#the way mabel runs to them first really makes me think shes doing all that emotional labor at home

[questionableholidayreally]

you think dipper and mabel have experience deescalating fights because of their parents

[ckret2]

Chapter 71 of human Bill Cipher trying to debate his way out of still being the Mystery Shack's prisoner. Soos has found the stolen Journal 4 in Bill's possession and has to decide what to do about it in light of everything else he's learned about Bill lately.

[*this chapter was renumbered to squeeze in the Axolotl plot arc! If you. Haven't read it yet, go back to ch 61 and read it!]

Soos stared dumbfounded at the journal with a 4 on the cover that he'd pulled from Bill's hiding place. Ford had lost Journal 4 last fall—he'd said gnomes had stolen it. How in the world had Bill gotten it?

Soos sat in the attic window seat and flipped through it. The first few pages were Ford's journal entries—his observations of the dimensional rips they were glueing shut in Gravity Falls post-Weirdmageddon, a hand-drawn map highlighting various places around the globe he wanted to investigate, a few drawings and observations of paranormal beings he hadn't seen his first time in town, half a sketch of a gnome that ended with a jagged scribble across the page followed by a page that said "Shmebulock" over and over.

And then a page that said, in an unfamiliar handwriting of jagged, narrow gray letters: "CURSED BOOK! If your name is Mabon Mason Pines, STOP READING NOW or ENJOY YOUR HEX!"

Bill had written page after page of some weird code of gray and yellow-green dots and dashes. A few sentences in English—every one of them was a threatening message to Ford. "Everything would have been fantastic if you'd just helped me finish, Fordsy." "You'll regret not siding with me when you had the chance." "You should have known better than to let your idiot brother turn you against me." "Sixer, you're lying to yourself every time you say you never worshiped me, and you know it. You spent the first third of your life running away from the god you were raised with and the second third chasing after me. Don't waste your last third denying it. YOU'RE MINE." A small, worrying diagram of what looked like the interdimensional portal. And a sticker.

Wait, hold on.

A sticker. One of Mabel's. The rest of the page was the same as the others, the two-tone dots and dashes, except for the sticker, and an arrow drawn from one paragraph to the sticker.

A yellow smiley, its round edges filled in with black marker to make a triangle, over the words "Good job!"

Soos stared at the sticker.

####

A couple of weeks ago, Melody had texted to let Soos know that there was a mess in the upstairs bathroom, and the kids said they'd been fighting a werewolf ghost.

When Soos had gotten home the next morning, Melody had pulled him aside and quietly told him she hadn't wanted to worry him and the Stans, but she did not think it was a werewolf ghost.

When Soos saw the bathroom, he didn't think it was a werewolf ghost either.

It was a scene from a horror movie. Menacing magical sigils painted all over the walls in blood and toothpaste, Bill's zodiac painted on one mirror, the other mirror broken, glass and water all over the floor. It looked like the site of a really wet demon summoning. This contained none of the hallmarks of ghostly or werewolfish activity. Why would Bill do this?

Soos was kind of reluctant to ask Bill. Bill still sorta scared him sometimes. Sure, he looked like a lost 18-year-old, but Soos knew what teens were like in a fight. So he asked Mabel instead.

Mabel pursed her lips uncomfortably. "Ask Dipper."

So Soos asked Dipper.

Dipper winced and. "Promise you won't get mad."

Soos considered that. "Yeah, I guess that's a fair deal."

Dipper confessed that Bill got accidentally locked in the upstairs bathroom for like a whole day, because he and Mabel didn't hear him yelling. Not because they were out of the house when they shouldn't have been. They were just... somewhere else in the house. Doing something loud. For the whole day.

While Bill was trapped alone.

####

Soos had vented to Abuelita about cleaning the bathroom. Like sure, he got Bill was annoyed about being stuck, but that seemed excessive.

Abuelita had made the observation that sometimes people in profoundly bleak and oppressive situations would just... destroy whatever was around them. Like punching a hole in the wall or snapping a pencil when you were angry, but much more so. Not because they wanted their surroundings to be destroyed, but because that was the last and only thing they had power over, and they needed to feel like they were in control of something. Even if that thing was merely changing their environment from ordered to chaotic.

Bill didn't have control over very much. He probably hadn't since he died. Soos didn't know what kind of space triangle afterlife Bill had been in before he showed up as Toga Lady, but it couldn't have been great if he'd come straight back here.

Soos could remember the one time weeks ago he'd let Bill into the bathroom to shower and forgotten to come back and let him out. How Bill had screamed so all the Mystery Shack's tourists could hear; how he'd seethed in Soos's face, how he'd said he'd rather blow their collective cover and throw them all on the mercy of the town's law enforcement than remain locked in the bathroom a second longer than they'd agreed upon. Soos had thought Bill was just impatient and hotheaded.

Standing in the bathroom, looking at the material evidence of Bill's claustrophobic terror—the broken glass, the spilled blood—he wondered.

####

The same day, he had felt a breeze in the gift shop and found the trap doors to the roof left open. He'd climbed up, shut them, and in between tours he'd visited his office to check yesterday's security tapes. 

He saw Wendy coming into the shack to hang out the morning before. That was fine. Soos had discovered she did that from time to time on days the shack was closed, but she wasn't doing anything bad and she hadn't brought it up yet, so Soos didn't bring it up either. Maybe she just needed a private place to hang. Teen stuff. He was just glad Wendy felt that safe at the Mystery Shack. Maybe she'd just gone up to hang out on the roof and forgot to shut the trap doors...

And then, right there on screen, Soos saw Bill letting himself into the gift shop, through the door, which he shouldn't be able to open. A chill shot up Soos's back. The door curse was their only real means of containing Bill. If he could use doors now, he was out, there was no way they could trap him without doing something crazy like locking him in the bunker and hoping he didn't kill himself.

Or could he use doors? Soos thought back to the frantic messages on the bathroom wall, written in Bill's own blood—his desperation over being unable to escape. Maybe he could use doors but not doorknobs. That was okay, maybe?

On tape, he saw Wendy run into Bill. He saw Wendy take Bill onto the roof. Out in the open air, where he could just... do whatever. But he didn't do whatever. Soos fast-forwarded the tape until Wendy and Bill came back down, and Bill simply returned to the living room.

He'd had the perfect opportunity to shove Wendy off the roof or escape. He didn't take it.

If all Bill was using his new door skills for was ducking into the gift shop and hanging out on the roof with Wendy, Soos thought maybe it would be kinda mean to take that away from him. There weren't a lot of other places Bill could go in the shack. (Soos kept seeing the blood on the bathroom wall. He kept trying to imagine what kind of helplessness would drive someone that far.) Maybe Bill needed the open air.

So Soos had put the security tape on his desk, not sure what to do about it.

####

A couple of day after that, while Soos was restocking the gift shop in between waves of tourists, he'd seen Wendy reading an oddly dull-looking booklet instead of one of her usual magazines. He tilted his head to glance at the cover. The Oregon state driving manual. "Aw dude, gonna get your learner's permit?"

"Think so," Wendy said. "Don't tell my dad."

Soos remembered Wendy groaning about her dad wrangling her into doing errands if she ever got her license. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Thanks."

"What made you change your mind? You were totally against getting a license a week ago."

"It's probably those stupid Gleeful Auto commercials that have been worming into my dreams." Wendy laughed. "I'm just waking up in the morning like, neeeed caaar."

"Oh yeah! Heh, funny coincidence, Melody says she had a dream like that too. Sometimes she gets these like, dreams about monsters watching her in bed? But one time, the monster was Bud Gleeful, whispering in her ear about a big car sale. She totally woke up laughing!"

"Ha! Annoying car commercials should be banned, man. Why do we need to be told multiple times a day to spend thousands of dollars?"

"You make a salient point."

They fell silent for a moment as Wendy read a couple more paragraphs. Then she said, "That, plus... I was talking to Goldie the other day."

Soos looked up from the t-shirt he'd been putting on a clothes hanger. "Oh. Yeah?"

"About where we wanna go when we get out of town."

"Huh." Very casually, Soos asked, "What did Goldie say?"

"He wants to go on some big vacation. Like a world cruise or something, I dunno."

"Huh." Soos wondered if that was true. He tried to imagine Bill Cipher as a tourist. Floating triangle in a Hawaiian shirt with a camera hanging from a strap and a fanny pack. What kind of places would he even visit? Soos bet he wanted to visit the pyramids. Heh. (Was that stereotyping? Maybe that was stereotyping.)

"And I told him I'm moving to Portland for college."

"Oh, hey, I didn't know you were thinking about college."

"I... actually, never told anybody else before," Wendy said. "I've been thinking about it for years, but part of me felt like it's just a fantasy? But Goldie said when he got out of high school, he did the same thing—moved to another town, made a new group of friends, all that. And... I don't know, actually talking to him out loud about it just... made it feel real, you know? So I thought, if I'm gonna move to Portland, I should probably start planning for it. Starting with how I'm getting there." She held up the driving manual.

Soos nodded slowly. "Huh. Yeah. That's a pretty mature way to look at it."

And that was what Bill was talking to Wendy about on the roof? Just... listening to a teen vent and helping her figure out her future?

And so, Soos took the security tape off his desk and put it in a drawer.

####

A few days later, Soos had heard the downstairs bathroom sink running for several minutes, assumed someone had forgotten to turn it off, and went to turn it off himself—and had caught Bill, in the dark, half undressed, washing himself in the sink.

After Soos had backed out and profusely apologized, he'd asked, "But—how come you're washing in the sink? I can let you in the upstairs bathroom if you need—"

"Worry about your own grooming habits and leave mine alone," Bill snapped. "As long as I don't smell, what do you humans care how I do it. Soap is soap and water is water."

It took Soos several days to realize he didn't think Bill had had a shower since he got locked in the bathroom. And nobody had noticed, because Bill made sure nobody noticed, because he'd been keeping himself clean in the bathroom he couldn't get locked in.

####

Dipper would go all summer without showering if he could get away with it; Stan showered like once a week and had constant old man smell; Abuelita also showered weekly and had a more refined old lady smell; Soos didn't know when Ford showered, but he'd never caught him doing it and Ford always smelled weirdly like burned hair. Soos showered almost daily during tourist season—that Mr. Mystery suit was hot—but outside that might go three days at a time. Mabel showered near daily.

From what Soos had observed, Bill was showering like, at least twice a week. He didn't know how often Bill cleaned himself in the sink in between.

That meant he was showering more often than two-thirds of the house.

Yet he was the only one in the house living under the threat of being thrown in the tub at 3 a.m. if someone decided he hadn't bathed enough for their tastes.

The reason Bill had refused to shower during his first week of imprisonment was so he could use the condition of his body as a bargaining chip—with no physical possessions in the world, his own body was the only bargaining chip he had—to try to buy a little more dignity. In return, his captors had taken more dignity away. They permitted Bill less autonomy over how to take care of his body than the household's children had.

Dipper had never gotten forced into a bathroom he couldn't let himself out of.

####

The day after the eclipse, Ford had pulled Soos aside and said quietly, "Soos, as soon as you have some time—could you repair the door to the kids' room? Before the end of the day? The latch has been broken since the tooth fairy's attack."

"Uh, sure, I can probably do that," Soos said. "How come?" The latch had been broken for a couple weeks, and the Pines hadn't been worried about it before.

"Right now, the door can swing freely with just a push," Ford said. "I think Bill's figured out how to use that to get in. Which is worrisome, since he shouldn't be able to use any doors..."

"O-oh." Soos thought about the swinging door into the gift shop. "Yeah, uh... sounds bad. Byyy the way—how'd you figure out he knows how to use the door?"

"Dipper says Bill somehow got in and out of the room last night," Ford said. "Mabel fell asleep in the living room and Bill carried her upstairs. I really don't like the thought of Bill being able to get his hands on the kids while they're asleep and defenseless."

Ford was mad at Bill for tucking a kid into bed? That was the big red flag? "No problem! I'll fix the door right after work."

The next time Soos visited his office, he took the security tape out of his drawer, rewound it, stuck it back into the tape recorder, and let that day's security camera footage overwrite and erase the evidence of Bill's visit to the gift shop.

####

And now, today, carrying Journal 4 in both hands, Soos trudged downstairs, trying to figure out what to do with it. He had to return it to Ford, obviously—but Bill and the Stans were already in the middle of a discussion that sounded a lot more like an argument. Flinging a stolen journal into the middle of the proceedings would just make it worse. Maybe he should wait until they were finished and everyone had cooled down a little—?

While Soos was upstairs, the discussion had apparently moved into the kitchen. He hovered awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, watching.

"What do you mean, you need kitchen access," Stan was asking, "you already have kitchen access. It's never been off-limits! Even after you peed in the sink!"

"It's not kitchen access if I need to ask someone else for permission to eat anything but snacks." 

"No one's making you ask for permission! You can take what you want!"

