gonna be great! We’ll save Grunkle Ford, and then you won’t have to worry about him anymore!”

“What, tch, I’m… I’m not worried about him!” Stan protested, crossing his arms and looking away. “I only care about finding a way to stop Bill, and that know-it-all is our best bet.”

Mabel and Dipper rolled their eyes. “Sure, Grunkle Stan.”

He couldn’t think. He couldn’t feel anything beyond the pain jolting through him. He couldn’t see anything beyond the burning blue light blinding him. He couldn’t hear anything beyond the ragged screaming that he no longer recognized as his own. He couldn’t smell anything beyond the crackling ozone. He couldn’t taste anything beyond the metallic tang that he didn’t have the presence of mind to realize was probably his own blood. This was his world. He knew nothing else.

Then, mercifully, it stopped, and his brain started ticking again. His thoughts and feelings slowly trickled back. He was Stanford Pines, the last one standing between Bill Cipher and destroying the rest of the universe outside of Gravity Falls. He couldn’t break. He couldn’t tell Bill what he wanted to know. He couldn’t let the demon into his mind. He could feel the manacles digging into his skin. He could see Bill and his cronies standing over him like a gang of school yard bullies. He could hear his own labored breathing and the snickering of the Henchmaniacs. He still couldn’t smell much other than ozone, but at least now he knew he was tasting his own blood. It wasn’t nearly as much as he’d expected.

“READY TO TALK NOW?” Bill asked in a bored tone.

“I-I won’t…” Ford rasped. “...I won’t… let you into my mind!”

“WHADDAYA SAY, PALS, ANOTHER 500 VOLTS?” Bill asked his audience. The Henchmaniacs laughed and cheered. Bill was winding up for another blast of electricity when they all heard a thumping noise coming from outside the Fearamid. It grew louder and louder, until… crash! A theropod head burst through the wall and roared.

“WHAT!? I JUST FIXED THAT DOOR!” Bill whined.

Ford squinted to see what was outside the Fearamid. His glasses were so dirtied with soot he wondered briefly if he might see better without them. Was that… was that his house!?

“It’s the Shacktron, dudes!” he more heard than saw Soos cheer. Oh no, what was Soos doing here!? Didn’t he realize the danger? And who else had he brought with him? Ford could only imagine what Bill would do if the triangle managed to nab all his loved ones at once.

“SO THE MORTALS ARE TRYING TO FIGHT BACK, HUH? ADORABLE!” Bill gave a cruel chuckle. “HENCHMANIACS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO! TAKE ‘EM OUT!”

It was hard for Ford to see what was going on from his vantage point, but he couldn’t look away. The more he watched, the more anxious he became. He could see Wendy leaping onto an eyebat, he could hear Fiddleford’s distinctive voice calling out commands, and Mabel and Dipper’s cheer after punching out Paci-Fire and Kryptos. He even caught a glimpse of Stan through a window when the Shacktron came near enough to the hole in the Fearamid. But as things went on, his fear was mixed with pride. They were holding their own! Better than holding their own, they were winning! Soon enough all of Bill’s minions were sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain.

“SERIOUSLY GUYS? YOU HAD LIKE ONE JOB!” Bill groaned.

“Bravo, everyone!” Ford cheered defiantly.

Bill sneered at him. “YEAH, ENJOY YOUR LITTLE VICTORY NOW, WISE-GUY. YOU DO REALIZE I’M GONNA GO GRAB YOUR LITTLE FAMILY AND MAKE YOU WATCH ME TORTURE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM UNTIL YOU TELL ME HOW TO REVERSE THE WEIRDNESS MAGNETISM, RIGHT?”

Ford’s heart fell. “No, no you ca--” Bill re-froze him mid-sentence.

“HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SIXER? I CAN DO ANYTHING!”

He didn’t know how long it had been when he was unfrozen. All he knew was suddenly half the town was there, freed from their stony prison, and Bill was still outside fighting the Shacktron. Mabel and Dipper were standing in front of him with identical hopeful grins.

“Kids!” Ford knelt down and hugged them both tightly, “I knew you could do it! That was brilliant!” He caught sight of McGucket just off to the side, apparently trying not to interrupt a family moment. “Fiddleford! Thank you, old friend, I know they couldn't have done it without you.”

“Aw shucks, I'm jus’ glad yer ok.” McGucket smiled as the two old scientists hugged.

“Yeah, nice to see you too, bro.” Stan grunted from behind them.

“Grunkle Ford,” Dipper piped up, “before, you said something about one other possible way to beat Bill. What was it?”

“Yeah, what's Bill's secret weakness?” Mabel asked.

“Oh, right!” The old researcher remembered, and reached for something in his pocket. But be paused mid-motion, looking around the room. “Back when I first learned about Bill, there was a prophecy painted on the cave wall as well.” Ford observed all the people standing around him, and suddenly the puzzle that had eluded him for years finally clicked into place. “Robbie, do you still carry spray paint around with you?”

“Uh… yeah. Why?” the teen asked.

“You'll see.” Ford assured him, grabbing the paint canister and quickly spraying a large circle on the floor.

“Uh, Bill's just outside, I don't know how long the others can hold him off.” Dippy pointed out.

“Yes, yes, good.” Ford murmured in reply, concentrating too hard on whatever he was painting on the floor to really pay attention to what the boy was saying.

“Well, he's finally lost it.” Stan said flatly.

“Like he didn't lose it forever ago?” Wendy asked.

“I'm perfectly sane.” Ford corrected. “And this is how we'll beat him.” He gestured to the finished image: a circle of ten symbols surrounding a simple sketch of Bill Cipher.

“With the world's most confusing game of hopscotch?” Pacifica asked incredulously.

“No… although it would make a pretty fun game of hopscotch.” Ford admitted. “This is what I found painted on the cave wall. Some of the symbols I recognized then, some of them I only recognize now, but the very first people to settle in Gravity Falls, long before any European immigrants, prophesied that these symbols together could generate a force powerful enough to defeat Bill and reverse his weirdnesses. Until now, I thought it was just superstition, but now that I see the ten symbols here in real life, I know that can't be a coincidence.”

“What do you mean?” Dipper asked, “You had this drawn in the Journals and it didn't do anything. Bill still destroyed them!”

Ford smiled and shook his head. “The symbols themselves aren't what's special. They represent people! Dipper: the pine tree. Mabel: the shooting star.”

Dipper's eyes widened as he stood on the corresponding symbol.

“Oh my gosh!” Mabel gasped reverently as she took her place.

“A question mark! This one's unsolvable!” Soos observed, completely forgetting the coin block on the Mario shirt he was wearing.

“And I knew I'd seen that broken heart on your hoodie somewhere before!” Ford said to Robbie.

“Dang man, you've been wearing that thing since the fourth grade!” Wendy pushed her friend forward.

“Whoa, destiny hoodie!” The teen said in awe.

“As well as the star from the Tent-o-Telepathy.” Ford pointed to Gideon, who was standing at the back of the crowd.

“Oooh, don't mind if I do!” The boy took his spot next to Mabel.

“Don't make a big deal about this.” Mabel warned him.

“O-of course not!” Gideon flushed, then chanted under his breath, “Be a person worthy of loving, be a person worthy of loving…”

“And Pacifica: the llama.” Ford pointed to her.

“... This is freaky.” The spoiled girl muttered as she looked between the sweater Mabel had lent her and the symbol on the floor.

“Ok, so some of the symbols are really obvious. But what about the ice? Or the glasses?” Dipper asked.

“They're not all litteral.” Ford explained, “The ice should be someone who's cool under pressure.” The two of them looked over at Wendy. They couldn't think of anyone else in the crowd who fit the criteria, and come to think of it, hadn't Dipped spilt bag after bag of ice around Wendy all summer?

“And the glasses should be someone wise and scholarly.”

McGucket smiled sheepishly and stepped forward. “I dunno 'bout wise…”

“And Stanley, you're the fish.. thing. Whatever that thing on the end of your staff is.”

“You gotta be kidding me!” Stan rolled his eyes. “You realize this is a buncha hogwash, right? You really think a bunch of randos standin’ in a circle an’ singin’ kumbaya is gonna stop that monster!?”

“It's a mystical human energy circuit!” Ford defended.

“You said you thought it was superstition until you saw all these people together!” Stan retorted. “This isn't what you were talkin’ about before, is it?”

“...No.” Ford admitted, “But that doesn't matter now, this will work!”

“How do you know? Just 'cuz some dead guys drew it on a wall!?”

“Come on Stan! I gave your idea with the quantum destabilizer a chance, the least you can do is give this a shot!” Ford yelled indignantly.

“Don't yell at me!” Stan yelled back.

“Come on!” Wendy groaned.

“Dang it, old men, now's not the time!” Gideon exclaimed.

“Alright, fine!” Stan relented and joined the circle. “I'm not the enemy here, people!”

“Everyone else get out of here, this may be dangerous…. Now all of you hold hands!” Ford commanded.

“Oh gee, I'd love to.” Stan said sarcastically, “Except there's the little problem of I haven't got one!”

Ford gritted his teeth. “You know what I meant! Just give me your arm… stump… whatever you call it.”

“I wouldn't have it if you hadn't abandoned me, you big jerk!” Stan turned on him.

“Really!? Now of all times you bring that up!? Why do you always have to make everything more difficult than it has to be!? Why can't you ever just do as you're told!?”

“What makes you think you can tell me what to do!?”

The elder twins’ argument just devolved into fistfighting from there. Everyone watched in slack-jawed horror. Everyone except Mabel and Dipper, that is, who were desperately trying to pull their Grunkle apart. But it was too late.

“OH NO, IT'S BILL! ...THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ALL THINKING, RIGHT?”

Bill was back.

“HAHAHAHAH! THIS IS JUST TOO GOOD! DON'T YOU BRAINIACS KNOW THE ZODIAC DOESN'T WORK IF ALL OF YOU DON'T HOLD HANDS? THANKS FOR BRINGING EVERY THREAT TO MY POWER INTO ONE EASY-TO-DESTROY PLACE THOUGH!” the demonic triangle snapped his fingers and the painting on the ground burned away, catching a few people on fire in the process. He then reached out and grabbed the elder Pines twins. “YOU GUYS WANNA SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CAN'T GET ALONG?”

“Oh no!” Dipper cried.

“You give them back!” McGucket demanded.

“You've gone too far, Cipher!” Gideon shouted.

“Yeah, we're not scared of you!” Wendy growled, raising her ax threateningly.