"Okay, fine. So what can I eat?" Bill gestures at the shelves. "Go on. List anything you can think of. Anything."

Stan grimaced, and glanced at Ford to see if he was willing to walk into the obvious trap first.

Ford looked at the nearby shelves. "Cereal."

"One point for Stanford Pines! Cereal! So am I supposed to eat dry cereal for every single meal, or—?"

"No, of course not."

"All right, then what else?"

"Brown meat," Stan said. "We've got plenty of brown meat. It's good for you!"

"You didn't give me can opener rights," Bill said.

"Huh."

"So no brown meat," Bill said. "No canned soup, no canned chili, no canned fruit, no canned vegetables—"

Ford cut in, "Some of the cans have pull tabs, you don't need a can opener for those."

"Terrific observation! As soon as you realized I could open those cans myself, you moved them all under the counter because you thought I'd use the sharp edges as weapons!"

"It's... possible to open cans without a can opener, I did it sometimes while roughing it in other dimensions—"

"Yeah, wearing off the metal rim with a rock, right? Lemme just go outside and grab a rock—oh wait." Bill crossed his arms.

Ford sighed, and turned to Stan to suggest something else.

Stan surveyed the available supplies, spotted the bread, and said, "You could make sandwiches!"

"With what filling?"

"Uh..." Stan kept looking.

Meats and cheeses, of course, were kept in the fridge. Along with jelly, condiments, most vegetables... tuna or spam weren't options, they were canned... "Hey, we leave out some meats that don't need refrigeration. Sausages and stuff."

"Right, right. The ones that don't need refrigeration because they're wrapped in plastic you need a knife to cut," Bill said. "Sometimes I bite the plastic open with my teeth and rip off chunks of sausage with my fingernails, that's always fun! Then you put the leftovers in the fridge, and I'm out of luck until we buy another sausage."

"You could put... peanut butter on your sandwiches?" Ford tried. "Peanut butter's nutritious."

Bill fixed him with a hard look. "For the past five weeks, every time I've gotten a meal without asking someone else to help feed me like a baby, I've had nothing but peanut butter and banana sandwiches, peanut butter and jerky sandwiches, peanut butter and raisin sandwiches, and peanut butter and potato chip sandwiches. And we're out of bananas, jerky, and raisins." He pointed at the tortillas. "Once I decided to get creative and made myself a cold peanut butter quesadilla! I can't even add spices, because guess where the breakable glass spice jars are kept?"

"Pasta," Ford tried. "We could keep the pasta out."

"Oh, wow, that'd be great! I just love pasta! But I can't open the microwave and I can't turn on the stove! How do I heat the water, Stanford?"

Ford frowned. "Hm."

"I can cook, you know—not that any of you bothered to ask! It might not suit your tastes, but it suits mine! I wouldn't need your help to eat if you didn't make me need help! I am sick to death—" his voice went thick and took on an uncharacteristic waver, "—of having to beg to... eat." He cleared his throat, squeezed his eyes shut, and rubbed his eyelids with one hand. "Sh-shouldn't even—need to eat." He clenched his jaw to keep it from trembling.

Stan and Ford exchanged a guilty look. Stan said, "You don't have to beg— I mean, we know the, uh... position you're in..."

Bill was silent for a moment as he tried to get a tough face back on. His voice came out as a rough whisper—too thick to get any louder without breaking. "I had to negotiate to get burnt eggs."

Ford winced.

Soos was dumbfounded.

When had Bill had to negotiate for food? He could all too easily understand how it might have happened—Bill was an annoying guy, sometimes they had to pull out dumb bargains to get him to do stuff. But bargaining for food should never be on that list. Meeting Bill's basic nutritional needs couldn't be dependent on whether he was annoying that day. If it was, he'd starve.

It sounded like he was starving. Right under Soos's roof. He hadn't even noticed.

He thought about the piles of junk food trash upstairs and the bag of chips Bill had hurled across the room.

Ford said, "We'll... discuss it."

"We'll figure something out," Stan said. "I mean it."

Bill nodded silently. Head down, without uncovering his eyes, he hurried out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.

He nearly bumped into Soos's chest without noticing him. Soos backed up a step, tucking Journal 4 under his arm. "Whoa, hey!"

Bill froze, head jerking up. "You." His voice was thick and his glare was watery and poisonous. "Don't you have anything better to do than eavesdrop?" He tried to elbow past Soos, smacking his leg with his umbrella. "Move."

Soos realized uneasily that Bill's face looked a little slimmer than it had when he'd arrived.

He stepped in Bill's way. "Can't go upstairs right now. Attic's being cleaned."

"I didn't ask you to clean!"

"I'm not cleaning for you, dawg. It's just gotta be cleaned."

"Fine! Whatever!" Bill veered around the staircase and stomped down the hall, muttering, "Can't decide when I eat, can't decide when I shower, why should I get to choose when my hovel's swept..."

Soos's leg hurt where Bill had smacked it. (Bill couldn't even control whether or not he cried; all he had control over was making someone else hurt.)

In the kitchen, Stan murmured, "Didn't even realize we don't keep anything decent out on the counters. They're so crowded..."

"Chip bags take up a lot of space." Ford sighed. "I assumed he'd get a serving with everyone else whenever Mrs. Ramirez cooks."

"He does, but she only does dinners. And he'll only eat it if he watched her cook it. I've seen him get lunch with Mabel, but I don't know what he does when she's not..." Stan spotted Soos on the stairs. He tiredly called, "Soos? You need something?"

"Uhhh..." Soos hid the journal behind his back. "Nope! I just thought I'd come downstairs! For no reason." He awkwardly walked up the stairs backwards, journal still tucked behind him. "And—and now I'm going up again." He stopped at the landing and scooted sideways up the next flight of stairs. "See ya."

He pressed the journal to his chest and returned to the attic.

####

When Soos and Abuelita moved into the shack, the first thing Soos had done was turn Ford's ground-floor study into a bedroom for Abuelita. Because she was a little old lady, and not quite as steady as she used to be, so Soos didn't want her constantly going up and down the stairs—because falling once, just ONCE, could send her to the hospital or worse. That was how serious it was! You don't mess around with that!

Bill tripped and fell on the stairs so often that they could use it to tell when he was awake. And nobody had thought to offer him a cane? Did anybody even ask if he was alright?

When Bill first arrived and tried to murder everyone, naturally, he came out of it pretty banged up and bruised. That was to be expected. It was self-defense. They'd gotten used to seeing Bill with scrapes on his arms and legs, rope burns around his ankles, and the angry purple-black bruises of chain links over his arms. But in all the weeks since then, Soos hadn't seen Bill bruise-free once. Bruises on his shins and arms, scrapes on his elbows and knees. Soos had seen him with a four-inch burn on his forearm. Bill had brushed it off.

In Bill's first few days in the shack, he'd resorted to peeing in the kitchen sink because nobody had bothered to give a guy who couldn't open doors a way to use the bathroom. And they were the reason he couldn't open doors in the first place!

He threw up in the living room in the middle of the night and went upstairs to sleep on couch cushions on the floor and nobody had talked about it.

He burned off all his hair and was so upset about it that he stole Soos's zodiac blanket and hid under it for half a week, and everyone but Mabel just ignored him.

In less than a month in the Mystery Shack, Bill had lost a tooth.

He had been dragged out of the house during a weird weather phenomenon while terrified out of his mind. Soos had seen Bill cowering on the ground in fear, Ford looming over him, grabbing him by the collar and snarling in rage. Bill had been pleading with everyone in hearing range not to make him go, and had come back in such a state of shock he could hardly walk. 

And yet, he'd protected the whole town from getting hurt in zero gravity—and he'd brought a pet for Soos.

They'd tried to execute Bill two days later.

####

Soos sat in the window seat, flipping through the remaining filled-in pages in Journal 4. The last few pages were packed with stickers. A cat that said PURRFECT! A smiling fish that said A REEL PAL! Bill had started a little collection of pizza slice stickers for some reason. A couple of holographic rainbows, a smiling scratch-and-sniff sun. (Apparently, the sun smelled like lemons and oranges. Astronomy facts!)

Soos reached the current page. Bill was using several pieces of paper—regular printer paper and notebook paper, folded in half—like a bookmark. Soos unfolded them. A list of animals ranked by fuzziness. (Soos was satisfied that he'd been placed under the "smooth and squishy" category, but wondered whether he should be bothered by the fact that he shared the category with pigs and slugs.) A drawing of Bill riding a looping rocket ship and waving a fishbowl helmet above him. A drawing of a blue house with a couple of kids and a pig in the window. Several drawings of shape people kinda like Bill: a pink heart person labeled "Me in Flatworld," a stern-looking red stop sign wearing sunglasses labeled "Bill's parole officer," Bill dancing, the pink heart protecting Bill from some villainous-looking shapes—all clearly Mabel's art.

Several notebook pages in someone else's handwriting detailing names, addresses, and contact information, with statements Soos couldn't make sense of—as if maybe someone had been asking somebody else questions and writing down their answers. He thought the questions might be about how some people had reacted to the end of Weirdmageddon. He got the impression the people being discussed had known that Weirdmageddon was coming. He got the impression they were disappointed it hadn't happened. There were several questions at the end: How will we rendes-vouz? (Whoever was writing didn't know how to spell rendezvous, but to be fair Soos wasn't 100% sure either.) What supplies do you need? What are your interim orders?

Soos stared at the notebook papers.

He flipped back through the journal again, looking at each page more closely.

Sometimes the two-tone dot-and-dash segments had a stray human word: a few characters he recognized from his Teach Yourself Japanese workbooks, sometimes words Soos thought might be Arabic but honestly he didn't have a clue. At one point he listed half a dozen human names that Soos didn't recognize. The most common character was a stretched-out letter M (Mabel?), followed by a 6 knocked on its side (Sixer?).

The dot-and-dash segments had occasional amateurish illustrations. Sometimes they were human stick figures; sometimes the stick figures' heads had symbols off of Bill's zodiac wheel. He saw Stan's fish symbol, Gideon's star symbol, and Mabel's shooting star symbol. Ford's stick figures were the only ones with hands; Bill consistently gave them six fingers. The doodles were like particularly esoteric cave drawings; they were so bad that Soos couldn't tell what most of them were supposed to illustrate.

Except for one featuring Bill (as a triangle) and Mabel and some other inscrutable figures in a really awesome car with flames on the side, its coolness limited only by the fact that it was all in gray and yellow-green crayon. When Soos had been in high school, there had always been a couple of kids who didn't know how to draw anything except expensive cars or name-brand sports shoes, but they drew them in extreme realistic detail. Apparently, Bill was that kind of artist. Nothing but stick figures and the sickest crayon car Soos had ever seen.

It didn't do anything to dispel Soos's impression of Bill as a lost alien 18-year-old.

On one page, in sloppy lines of handwriting that meandered drunkenly up and down the paper, Bill had written, "I don't get why you won't give me a second shot. I asked you to join my gang. I serenaded you in a pyramid. I got a fantastic makeover. I offered you godhood. I showed you my dimension. I didn't torture you until I had to. I even made you a skin couch! I know how much you've always wanted a leather furniture set! I've given you everything from chicken zombification magic to jelly beans, what does it take? What am I missing?"

Soos reread Bill's other messages to Ford. All that "you'll regret not siding with me" junk wasn't threats. It was the impotent rage of a socially inept teenager who didn't understand his own creepiness had driven his friends away. It was the whiny moan of some guy going "Why doesn't she like me anymore" about an ex-girlfriend who had told him five times she didn't like him anymore because he didn't listen to her. Like that guy Wendy dated last summer. So like, a jerk, but not a terrifying world-ending monster jerk, just an annoying creep jerk. A regular jerk. A human jerk.

Soos stood, gave one last look at this journal—clearly stolen, definitely a violation of Bill's "no writing materials" restriction, completely stuffed full of mysterious messages to outsiders and some kind of weird alien code that could say anything at all and might have been super dangerous—and he slid it back into the ripped seam in the attic seat cushion where he'd found it.

He finished vacuuming up the potato chips Bill had flung across the room, thinking about how offended Bill had been that Soos had given him any food except what he'd asked for, remembering what Abuelita had said about people who destroy the things around them when they feel like that's the last and only thing they still have power over.

Enough was enough.

####

(Hope y'all enjoyed! Next week we may interrupt our regularly-scheduled programming to post a TBOB-based chapter I'm inserting early into the fic—it depends on if I get it done by next Friday. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to hearing y'all's thoughts on this chapter!)

[starmieknight]

Stars Align

Prologue

17 Again AU: After a disastrous first day with the twins, Stan swears to do better as an uncle. But fate loves playing tricks on him and the magic 8-ball in the attic is more than it seems.

Now on top of having a pair of twelve year olds around the house while he tries to finish the portal and bring his brother home, Stan has to deal with being back in his seventeen year old body! Summer has never been weirder in Gravity Falls.