“OH… BUT YOU SHOULD BE.” the triangle grew another arm and snapped his finger. Dipper and Mabel watched in horror as everyone around them floated up into the air and was turned into a tapestry, each one depicting its victim in the middle of a wide-eyed scream. “LOOKS LIKE IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOUR FRIENDS, STANFORD, BUT YOU CAN STILL SAVE YOUR FAMILY!” A glowing blue cage rose up out of the ground, trapping the kids. “LAST CHANCE: TELL ME HOW TO TAKE WEIRDMAGEDDON GLOBAL AND I'LL SPARE THE KIDS.”

“No, don't do it!” Dipper cried from inside the pyramidal cage.

“Yeah, Bill makes bad deals!” Mabel agreed.

Bill leered down at her. “DON'T YOU TOY WITH ME SHOOTING STAR! I SEE EVERYTH--”

Mabel grabbed Robbie's spray paint and sprayed him in his giant eye.

“AUGH! NOT AGAIN! WHY THE EYE!? EVERY TIME!”

“I know that hurts, because I've done it to myself!” Mabel crowed.

Dipper quickly pulled out the flashlight with the size-changing crystal attached to the top and grew the cage until they could squeeze between the bars.

“We'll distract him, you guys run for it!” The boy cried to his Grunkles.

“What!? That's a suicide mission!” Ford protested.

“Don't worry! We've beaten him once.” Dipper reassured them.

“And we'll do it again!” Mabel finished. “Hey, you pointy jerk, come and get us!”

Bill finally got the paint out of his eye. He growled and chased after the kids. Stan and Ford were about to run after them too, but a blue wall of contorted bars blocked their path.

“NOT SO FAST! YOU TWO STAY HERE. I'VE GOT SOME CHILDREN I NEED TO TURN INTO CORPSES.”

The brothers found themselves in a cage identical to the one the kids had just been in. Only they had no means of escape. All they could do was bang on the bars and yell after them to stop. But their pleas fell on deaf ears.

“I can't believe this!” Stan sunk to the ground. “The kids are gonna die, and it's all my fault! All because I wouldn't just link arms with you!”

“Don't blame yourself. I'm the one who made a deal with Bill on the first place.” Ford said sadly.

“Yeah, but I'm the one who got you captured.” Stan lamented, “Dipper went back an’ tried to help you, but I… I just ran. Ugh, dad was right about me, I'm a screw-up.”

“No.” Ford knelt down next to his brother. “That's not true. You never made a deal with Bill, not in all those years he tried to convince you. If anybody's a screw-up, it's me. If I didn't drive away everyone close to me, things would have been solved years ago. I'm sorry I always made you second priority.”

Stan barked a sound halfway between a chuckle and a sob. “How'd things get so messed up between us?”

“We used to be like Dipper and Mabel.” Ford smiled fondly. “The world's about to end, and they still work together.”

“They're working together because the world is ending. That and they're too young to know any better.” Stan observed.

Ford shifted and pulled a strange object out of his pocket. It took a second for Stan to recognize it as the memory eraser from his first day back home.

“What're you gonna do with that?” The old con man asked.

“This is the one last possibility to defeat Bill I was talking about before.” Ford said gravely.

Stan's face lit up as he began to realize his brother's plan. “You mean we could just erase him outta your head the second he goes in there!?”

“Yes… but there's more to it than that.”

Stan didn't like the look Ford was giving him. He looked like a doctor about to tell their patient they had cancer. “Ok, what's the catch?”

“Bill isn't a static memory. He won't just let himself be erased, he'll hide in some remote corner of the mindscape. Unless you were to erase everything.”

Stan's expression sobered immediately. That explained why Ford had been so desperate to try anything else to stop Bill.

“What!? Are you kidding me!? You're honestly telling me there's nothing else we can do?”

“Believe me, if there was another way, I'd do it in a second. We're out of options, Stanley! The only alternative would be to actually give myself up to Bill and hope he'll let you and the kids go.”

Stan snorted. “Like he'd make good on that deal.”

“Exactly.” Ford agreed. “So, we agree on what needs to be done?”

Stan's reply was to wrap his arms around his brother and bury his face into his shoulder. “You and your snarfin hero complex! D’Arvit Ford, I don't wanna lose you again!”

“... Neither do I.” Ford returned the hug. “Don't think of it as losing me. I'll still be around. I'll still be me. I just won't…”

“Won't remember anything about me. Or anyone. Or anything.” Stan finished.

“Y-you might be able to remind me.” Ford encouraged him, “Fiddleford has been regaining his memories after they were erased.”

Stan sniffed inelegantly, failing to hide his crying, but he nodded.

They didn't have long to recompose themselves before they heard the kids’ screams, signalling Bill's return.

“ALRIGHT FORDSY, I'M BACK, AND I'VE GOT THE KIDS! MAYBE I'LL KILL ONE OF 'EM, JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT. EENY MEENY MINEY--”

“Stop!” Ford cried. “I'll tell you! Just let the kids and my brother go, please!”

“THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.” Bill said smugly.

The cage holding them dissolved away and a glowing red arm shot out of the ground, wrapping itself tight around Stan.

“No, Grunkle Ford, don't trust him!” Dipper pleaded.

“It's the only way.” Ford smiled sadly. “I-I love you all. Always remember that.”

“CUT THE SAP, SIXER. DO WE HAVE A DEAL OR NOT?”

Ford's only response was to extend his hand. Bill grabbed it, and blue flames enshrouded them both. Bill's physical form turned to stone as his mental projection jumped straight into the old scientist's head.

“FINALLY!” Bill crowed when he found himself in Stanford’s mindscape. The mental manifestation of the old man was standing there coldly. The light was reflecting off his glasses, making it impossible to see his eyes. Which didn't make sense because there wasn't actually any light. Which meant Ford was looking like that on purpose. The drama queen. “I TOLD YOU I'D FIND YOUR WEAKNESS!”

Ford did his best to ignore the mocking. He held up a book that looked just like one of the Journals. “Here it is, Bill, everything I know about weirdness magnetism.”

“AHAHAHAHAH, FINALLY!” Bill chortled, taking the book eagerly. “YES! NOW I CAN--” the book abruptly caught fire. “WHOAH- HEY!” The triangle could only watch as blue flames rapidly ate away every last page. “WHAT DID YOU--!?”

“It's gone.” Ford said evenly, a cruel grin spreading across his face. The light reflecting off his glasses disappeared, revealing a triumphant glare. “It's all gone!”

“YOU IDIOT, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?” Bill steamed, “I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS!!”

“On the contrary, Bill,” The scientist said calmly as the entire mindscape around them went up in blue flames, “You're the one who's finally going to pay.”

Bill's eye grew wide as he realized the extent of what was happening.

“GRAH! THE DEAL’S OFF!” He growled, but as he tried to wave his arm and create an exit, nothing happened. If anything the flames rose higher. “WHAT THE-- NO! NO NO NO NO!

“YOU FOOL!” Bill raged, “”YOU'LL DESTROY YOUR OWN MIND TOO!”

“Gladly.” Ford said emphatically. “If it means you'll never do to another living thing what you did to me.”

“YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE, STANFORD!” Bill said desperately, “I-I’LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT! MONEY, FAME, RICHES, INFINITE POWER, YOUR OWN GALAXY! JUST--PLEASE!”

“Whatever I want?” Ford echoed fiercely. “What I want is to watch you burn to nothing!” He finally lost his cool and roughly grabbed Bill by his stupid bowtie. “You pretended to be my friend, only to use me and manipulate me!” He wound up and punched the triangle. “You got me to drive my only true friend away!” Another punch. “You took control of my body and used it as a play thing!” And another. “You blackmailed me!” And again. “You tortured me!” Another. “And even worse than what you did to me, you messed with my family!” He wound up one more time and punched Bill right in the eye, harder than he'd ever punched anything before. The demonic triangle gave one last strangled cry in a language Ford didn't recognize, and shattered into a million pieces.

“...It is done.” Stanford said with finality. But… it didn't feel right. He'd been fantasizing about defeating Bill for years now, and he'd finally done it! He was the hero! He'd killed the demon, been able to beat him down with his own hands, and yet… this victory felt hollow. Was it because he was losing his own mind in the process? No… he'd always been prepared to sacrifice himself in order to pay for his mistakes.

As everything burned blue around him, the last thing he found left was a familiar tattered photo of two boys standing proudly atop a rotting shipwreck. Ford realized he didn't regret what he was losing, but what his family would be losing. And even more, what he never was for them.

“I'm sorry.” He murmured as the flames licked at his feet.

Stanley found his brother kneeling in a clearing in the woods not long after all of Bill's Weirdmageddon crap cleared up. Ford was still completely out of it. His eyes were unfocused and his mouth hung open.

“Grunkle Ford that was amazing!” Dipper exclaimed, running up and hugging him. Ford jumped at the contact, surprised and maybe even a little uncomfortable with the boy in his personal space.

“Uh, sorry, are you talking to me?” The old man asked in confusion.

The boy's face fell as he pieced together what happened. “You… you don't remember me…”

“No. Should I?”

“Yes!” Mabel cried, “We're your family!”

Ford just looked at them all blankly.

“It's ok, kids.” Stan tried to reassure them, “W-we just gotta remind him, y’know?” he sat down in front of his brother and looked him in the eye. “I-I’m Stanley. I'm your brother.”

Ford was too fascinated with Stan's arm to pay attention to his words. “Your arm, it's metal!” He observed with an eager smile, “that's not normal, is it? What's it made of? How do you get it to move like that?”

Stan’s eyes welled up with tears. “C-c’mon, Ford, it's m-me, it's Stan… I'm remindin’ you, j-just like you told me to… please Ford, it-it’s me, it's Stan!” He finally broke down crying in to his brother's shoulder. “Why d’you always gotta be the hero!? Y-you jerk! W-we never got t-to make thing right.…”

Ford looked at the two children for help. “What did I say?”

They brought Ford back to the wrecked remains of his house, picking up Soos and filling him in on what had happened on the way. The young mechanic was devastated, and he joined with the others in trying to jog Stanford’s memory. They had many opportunities to try. It seemed every step along the way Ford had another question.

“Did you see that little man in the red hat run into the bushes? What was that?”

“It’s a gnome.” Dipper explained patiently, although there was a pained undertone in his voice, “You used to study them.”

“Why do they wear those little red hats?” Ford wondered, “Are they hiding something under them?”

“I-I don’t know.” Dipper admitted, but it didn’t seem to bother Ford. If anything he seemed more excited, and he made to run off after the gnome.

“Wait! Don’t run off without us!” Mabel grabbed his hand.