AO3 link

Concept Art

Legend of the Gobblewonker (Art)

The Legend of the Gobblewonker (next)

Stan wasn't quite sure how he ended up hovering outside the attic door again.

Hadn't he just proved to himself that it was a terrible idea only hours ago when he'd overheard the twins contemplating their chances of running away from him? Or nearly forty years ago while listening in on the principal going on about his and Ford's futures? Or rather, Stan’s lack of a future...

Still, he just wanted to peek in on the kids. Make sure they were still there and hadn't disappeared into thin air on him.

Like his parents. Like his own twin.

Fool me twice...

The floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he stepped inside. Stan winced, holding his breath.

It didn't seem to matter.

Dipper and Mabel were out like lights, the younger twin snoring quietly like all Pines men did. A reluctantly fond smile curled his lips at the sight of them.

What were their parents thinking, sending them into his care? Probably that he really was Stanford. He'd never given them the opportunity to assume otherwise.

He took the chance to tuck Dipper back beneath his blankets, settling the boy's new hat on the bedpost, before moving on to his great-niece. Stan smoothed her unruly curls away from her face tenderly, marveling at her baby face and long lashes.

Dipper reminded him of himself at that age, all suspicion and brash emotions. He worried about the kid.

But Mabel reminded him of Ford, all curiosity and a desire to do everything with a flourish. She saw the world in a way he'd never be able to and fit into Gravity Falls like a glove.

And didn't that terrify him? The chance that she - that either of the twins - might be swallowed up by the weirdness of the town one day.

Just like Ford.

Stan shuddered at the thought as he tucked Mabel in.

The movement dislodged one of her toys, the ball rolling from the covers and bumping against his foot

A magic 8-ball.

Don't tell him that's how they decided to stay?

He chuckled humorlessly at the very idea.

Still, it seemed that the 8-ball's answer had worked in his favor.

"Whaddya think?" he muttered, giving the cheap plastic a gentle shake. "Think I'll have a chance to do better this time around?"

If the stars so align

Huh. That was a different kind of answer. Magic 8-balls really changed over the years.

Stan shook his head and left the toy at the end of Mabel's bed.

If only answers really did come so easily...

[phi8]

Recently rewatched Gravity Falls with its resurgence online, and I was itching to give my take on an older Mabel with an absolute unit of a Waddles (who is a regular farm pig after all). To go along with this, I also wrote some fanfic: a letter from Dipper to Mabel, about his return to Gravity Falls years after the show. Read it on AO3 or below!

Dear Mabel,

I hope everything is going well back home!  I miss you already, but it’s so good to be back in Gravity Falls too. A  lot has changed since our summer here.

The first week of my internship at McGucket Labs has been amazing. McGucket has really transformed Northwest Manor into a fantastic campus (though he still insists everyone call it “the Hootenanny Hut”)! There are so many  brilliant scientists and engineers here, and most of them have a refreshingly open mind about the nature and use of all the weirdness you can find in Gravity Falls. My experience with all that stuff is already paying off big time. Yesterday some PHD dude asked for my opinion on practical applications of necromancy (I told him it was a bad idea)!

Candy says hi by the way! It’s funny, for me this internship is all the way across the country, but for her it’s practically in her back yard, even though we both got that scholarship. Also, she tells me Grenda is more or less officially part of the Austrian aristocracy at this point? Apparently she and that Marius duke guy got engaged, did you hear about that?? Turns out I’m completely out of the loop with your friend group.

Candy and I have been hanging out with, of all people, Pacifica and Gideon. Can you believe it? Pacifica works at Corduroy Lumber these days. Probably in some misguided sense to get back to her roots, but I think it’s doing her some actual good. Working with her hands has been teaching her valuable life lessons I guess. It makes it a bit weird if Wendy also comes hang out, because she’s technically Pacifica’s boss – but you know Wendy’s cool about that.

Gideon is still running the Tent of Telepathy, so, not all winners. But he’s turned into a more lovable kind of swindler I think, like a younger Stan. He’s honestly kinda funny now (except that he’s taller than me). Wendy also told me he has a thing for Pacifica, and once she did, I couldn’t unsee it. He’s all over her! Pacifica hasn’t noticed, even though they spend a lot of time together. Or maybe she just hasn’t deigned it with a reaction... Either way, both of them are a ball to go for a drink with, whoda thunk.

You also have a lot of hugs from Soos, Melody and the baby (Stan Jr is sooo cute). (Yes, I asked. Melody promised to make you godmother of the hypothetical next child. You owe me.) The Shack is as charmingly ramshackle as it was back when we were here, but Soos finally got the old man stink out. I’m staying in Grunkle Ford’s old secret office because our room was converted to baby chamber. I still haven’t gotten the Bill murals completely off the walls and I have no natural light down here, but I spend most of my time at Northwest Manor the Hootenanny Hut anyway.

Or in the woods! Being back here really was a good move for my Youtube channel, there’s so much more supernatural stuff here than in California, and people are loving it. (I saw you liked my last video, thanks!) I’m currently tracking down what I think is the actual Gobblewonker. I analyzed some detritus samples from the lake, and there were feces from a large reptile present. From what we know, none of the dinosaurs in the mine were aquatic, so my current hypothesis is that it’s an unrelated creature. Especially since, according to my research, the Gobblewonker story dates back at least a century. I also gotta show Ford some of my findings. You know they’ve come across some aquatic monsters in the Bermuda Triangle. (Have you also been getting his mails with scans of the fourth journal? Truly fascinating stuff.) Either way, I’ll keep you posted, and you’ll be able to watch the result online.

Give my love to mom and dad, and Waddles a tummy rub! Awkward sibling sign off, Dipper

PS. Along with the photo’s in the envelope is that stuff you wanted. Be safe with it! There’s a reason it’s illegal in the parts of the forest controlled by the gnomes. But also have fun, I have it on very good authority it’s the good stuff.

[stupidvillainousposts]

Shit's Been Angsty, so Take This

I'm gonna let y'all guess first thing if this is a merciful post

Stan, walking through the aisles of the grocery store: *Minding His Own Business*

Robbie: *Tosses a Tomato at Stan*

Stan: *Snarls and Turns to Glare at Robbie* Why you little-

Wendy: Whoa! Whoa! Hey, it's okay! I am so sorry for Robbie. He can be... him.

Stan: *Growls Softly*

Wendy: Whoa there, no need to get all growl-y, dude. I won't hurt ya. Pretty sure that muzzle and shock collar does enough on that end.

Stan: *Huffs and Blushes* Are you done talking? I have to get back to my family before the town gets the idea to throw pitchforks at me.

Wendy: Yeah, yeah sure. Again, sorry about Robbie.

Stan: Whatever. *Walks Off*

--------------------------------

Stan: *Walking to the Pier After an Argument with Fidds*

Tyler: Oh no! Get away! Get away! *Runs Off in Terror*

Other Townspeople: *Overlapping Shouts of Fear and Disgust*

Random Person: *Throws a Stick at Stan*

Stan: *Snarls and Barks/Whimpers as His Collar Shocks Him*

Wendy, from a few feet away: Yeesh, that looked like it hurt.

Stan, rubbing his neck: You? What are you doing here?

Wendy: My dad brought me and my brothers here so we could practice fishing with our hands. I've caught the most so far so I got to take a break. What about you?

Stan: Why do you care?

Wendy: *Shrugs* I guess angry wolf men are pretty interesting compared to just standing and staring at myself in the water.

Stan: *Flicks His Ear Curiously* Yeah, well, it's grown-up stuff. Kid like you wouldn't get it.

Wendy: Lemme guess; Ya got in a fight with your boyfriend?

Stan: How did you-

Wendy: I know relationship issues when I see them.

Stan, defensively: We don't have issues! We just... didn't agree on something important. And I... I lost my temper.

Wendy: You still love him, though, right?

Stan, genuinely perplexed: Wha- Of course I do!

Wendy: Then for the sake of those kids I see hanging around your shack, I suggest you go let him know that.

Stan, after a brief pause: You're unnaturally mature for your age.

Wendy: I get that a lot. *Playfully* Now go before I call the pound.

Stan: *Snorts* Alright, alright.

---------------------------------

Stan: *Relaxing with Fidds in Their Room*

Dipper: Grunkle Stan? There's a teenager at the door saying she knows you.

Stan: *Sits Up in Surprise* Red Head?

Fidds: *Amused* Ya nicknamed a random teen?

Stan: *Flicks Fidds' Cheek with a Smile* She's charming. Besides, I don't know her name.

Fidds: Then I suggest ya ask, it's the polite thing t' do.

Stan: *Playfully* Yes, dear. *Makes His Way Downstairs*

Dipper: *Follows Curiously*

Stan, upon seeing Wendy: Hey kid. Why're ya at this dingy place? Surely ya have better places to be than here.

Dipper, tugging Stan's shirt: *Quietly* Ask her what her name is! Grunkle Fidds told you to!

Stan: *Rolls His Eyes and Sighs* And, if this doesn't come off as too weird, think you could tell me your name? I don't think constantly calling you "kid" is appropriate.

Wendy: Name's Wendy. And I just thought I'd visit to make sure you guys were okay. I haven't seen you in town in a while.

Dipper: Grunkle Stan buys a lot of groceries at once so he doesn't have to go out much.

Stan, gritting his teeth: Dipper, why don't you go see what your sister's up to?

Dipper: But-

Stan: We can talk about it later, okay?

Dipper: Fine. *Stomps Away*

Wendy: Cute kid. He yours?

Stan: Brother's grandchild. We have them while some... stuff is being sorted out by their parents.

Wendy: Ah, poor things.

Stan: Yeah... So are you gonna just stand there or...?

Wendy: Are you gonna invite me in, or...?

Stan, holding back a smile: Alright, watch it smart mouth.

-------------------------

Fidds, during dinner one night: So, I take it we have another youngin'?

Stan: *Nearly Chokes on His Water* Wha- HUH?!

Fidds: Wendy, sweetie. Ya really seem t' like her. And she seems real nice.

Stan: Yeah, well, she also has a family. Unlike Soos.

Mabel: Soos has his grandma, though?

Stan: *To Mabel* Eat your veggies. *To Fidds* And no, we are not adopting another random child.

Believe it or not, they did end up symbolically adopting another random child.

[lucisfavoritedemon]

Through The Portal: Chapter 3

Series Masterlist

Chapter Summary: Stan finally learns what really happened to Y/n back in 1973. Stan realizes the sweet girl he once knew isn’t as bubbly as she used to be, but is determined to bring her back however he can.

Pairing(s): Stan x reader (platonic present, romantic past), Ford x platonic!reader, Dipper x best friend!reader, Mabel x best friend!reader Bill x reader

Warnings: angst, fluff, mentions of hopelessness, mental manipulation, unrequited love, flashbacks.

A/N: The events and ideas are based on a theory I have about the Nightmare Realm. This is in no way canonically true, just my theories based on what we canonically know about the Nightmare Realm.

“Wait, New Jersey?” Mabel and Dipper questioned simultaneously.

I nodded as Stan gave me a look of, ‘don't tell them just yet’. I guess in a way Stan was right, I probably shouldn’t tell them about the fact I technically am 61 years old. So I decided to tell them a little white lie.

“Yeah, I grew up in New Jersey. Just like Stan and Ford did.”

“So, how did you end up here? Did you work with Ford?” Mabel asked curiously.

“Don’t be silly Mabel, she’s not old enough to have worked with Ford on the portal.” Dipper interjected.

“Then you must be his daughter!” Mabel beamed.

“No! I-I’m not Ford’s daughter.” I quickly tried to correct her.”

“Then are you Stan’s daughter?” Mabel questioned.

“No, I have no relation to them at all. It’s a long story that I’m not ready to share just yet.”

“But, you do know Stan. You said that you were sorry you left. So, what happened?” Dipper asked, ready to write it down on a notepad as if he was interviewing me.

Stan walked up behind the two kids before I had the chance to protest, “why don’t you two go wreak havoc or whatever somewhere else. I need to speak with Y/n.”

Mabel and Dipper groaned, but didn’t protest as Stan shoved them out of the gift shop. Stan walked back over to the chair he was sitting in. He gave a questioning look before he finally spoke up, “so, now that the kids are gone, tell me what you meant by you didn’t mean to walk through that stupid portal.”

I take a deep breath before speaking, “look, Stan, it was an accident. I was just doing some test runs on the mechanics. I was not prepared for it to start up and suck me in. I spent years trying to get back to you. I knew you’d be upset with me…I didn’t want to leave…” I answered.

“Then why were you building it in the first place!?” Stan was agitated.

“I…I wanted to win a Nobel prize or a huge patent so you and I could get out of that town. I wanted to give you the one thing you always talked about…to sail around the world on the adventure of a lifetime.