This stopped him, but only because he’d suddenly become more interested in the small hands holding his own. He looked around at everyone and an expression spread across his face like he’d just found the greatest puzzle of all time.

“Wait a second, I just noticed something!” He held up Mabel’s hand and compared it to his own. “I’ve got more fingers than all of you! Isn’t that interesting? I wonder why it’s like that?”

“You were born that way.” Stan told him.

“Yes, but why?” Ford asked again. Nobody had an answer for him, which only served to make him more curious.

Stan heaved a heavy sigh. “C’mon Ford, we gotta get home. We’re all tired, you must be too.”

“I’m not tired!” The old man insisted like he was a four-year-old, “I wanna explore!”

Stan looked like he was on the verge of losing his composure again, so Mabel stepped in. “Grunkle Ford, if you come home with us, I’ll show you my scrapbook, and we can teach you everything we learned about all the weird things in Gravity Falls this summer.

“Really?” Ford asked, like she’d just promised to watch his favorite movie with him. She nodded. “Come on, let’s go!” He pulled her ahead toward the dilapidated house.

Dipper had to knock the door in, and despite the building being surprisingly still structurally sound, the place was trashed. Ford didn’t seem to notice; he took the state of the house as normal, and only seemed curious with the books and papers strewn across the floor. Everyone else was in low spirits. For all the questions they were answering and all their attempts to remind Ford of who he was, nothing seemed to be working.

“We saved the world, but what’s the point?” Dipper wondered forlornly, “Grunkle Ford’s not himself anymore.”

“I don’t get it.” Stan sat down and held his head in his hands, “Before, he said we’d be able to remind him…. Well, he said we might be able to remind him. Ugh, I should’ve known he was just sayin’ that to make me feel better. I should’ve known better than to get my hopes up!” He punched the wall with his mechanical arm and left a sizable hole.

“No!” Mabel said emphatically, “I know my Grunkle is still in there! We can’t give up, guys!” She found her scrapbook lying under the entertainment center, and sat Ford down next to her on the old couch. “This’ll work. This has to work!” She opened up to the first page and showed him a picture of the three of them at the bus-stop, not long after they’d arrived in Gravity Falls.

“Here’s a picture of the first day we came to Gravity Falls!” Mabel narrated, “and here’s a macaroni art interpretation of my emotions!” She pointed to a macaroni collage of an unsure smile and a question mark.

“What about that time we went to the lake our first weekend here?” Dipper asked as his sister turned the page again and revealed a two-page spread of photos from their picnic. “Or all those times we’ve played Dungeons Dungeons and More Dungeons together?” He asked on another page.

“Uh, these are all very nice photos, but weren’t you going to teach my what you learned about the weird things in Gravity Falls?” Ford asked innocently.

“They’re photos of you, Dr. Pines!” Soos cried.

“I can see that, but I don’t remember any of this, or any of you!”

That was enough to break Stan down again. The old con man got up abruptly and retreated to the other side of the room.

Ford got up and followed him. “What’s wrong? Why do you keep on crying like that?”

Stan just shook his head and turned away, unable to speak through his sobbing.

“Is it because of me?” Ford asked worriedly, “Is it my fault?”

Stan shook his head again, but Ford seemed to know instinctively that he was lying. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what for, but…” He trailed off and his expression became thoughtful. “I’m sorry…” he repeated softly. He reached out and hugged Stan awkwardly.

Waddles entered the room, drawn by the sound of crying. The pig found two sad men standing in the corner, hugging. On of them was the source of the crying. The pig tried to comfort them the only way he knew how: snorting in between their feet.

“Waddles, do you mind, we’re having a moment here!” Ford pushed the pig away gently with his foot.

Everyone gasped and stared at the old researcher, a new hopeful glint in their eyes.

“W-what? What did I say?” Ford asked nervously, uncomfortable with all the attention.

“It’s working!” Dipper said excitedly, “keep reading!”

“Skip to my page!” Soos insisted, “He needs to remember being the greatest teacher ever!”

“I think you and Wendy are the only two who would ever call me that.” Ford chuckled.

And so they continued to look through Mabel’s scrapbook. Every few pages, Ford remembered more and more about being a teacher, a great-uncle, a researcher, and even a brother. Once they finished with the scrapbook, Stanley swept the house and found some ancient film-reels: Home videos from the elder twins’ childhood. Everyone couldn’t believe their luck. Perhaps this story could have a happy ending after all.

It was one week later, and Stanford Pines felt like a new man. His memories were more-or-less all back now. Sure, he still had some hazy moments when someone would mention something like he was supposed to know what they were talking about, and he’d have to ask for clarification, but the most important things were all back. He knew his family and his best friend and his students and all the strange, wonderful, occasionally annoying people in Gravity Falls.

Of course, with the return of his good memories came the return of the bad. Just last night he’d had another nightmare about Weirdmageddon. But it was easier to shake off these bad dreams now that he knew Bill was well and truly gone. He’d also had a heart-to-heart with Stanley about some of the darker moments in their past, but he felt so much better now that they had.

Now it was time for the kids’ birthday party, and pretty much the whole town, human and supernatural, had shown up. Mabel and Dipper were giving some short speeches after blowing out the candles.

“Y’know, on my first day here, if you’d asked me what I wanted, I would have said ‘Adventure, mystery, true friends’, but looking out at all of you, I realize that every one of those wishes came true. I’m happy with what I have.”

“If I had one wish, it would be to shrink you all down with the shrink-ray and bring you all home with me in my pocket. But since that’s impossible--” She paused and looked up at Ford, “Is that impossible?”

He shrugged and made a so-so gesture. It was technically possible but really not a good idea. People would probably get squashed or suffocate.

“--Since that’s probably impossible, my only wish is for all of you to sign my scrapbook! I’ll never forget you all!” She paused again, pulled out the memory eraser, and smashed it under her foot. Ford couldn’t believe how relieved that made him feel. “Now I’ll never forget you all!”

As the kids joked around with Wendy and her friends about technically being teens now, Stan pulled Ford away from the crowd around a corner of the house.

“Hey, I wanted to talk to you in private.”

“Why, what’s wrong?” Ford asked in concern.

“Nothin’, just wanted to let you know I’ve made up my mind.”

“About what?”

“About leavin’ after the kids head home. I’m probably gonna start packin’ once this party business is over.”

“What!?” Ford cried incredulously,

“Yeah, see, this I why I wanted to talk to you about it in private.” Stan rolled his eyes.

“But… but I thought…” the old researcher stammered, “We’ve been making progress Stanley! I truly believed things between us were on the mend!” He sighed heavily and regained his composure, “But… if that’s what you feel is best, I won’t try and force you to stay.”

“Uh, thanks…” Stan said awkwardly.

“...where will you go?”

Stan shrugged. “Thinkin’ about gettin’ a ship, sailin’ in search of treasure.”

“Just… just like we always dreamed about. I… I’m happy for you, Stan.” Ford said, sounding the exact opposite of happy.

“Y’know…” Stan scratched the back of his head with his good arm and gestured with his mechanical one. “If I’m gonna hit the high seas, I’m gonna need someone who knows how to take care of this robot arm along for the ride. I’m still gettin’ the hang of it.”

“Y-you mean… you want me to come!?” Ford asked hopefully.

“No I mean McGucket.” Stan said flatly, rolling his eyes again. “Of course I want you to come, genius!”

Ford gaped at his brother for a moment before shoving him playfully, “You’re the worst!”

“I’m the worst!? You’re the worst for making me feel like a rakkpod for jokin’ with you! Why d’you gotta be so sincere?”

The two brothers re-entered the party, their arms around each other’s shoulder.

“If I could have everyone’s attention!” Ford shouted. “I’d like to officially announce my retirement!” He declared once the crowd had died down, “My brother and I have some catching up to do, so we’re leaving on a voyage, and probably won’t be back for quite some time.”

“Woohoo!” One of the teens cheered, “No physics class this year!”

“B-but what about the repair shop?” Soos stammered. “What about preparing young minds to be the scientists of tomorrow?”

“I’m sorry, Soos, but I only ever started teaching and running the repair shop so I would have a steady income while I was working on the portal. Now that Stan and I are together again… I don’t really have any reason to keep it up.”

Soos looked defeated.

“But school starts in two weeks and we’ll need a physics teacher!” A member of the school board complained.

Ford looked at Soos knowingly. “I think I know someone who could take my place.”

“Wh-me?” Soos asked incredulously. “I haven’t even got my degree yet!”

“You should be able to get an emergency teaching licensure.” Ford reasoned. “That’s how I got hired on full-time.”

“But-but you’ve got a doctorate.” Soos protested.

“Soos, you’re much better with people, and especially teens, than I ever was. And you know more than enough to teach high school. I think you’re the perfect man for the job.”

“We’ll see what the school district has to say about that.” The school board member called from the crowd.

A small group of friends and family gathered at the bus stop the next day in the early afternoon. Mabel and Dipper were all packed up and ready to go. Well, as ready as they’d ever be.

“Thanks for wearing my goodbye sweaters.” Mabel complimented her Grunkles. The elder twins were decked out in matching sweaters: Ford’s a deep blue, Stan’s maroon.

“Eh, it’s cold out, I had to.” Stan grunted.

“It’s over eighty degrees out here, Stanley.” Ford teased him. Stan responded by elbowing him playfully.

Dipper and Wendy said their goodbyes and switched hats just before the bus arrived, the ginger teen slipping him a letter as he walked away.

“Looks like we’ve said goodbye to everybody, except…” Mabel looked back at her pig sadly, “Waddles.” She got down on her knees and petted him sadly. “I don’t know how to explain this to you but… Mom and Dad won’t let be bring a pig home to California, so… you have to stay here!”

She got up to leave, but the pig playfully nipped at her skirt. The girl tried to push him away, tears streaming down her face.

Ford frowned. “Mabel, I think you should take him home with you.”

“But--”

“You’re parents will be surprised to find how easy a pet pig is to take care of. Pigs are actually very clean, certainly cleaner than that cat you have, and they don’t need that much space. I’m sure they’d be happy to have another pet! And if not, well, you can tell them it was my idea.”

“Are you sure?” Dipper asked warily, “Mom was pretty mad when she found out you’d offered to let us stay here without asking her first.”

“I’ll take my chances.” The old man assured them.

“Now hold on!” The bus driver protested, “Bringing unauthorized animals aboard a moving vehicle is strictly prohibited!”

Ford not so subtly pulled out his crossbow, and Stan charged up the blaster in his arm.

“Uh… but this, heh, is obviously a service animal, so it’s ok!” The driver chuckled nervously.