“I-I know I’m not the person you wanted to do that with…but I wanted to make you feel like you finally had someone who cared about you. I did care about you, more than you knew Stan.” I finally confessed.

Stan couldn’t even think of what to say. All these years he had blamed me for leaving him alone in the world again, but he didn’t know I had planned it out thoroughly. He felt like a jerk for judging me without knowing my true plan.

“Y-you were doing it…for me?”

I nodded, “I knew that either you could use the money to sail around the world, or bring the fortune to your family and make up for your mistake. Either way, I didn’t want the money or the fame, I was doing it because I thought it would make you happy.”

“And now I’m the jerk for blaming you after all these years…and I never really asked why you were doing it.”

I smile softly at hsi response. It wasn’t completely wrong. I wanted Stan to be able to rid himself of his guilt and move past his mistake. I had also been tricked into doing so, but I wasn’t ready to confess to him that if I had succeeded that he never would have gotten what I wanted him to get out of it.

“I think I was more upset that I lost the girl I was crushing on more than anything…” Stan confessed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“W-wait…y-you were crushing on me?” I was taken aback by his confession. I knew Stan liked me, but I never imagined he thought of me in that light.

He just nods, “that seems like a lifetime ago though. I’m different now than I used to be.”

“You and me both…” I look down at the floor knowing I probably opened a huge can of worms that I won’t be able to stick back in.

“I could tell. Whatever you saw in there, whatever you went through, must have been rough for you.”

“You have no idea.”

I floated in a daze. This place had no gravity, no sense of time, it was utter chaos.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t dear ol’ sweet Y/n. What brings you here sweetheart?” Bill’s voice seemed to boom as it had really nothing to bounce off of.

“B-Bill? Where am I?”

“You’re in my dimension. Too bad your invention failed because if it hadn’t this would be released upon your dimension, and you and I could rule over everything! I could just imagine it.”

“Y-your dimension? This is where you live?” I was horrified at what I saw.

Bill was surrounded by strange and weird beings of chaos. I couldn’t believe I had been tricked. Had I truly succeeded, it would have meant the end of the world as I knew it, everyone I cared about would have been put in danger, and It would have been all my fault.

Bill starts to laugh his demented laugh, “yes! Welcome to the Nightmare Realm! A place where chaos reigns! Too bad you failed med, I could have used a partner in crime to help create chaos with me.”

“You tricked me! I trusted you!”

“If I told you my true plans you would have backed out of it. I had no choice, sweetheart.”

“Stop calling me that! I’m not your sweetheart anymore, Cipher! You tricked me, and almost made me destroy my world!”“Not my sweetheart anymore huh?” He looked like he was starting to get angry.

I knew I needed to get away. I started to float away from him as he called his henchmaniacs to catch me. I floated towards an asteroid field and was able to avoid getting caught. I slipped into the hole looking for sanctuary. That’s when I realized I wasn't alone.

After Stan and I talked things out, I needed to find something mindless to get my mind off of everything. I decided to try and get to know the young Pines twins better. They were both sitting in the living room watching TV.

“Hey kids.” I say softly, announcing my presence.

“Y/n!” They both exclaimed excitedly.

“I thought Stan was going to tell you to stay away from us or something?” Mabel blurted out.

I giggle softly, “no, Stan doesn’t mind me trying to get to know the two of you. Just, no questions about where I came from or about the portal, okay?”

“Ah, come on, just one question each, please?” Mabel begged.

“I’m sorry, but I’d rather not talk about what I’ve seen or been through. Not to mention, Stan and Ford both think it’s best you two stay away from that subject.”

“One question each, and then no more after that, please Y/n?” Mabel begged harder, flashing the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen.

I sigh and give in, “okay, okay. One question each, but if I think it is too personal, I have the right to refuse to answer it.”

“Deal!” Dipper and Mabel exclaim enthusiastically.

“I’ll go first, how do you know Stan?” Mabel blurted out.

“Stan and I were friends at one point,” I see Mabel go to say something, but I stop her, “no Mabel, you cannot follow up with a question. The truth I’m sure will be revealed in due time.”

“Okay, can I ask how you knew I was going to ask that?” Mabel questioned.

“That’s an appropriate question and allows you to get to know me, so yes, that’s okay. I am a very perceptive person, I can read a person by just looking into their eyes.”

“That’s so awesome!”

“Okay, Dipper, which one of your billion questions are you gonna ask me? I can tell you’re the curious one.”

Dipper smiles and flips through his notepad, “where were you before you came out of that portal?”

I had to think about how to answer that without revealing too much. Luckily it was a fairly broad question, so I felt like I could answer this without revealing too much about myself, “I was in a place that I wish no one else to see, not even my mortal enemies.”

“Yeesh, that sounds horrible. You seem so…optimistic, how did you maintain that?”

“Is that too much of a revealing question!?” Mabel yelled as I went to answer.

“No, again it helps you two better understand who I am and how I function in difficult situations. Well, to be straight to the point and sort of sappy, the thought of returning home kept me optimistic. I’ve always been that way I guess, so maintaining that mindset was fairly easy considering the strain I was under.”

The kids continued to go back and forth on questions to get to know me as a person, the person I was before I went into the portal. The person I hoped was still in there somehow. In turn, they told me more about themselves, and I felt like I was really starting to bond with them.

“So, did you go to college?”

I shake my head, “as egotistical as it sounds, I felt like I was too good for college, like there was nothing it was going to teach me that I didn’t already know, you know? So, rather than spending thousands of dollars on education I felt was futile, I spent time doing what I loved, and looking for grants in other ways.”

“That’s possible?” Dipper questined, intrigued.

“Uh…sure. I definitely think you should pursue higher education. Don’t end up like me.”

Mabel went to ask another question when someone behind us cleared their throat. I turned to see who it was. Ford stood there and gestured for me to come with him. I nodded and stood up, “sorry kids, we can finish this later. It’s been really good talking to you two.”

The kids waved as Ford and I walked back into the gift shop and down to the basement. He didn’t say anything the entire walk down, and I was getting concerned. “Did I say something too revealing to the kids?”

Ford shakes his head, “no, I know you would try to protect them as much as Stan or I would. No, this is something much more serious. I found this while dismantling the portal.” Ford shows me a base and globe containing colorful glowing matter.

“I-is that what I think it is?”

Ford nods, “an interdimensional rift. I contained it, but I’m afraid that Bill may know about this…and will do anything to get his hands on it. I think this may also be the cause of your vivid dreams.”

My eyes widened, “you think that Bill might be heightening my connection to him and tormenting me into possibly making a deal so he can possess me to break the rift?”

Ford chuckles lightly, “it’s like you took the words right out of my mouth. I always forget how perceptive you are. Unfortunately, because of the connection Bill has with you already, encrypting your thoughts is going to be a difficult task to undertake.”

I take a deep breath, “I want to erase my memories then.”

[ethanhuntfemmefatale]

spent a bit of time today writing out some thoughts on ford as a character and thought it might be fun to put them here. I think ford is a really interesting commentary on heroism and his role in gravity falls is specific and pointed. theres a lot more i COULD get into (the way he and Stan act as foils for example) but here I just want to explore the fundamental ideas of his arc which includes parts of his dynamic with Bill Cipher and Dipper.

I really love the way gf combines the ideas of the lone hero/adventurer (a classic hero trope) with the ideas of the mad scientist (a classic villain trope) to reveal the way they're really based in similar lines of thinking and emotional pitfalls. Ford's isolation & paranoia, his tendency to put his own body on the line, his (relative) willingness to endanger others for his cause...it all points out a neat overlap between the guy who wears all black and carries a gun at his hip and the guy who WOULD inject himself with some kinda substance in the name of Science. I think that's part of why from what I've seen the fandom can be pretty conflicted on Ford--even on a basic design level, he evokes strong and conflicting feelings.

A key moment to me in establishing the ideas of Ford's arc happens at the very beginning of Weirdmageddon--a strange point to choose maybe since it's so late in the show, but I feel like those three episodes beautifully encapsulate Ford's failures and his development. After realizing what's happened, Dipper is desperate to find Mabel and make sure she's all right. Ford tells him, there's time to find her later--right now we have to stop Bill before the weirdness spreads. I love the way that the show presents throwaway moments like this: they're not questioned in the moment, but they stick out to you anyway because they run so counter to the philosophy of the show. Through the past 2 seasons, not only has the show proven that saving Mabel is more important than stopping Bill, it's also proven (and proves again after this) that saving Mabel is essential to stopping Bill. Evil isn't defeated by one guy being brave enough to shoot a gun at it, it's defeated by a community that works and fights together. And, hilariously, Ford is captured within the first 7 minutes of the episode, making everyone else's jobs way more difficult.

To be clear, it would be a complete misunderstanding of the character to say that Ford prioritizes stopping Bill first because he doesn't care enough about Mabel or her safety. It's precisely because he cares so much that he doesn't look for her right away. Ford has bought thoroughly into the lie that Bill fed him, which is that devastating personal sacrifice is not only right & good, but necessary in order to accomplish great things. As long as Ford believes that lie, he remains Bill's perfect prey—even with a metal plate in his head, even 30 years after the initial manipulation. Ford will easily give up sleep, food, friendship, family, sanity, and his own life, if he can be convinced he's doing it for the right reasons. And he's very easy to convince! Ironically, despite being arguably one of the most formidable characters in the show, he's also arguably the weakest and most gullible of the main cast, because he's so obsessed with the idea of giving up everything for something greater than himself.

That lie of the moral necessity of self-sacrifice, the lie that makes it possible for Ford to give up his brother, lock himself in his basement, be angry when he’s brought back home, and nearly destroy the world, is heavily in the offing through the Ford-Dipper plotline of Dipper and Mabel vs the Future. Ford offers Dipper apprenticeship and tells him that he’s capable of handling it—but it would require personal sacrifice, giving up his childhood with Mabel to join Ford in his self-imposed isolation. A test of Dipper’s aptitude for that kind of sacrifice occurs in that episode: Ford nearly dies, and orders Dipper to let it happen so that the rift is kept safe. Dipper doesn’t even think before disobeying him. He doesn’t seem to consider it a decision. There's no thought of the greater good when his uncle needs him.

Later, talking to Mabel about the idea of joining Ford as an apprentice, he says how ridiculous it is--sees it for a fantasy. The image of heroism Ford presents is appealing, but it's a lie.

For Gravity Falls, a show with two central protagonists, a show arguing over and over that the only way to change things for the better is to work with, trust, and care for your loved ones, Ford's position is an interesting one. I'd argue that thematically he stands in a more relevant antagonist position than Bill Cipher. He represents everything that the show is poised against. He's set up carefully as the epitome of Cool, with a masterful buildup to his entrance, badass styling, and hero worship from Dipper (the closest thing GF has to an audience insert.) And then, slowly and subtly, the show reveals how the lie of the lone hero has convinced him to hurt himself and everyone around him, nearly to the point of destruction.

I love him dearly. The best awful guy of all time

[whiskawaybelf]

A little weird mystery Dipcifica fic. I hate cluttering tags so I tag this Backandnow so you can blacklist if it's in your way!

Ao3 link

Dipper came home very confused, “Mabel!” he yelled, he heard her shout from their room so he called her again. It was a battle of wills but eventually he won and she came downstairs instead of making him go up. 

“Did the diner run out of sprinkles?” she peeked her head around the doorway, at the look on his face she got a little bit serious.

“We still like Pacifica, right?”

Mabel frowned, “Yeah, of course we do. Pacifica’s great, she was telling me the other day… The other day, she was saying-” the realisation hit them both, one right after the other. 

“I can’t remember the last time I texted her.”

“I- Dip-Dip, I don’t think I’ve said anything for months.”

“She was at the diner and really chill, after last summer I think she would stab me if I just didn’t reply. But I haven't for some reason, and she was fine,” last summer felt very foggy. They started off fighting, then figuring something out. Something about her horrible family. They were all having a really fun summer, then at their birthday Mabel was going to do spin the bottle. They had a couple beers that night. But Mabel didn’t remember being drunk and it wasn’t his first time trying beer, he wasn’t drunk. It didn’t make sense anymore. But it made sense until right now.

“Do you think there’s a second memory gun?”

“Pacifica remembers. She asked me if I did.”

Mabel sat with that for a while, “Why would we just stop talking to her?”

“It’s going to be something weird, Mabel, it’s always something weird.”

So it must have begun with something weird, and weird was in short supply lately. After they sent Bill away and got rid of the journals, Gravity Falls became pretty normal. He was worried it was going to be boring but it wasn’t, that past summer was exciting. They found a thread to follow, the three of them. Wendy, when she was back from college and they solved a mystery.…

“Ghost stories,” said Mabel, “We were talking about ghost stories!”

“No, dreams.”

"No, I'm pretty sure it's ghosts."

“I’m pretty sure-”

“Dreaming of ghosts,” Mabel said suddenly and she was absolutely sure.