The kids gave one last goodbye hug to Stan, and then to Ford.

“I hope you know I’m not exaggerating when I say you two have changed my life.” The old researcher said fondly. “I… I don’t know how I could ever thank you enough…”

“We love you too, Grunkle Ford.” Mabel sniffed back a few tears.

Finally, they’d run out of ways to stall. It was time for the kids to get on that bus.

“Ready to head into the unknown?” Dipper asked.

“Nope.” Mabel said honestly. “Let’s do it anyway!”

Ford and the others ran along the road, waving goodbye until the bus rounded the corner and drove out of sight. The old researcher felt like a piece of his heart was leaving with them. It must have shown on his face, because just a second later, he felt Stan patting him on the shoulder.

“Yeah, I’m gonna miss ‘em too.” the old con man said sincerely, “But hey, it’s not like we’re never gonna see ‘em again, right?”

Ford smiled. This pain in his heart was nothing compared to the joy of having his brother back. “You’re right.”

“Heh, somebody stop the presses.” Stan chuckled. “Now come on Sixer, we’ve got an adventure of our own to start!”

#Gravity Falls #Stanswap Au #Reverse Portal AU #Fanfiction #Take back the Falls #My Writing

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theshipden · 7 years ago

Text

Pining Over A Pinetree

Bill Cipher never kissed someone. Even though Alphas, Betas, and other Omegas threw themselves at him, he wasn't interested. Even when rumors of his 'skill' in mating and scenting and kissing passed around the school, he never denied or admitted to any of it. Bill Cipher was an Omega, an unclaimed, uninterested Omega.

He didn't want anyone to have any of his firsts- First Kiss, First time, First scenting, First mating, First marking, First anything. He didn't want a mate, he didn't want an Alpha. The idea was unsettling, unsatisfying. Someone commanding you, protecting you like a toddler, constantly around you and needing you. He didn't want that nor did he care for it. He was perfectly happy with being alone. It's not that Bill couldn't get a mate, quite the opposite. Bill was smart and cunning, top of all classes with perfect attendance, popular and well liked, attractive and suave, mysterious and playful, he was what every Alpha was looking for. He was what some labeled the perfect omega. But he didn't care for all the attention and thirsty, hormonal fleshsacks called potential Alphas. It was made very clear that Bill wasn't one to be the submissive omega, no, he nearly killed the first Alpha that forcefully came on to him. And very quickly everyone came to respect him. No one ever caught his eye or appeased to his interests or intellect.

That is, until a pair of twins from California came into class that day. Dipper was settled beside his desk, Mabel not too far away from her brother. Mabel was the first to show interest in him, and she was adorable but just not what he wanted. He didn't want her like that. Bill continued to accept her offers to hang out and go places, befriending Pacifica along with her twin sibling. He noticed how differently the Alpha smelled, how intoxicating the smell was. It was a mixture of Pinetrees, forest, Rosemary with a hint of dominant musk. Bill wanted to inhale it deeply, get covered in that scent, smell it forever. But smells were just smells. And Bill quickly dismissed any further thought about it. Then came the brunette's sense of love for knowledge, the lengthy jokes that only he understood and laughed at, the obsessive compulsive behavior that made him focused and determined, the soft yet nerdy appearance and love for science. Dipper wasn't the most muscular alpha Bill's ever seen, wasn't as dominant, wasn't interested in sex or anything all the others seemed to be, he wasn't the most confident nor outgoing. He was timid and hesitant, reserved, smart, adorable and very handsome. Mabel soon grew attached to Pacifica, the bond between them very clear, and Bill was left to grow closer to the male twin.

Bill's never wanted closeness, never wanted to spend his time talking or listening to one single person unless it was himself. He didn't want to put someone else's needs over his own, never wanted to please anyone but himself, and he never ever wanted to fall in love. Grow attached. He didn't want that. Didn't need that.

And yet, whenever the twin brushed past him or bumped into him a little- whatever touch landed on him- made his skin tingle and his heart warm in the most disgustingly pleasant way. Bill didn't want to be jealous over anyone, not possessive either, he found the traits annoying but the very thought of Dipper getting attracted to someone besides himself made something burn inside him. The blonde turned to steal a glance at the Alpha beside him, lazily sketching some atomic particle that he memorized thousands of times by now. His gaze returned to the paper, oh he despised the way his cheeks would heat slightly at peering at that stupid alpha.

"Hey, Bill?"

"Hm?" Said omega broke out of his thoughts, pencil pausing in its shading as he casually looked into those mocha eyes. He kept himself composed but the need to seal the other's lips became increasingly hard, especially when that cute sparkle in those eyes lit them up and stole his breath away.

He never wanted to kiss anyone before.

"Wanna be partners for the project?" Dipper flashed him a bright smile, one that wasn't shown much due to the boy's timid behavior, he liked to think it was solely meant for just him. Well- him and the twin's family, of course. He didn't like the way his heart skipped a beat.

He never cared for anyone like this.

"Oh, yeah sure, Pinetree." Bill returned to his drawing. He could feel the alpha's breath tickle his neck as he peered to see what the omega was up to and he fought himself, he would not bare his neck, he would not expose it. He would not submit. Would not obey anyone. Not fall into line because of this alpha and his stupid scent. Oh how annoying it was that his inner omega howled for Dipper to claim him, how it wanted Dipper for his alpha.

His alpha. That sounded nic- no! No! What was he even thinking? Apparently the twin had been talking about the direction of the project. He only knew because the bell cut the brunette off mid-sentence, quickly the omega shoved his things into his bag and started to walk out the door. He made it into the hallway alone before Dipper was suddenly by his side again panting.

"Hey! Didn't you hear me saying wait up? God, you're fast." Bill didn't like how he wanted to apologize and make it up to the alpha. He didn't like how the praise at his speed made him want to purr.

"Bill? Are you alright?" That voice, laced with concern and worry, stirred more mixed emotions from him. It was meant for him. Directed for him. No one else but him.

"Okay, stop for a second. You've been spacing out all day and scowling. What's wrong?" Dipper stepped in front of him, making him stop. Bill's fists balled at his sides, oh what? Did Dipper think he was gonna let himself be forced into listening to him like the omega he was? Well he was wrong!

Roughly, Bill shoved past him. His inner omega whined and cried in protest, wanting to nuzzle into the alpha and be loved, it wanted all the affection he'd never gotten before. But he ignored it. His anger suddenly making his blood boil and his heart fluttered when he got a whiff of that scent, it peeved him even more. There was a gentle but firm touch to his shoulder, the twin once again trying to keep up with him.

"Seriously, what's up? What's making you so angry?" Came the exasperated response, the care and want to help clear in the brunette's voice. Once again, his breathing faltered at the soft touch and he was leaning his weight into it-

Hell. No.

Hissing, Bill covered the red on his face with expressing his anger, the leaning in framed by him turning sharply on his heel. "Maybe if you would just drop it and leave me alone, I wouldn't nearly be as mad!" He didn't mean the outburst, the hurt on the alpha's face made him regret it. Bill never regretted anything he said, never cared how it impacted other's too heavily. His temper was being steadily lost.

"I'm, I'm sorry Bill, I didn't mean to-"

"Oh! Oh! You didn't mean to? Well, you surely don't mean to do a lot of things! But here we are!" He knew it was unfair to do this, to take his frustrations and fear out on Dipper, but he couldn't help it. He felt bad but he couldn't stop. "God- why can't you just, just! F-Fuck, I-" The omega growled and blinked his eyes clear, forcing the tears away. He wouldn't do this, he never cried over someone, never got so emotional over someone. Never did any of this before, it was all new. Horrifying and powerful and new.

Dipper's face scrunched when he saw the omega shake and spotted the tears that threatened to fall, he felt horrible, he wanted to help and comfort. His throat was dry. Maybe it was getting closer to Bill's heat and that's why he was acting so weird lately. But before he could muster up the courage the blonde was bolting away from him, the crowd and hoard of students swallowing him up.

Bill wasn't in the next class, or the next, or the one after, and he wasn't hiding out in the library or band room. He wasn't in school and that was worrisome, Dipper explained what happened to his sibling. He didn't know what to do or say, he didn't know how to help. He texted Bill, called him countless times and even asked around but no one heard from him and even Mabel's attempts to reach him was proving invalid. Both were extremely concerned. And the way Bill seemed to hold something back, restrain himself didn't go unnoticed by the twin. Ever since that omega expressed interest in him Dipper had never been able to look at anyone else, not that he really wanted to anyway, even if all Bill was looking for was friendship. He heard the rumors, doubted most of them, but if any were true then he wasn't even on the same status that Bill was. He had no experience, all he could be was awkward.

"Anything yet?" Dipper turned to his sister who was staring at her phone screen, after a minute or two passed she groaned.

"No. He isn't answering." Mabel slumped into her chair. The omega was a private guy, really. No one really knew very personal things about him, no one but the gang of his friends that followed him around like a God. Even then, they didn't answer anyone's questions and only ran people off but they seemed to approve of the twins. "Hey, maybe we should stop by his place? Bring some comfort food as a peace offering, have a sleepover, kiss and make-up." She half joked attempting to lighten the mood.

"No offense Mabel, but I doubt he's in that kinda mood." He frowned, chewing on his lower lip as he thought. Actually the food part didn't sound too terribly bad, if there was one thing Dipper knew it was that Bill never turned down food, the guy never got full! And Bill did skip lunch once and took him with on an "Adventure of a Lifetime." He smiled fondly at the memory, Dipper knew exactly what to get the omega! "Mabel I just got the best idea, but I'll have to call you later, love you bye!"

The omega wrapped the sheets around himself tighter, God he was so embarrassed. And still a little upset. He cried over literally nothing and overreacted and probably just ruined whatever it was he and that stupidly attractive twin had. Bill felt his heart pang and his shame rise when he received the text messages and calls, instead shutting his phone off completely rather then answering. His house was big and empty, the blonde lost his family fairly young and never looked back. He yearned for that gentle touch, the soothing scent of pines and musk, the warmth of the alpha. Bill grew tired of being so angry for so long and his anxiety and crying left him utterly drained. He was exhausted emotionally and all he wanted to do was sleep, which wasn't hard for once. When he woke up next it was to soft knocking at his door, he mumbled something too soft and jumbled for anyone to make out or hear in protest. The knocking returned firmer and louder, making him grunt as he stood up, all the warmth trapped inside his blanket leaving. Making him cold, hungry, tired, and irked.