“You can’t just mix the words together and-” Dipper froze, “She was dreaming about ghosts! Were we hunting ghosts?”

They couldn’t remember but Wendy might, she was over pretty quickly, they sounded weird on the phone, excited and a little bit panicked. It was something big. 

Dipper paced back and forth in the living room, Mabel sat on the couch. Whatever version of sat meant her head was hanging off the seat and her feet were to the ceiling. 

There were several torn out sheets of paper, each with a theory and the information they had to connect them together. Mabel was trying to remember the last time she spoke to Pacifica and what they talked about. He was trying his best to think of any likely culprits and was beginning to run out. The list was very short. 

“If I say to you,” Dipper pointed at the name Pacifica, in pink marker and with a little doodle of her by Mabel, “‘Dreaming of ghosts’, does that remind you of-”

“Archibald Corduroy,” Wendy shrugged, “She dreams about him, they’ve gotten to be really good friends. He says hi.”

[owl-falls-au-gravity-falls]

During the time that Belos was fighting Raine and the main cast was telling their stories to The Collector, which places do they go and what are reactions from the Gravity Falls gang.

During the time that Belos was fighting Raine and the main cast was telling their stories to The Collector, which places do they go and what are reactions from the Gravity Falls gang? | Durante el tiempo en que Belos luchaba contra Raine y el elenco principal le contaba sus historias sobre The Collector, a qué lugares van y cuáles son las reacciones de la pandilla de Gravity Falls?

IN ENGLISH

I'm sorry it took me so long to respond, school is driving me crazy.

Stan would have the idea of ​​taking everyone to the most important places for the Owl Squad (whose members consist of Stan, Luz, Eda and King), Ford, Mabel and Dipper are surprised by the idea, they would undoubtedly be amazed by everything that the islands can offer them.

The Owl House: The first place they go to is the house where Stan and Eda lived most of their lives, using a shooting star that flies through all the islands, the group reaches the Owl House and finally lands in front of it. The Collector makes the star disappear

The Collector: So it all started at the Bird House.

Eda: The Owl House. Speaking of which, what happened to it?

Eda flies over and looks at the current state of the Owl House, Stan looks in shock, seeing such an important place in such a state.

King: You guys, uh, haven't been here in a while.

Mabel: I like the way she looks, she's so pretty!

Ford: Is this where you lived all these years, Stanley?

Stan: I swear it looked better before...

Luz looks at a picture of her in the Owl House. In the picture, she's sticking her tongue out and smiling. Eda is standing by the door, arms crossed and smiling, King is sitting on top of a smiling Hooty, waving at the camera, and Stan was shown in the background, he was going through journal 2 writing something.

Luz: Stan, would you like to tell the story?

Stan: Are you sure?

Luz: Yeah… I think Collector needs to hear your side of the story…

Stan looks at Collector, hesitating to tell his side of the story, but after looking at Ford, Dipper, and Mabel, he decides to start

Stan: Well… for me… it all started in the Human Realm… Things weren't so great… I accidentally ended up on the islands… Eda found me and gave me a place to stay… thanks to her, I was able to discover things I never imagined I could do… I found my way here and met Luz, Hooty, and-

As Stan says the last sentence, Eda flies back to the ground and places her hand on Luz and Stan's back

King: - jumps into Luz's arms - And the Demon King!

Luz: Neither of us felt like we fit in. So we decided not to fit in together. The Collector: - crosses his arms, scoffs - It was that easy, huh?

Luz: Not really…

Stan smiles as he takes out a photo and shows the Collector a picture of Luz and Stan running away from those who tricked them in "Witches vs. Wizards"

Luz: We had a lot to learn. But after a while, we met more people who helped us.

As she says this, she flips through more pictures, including Luz trying to be a Hexside student in "The First Day", Stan, Willow, and Gus supporting Luz in "Agony of a Witch", and Luz playing Grudgby with Amity and Willow against Boscha and her team while Stan was the coach in "Wing It Like Witches". A picture of Grom can be seen behind, with Stan sporting a black suit and wearing a Fez hat with his zodiac symbol.

Dipper: wow, stop, go back to the previous picture! - takes the picture - Grunkle Stan, it's you!

The Collector: Wow! That game looks fun - he said pointing at the picture of Stan playing Grudgby

Mabel: Grunkle Stan, is that really you?! Stan: I'm actually the coach of the current Grudgby team - he said proudly

Mabel: That sounds amazing!

The Collector: I wanna go there!

Grudgby Field was one of Stan's favorite places, as soon as he heard that the kids were having trouble with a Bully, he decided to teach the kids how to defend themselves. Thanks to the 10 years away from home, plus the 30 years running away and protecting Eda, as well as learning how to use his cane, Stan taught them how to play and over time became the unofficial coach of the Emerald Entrails, there he was able to get to know Willow, Hunter, and Gus better, and form bonds with the student athletes.

Mabel was so excited she wanted to scream, she had seen the kids practicing before, during her stay in Gravity Falls, and she was excited to join them in the future, which Stan immediately supported.

Afterwards they went to the Bonesborough library, where Stan learned all about magic and taught Luz the basics of magic, they spent so many hours there that Stan would have been called a nerd too, but the truth was that it was nice to share his knowledge with Luz.

Needless to say, Dipper and Ford were amazed by so much knowledge available, Mabel would be amazed because there are interesting romance books, besides "the good witch Azura", there was much more to offer.

Another important place for Stan was near the ocean, where he had memories of Ford and told Luz and King about his adventures in the thirty years he spent alone with his El Diablo and a duffel bag, over time, the rest of the Hex Squad had also joined in on his life lessons and what Stan's life was like 40 years ago.

Of course, Eda brought up the anecdote of how Stan overcame his fear of heights by having to save her from falling into the boiling waters, which Ford already knew thanks to their conversation at the lake in Gravity Falls.

Last but not least, the place where Stan fell was on his knee, where he spent his first nights freezing before Eda found him, as well as the place where he learned his ice spell and learned about glyph magic.

There, finally, Ford and Stan talk and make peace, finally Ford's palisman activates, which turns out to be a twin of Dominique, Stan's palisman, both hug each other while Ford admits that his greatest wish was to feel ready to forgive himself for all the harm he had caused.

Finally, Collector had understood a little more about how relationships, whether friendly, romantic or fraternal, were complicated, and that sometimes there could be more beneath the surface

unfortunately, Belos would not let them have a quiet moment…

EN ESPAÑOL

Lamento haberme tardado tanto en responder, la escuela me tiene como loca

Stan tendría la idea de llevar a todos a los lugares más importantes para el Escuadrón Búho (cuyos integrantes constan de Stan, Luz, Eda y King), Ford, Mabel y Dipper quedan sorprendidos por la idea, sin duda quedarían maravillados por todo lo que las islas pueden ofrecerles.

La Casa Búho: El primer lugar al que van es la casa donde Stan y Eda vivieron la mayor parte de sus vidas, usando una estrella fugaz que vuela por todas las islas, el grupo llega a la Casa Búho y finalmente aterriza frente a ella. El Coleccionista hace desaparecer la estrella

El Coleccionista: Así que todo comenzó aquí, en la Casa Pájaro.

Eda: La Casa Búho. Hablando de eso, ¿qué le pasó?

Eda vuela y observa el estado actual de la Casa del Búho, Stan se ve en estado de shock, al ver un lugar tan importante en ese estado.

King: ustedes, uh, no han estado aquí en un tiempo.

Mabel: me gusta como se ve, ¡es tan bonita!

Ford: ¿aquí viviste todos estos años, Stanley?

Stan: te juro que se veía mejor antes...

Luz mira una foto de ella en la Casa Búho. En la foto, ella saca la lengua y sonríe. Eda está de pie junto a la puerta, con los brazos cruzados y sonriendo, King está sentado encima de un sonriente Hooty, saludando a la cámara y Stan se mostraba en el fondo, estaba revisando el diario 2 escribiendo algo.

Luz: Stan, ¿te gustaría contar la historia?

Stan: ¿estás segura?

Luz: sí… creo que Coleccionista necesita escuchar tu versión de la historia…

Stan mira a Coleccionista, dudando de si contar su versión de la historia, pero después de mirar a Ford, Dipper y Mabel, decide comenzar

Stan: pues… para mí… todo comenzó en el Reino Humano… Las cosas no estaban tan bien… por accidente terminé en las islas… Eda me encontró y me dio un lugar donde quedarme… gracias a ella, pude descubrir cosas que nunca imagine que podría hacer… encontré mi camino aquí y conocí a Luz, a Hooty y-

Mientras Stan dice la última oración, Eda vuela de regreso al suelo y coloca su mano en la espalda de Luz y Stan

King: - salta a los brazos de Luz - ¡Y al Rey de los Demonios!

Luz: Ninguno de nosotros sentía que encajábamos. Así que decidimos no encajar juntos. El Coleccionista: - se cruza de brazos, se burla - Fue así de fácil, ¿eh?

Luz: No realmente…

Stan sonríe mientras saca una foto y le muestra al Coleccionista una foto de Luz y Stan huyendo de aquellos que los engañaron en "Brujas ante magos"

Luz: teniamos mucho que aprender. Pero después de un tiempo, conocimos a más personas que nos ayudaron.

Mientras dice esto, pasa las páginas de más imágenes, que incluyen a Luz intentando ser una estudiante de Hexside en "El primer día", Stan, Willow y Gus apoyando a Luz en "Agonía de una bruja", y Luz jugando a Grudgby con Amity y Willow contra Boscha y su equipo mientras Stan era el entrenador en "Wing It Like Witches". Se puede ver una foto de Grom detrás, en la que Stan luce un traje de color negro y usa un gorro de Fez con su simbolo zodiacal.

Dipper: ¡espera, detente, vuelve a la imagen anterior! - toma la foto - ¡Tío Stan, eres tú!

El Coleccionista: ¡Vaya! Ese juego parece divertido - dijo señalando la foto de Stan jugando a Grudgby

Mabel: ¡Tío Stan, eres tú de verdad?! Stan: De hecho, soy el entrenador del equipo actual de Grudgby - dijo con orgullo

Mabel: ¡Eso suena increíble!

El Coleccionista: ¡Quiero ir allí!

El campo de Grudgby era de los lugares favoritos de Stan, ya que en cuanto escucho que los niños tenían problemas con un Bully, decidió enseñarle a los niños a defenderse, gracias a los 10 años lejos de casa, más los 30 años huyendo y protegiendo a Eda, así como aprendiendo a usar su bastón, Stan les enseño a jugar y con el tiempo se volvió el entrenador no oficial de las Emerald Entrails, ahí pudo conocer mejor a Willow, Hunter y Gus, y formar vínculos con los estudiantes deportistas.

Mabel estaba tan emocionada que quería gritar, ya había visto a los chicos practicando antes, durante su estancia en gravity falls, y estaba emocionada de unirse a ellos en un futuro, cosa que Stan apoyo de inmediato.

Después fueron a la biblioteca de Bonesborough, donde Stan aprendió todo sobre la magia y le enseño a Luz los conceptos básicos de la magia, pasaron tantas horas ahí que Stan hubiera sido llamado un nerd también, pero la verdad era que era lindo compartir sus conocimientos con Luz.

No hace falta decir que Dipper y Ford quedaron maravillados con tanto conocimiento disponible, Mabel estaría asombrada porque hay libros interesantes de romance, además de "la buena bruja Azura", había mucho más para ofrecer.

Otro lugar importante para Stan estaba cerca del océano, donde tenía recuerdos de Ford y le contaba a Luz y a King sus aventuras en los treinta años que paso solo con su El Diablo y una bolsa de lona, con el tiempo, el resto del Hex Squad también se había unido a sus lecciones de vida y de como era la vida de Stan hace 40 años.

Por supuesto, Eda aporto con la anécdota de como Stan supero su miedo a las alturas por tener que salvarla de caer en las aguas hirvientes, cosa que Ford ya sabia gracias a la conversación en el lago de Gravity Falls.

Por último, pero no menos importante, el lugar donde Stan cayó fue en la rodilla, donde paso sus primeras noches congelándose antes de que Eda lo encontrara, así como el lugar donde aprendió su hechizo de hielo y aprendió sobre la magia de glifos.

Ahí, finalmente, Ford y Stan hablan y hacen las pases, finalmente el palisman de Ford se activa, que resulta ser un gemelo de Dominique, el palisman de Stan, ambos se abrazan mientras Ford admite que su mayor deseo era sentirse listo para perdonarse a sí mismo por todo el daño que había causado.

Finalmente, Coleccionista había entendido un poco más sobre que las relaciones, amistosas, románticas o fraternales, eran complicadas, y que a veces puede haber más bajo la superficie

lastimosamente, Belos no los dejaría tener un momento tranquilo…

[fangirlwriting-stories]

Atychiphobia

Masterlist

Chapter Four:

Grunkle Dipper changes things, to put it lightly.

The panic of the day and the emotions flying high and the problems with gravity, the portal and Grauntie Mabel’s brother being the author?  Ford feels like he’s still trying to process it, laying awake in bed long after Stanley’s fallen asleep.

He has so many questions, and though some of them were answered in Grauntie Mabel and Grunkle Dipper explaining about the portal, that just created more.

Most of those centered around the fact of Grauntie Mabel leaving when she and Grunkle Dipper were younger.  She’d admitted it herself, and though Ford could see she had complicated feelings about it now, that hadn’t stopped Ford’s stomach from curling up with nerves as she explained it.

Ma and Pa fought sometimes, just like Grauntie Mabel said her and Grunkle Dipper’s had, would that be the thing that makes Stanley decide he’s had enough and leave, just like it had been for her?  Would the only thing Ford could control be whether or not Stanley asks him to come with him?  Would Stanley even want to do that, or would he be so fed up with Ford by the time he leaves that he’d leave him behind too?  Will he bring him if Ford can prove he’s worth having around?  Can Ford even do that?  Because lately it certainly seems like he can’t.

Ford doesn’t get much sleep that first night, and things don’t get any easier the next couple days.  Grunkle Dipper spends most of the time down in the basement, and Grauntie Mabel steers them away from it.

Ford can tell Stan is desperately curious and a half a second away from breaking into the place himself, but for his part, he can’t decide if he wants to go down there or not.  He’s wanted to meet the author more than anything, but now he’s trying hard to not look at him and think about how things could go horribly wrong between him and Stan.  He knows that’s a false equivalency, or at least it should be, but add on all the ways Bill’s talked about things going wrong between him and Stan and other dimensions, and Ford doesn’t know what to think.  But he’s pretty sure if he talks to Grunkle Dipper and finds an angry bitter old man, it’s just going to confirm all his worst fears, and he’s not sure he can handle that.

Grauntie Mabel isn’t helping things much either.  Ford can tell she’s angry, and or at least fed up with Grunkle Dipper.  They both can only seem to snap at each other whenever they’re around, and don’t even mention each other when they’re not— or at least, Grauntie Mabel doesn’t.  If Ford wasn’t there, he’d almost be unsure if the portal incident even happened based on her behavior now.

He only almost asks her about it once, one morning when she and him are the last two still at the breakfast table.  Grauntie Mabel’s drinking jug of Mabel Juice, Ford’s finishing his orange juice, Grunkle Dipper never came up for breakfast, and Stan has run off to Fiddleford’s house.  (Both of them are still trying to fix the robot that Bill broke.  Ford’s trying really hard not to feel guilty about it.)

Ford’s spent most of the breakfast sneaking looks at Grauntie Mabel, and he’s not surprised when she finally notices.

“Kid, if you want to ask me something, don’t leave me in suspense for the entire day,” she says, setting her Mabel Juice and giving him a look.

Ford gives her a sheepish smile, but still can’t come up with a way to say what’s on his mind.

Grauntie Mabel, you don’t regret bringing your brother back, do you?  No, he can’t say that.  What if she says, Ford, don’t be silly, of course I do, have you met him?  I don’t know why I wanted to try in the first place.

Grauntie Mabel, I know you said you left because of your parents, but was any part of the reason actually that your brother had let you down somehow and you couldn’t stand to be around him any longer?  Nope.  She could say, Well, actually, Ford, that was all of it, the parents thing just gave me an excuse to finally leave.

Grauntie Mabel, you don’t hate Grunkle Dipper, do you?

Well, Ford, you see—

“Um,” Ford forces out of his mouth.  “Can we have breakfast for dinner?”

“Why, Ford, you know I can never say no to that!” Grauntie Mabel says with a bright smile.  “I tell you what, if you come to the store with me today I’ll even let you pick out the pancake toppings.”

Ford gives her the best smile that he can manage, and takes another drink of his orange juice.

…

Thankfully, things go a little better with Grunkle Dipper than Ford had been expecting, thanks to the arrival of his Dungeons, Dungeons, and More Dungeons Game.  After lunch, just before he fell down into the basement, he’d actually been attempting to play with Waddles, which he does not plan on sharing with Grunkle Dipper.  But it turns out, Grunkle Dipper and he have a few more things in common than he’d been expecting, and before Ford knows it, half an afternoon is gone.

“I still can’t believe you actually like this game,” he says, during a pause as Grunkle Dipper sketches a quick map for the next dungeon.  “Most of the kids back home just make fun of me for it.”

Grunkle Dipper chuckles a little.  “So I see opinions around it haven’t changed,” he says.  “It was like that back in my day too.  I pretty much always had to find someone willing to humor me.”

“Sometimes Fiddleford likes to play with me,” Ford says.  “But his dad says the game takes up too much time, so most of the time I just have to try and convince Stanley.  He calls it ‘Nerd: The Game.’”

“From what I have seen of your brother, that sounds like him,” Grunkle Dipper says.

“He does like parts of it,” Ford says, not quite sure why he feels the need to defend Stan’s opinion of the game.  “Mostly when he gets to flirt with the bosses.  Which uh, now that I’m saying it isn’t a great defense.”

Grunkle Dipper laughs.  “No, that’s a time-honored tradition,” he says.  “Remind me to tell you about the time I ran out of options and tried to defeat the Impossibeast by flirting with it.”

Ford gives a startled laugh, not quite able to picture that image.

“Mabel teased me about it for months,” Grunkle Dipper says with a fond smile.  “As if she didn’t flirt with every hot elf she came across.”

“You played with Grauntie Mabel?” Ford asks, surprised.

“She was the person most willing to humor me,” Grunkle Dipper says.  His smile fades a second later.  “I didn’t really have a lot of opportunities to play after she left.”

Ford looks down and fidgets with his fingers.  “Do you… ever miss her?” he asks hesitantly, looking back up.

He sees something angry pass quickly over Grunkle Dipper’s face, and his stomach curls.

“Not if I can help it,” Grunkle Dipper says, turning back to sketching the map.  “It’s been a long time since we’ve been on good terms.  And she chose to leave, she doesn’t get to be sad about it now.”  He seems to catch himself, and looks back at Ford.  “But you don’t need to worry about that,” he says, giving him a warm smile.  “That’s between me and her.  Besides, you’ve got a wizard to fight.”

Ford gives the best smile back that he can manage, and shakes everything with Grauntie Mabel and Grunkle Dipper out of his head.  He’s enjoying D, D, & MD with Grunkle Dipper too much to let other stuff get in the way.  He can always keep worrying about all the other stuff later.

At least, that’s what he was planning on, before Grauntie Mabel shows up in the basement.

“Hey, Dipper, I know you’re scared of sunlight now or something, but you do have to eat at least some— Ford?”

Ford jerks up to see Grauntie Mabel holding a plate with a sandwich on it, which she sets down on the desk.

“Uh,” he starts.

“Hey, I thought I told you and Stan not to come down here,” Grauntie Mabel says, crossing her arms.

“Relax, Mabel,” Grunkle Dipper says, setting his pencil down and looking over at her.  “We’re not doing anything science-related, we’re just playing D D & MD.”

Grauntie Mabel doesn’t seem to like that answer.  “I hadn’t seen Ford all afternoon,” she says, crossing her arms with a glare at Grunkle Dipper, who glares right back.  “I was starting to get worried.”

“Sorry Grauntie Mabel,” Ford says, looking down and fidgeting with his dice.  “I should have told you where I was going.”

There’s a pause, long enough that Ford looks up again.  He sees Grunkle Dipper and Grauntie Mabel looking at each other, and they seem like they’re having a conversation without saying anything.

Eventually, Grauntie Mabel sighs and drops her arms.  “That’s okay, Ford,” she says, and Ford blinks in surprise.  “As long as you’re not doing anything dangerous.  And let me know where you are next time, okay?”

Ford, still feeling a little uncertain, nods.  Grauntie Mabel gives a small smile and turns to head back upstairs.  Just before she steps back in the elevator, she calls, “Eat that sandwich, Dipper, I’m not kidding!”

Grunkle Dipper rolls his eyes but picks up the plate and sets it down next to him.  Ford looks after Grauntie Mabel as the elevator doors close.  Something tight in his chest loosens a little.

Then Grunkle Dipper says, “Sorry about her,” and it tightens again.  “Now where were we?”

Ford looks back down at his graph paper, trying to remember.  “I think I’m fighting a wizard?”

“That’s right!  So, what do you want to do next?”

…

Ford doesn’t see Stan until after dinner, which definitely feels weird.  Stan doesn’t seem to mind though, instead showing up in their room and talking excitedly about all of the progress he and Fiddleford had made on their robot today.  They apparently have plans to make it even better than before out of spite.

“You should tell Grunkle Dipper,” Ford says, trying to ignore the squirming in his gut, since Stan told him already he doesn’t have to feel guilty.  “He’d probably think it’s cool.”

“Eh, not without Fiddleford,” Stan says, waving the idea off.  “He’s the one doing the most of the work, so he should get most of the credit.  I just had the idea.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Ford says in surprise.

“You didn’t know Fidds is great with building stuff?  Wow, Ford, you’ve only been his friend all summer,” Stan jokes, giving Ford a bright grin that says he knows what he’s doing.  Ford rolls his eyes.

“You just seemed down about everything with him, so I wanted to do something to cheer you up,” Stan continues, hopping up onto his bed.  “Plus, now we’ve got spite fueling it too.  It’s gonna be really cool when we’re done with it.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Ford says despite himself.

“Pfft, I know.  Come on, dummy, I didn’t do it ‘cause I had to,” Stan says.

“I mean, I’m just saying, if you guys don’t feel like working on it anymore, I—”

“Oh, shush.  We’re having fun too.  You couldn’t make us stop if you wanted to.”

Ford smiles, just a little.  “Okay,” he says.

“So where have you been all day, anyway?  Were you with Grunkle Dipper?  Is that why you mentioned him?” Stan asks.

“Oh, yeah!” Ford says, lighting up.  “We played Dungeons, Dungeons, & More Dungeons all afternoon!  And Grauntie Mabel says I’m allowed as long as I let her know!”

“What!  You went down in that creepy basement again and you didn’t tell me!  What’s he working on down there?”

“Oh, he didn’t say,” Ford says, rubbing the back of his neck.  “We just played the game, really.  He’s… not what I expected.”

“What did you expect him to be?” Stan asks curiously.

Well, “bitter angry old man who’s had a horrible life” would probably come up with some followup questions, so Ford just shrugs.  “I don’t know.  But hey, do you want to come play with us tomorrow?”

“Are there hot mermaids for me to flirt with?” Stan asks with a grin.

“Not in this game.”

“Ugh.  All yours, then.  Besides, Fidds and I are really on a roll!  I think we’re gonna finish the robot soon!  I can’t wait for you to see it!”

“You’re… almost done?” Ford asks, surprised at how uncomfortable the idea makes him.  He’s not anywhere near done with the machine he’s been working on.  But how is he supposed to finish faster than Stan and Fiddleford?  He’s obviously smarter than Fiddleford, but he doesn’t have any of his engineering skills, and he’s working on his own.

“Yep!” Stan says.  “Just you wait, it’s gonna be so fun!”

“Yeah,” Ford says, fidgeting with his hands.  That settles it.  He’s staying up to work on the perpetual motion machine tonight.

He sneaks out of their room after Stan falls asleep, and brings what he has downstairs to the living room.  Bill really did a number on it, especially because so many of the parts are so fragile.

But that doesn’t matter.  He can have it done by the time Ford and Fiddleford finish the robot.  That’s totally doable.  He’s been working on it longer, and he’s smarter.  He can’t just not have it done by the time they do.  Not that that’s even remotely in the realm of possibility.

He’s totally got this.

[flatassthrowaway]

Passionately and Deeply

As I said in my post yesterday, there will be triggering topics that will be listed below. If you feel like you won’t be able to handle it due to this incredibly hard week, I’d rather you prioritize your mental health over this fic, and I hope to see you in another one of my works. This chapter may not sit well with some readers. Readers discretion is advised.

TW: Feelings of inadequacy rearing its ugly head, outdated ideas of masculinity, mention of antisemitism

Let me know what you think as usual, and enjoy!

18+ only, MDNI

Click here for Masterlist.

~Chapter Six (2/2)~

We all got in the RV, and after a twenty minute ride, we made it to Hug Point State Park. It was a stunning place, with a beautiful beach with pockets of caverns all around.

“We’re finally here, family! Let’s get this beach day started!” Mabel declared as her and her friends started running.

“C’mon, Dipper!” Wendy said. “Last one to the shore is a rotten egg!”

I saw Dipper smile for the first time since last night. “You’re on!” he said as he and Wendy began running to the shoreline.

I walked out of the RV and Ford followed behind me closely. I got a few strange looks, but I didn’t think anything was wrong. Eventually, when I found a suitable place to set up an area for the family, two women came up to me.