Another harsh round of knocking came and he yelled his upcoming arrival. Bill snorted at how little patience he had left, looking over his outfit of choice. When he left school he had taken to more comfortable clothes- there was nothing more comfortable then going shirtless with pajama pants and shielding oneself away from the world in blankets and pillows. The asshole that interrupted his nap was going to really get it. Walking out of his rather large bedroom and crossing the household the omega unlocked the door and swung it open. One hand was rested on the doorknob while the other was stationed on his hip, before he could even begin his rant the smell of his favorite food hit him making him really look at who was standing in his doorway. Dipper.

Dipper Pines. The alpha of his dreams was standing there, nervous as all hell, for him. With his favorite comfort food in tow and looking increasingly adorable the longer the red creeped into his complexion. Bill didn't miss the way the other's eyes looked him over, suddenly he was self-conscious. Okay sure, maybe he did have one or two or well- more then that amount of inky black and golden tattoos climbing up and down his arms and back, some even ghosting over his chest and abdomen. Shit, shit. What was he suppose to say or do? He never really- how was- Oh God. Could this day be any worse!? As if sensing Bill was about to bolt for it again or yell more, the brunette spoke up, presenting the food in a friendly gesture.

"B-Before you get mad! I just wanted to apologize for pushing you about it, I-I know I shouldn't have and I should've left it alone. It's personal and I crossed a line. I get that, really! But I just wanted to say that I was sorry for offending you and I don't expect you to tell me anything -because you don't have to!!- but I uh, wanted to offer my support." The blonde seemed taken aback. Dipper thought he was gorgeous, hair messy and wild, body toned and bare, sweet flowery and vanilla scent filling his nose, baggy pants barely clinging onto his hips. He forced down his need and want to do something, anything to the beautiful omega in front of him but he knew better. He would never do something like that to Bill. There was a long pause, the blonde finally snapping out of his stupor.

"No, no, you're fine Pinetree. I just- God that was such a dick move of me. You didn't deserve that, I was just stressed about something. Sorry, it's my bad." Bill glanced away suddenly a little more aware of how his insides were melting from the sear sincerity of the gesture, the kindness he didn't deserve or ever want until just now. He-...he needed it. And well, he was too tired and sluggish to really try and force himself into some withdrawal. If this alpha made him happy and went so far for him, then fuck it. He didn't want it before but he wanted it now. And if he passed the chance up by being a complete idiot, he'd really hate himself. So he stepped to the side. "You can come in if you want and just do whatever."

Dipper let a breath go he didn't even know he was holding, nodding and walking into the house. Honestly, he's never been inside Bill's house before, only ever parking in the driveway or glancing at it every now and then when he passed by. It was big and spacious, the interior just as exquisite as the exterior, the golden, darker colored, and similar hues all fit together perfectly and even complimented the owner. The omega closed the door behind them both, guiding them to the kitchen where he sat on a chair by the breakfast bar, the alpha instinctively taking the closest seat next to him. The twin pushed the bag and milkshake towards his friend and watched amused and Bill started digging into it. How could he make eating look so cute?

"We can watch some movies or something in the living room, you can take your pick of which one." The omega suggested while munching on his meal, pointing in the direction and the alpha once again nodded, stalking off to find something interesting. It shouldn't have been a surprise that Bill had a collection of what seemed to be every genre, he picked something he thought they could laugh at together- a romantic movie. They've done it before to irritate and mock Mabel, why not do it now? It seemed like the perfect thing to improve the omega's mood. He always smiled so big and laughed so hard back at the shack. Huh. Bill spent a lot more time at the shack then he did with them here, he wondered why, maybe he got lonely? With a house as big and as empty as this, he could understand if that was the reason. The brunette set up the movie and called for his friend, to which Bill walked in and sat down on the couch, tossing his feet over the armrest and crossing his arms over his chest. The twin joined him, sitting somewhat close to the omega as they both eyed the TV, watching as the movie's beginning was displayed on screen. Dipper was soon entranced by the scenes and characters, dialogue hooking him and soon the world around him faded out. Bill wished he could've been as distracted by the film, Dipper was too eye catching for him to properly focus. Jaw slack, brown eyes swimming bright with different emotions, hair curly and soft. He scooted closer and it went unnoticed. So he did it again. And lightly pressed himself against the alpha, again, it went unnoticed. Making Bill relax and silently purr at the excuse to be close to the male, he was warm and his scent was incredibly calming, a small bit of heaven to the previously stressed omega.

An arm slipped around his waist, a normal action done by Alphas to Omegas, often Mabel had done so to him and Dipper had too. Arguably, some of his beta and alpha friends had also done it too, it wasn't something uncommon. It was to bring comfort, help soothe, a sign of trust and appeasement, friendship or fondness. It wasn't something that should be taken into deep consideration.

It wasn't something that should've made his heart race or his cheeks to dust pink, his inner omega shouldn't purr in delight and howl in want from it. Bill shouldn't be affected by the touch at all. He should've been able to brush it off like usual.

But he couldn't.

The only reason Dipper had noticed how close they were was when his chin had come to rest atop fluffy blonde hair on instinct, a small sniff and he could smell the pleasantly sweet scent. He had a second's panic before the aroma of happiness coming from the boy beside him made his anxieties simmer down, the alpha had to admit, snuggling next to Bill was therapeutic and possibly one of his favorite things. By default, his inner alpha taking control of his body drunk on omega pheromones, raised his hand to tangle in those soft locks. His fingers gently carded through the other's hair, with great care unknotting any knots that he stumbled across, rubbing and massaging the scalp with featherlight strokes. Bill lightly mewled, eyelid drooping shut as his body relaxed into the alpha's arm. Oh how he loved this. Dipper was no longer focused on the film but on the beautiful blonde at his side, he would've never guessed how easy it was to melt the usually fierce omega. He'd never seen it done before, but here Bill was, leaning into his touch and sighing fully content with each and every minute passing by. The brunette found himself yearning to lean down and claim those plump lips as his own, to make moments like these a routine, to test out other things on the strong omega. But Bill never accepted any Alpha, he stood no chance. He was just a friend. Though, he would take what he could get and if this is what Bill wanted and allowed, then Dipper would be just fine with it and if not he'd manage. This was about Bill after all, not his own animalistic desires. Turning his attention back to the movie, he began to point out its flaws or plot holes, earning lazy chuckles or smoothly taunting side comments from Bill.

In the middle of the film is when the girl hungrily pressed her lips against her alpha's, body being pressed against the wall as moans and grunts were forced out of both partners, hair being tugged and bodies explored. Teeth nibbling lips and skin, love being confessed and spilled, it was purely romantic. The blonde found himself envious. He wanted Dipper's lips to smother his own, he wanted Dipper's hands sliding up his body in the same way, wanted his hair tugged, Bill wanted the alpha on top of him, his body pressing perfectly against his own, grunts and curses and love pouring out from each other's mouths. Bill was extremely jealousy of two fictional people, of actors, he found himself ridiculous. But the fire that sparked inside him only grew the longer the scene continued, and he growled. The sound rumbled from his chest and made the gentle hand in his hair pause before resuming, a polite hum sounding from above with the sweetest, most sincere voice Bill's ever heard.

"Are you okay?"

He would've hated how by just playing with his hair the alpha could calm him, that with his warmth and scent his anger would be melted away. But instead the omega decided to relish in it, bath in the comfort and secret pleasure it brought him before he found himself acting upon it, wanting just a bit more. Bill sat up quickly, making the twin purse his lips in question before strong thighs were straddling him and nimble hands were being placed on his shoulders, pressing him lightly back against the couch cushions. It was fluid and fast, but not rough like he expected, the actions were just as kind and soft. Leaving room and space for him to throw the omega off if he truly wanted to. At first, Dipper had been worried he overstepped a boundary and Bill was really going to let him have it but he realized his mistake and soon found that Bill was gazing at him. Searching for any signs of discomfort, for anything akin to anger or hatred or any other negative emotion, he was searching for permission. In all the time he's known the omega he learned soon that Bill hated to be stereotyped for his genes, despised bending over backwards for alphas, basically hated any and everyone who regarded him in that manner or thought they were above him because they were betas or alphas. Bill was more courageous and spontaneous then any omega ever born, most failed to believe he was really an omega, he loved control and power and was quite manipulative. So it was a bit of a puzzle as to why Dipper was suddenly straddled by the blonde, his animal side loving it and ready to take more more more- but he could never force Bill to do anything he didn't want. He cherished Bill more then that, thought of him better. Which is why he found himself asking, concerned for his friend.

"Bill, what're you doing, is this- Do you, are you sure you want to be doing this?"

Instead of an answer he received only a stare, the twin could tell there were conflicting thoughts battering around behind those feminine lashes, golden captivating irises shining as a single thought seemed to win favor and before he could think soft lips were pressing against his. It was light and ghosting, allowing for him to pull away or push the omega off if he saw fit, but he didn't. In fact, the brunette pressed back against those lips with vigor, hand flying to the other's head to assure that this was wanted. Immediately that same fierceness the omega was known for showed, teeth biting at the alpha's lip and hands desperately pulling their bodies closer, tongue darting out to swipe at the twin's lips trying to gain entrance. Of course he was met with access, Dipper could feel the omega's tongue slide into his mouth in time to tangle with his own, a heavy snarl erupting from the alpha's throat and his hands gripped at the other's hips ensuing in a dance for a victor. Naturally Dipper let Bill win, freeing a hand to glide up the omega's back to lightly pull at fluffy blonde hair, he could taste the omega on him and pick up on the intoxicating scent. Dipper made an effort to control himself before things got too wild, tugging the blonde a small ways away as he panted to collect his breath, the satisfied purr from the omega at both the action and the sight made him shiver and fight to not just resume their heated kiss. "Bill, what was all that?"

Said boy only rolled his eye, diving in to reignite their previous activity but was stubbornly met with a hand against his chest, pushing him back. Huffing with an annoyed expression, Bill leaned forwards to press kisses against the jawline of the twin, fingers dancing along the edges of his shirt before ghosting against pale skin. His words were broken apart with his kisses, making the twin's strength and resolve weaken at the distraction which enabled Bill to move his lips lower. "I like you, okay, and you obviously like me too or else you wouldn't be doing this. Now shut it." Then those kisses turned to a tongue sliding up his neck, a pleasant shiver running up his spine and making him have goosebumps.

"B-Bill wait, what happened today? At sc-school then?" The twin had to bite his lower lip to keep from giving into his inner alphas desires, he didn't want Bill to regret this because of some hormones or urges, but with the way the omega's hips were slotting against his was making it difficult.