“Excuse me?” One of them said.

I looked up from what I was doing, and she waved. “Hi. I just wanted to let you know that there’s a creepy guy right behind you.”

I turned around to see that it was Ford, but he was putting up the umbrellas for the family. I turned back to the women and smiled with a faux sweetness. “Oh, he’s with me,” I told them as I turned my back on them to continue putting the chairs up.

They walked away, frantically whispering to each other. Stan looked at the two ladies and then back at us as he approached.

“The hell was their problem?”

I shrugged. People can be so immature sometimes.

While we were there, Ford and I never really spoke, we just… looked at the water, watching his great-niblings play.

It was the most peaceful I felt in a while.

The teens swam, played beach volleyball (which Grenda and Wendy killed at), they even played water jockey, which I’m not quite sure how they modified it so that one person carries everyone else on the team, but whatever.

Dipper was carrying Wendy on his back, and Grenda was actually carrying Mabel and Candy in her arms. She really is a strong girl. I’d like to have her on my side in a fight.

With an unexpected turn of events, Dipper and Wendy actually won. I thought the all girls team would win because of Grenda.

At this point, the group of teenagers made their way to our setup. Stan was kind enough to save some food for them to eat.

“Man, we dominated that water jockey game!” Wendy told Dipper as she grabbed a bag of chips.

“Well we do work pretty well together,” Dipper said, grabbing a pitt cola.

“I’d say so,” Wendy said as she took a pitt cola and opened it. “To victory!”

“To victory!” Dipper said as he clashed his soda can with hers, and began to drink it.

“Just wait, you two!” Grenda said.

“That was only one game out of three!” Mabel said. “Then we’ll see who the dominant ones are!”

“C’mon Mabel, you said one game!”

“What? Are you afraid you’re gonna lose?” Mabel asked, comically narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips.

Dipper shook his head. “No way! You’re on!”

I chuckled at their antics as the teens quickly finished their food and went back to the water to play two more rounds of intense water jockey.

It was close to five o’clock when they finally came back. 

“Alright, look alive family,” Stan said. “We’re gonna go to dinner again, and it’s a five minute walk from the hotel. We gotta head back now if we’re gonna make it.”

We all nodded as we packed up our stuff and headed back to the RV.

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

After another successful dinner, Ford and I were going to head back to our room, but Dipper’s voice stopped me. I turned to look at him, and he was rubbing his arm. Wendy lightly shoved him in my direction.

“C’mon, man. Tell her what you told me,” she said. “She seems like she would get it, too.”

Dipper nodded at her before looking at me.

Wait a second.

I just realized I didn’t see Wendy’s girlfriend all day. Where was she?

“Wendy, where’s your girlfriend? Why didn’t she come to the beach with us?” I asked.

Wendy sighed. “She came down with something, and she didn’t feel well enough to go to the beach. I offered to stay, but she told me to go have fun.” She then held up a bag of food. “That’s why I’m bringing her this lobster bisque.”

I smiled. “That’s kind of you,” I told her. “I hope she feels better.”

Wendy smiled. “Me too. See ya tomorrow,” she said my name. “See ya tomorrow, Dipper.”

“Night Wendy,” he said as she began walking back to the room she shared with Tambry.

Dipper turned to me. “Can we talk by the pool again?”

I nodded. “Of course.” I turned to Ford. “You can go to the room. I’ll meet you there.”

Ford nodded before wishing his great nephew goodnight, and Dipper reciprocated.

We both walked to the pool in the hotel, and sat down at a nearby table. We looked at the changing lights in the pool before Dipper spoke again.

“I’m sorry,” Dipper said. “It was extremely mean of me to tell you to fuck off. I just… I feel so fucking stupid.”

I shook my head. “You’re not stupid, Dipper,” I told him. “Please don’t speak about yourself like that.”

Dipper sighed. “It’s hard not to,” he said.

I sighed. “We’re so conditioned to speak ill of ourselves, and not highly in this society, lest we come off as narcissistic dipshits,” I told him.

Dipper raised an eyebrow at me and laughed. “What’s with the mix of formal and informal language?” he asked.

“I do that sometimes when I’ve been drinking,” I told him. “It kind of just happens.”

Dipper laughed again.

“But seriously, Dipper. I forgive you,” I told him. “Why do you feel stupid?”

Dipper sighed. “I feel like I should have been over Wendy by now. But… being with her today only made my feelings for her grow even stronger than ever before. Soon… I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold my feelings back for her like I used to do.”

I hummed. “I see.”

“And then there’s also Pacifica,” Dipper said. “She doesn’t deserve this treatment from me.”

I nodded. “I agree. So what do you want to do now?” I asked.

“That’s partially why I wanted to talk with you,” Dipper told me. “What do I do?”

“Well…” I started. “What is the possibility of you and Wendy getting together romantically within the next month?”

Dipper sighed, his head lowering. “Close to none,” he murmured.

“Do you actually like Pacifica? If you do, what do you like about her?” I asked.

“I do like her,” Dipper said. “I like the way she speaks her mind without worrying how she comes across. I like how brave she is for standing up to her parents. They don’t approve of me dating her daughter, you know. They still think I’m less than.”

I gave him a concerned look. “Is that because they’re affluent?” I asked.

Dipper shook his head. “Not just that. They’re Christian. Although my immediate family doesn’t really practice any organized religion, I heard my great-grandparents, and even my grunkles and my grandpa were Jewish,” he revealed.

“Wow… I didn’t know that,” I told him.

“How could you not?” Dipper asked. “Pines is a pretty common Jewish surname.”

I shrugged. “I guess it never crossed my mind,” I told him.

“Ours is pretty distinct though,” he said.

“That is true,” I said. “But with that being said, how does Pacifica feel about your heritage?”

“She doesn’t seem to care,” Dipper told me. “But… I feel like she loves me more than I like her.”

“Spend more time with her,” I told him. “And actually live in the moment. Get caught up in the moment with her. Don’t think about your family, don’t think about Wendy. Be with her.”

“How do I do that?” Dipper asked.

I smiled. “You’ll know when you’re with her.”

Dipper sighed. “What do I do about my feelings for Wendy, though?”

“As much as it pains me to say it, I think you should distance yourself,” I told him. “If you really want your relationship to work with Pacifica, you must dedicate your time to her. But don’t leave your family out, of course!”

Dipper smiled as he stood up. “I could never leave you or the rest of our family out.”

My eyes widened. “Don’t you mean-”

Dipper shook his head. “Nope. You are a part of the family now,” Dipper told me as he said my name. “My sister was just more intuitive to that than I was. And… I couldn’t be happier that my Grunkle Ford has someone like you in his life.”

I smiled earnestly at him before standing up myself. “Thank you, Dipper. That means a lot to me to hear you say that.”

Dipper came over and hugged me, and I reciprocated. “And… thank you for being kind to me, even when I didn’t deserve it,” he said as I felt wetness on my shoulder.

I pulled away to see that he had started crying.

This kid harbors so much hatred for himself, my goodness…

“You deserve kindness, Dipper,” I told him. “You deserve love, too.”

“Then why doesn’t it fucking feel that way?” he cried.

“We’re our own worst enemy, Dipper,” I told him as I wiped his tears away. “But you need to remember that you’re a kind, smart, and important young man. Don’t you ever let anyone else tell you otherwise.”

“How do you know?” Dipper said, his voice cracking. “You only met me last week.”

I smiled brightly at him. “I know a good person when I see it,” I told him.

Dipper sniffed. “Thank you,” he said my name.

“Of course, hon.”

I held him for a bit longer, his sniffles breaking the silence. He then pulled away from me, and I walked backwards.

“Have you thought about speaking to someone about your feelings? Maybe your parents?” I asked.

Dipper shook his head. “My parents are the kind that would say I would need to pull myself up by the bootstraps and push through. ‘Be a man!’ ‘Grow some balls!’ Stuff like that,” he told me. “I hate living with either of them.”

“Either of them?”

“My parents are divorced,” he said. “But the one thing they did agree on was how to be a man. I can’t breathe in either of their houses, I can’t think. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells by just being myself.”

I sighed. “Okay, so not your parents…” I said. “What about your great uncles? Surely you can speak to them about this.”

Dipper shook his head. “No. They’re from that generation who perpetuates those same stoic man stereotypes.”

“Which makes them even better people to speak to about this,” I told him. “I’m sure you know this, but your great uncle Stan is such a sap. He cries at the end of feel good movies and romantic comedies. And your great uncle Ford… I know he has some words to say about that, too.”

Dipper sniffed before nodding. “I’ll try to ask Grunkle Stan and Grunkle Ford about it soon.”

I smiled. “Good,” I told him. “As long as you have someone to talk to, I’m happy.”

Dipper smiled. “Thanks again,” he said my name. “I think I’m gonna crash on my bed, though.”

I nodded. “You don’t need to do it, tonight,” I told him. “So long as you do it soon, though.”

Dipper nodded. “I will. Goodnight,” he said.

“Rest well, hon,” I told him as we went to our respective rooms.

As soon as I arrived in my room, I saw a whole bunch of towels on the couch, to the point where it looked like the couch was made out of towels.

What in the hell…?

As I took my shoes off, I saw Ford come out of the bathroom and wash his hands. I locked the door and walked over to him, hugging him from behind. He dried his hands and occluded my feminine hands with his own masculine ones.

“Is Dipper okay?” Ford asked.

I let go of him and he turned to face me. “He will be. Expect that he’ll be wanting to talk with you for the next few days.”

Ford nodded, then smiled. “You know… seeing you help my niece and nephew made my admiration and adoration for you grow,” Ford told me. He wrapped his arms around my waist, bringing me closer to him.

“Yeah?” I said, placing my hands on his broad chest.

“Seeing you being so present with them… it makes me thankful time and time again that you’re in my life. Not only my life, but theirs,” he said as he pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

After the sweet and tender kiss, we rested our foreheads against one another’s and smiled.

“And now… we have some unfinished business, sweetheart,” he said, his voice dropping an octave.

Although I felt myself become turned on, I decided to remain coy. “Yeah? What kind of unfinished business?” I asked.

“The kind where I touch you… and taste you…” his mouth dropped to my ear, whispering. “And make love you.”

“Oh yeah?” I said.

I felt Ford caress my waist, which I did a sigh/moan from. “Yes~” he purred. “I would like you to show me… and tell me what you want me to do.”

I bit my lip. “Do you really want me, Ford?”

Ford groaned, which I felt the vibrations deep in his chest. “Absolutely, sweetheart.” He pressed a kiss onto the sensitive spot on my neck, making me moan.

I pulled away from him, and took his hand. “Come with me~” I said, leading him to the bed. Before I sat down, I turned around and let go of him. I took off my t-shirt, revealing my lacy bra to him, which was in my favorite color.

“Sweetheart…” he started, staring at my breasts. “It took every fiber of willpower inside of me to not bring you to the RV and take you there while we were at the beach. You’re so hot… and so soft…”

I smiled sweetly at him. “You don’t just have to look, you know,” I told him, taking his hands in mine. “You want to touch me too, right? Go ahead, honey. Touch me~”

I placed his hands on my breasts, and he instantly felt them up. His extra fingers gripped the side of my breasts while his index and thumb were tweaking my nipples, making me moan. I honestly forgot he had six fingers instead of five.

“May I? I want to see you,” he said.

I smiled. “What a gentleman,” I said. “Please take it off, honey~”

Ford reached around me to unclasp my bra. Once it was off, he discarded it elsewhere, and began kissing me while caressing my breasts gingerly.

Ford sat me down on the bed, and he kneeled in front of me, his gaze fixated on my breasts while caressing them. His blazing copper brown eyes looked at me again.

“May I suck on your breasts, sweetheart?”

I felt the fire beginning to burn inside of me. I can’t believe this is actually happening…!

“Please, Stanford…!”

Ford kissed my breasts and made his way to one nipple and began licking and sucking while looking up at me. He softly tweaked the other nipple. I arched my back and whined and moaned as he pleased me.

“Ford…!” I moaned.

I felt him moan on my breast, which he let go with a wet but delicious sounding pop. He began caressing my breasts again.

“Sweetheart… will you let me gently bite on your nipples?” Ford asked.

I sighed lustfully. “Whatever you want, honey,” I told him.

Ford returned to the same breast and began licking and sucking, but eventually integrated the gentle biting he wanted. I whimpered, throwing my head back while grabbing a handful of his grey and silver hair. Ford then let go of my nipple with a pop, and kissed his way over to my other nipple.

“So beautiful, sweetheart,” he said before sucking on them. “They’re so perfect.”

I softly chuckled as he began licking, sucking and gently biting the other nipple. One of my hands was gripping the back of his head, sometimes pulling his grey and silver hair. The other rested on his strong, broad shoulder. I felt my panties get soaked with my arousal. I’ve never felt this wet before…

���Ford~” I moaned.