"Just got worked up is all," The blonde grumbled against heated flesh. "Don't worry about it." And the nibbling resumed full force. In a last ditch effort to save them both from his inner desires, Dipper grabbed Bill by the hips and flipped their positions, laying the omega down on his back with the alpha between his legs. The twin's weight was pressing the blonde's arms where they were between them, momentarily stuck while the brunette sighed looking down at the dissatisfied features of the blonde. Moving forward he pressed a quick kiss to his cheek sweetly.

"You can't get mad, ghost me and Mabs, and then try and feel me up. We should talk about this, set boundaries, and you need to tell me what's up! Not spring this on me all of a sudden." Dipper cooed, resting his forehead against Bill's almost motherly. This time, the alpha saw the way his cheeks turned rosy, it made him smile.

"That was my first kiss," was all the blonde said on the matter. Too stubborn and too prideful to admit he was so troubled by his own feelings for the twin, the film became background noise, long forgotten as they just rested in one another's company. Then it was Dipper's turn to blush bright red.

"W-wha- why give it to me?"

"Because," the omega trailed off. Pouting, eyes brows furrowing as he looked anywhere but those glistening, understanding brown eyes. He was pinned by the alpha, he was letting himself be pinned, he was letting Dipper have control over him. Gathering up his courage and hiding his sudden nerves, Bill stared right into those eyes with his single one. "I want you to be my alpha."

Dipper was shocked to say the least, frozen in his place as he looked down at the blonde in complete surprise. He was ecstatic and overwhelmed but he wasn't sure how to express which emotion, he didn't want to scare Bill or possibly over react and embarrass himself. Taking his weight off from the boy and freeing his arms, he smiled softly. "Okay," Dipper murmured moving in to press another smooch to the corners of the omega's lips. "I'll be your Alpha, I'm your's."

Bill couldn't help the way his heart raced at the words, the blood rushing to his face as he seemed at a loss for what to do next. Before he could even think or respond, the twin was trailing sweet, kindhearted smooches all over his face. Starting from the forehead, then the brigde of his nose to the tip, fanning over his cheeks and down to his throat. The blonde felt the kisses turn to suckles as they neared his pulse point, a stripe was being licked up his neck, scenting him with so much care and adoration that he was positive his heart would burst and he'd melt right through the cushions.

"P-Pinetree," The omega whined. Hands gripping on to the loose navy blue hoodie the twin never left home without, the alpha hummed and nuzzled into the crook of his omega's neck taking a deep whiff and purring at the mixture of scents on him. This time around it was Bill who insinuated the affectionate gesture, rubbing his hands up and down his alpha's arms and over the shoulders, easing whatever tension was hiding there before gliding his fingers into the mop of curly brown hair he grew so fond of. "Stay here for the night. With, with me."

And Dipper happily agreed, chest rumbling with delighted purrs. Pride filled his chest when he would walk into school tomorrow with his omega and just everyone would know who Bill belonged to and who he was loyal to. Bill was his, and he'd make sure to never let his omega get that stressed or close to tears ever again.

#billdip #dipper x bill #bill cipher #human!bill cipher #omegaverse #abo universe #alpha!dipper #omega!bill #gravity falls

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whitelightning9999 · 7 years ago

Text

Who Wears the Red Goggles

23. Breaking Away

Word Count: 1489

Previous: 22. I’m Fine

Next: 24. It’s Going to be a Bad Summer

“Alright four eyes will you take off the goggles!” Lili hissed.

Raz didn’t respond, fiddling around with the things inside his second bag.

“Raz!” Lili yelled. “Razputin!”

The boy jumped, turning his head. “Oh, hey Lili. I didn’t hear you there.”

“I’m sure you didn’t” She rolled her eyes. “Will you just hurry up. We promised we’d be at the cabin before dinner.” Angrily, she stormed off.

“Rigghhttt.” The boy grabbed his bag, running to catch up. “So, you excited to be back in Gravity Falls? Feels like it’s been Forever.”

“No Raz.”

“No what?”

“No! Just leave me alone okay!” The pig tailed girl yelled. “I mean what’s with you! This is the first time we’ve talked in months and- You know what no! If you were such a great boyfriend you’d figure it out!” She sped up, leaving the boy behind.

Raz blinked twice, taking off his goggles. “um… Lili” he asked, reaching out.

“WHAT!” she turned around and scowled. Raz quickly made a pacifist gesturer.

“That’s what I thought!” She yelled, stomping along the road.

Raz sighed, looking behind him and grabbing his second bag. The two continued in silence, stopping twice when Raz dropped his bag.

“Sweaty hands.” He would say, only for Lili to groan.

It took too long for them to spot the cabin in Lili’s opinion. Earlier today she had been excited about seeing her boyfriend again, having had no contact in the last few months. It wasn’t from lack of effort on her part either. She had tried multiple times to get in contact with him only to get his voicemail.

I know our lives can be busy but…

She had put extra effort into getting ready today. Arrived at their meeting spot thirty minutes early, expecting him to do the same. It was one of the things she loved about him. But when he had shown up an hour late for their meet up time, wearing those stupid, red goggles she just, just ugh!

When she had asked him about it, he just laughed. “Just exploring. You would not believe how dull everything is now.”

This is stupid. He’s stupid! Lili thought. ‘I don’t know why I-‘ she paused.

“Quit reading my thought!” she turned back to the boy, causing him to jump.

Ahead of them the door opened, Mabel and Dipper peering out.

“Raz! Lili!” Mabel cried running out to greet them. “I thought-“

Lili walked straight up to the girl, grabbing her hand and dragging her back into the cabin.

“What’s her problem?” Dipper asked, walking up to Raz, all while looking at the shack.

“I- I don’t know” the younger boy looked to the ground.

Dipper frowned, seeing Raz’s heartbroken expression. “Don’t worry I’m sure she’ll be over it soon.” The male twin attempted a smile. “Come on, let’s get you set up. Norman and Neil are already here.”

Neil was not like his friends. He didn’t have two grunkles who lived in magic infested woods. He didn’t have psychic powers. He didn’t take on a beldam and he didn’t see ghosts.

He was just Neil. And that was okay with him. He never had a problem running around with the other Mystery Kids and he never thought he would. Sure, everyone was different in their own way but that’s what made them so great.

But when Raz came down for breakfast, eyes covered by his red goggles, Neil felt funny. Not the kind of funny where someone (Mabel) would hold you down and tickle you or told a funny joke. No like the kind of funny where he would be standing in front of a monster.

It wasn’t like Raz was acting any different. He was just going about his business making cereal with… was that day-old tea? Neil frowned. How tired was Raz?

“Neil?” Norman’s voice asked from his left.

“Huh?” He turned to find Dipper and Norman looking expectedly at him.

The two boys looked at each other before Dipper asked “Are you okay? Your usually not so distant in the mornings”

“Oh I’m fine I was just watching Raz, I don’t think he-“ Crash!

On the floor, Raz’s bowl lay broken. The tea soaked cereal scattered around it. Raz just stared at it, happily.

“You ok, Raz?”

“As happy as a clown” Raz continued staring. “Anyways I need to head out. Do me a favor and don’t wait for me.”

Norman opened his mouth only to be stopped by Dipper. Raz paused in the door way turning his head at what looked like an uncomfortable angle.

“Seriously don’t wait up.” Raz said before walking out.

Norman glared at Dipper. “What was that about?”

“Lili and Raz had a big fight yesterday.” Dipper explained.

Neil paused, glancing at the male twin. For as long as he had known the two they had seemed like a perfect couple. Mabel and her friends shipped them, Coraline would plan around their anniversary, even when they had no idea who they where they still dated.

‘Raz wasn’t upset either.’ Neil thought it over.

“Is Raz here?” Mabel asked from the doorway.

“You just missed him” Dipper said picking up the broken bowl with Norman.

Mabel nodded, tugging on something behind her. Together her and Lili entered the shabby kitchen.

“Whoa Lili, you look-“

“Look like what!” Lili hissed glaring at Dipper.

“Great, like you just came out of bed and everything was perfect” Dipper nervously laughed.

The rest of breakfast was filled with a heavy atmosphere causing Neil to leave his food early. He just planned to spend the rest of the day in his and Neil’s room.

As he turned the corner to go up the stairs, he caught a flash of red in the corner of his eye.

Standing in the hallway was Raz. His red goggles glowing in the dim light. His month twisted into a creepy clown smile.

“Raz, are you ok?”

“Of course, I am?” Raz started to walk forward, slowly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Um, I heard about you and Lili.”

Raz chuckled. “Oh, that little think? Don’t worry it will be over soon”

“She seemed pretty broken up about it”

“You know how she is.”

Neil felt the hairs on the back of his head stand up.

“Now Neil, why are you afraid of me?” Raz was now in reaching distance.

“I’m not” There was no reason to fear Raz after all.

“Exactly.” Raz passed him, whispering something.

Neil felt his legs shake long after Raz had walked away. The boy’s last words echoing in his head. “It’s just little old me after all.”

Norman was growing sick of this. Ever since Raz’s and Lili’s fight things had just been going downhill. Lili had a shorted fuse. Dipper had been tiptoeing around almost everything. He barely saw Mabel except with Lili. Neil would leave at random times and Raz seemed to be in some sort of denial.

Honestly, sometimes Norman just wanted to throw up his hands in frustration.

The tall boy knocked on the bathroom door. This was the biggest annoyance though. “I’m coming in.” he said out loud, opening the door.

The room was empty, not that Norman expected anything else.

“I know you’re here” He tried. “Please just come out, I can help you.”

For the last week Norman had been sensing a ghost. Someone weak enough but strong enough to feel like something was under his skin. He had tried many times to talk to it but to no avail.

Norman blinked looking down at the journal, reading over the page about ghosts. Normally he hated using the slightly biased knowledge but he had tried everything else at this point.

“I’m going to try something ok. Please don’t leave.” The boy said turning on the hot water taps.

Before long the mirror started to fog up. “Let’s try this ok? You can write on the mirror now.” Norman made a smiley face on the mirror.

A squeak drew Norman’s attention to the upper left corner of the mirror. Before long words appeared.

It’s good to see you

“Do I know you?”

Yes

Norman frowned, he didn’t think anyone had died recently.

I need your help

“Of course, I’ll try to help” Norman smiled.

No, there was a pause. I need your help breaking away from

“Away? Away from what?” He thought back what Coraline had said about the Other Mother and her ghost children.

Not here he’ll be listening.

“Who?”

Pleas The ghost tried to draw a ‘e’ only for it to run. Hand prints suddenly started to erase everything.

“Wait!” Norman cried, only for the door to burst open.

Raz with his red goggles stood in the doorway. Almost like an animatronic bear, the other boy tilted his head.

“And who were you talking to?”

“No one”

“Really?”

“Yes” Norman pushed passed Raz walking out of the bathroom. He needed to talk to Neil.

I’m going to start trying to give Neil a little bit of a more active role let me know what you think.

#mystery kids #razputin aquato #psychonauts #lili zanotto #mabel pines #dipper pines #gravity falls #paranoman #norman babcock #going to get worse before it gets better #short story #fanfic #neil downe

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seiya234 · 7 years ago

Text

It started with a bag of potato chips.

Namely, a bag of artisanal potato chips Mom had gotten for them (for Mabel) (for them) at the farmer’s market that week. They were pickle flavored, made their entire room reek of dill, and came in a handmade paper bag. Before the Transcendence (before he had died) (no) Dipper usually let Mabel have the potato chips in favor of the soft pretzels Mom bought at the market for him and Dad.

But Mom had forgotten the pretzels (forgotten that he was still there) (no, just forgot that he could still eat), leaving only the potato chips.

No one had summoned him all day and he and Mabel had quickly realized that it was…. best that he not follow her to school. He could have gone to the Mindscape, could have danced in the dreams of a thousand sleepers, gone from Pisa to New Delhi to Nome just because-

The chips haunted him. As soon as he realized he couldn’t have them he wanted them more than anything else on the planet. It was dumb-part of Dipper knew this-to obsess over freaking potato chips. Perhaps it was his new nature, his new form of being. To want, to hunger, endlessly.

Also to his now far superior senses, they smelt impossibly good.

He looked at the clock (you don’t need to).

3:08 (20 seconds, 14 milliseconds, the feel of the earth slowly turning on its axis, the whirl of a body in motion around the sun-) PM. Mabel would be home soon and then she could give him some chips and he could put this whole stupid day behind him.

Mabel sighed with relief as she exited the building. Another school day done. She began the long walk home and once again tried to tell herself it was because she liked being outside and not, say, because her bus driver was a poop butt (be nice) and wouldn’t let her on his bus anymore.

She used to like school. School was where her friends and art class were. But they had had to cut art class this year because of dumb budget thing. And yeah, Mabel did art stuff all the time at home but that wasn’t the same as actually getting to go to a special class for it every day. How was she going to learn new things now? Dipper had rolled his eyes at her and just told her to use YouTube but that wasn’t the same. And as for friends-

Mabel blew out a raspberry. She was half way through the school year. She should be used to this by now. Used to not having Cherry or Eddie or Christina talk to her any more. Used to sitting alone at lunch, to having her teachers look over and pretend not to see her raised hand. Thanks to one or two…. thingies from Dipper at the beginning of the year, no one made fun of her or messed with her anymore, outwardly at least.

They just ignored her now. Oh, and left notes in her locker, notes which made her feel dirty just to read, notes that sometimes had an adult’s handwriting on them.

(She read each one then threw it away. Her parents couldn’t do anything about it and she was scared what Dipper would do if he knew.)

Mabel kicked a rock in her path and sighed. Used to be, her and Dipper would take the Alcor Express to Gravity Falls and spend the afternoon at the Shack. Soos would make her Magic Milk, Melody would do her hair in a million tiny braids, and both of them would show her and Dipper the new attractions they had made. After Paz and Grenda and Candy got out from school, they’d come over too, and they’d all chase Dipper through the yard until dinner time in Piedmont. But Mom and Dad had made them stop, saying they didn’t want them hanging out with strangers two states away.

(“But they aren’t strangers!” she had cried. “They’re our friends and we love them!”

Mom had pursed her lips and Dad had sighed. They gave each other one of those long looks that they thought Mabel was too stupid to understand. Finally, Dad said, “We will try and stop at Gravity Falls on our way to Seattle in January. Meet this Mr. Ramirez. Then we will discuss this further-”

Mabel opened her mouth to argue, but from the looks on her parents’ faces, she knew she shouldn’t push it.

Also that they expected her to break the news to Dipper.)

She blew out her breath in a big raspberry and stepped over a branch on the sidewalk. Remember.

Remember to be nice. Remember to be fair.

Remember that this was hard for Mom and Dad too. Remember that she could have made things a lot easier for herself if she had just lied about Dipper at school. Remember to remind Dad to set a place for Dipper at dinner tonight.

Remember, no matter how hard she had tried to forget, the scream Dipper let out as she saw him burn from the inside out.

Her steps sped up.

Remember to think about everyone but herself. Remember to not think about how lonely she felt, and no she shouldn’t feel that way, she talked to the girls on the phone all the time, be fair Mabel.

Was she running now? Yup, Leftie and Veronica were definitely running now.

Remember how tired she was. Remember how much Dipper relied on her for everything. Remember to try and control her emotions somehow by the time she got home because now Dipper could tell when she was upset and she didn’t want to try and explain why she was upset. Remember to stop being so upset, to stop being such a big weenie crybaby, because Dipper had it so much worse than her and she shouldn’t forget that and she needed to be better she needed to be nicer she needed to not

To not remember the mean, ugly, snarly thing in her chest that felt like it was going to claw its way out at any second.

Mabel swallowed the scream that was welling up in her throat as she finally saw the front porch of her house. She took a moment by the front door to calm down. She thought about kittencorns and snadgers and a snadger riding a kittencorn through a rainbow explosion in the Gumdrop Duchy, and that did the trick. Somehow, she managed to pull a smile out of her brain pocket.

Besides, there was that bag of fancypants potato chips Mom had got for her at the Farmer’s Market waiting for her inside.

——

Finally, finally the door opened to their bedroom and Mabel came in. He tried to ignore the way her aura was muted and damp, deep ugly puce and magenta and sqarporple. The way she threw her horse backpack to the ground instead of placing it lovingly on her papasan chair, like she did last year.

The crick she was getting in her neck from constantly looking down.

He wished he was ignoring it because it would hurt Mabel to draw her attention to his awareness of her dejection, but honestly, it was because dissecting her emotions would delay the delivery of potato chips from Mabel’s hands into his mouth.

“Mabel!”

She tiredly smiled. “Hey Dippinsauce.”

He went on. “My favorite Mabelrooni!”

“Hi.”

“Mabellina!”

She raised an eyebrow, a skill she had learned at age seven and refused to teach him (not that he needed her to do that now) (no, stop it Dipper.)

“Whoa there broseph,” she said, picking up the potato chips. “I thought we agreed- no talking like each other because that’s weird and like, we’re twins but not like, horror movie psycho twins.”

Despite the need surging through his system, Dipper shuddered. “Like that one convention last month,” he said.

Mabel grimaced. “Yeah.”

He knew how many individual grains of salt were on each chip. He knew how many chips there were in the bag (57.) He knew that there were chips from four separate potatoes in the bag, and that said potatoes came from a factory farm in Idaho and not from a backyard in Piedmont as was claimed by the proprietor. But the pickles and pickle juice that flavored the chips were handmade, that much was true. It felt like his stomach was going to crawl out of his mouth to get at the chips.

It probably felt like that because that bad boy was currently trying to squeeze its way out. Dipper frowned, and gulped hard to push his stomach back in place.

Mabel had grabbed the bag.

Mabel had opened the bag.

Mabel was saying something or the other but she always blathered on for a bit after school it wasn’t that important what was important was chips in his mouth now-

“Mabel, can I have the potato chips?”

There. That was polite. Ish.

Mabel smiled. “No offence Dipperino, but I’ve been looking forward to these all day. But I don’t mind sharing! We can do ‘one for me, one for you,’ and make it even even!”

Dipper frowned slightly. “Yeah but I’ve been waiting for them all day. I’d reallylike the whole bag if that’s okay.”

His twin’s smile wavered, but then re-fixed itself. “I’m sorry Dipper. Normally I’d let you have them all to yourself since I know… I know it gets lonely during the day. But I was really looking forward to these.”

“Well, so was I.”

“Well, me too! Can’t we just share? Like we used to do all the time?”

“N̦͉̝̼͈o̴̦͖̭̺͇̮!̣̼” The force with which the word came out of his mouth surprised him, but he kept on going.

“You don’t understand Mabel. I spent forty minutes today tracing the history of each and every potato that went into that pack- and I didn’t even want to! It just happened! Dad came in here to vacuum, and he walked through me, and I didn’t even notice because I was so busy thinking about the chips! I don’t wantto want them but I do! So just. Give them to me? Please?”

Dipper was really upset, she could tell. And he was right. He had a rough day. She should stop being selfish and give him the chips. Be a good sister and all that. Besides, there was some Lays and peanut butter to dip them in downstairs. Ignore the hot, mean, ugly snarly thing screaming in her stomach.

She opened her mouth to say okay, she extended her hand to give him the bag-

Mabel clutched the bag to her chest and snapped out, “No!”

Her brother had gone still, stiller than a person could ever get.

“What do you mean ‘no,’ Shooting Star?”

Ohhhh no he wasn’t going to get her with that trick.

It was the mean snarly thing in her stomach that spoke for Mabel, the mean snarly thing that had been born when she woke up in a dark, pink place, that had only continued to grow since then.

“I mean no! I’m… I’m tired too Dipper! I know this is harder for you, but haven’t you ever thought about that it’s hard for me too? I’m tired of… Of giving you everything! Just this once won’t you let me keep something for myself?”

The room in Dipper’s vision turned red, every single thing in his sight a shade of throbbing, angry crimson.

“It’s hard? For you?! At least you’re not dead!”

“Dipper you aren’t dead though-”

He laughed, and the glass of Mabel Juice she had poured for herself got lumpy and gross like old milk.

“Tell that to Mom and Dad! They had a funeral for me remember? There’s a stone and everything!”

“You are alive-”

“Ń̛ót̴͝ ̡to̶̧ ̧t̢h͘ę͠m̷͜!̀̕”

Dipper had burst into flames at that last part, but before she could remind him to put himself out, he kept talking.

“They walk through me even after you tell them I’m there. They visit my grave once a week even though they… they know I’m there with them. They’ve stopped worrying about my allergies. And you know they haven’t told Grandma Lorie and Grandpa Lou about… about me, not like they would have told Grandma Shermie. They don’t correct people when they say I’m dead, not like you do. They… Mark and Anna-“

“Mom and Dad-“

“They… they forget about me sometimes.” Dipper paused. “Well, maybe not forgetting all the way, because in the back of their minds is the constant thought about the Son They Lost and Mabel don’t look at me like that I’m just saying what’s there…”

He pointed a claw tipped finger at her.

“They don’t set a place for me at the dinner table any more Mabel! Haven’t you noticed that?”

“Yeah, but you don’t eat so why does it matter….”

Too late Mabel realized that she had said the wrong thing.

Dipper looked at her.

She was aware, for the first time in a very long time, of his black eyes, of the ears that grew more pointed and long with every passing day.

Fingers tipped with claws that were twitching.

Maybe she should be scared (and she was, a little bit) but this was Dipper. This was her twin, her bro-bro. And no matter how many arguments they had, she had never lost one yet. And while there would be time to apologize later, the key in arguing with Dipper was not letting him get a word in. Once you did that, he’d use his dumb “logic” and “sense” and, worse of all, “facts.”

“You’re tired of being overlooked? Of being treated differently now? Of having people look at you and think of bad things only? Well so am I.”

Mabel put the bag of chips down on the bed behind her, out of Dipper’s line of sight.

“You know; I can’t remember the last time you said ‘thank you.’”

The aura of menace that was building around Dipper shorted out.

“What… what does that have to do with anything?”

The hot snarly thing was still in her chest, screaming in anger, but at this point Mabel just felt tired.

"Dipper.... Dippindots. I spend like, almost my entire day doing stuff for you-"

"No you don't, what about when you're at school and sleeping-"

The look that Mabel gave him shut Dipper up immediately, jaw clicking audibly shut. She went on.

"Since you can't or won't show up for Mom and Dad, I'm the only way you three can talk to each other- and it's not just me telling them what you've said! They've been telling me... mom and dad stuff. No, it’s not that, it’s-"

She shook her head, "They've been telling me adult stuff and expecting me to deal with it for them and I know they don't mean anything bad by that but it really makes my head hurt and-" Mabel blew out a breath. "Then I got to decide what won't hurt your feelings, what you need to hear, and how you should hear it."

"I-"

"There's only so many scrapbooks and macaroni pages I can make to deal with this Dipper!"

Her eyes narrowed. "You have been looking at my 'Mom and Dad Stuff For Dipper' book right? I leave the pages open for you-?"

Dipper was silent and that alone was all the answer she needed.

“Wow. Great. Fantastic.” Mabel didn’t recognize the voice that was coming out of her mouth, all adult sounding and snarly and mean. She looked down into the bag, at the potato chips waiting for her.

“You know what? Fine. I’m done trying for you-“

(no, no Mabel you don’t mean that)

(she did mean it though. Not for always and forever, but for here and now, Mabel Anna Pines was done with this)

She put a hand in the bag.

“Mabel.”

She pulled out a chip.

“Mabel, I thought I told you those chips were mine.”

Mabel put the chip back and Dipper sighed in relief… only to see her grab out five chips and shove them all in her mouth.

The sound that came out of Dipper’s mouth wasn’t human.

Human voices didn’t shatter car windows four blocks away and make ears bleed.

Mabel pushed through and pulled out another chip.

“S͎t̯̱o̞p̤̩̯̥̱̯͘”

His twin froze. Dipper could still see the rise and fall of her chest, the trembling of her arms forced to stay in one awkward place.

He reached out.

He grabbed the bag of potato chips- and he could touch them! He could have t͈̜͙̣͕͚̥́h̢̠̱͚ḙ̴̲͔̜͚m̦̬̥̘̳̞̯͠.

They were his and they were his and he ate them all in front of his sister’s eyes, ungraceful shovels of chips into his mouth, one, two, three handfuls and they were gone.

They were the most utterly disappointing things he had ever eaten. They didn’t live up to the day long hype in his mind... but they weren’t rotten or gross either.

They were just potato chips, and looking at his sister’s face, they tasted like ashes in his mouth.

#transcendence au #seiya writes!

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flowers-in-your-dustbin · 7 years ago

Note

All the numbers again (second tag reblog)

1: When you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk? More milk than cereal cause I like to drink it!

2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day? Yeah, but when I can get into the warmth after that's even better!

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books? I try to remember the page number instead so usually end on a multiple of 10 or 5.

4: how do you take your coffee/tea? Tea: Two sugars, milk, hopefully brewed by the gal. Coffee: I don’t!

5: are you self-conscious of your smile? Kinda!

6: do you keep plants? Nope!

7: do you name your plants? None to name!

8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings? Oils if I had the money for that so typically watercolours

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself? I am right now.

10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Typically side, but back is fine. Not stomach really!

11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends? Oh My Gouda.

12: what's your favorite planet? Uranus ;)

13: what's something that made you smile today? My gal surprised me with a beautiful orchid

14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like? Edgy expose brick aesthetic

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is! Uranus’ blue glow is due to an abundance of methane which filters out red light.

16: what's your favorite pasta dish? Spaghetti carbonara probs! Especially cooked by the best.

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair? I don’t! I did want pastel pink in August.

18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up. I had a paddy fit in primary school because I used to always sabotage my meals so I didn't eat them but I spilt milk on something I legitimately didn’t mind having... I cried over spilt milk.

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it? I do! I write the days events and my feelings, I draw key points or little objects. Not all the time tho.

20: what's your favorite eye color? A nice hazel-y to chocolate amber brown woop

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces. A grey Kanken Fjallraven, if Switzerland counts as hell, there you have it.

22: are you a morning person? Yeah! I’m straight too!

23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations? Exactly that, nothing. With a side of music.

24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets? Only the one.

25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into? An abandoned slaughterhouse. Soz vegans

26: what are the shoes you've had for forever and wear with every single outfit? Black old skool vans hehe original

27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor? Strawberry!

28: sunrise or sunset? Why not both in a day?

29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing? I’m not sure!

30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared? I’m not sure, close calls/

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks. I like socks. Weird socks are fun. So are odd ones. I do not sleep with my socks, nor do I confine myself to white sock hell.

32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. We had deep convos for the time, we probs cried, then probs went to sleep.

33: what's your fave pastry? Uh choux just cause I can remember that is one. Hahahaha.

34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it? I had one called Baxter Bear which was the best, he was quite obviously a bear with a red scarf and his own passport. I threw up on him in the car and he was never the same again, he disappeared short after. Don’t ask about Scrubs the dog.

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often? I do, I just don't use them often.

36: which band's sound would fit your mood right now? The xx

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean? A healthy middle.

38: tell us about your pet peeves! Couldn’t possibly. There’s a fair few.

39: what color do you wear the most? Probably black? Emo ik.

40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what's it's story? does it have any meaning to you? I own a necklace I got for my 16th its very cute and only comes out when I have heterosexual days to masquerade it. It’s nice.

41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving? The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde, it’s my favourite ever. I don’t read as much as I used to, sigh.

42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it! There’s a cute local one. They do unreal Nutella pancakes and its quite central and very aesthetic-y. Yum!

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? My gal, typically on the way to my car where I point out Orion or The Dipper. It’d be nice to do it properly sometime.

44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything? Two days ago.

45: do you trust your instincts a lot? When I need to.

46: tell us the worst pun you can think of. Someone mentions a dog, then I normally incorporate the word ‘ruff’ as a homophone for ‘rough’ and get death stares. But I like it.

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe? Gherkins.

48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? Abandonment/loneliness hahahah yes it is.

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought? I do like buying records yeah! I can’t say until April the 23rd but I’ll have bought another by then.

50: what's an odd thing you collect? I don’t think I do have anything odd!

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them? Uncomfortable by Wallows, as well as Fast Food by D.I.D and many many more.

52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far? The new Patrick one is doing pretty good.

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them? Nope, nope, nope and nope!

54: who's the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face? My dog. I didn't walk him.

55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point? Hahahah you wouldn’t want to know.

56: what are some things you find endearing in people? Feeling secure with them, if you get me.

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics? CAN YOU DO THE FANDANGO!?!?!

58: who's the wine mom and who's the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why? K is probs the wine mom bc I'd say A but she’s not as sensible, thus A gets the Aunt role.

59: what's your favorite myth? Bulls hate red, they’re actually colour blind lmao.

60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves? I don’t mind a bit of poetry! Marking Time by Owen Sheers is noice.

61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received? Me and mum put a fancy brooch in a pack of digestives for someone. I’ve received stupid spellings of my name on the birthday cards.

62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind? Nope

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be? Rainbow order woop.

64: what color is the sky where you are right now? Black.

65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with? Yep!

66: what would your ideal flower crown look like? Cutesy and white and blue and stuff idk. But I wouldn't wear one haha.

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel? Serene! Albeit Silent Hill-esque

68: what's winter like where you live? Fun! Cold! Disruptive!

69: what are your favorite board games? The Game of Life/Monopoly/Articulate!

70: have you ever used a ouija board? Nope!

71: what's your favorite kind of tea? English Breakfast, brewed by the girlfriend.

72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you'll forget it? I've been known to be.

73: what are some of your worst habits? Overthinking. Nail biting.

74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. Ginger.

75: tell us about your pets! A doggo! A beagle! and a fish...

76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren't? Revising!

77: pink or yellow lemonade? Yellow

78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub? anyone in the fanclub needs natural selection to do its thing.

79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? Surprised me at work with flowers.

80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why? White, because I’d like grey but we haven’t got there yet or painted the house since its still pretty new.

81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of. I don't have the time for that shit.

82: are/were you good in school? I was! I still think I am! Who knows.

83: what's some of your favorite album art? Smithsmithsmithsmithsmiths

84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones? Yeah! Quite a few. All tonal, but above all a Venus sign and more importantly the great wave off Kanazawa by Hokusai

85: do you read comics? what are your faves? I don't fun fact I used to read them start to feel sick.

86: do you like concept albums? which ones? I feel stupid for not knowing what they are.

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives? Donnie Darko.

88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy? Not Gothic. Can’t go wrong with a bit of impressionism.

89: are you close to your parents? I think. Depends on the time of day.

90: talk about your one of you favorite cities. Starts with E, ends in Dinburgh.

91: where do you plan on traveling this year? Nowhere abroad really, just a couple of good cities.

92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch? Barely sprinkles, but I have a drowner with me to compensate.

93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most? Down. Full stop.

94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday? My girlfriend’s. mum!

95: what are your plans for this weekend? Work, a party, a Harry Potter film, a sad Sunday.

96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot? I leave them for as long as possible

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house? ENFJ/Pisces/Ravenclaw

98: when's the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it? Hah idk.

99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. Nude - Radiohead is the one I’m thinking at the mo’ and I can’t think past that.

100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why? Future. Don’t need to lament on the past when I hope I have a good one ahead of me. Then from there I'd click 5 back so I’m right back to where I am, cheers.

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