I felt him smile against my breast while he suckled, and I arched my back as he let my nipple go with a pop and smiled. “Your breasts feel like heaven,” he said as he buried his face in it.

I giggled, lustfully drunk as I held his head in my hands. He let go of my breasts, and kissed the space in between them and kissed me several times before separating and looking at me.

“I want to taste you further, sweetheart,” he said. “Will you let me taste your sweet pussy?”

I didn’t think it would sound so hot coming from his lips. But fuck… I’m really horny for him.

I nodded. “Please Ford,” I told him. “But you need to take off your shirt. I want to see you, too~”

He kissed me passionately before taking off his shirt, where I saw his toned and muscular arms, chest and torso which were littered with scars and neatly groomed hair. He kissed down my body, softly caressing my skin with his lips and inching closer to my clothed, wet pussy.

“May I?” Ford asked as he hooked his fingers on the band of my lace panties.

I gave him a frustrating whine. “Damn it, Ford! Just take them off already! I want you to take me and make me yours~!” I told him, sounding more abrasive than I intended.

He chuckled darkly as he swiftly took off my panties in one fluid movement. I felt the wetness run to my thighs.

“Stars above,” Ford said, fixing his gaze on my slick pussy like it was the most appetizing thing he had ever seen. “I had no idea you were this aroused by me.”

“I’ve dreamt about you,” I admitted. “Sucking on my breasts, and… giving me cunnilingus… it made me so very wet, just the thought of you doing me.”

I saw Ford smirk up at me, and I swear my wet pussy became even more soaked. “Then who am I to deny you? Open wide, sweetheart. I’m going to make your dreams come true,” he said. “I may need some direction, however.”

“Oh fuck~” I threw my head back and opened my legs wider as he explored my pussy, burning every curve and touch to his memory, as well as mine.

Ford eventually grabbed each of my thighs up into his arms and moved me closer to the edge of the bed, making me squeal in the process before giggling. He chuckled darkly again before delving into my pussy with his tongue. Ford explored my folds before he ended up lapping the juices flowing freely from my cunt, teasing the area.

“Yes! Oh yes~!” I moaned as I bucked my hips against his mouth.

He moaned, which sent shivers throughout my body. “Do you like it?” Ford asked.

“Oh, I love it~!” I moaned. “More, please Ford~!”

“I love it when you ask so nicely,” he told me, making me whimper. “Of course, sweetheart~”

Ford took two of his large fingers and thrusted them inside of me. He then trailed his tongue between my folds again, and then made his way to my clit. With his tongue, he circled it, lightly yet rapidly flicked at it, and started sucking on it with such a delicious suction that… I think I came.

I gave him a small moan as my legs shook. “Fuck~” I softly moaned, softly grinding my hips against his mouth. He hummed, making me shiver throughout my body, and he removed his mouth and his fingers from me, leaving me empty.

Ford sucked on his fingers which were dripping from my cum. He was licking them like he had spilt sweet syrup on them, and couldn’t get enough of the taste. “You taste so succulent, sweetheart~” he told me before roughly kissing me.

I felt the thickness and wetness from my cum still lingering on his tongue as we continued to sloppily yet passionately make out.

Ford’s eyes weren’t the copper brown color they used to be. They appeared to be darker, almost if lust had clouded them over.

“I want more,” he growled.

I whimpered as I opened my legs wider. “Please take me, Ford,” I told him.

He bit his lip while looking down at my pussy, which made my clit throb, even though I had just come. Ford then abruptly stood up. I was about to whine before he laid next to me, but by then I was just puzzled.

“Honey?”

“Come here, sweetheart,” he said. “I want you to put your right knee right here.” He gestured to the side of his head.

I obeyed him, getting up and placing my knee next to his head. “Good girl,” he praised me, making me shiver with delight upon hearing that.

He definitely noticed, as he smirked up at me, which made me delightfully shiver again. “You like it when I call you a good girl, don’t you?”

I bit my lip and nodded. “Ah-ah-ah. Use your words, sweetheart~” he purred.

“Yes sir~” I said before I widened my eyes, realizing what I just said. That rolled off my tongue way too easily.

I heard his groan at my new nickname for him. “You’re a kinky girl too, aren’t you?”

I nodded slowly, as if I was under his spell. “Yes sir,” I told him.

“Put your other knee on the other side of my head, sweetheart,” he commanded. I did as I was told, and he groaned, which nearly sounded like a growl.

“Now, I want you to lower yourself onto my face, sweetheart,” he said.

“But- but how will you breathe?” I asked, placing my hands above his head.

“I’ll figure that out as we go,” he told me. “For now, I want your sweet pussy on my mouth.”

“I don’t want you to pass out…” I told him.

“You’re not going to kill me,” he said my name. “Frankly, you’d be fulfilling a dream of mine, too.”

I smiled softly. “You dreamt about me?”

Ford nodded, caressing the outside of my thighs with his coarse, large, masculine hands. “I did. I dreamt about how tight you felt, how soft you were. Every physical touch we made drove me insane. It’s why I was stuck in the bathroom for so long when we first arrived. I had to get my feelings out before they boiled over. Especially since I didn’t know that you reciprocated my lustful feelings.”

“Honey…”

“I’m so glad you reciprocated, though,” he told me. “Now… won’t you fulfill my dreams, sweetheart?”

I bit my lip and nodded. “If you need to breathe, just push me off,” I told him.

He licked his lips, looking at my pussy as if he was about to devour it. “I won’t need to. I want this so badly sweetheart,” he said. “Now… descend yourself onto my face.”

I lowered myself slowly onto his face, before he grabbed my legs in his hands and forced my pussy on his mouth. I mewled as I felt him licking around my entrance, then began thrusting his tongue inside. His nose pressed against my clit every time his tongue was fully submerged inside my pussy. The sensation felt so incredible… and so hot.

I squealed, running my fingers through his grey and silver hair, occasionally tugging when he found a sensitive spot. “Fuck, Ford~” I moaned. “That’s so good~”

I felt him smile as he continued the pace he was going at. I felt the knot in my stomach starting to unravel.

This magnificent man was gonna make me cum again.

“Ford~” I moaned. “I’m gonna cum~!”

He moaned. “Cum on me, sweetheart,” he told me. “I want you to drown me in your cum. Don’t you dare fucking stop. Cum on my mouth right now.”

Ford placed his tongue inside my pussy, and it wasn’t long before I came again. I felt jolts of pleasure streaming through my body as Ford licked up all of my cum.

I giggled sweetly, while caressing my breasts and looking down at him. He was looking up at me while he cleaned me up with his tongue. “How does the view look?” I asked.

“Breathtaking, sweetheart,” he said, catching his breath.

I giggled again. Before I could take myself off, he locked his arms with a tight grip around my legs, and his mouth stayed on my pussy.

I gasped as he placed his mouth on my clit. “Honey, I came already,” I told him.

“Give me one more,” he growled carnally before he began to greedily suckle on my clit.

I mewled as he continued his blissful assault on my clit. I gripped his hair in between my fingers as he continued. I moaned, whimpered, whined and squealed as he continued the pleasing actions on my throbbing clit.

As I bucked my hips into his mouth, he reached up and played with my breasts. He rolled my nipples in his hands while he sucked sweetly on my clit. Once he moaned on it, I was done for.

“Stanford~!” I yowled as I came, rolling my eyes to the back of my head as I spasmed. I felt him growl, licking my mess off of his lips.

Once he was done licking me clean, he finally released the grip on my legs. I sprung back onto the pillows and sighed elatedly and cum drunk.

As I was drifting in and out of consciousness, I noted that he was licking up my juices that landed in his stubble and actually traveled all the way down to his navel.

Goodness, I didn’t realize I had cum so much.

Even though I was pretty tired, I still wanted him to make me his.

“You’re such a good girl,” he praised me. “What a good girl you are.”

I giggled. “Thank you sir~” I told him.

“Do you still want to continue?” he asked. “You look rather sleepy. We can continue tomorrow, sweetheart.”

I shook my head. “I want you so bad, Ford,” I told him, opening my pussy to him. “Please take me.”

Ford took off his pants and boxers, and what faced me was an angry red cockhead that yearned for release, if his dribbling precum was anything to go by. Ford gently teased his dick over my wet folds, and I moaned softly, rocking my hips against the new sensation.

“May I penetrate you?” he asked, saying my name.

I nodded, biting my lip. “Please, Stanford.”

Ford slowly pushed his dick inside of me. He stretched me so much. I didn’t expect him to be this big… and thick.

Once he fully hilted, he stopped moving so I would adjust to it.

“How is that, sweetheart?” he asked.

I bit my lip. “A little uncomfortable. I need more time to adjust.”

“Take as much time as you need, sweetheart,” he said. “Just being inside you like this… it’s Heaven on Earth.”

I giggled softly. Slowly but surely, I felt my body accommodate his size, and where the uncomfortable feeling was, lust and pleasure took over. I bucked my hips, and looked up at Ford.

“I’m ready,” I told him. “Please take me Ford~”

Ford gave me one last dark smirk before thrusting inside me, bottoming out and he began to hold a steady pace that was hard and deep.

Exactly what I needed.

I moaned like a cat in heat. I felt him thrust his hips forward while grabbing my waist and driving me onto his cock. The way he did it nearly drove me to insanity. I looked up at him, biting my lip.

“Fuck, I love it when you look up at me like that, sweet girl,” he said in between thrusts as I mewled. “If you keep that up, I’m gonna cum in you. Huh sweet girl? Do you want my hot cum inside of you?”

“Aaah!” I squealed. “F-Ford… I want your cum inside of me. Mark me from the inside~!”

Ford groaned, picking up the pace as I whined. He lowered his head and found my neck, sucking on the small but sensitive spot on my neck.

Before, I was trying to keep my moans down, but I had no sense of self control now. I was going to cum again, but my whines and moans and squeals… Well, I’m pretty sure the whole hotel can hear it.

“Fuck~!” I whined. “I’m gonna cum again! You’re gonna make me cum a-gain~!”

“Cum for me,” he growled. “I want to feel that pussy squeeze me. Cum for me.”

Ford repeated those three words like a mantra, and soon enough, an orgasm erupted, making me scream his name. “FORD~!” I screamed. “Fuck me~!” I spasmed on his cock as my eyes rolled to the back of my head.

He wasn’t far behind, as I heard him yell my name, and he hilted himself so far inside of me that he almost felt too deep. I felt spurts of his hot cum inside of me, and I softly moaned from the sensation. Ford collapsed on top of me, his forehead pressed to my collar bone.

“That was extraordinary,” Ford said as we caught our breaths.

I giggled tiredly. “It really was~”

“Let’s go to sleep, sweetheart,” he told me as I felt him slipping out, but I held him close to me again.

“Sweetheart?”

“I want you to stay inside of me,” I told him. “At least for tonight.”

I felt him kiss my forehead, smiling. I giggled, and we somehow maneuvered ourselves underneath the covers while he stayed inside of me.

Ford was laying on his back, while I laid on his chest. I already felt myself drifting off.

“How was it, sweetheart?” he asked.

“So good~” I slurred, both from tiredness and cum drunkenness. “Can we do this tomorrow?”

Ford chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me, kissing my forehead again. “If you’re not too sore… we can certainly do this again.”

I smiled as I listened to his heartbeat, drifting off to sleep.

💚💚💚

Thanks for reading! Please stay safe everyone 💚🫶🏽

[mdhwrites]

I don't know if you've watched Gravity Falls or been deep in the fandom but I just realized how similar Luz and Mabel kinda are. They're both young quirky girls whose selfish actions helped the main villain achieve their goal (supposedly, in Luz's case) and learn the lesson of facing reality instead of being stuck in a fantasy world where they get everything they want (although Luz doesn't really learn this even though it was kinda set-up for her in s1) (they also have a girl rival with shit parents that the fandom ships them with but anyway-)

I'm not saying this to shit on Luz though, I like Luz. But it mind boggles me how Mabel gets shitted on way more than her does despite being younger, actually learning her lesson, and apologizing for it. It might because they're different shows but I know a lot of TOH fans were/are GF fans because of the creators' relationship so the fandoms aren't that different from one another. It MIGHT be because Mabel trusted Blendin so easily despite the situation being shady as hell (while Luz just thought Philip was a normal human in the demon realm) but to be fair, Mabel was cornered in a moment of vulnerability and she literally didn't even know what she was giving him. Abandoning her friends and family for her own fantasy land while an apocalypse going on was really horrible, I won't deny that, but Luz also pretty much did the same when she chose the demon realm (place she doesn't know anything about with STRANGERS) over her own world in the first episode. Sure there wasn't anything horrific going on in the human realm so her ignorance of it wasn't as bad as Mabel's– BUT THEN in TTT she thinks of leaving everyone behind by staying in the human realm while the Collector was doing who knows what???

I don't know, this might be kinda petty, I haven't rewatched GF in ages, but I just think it's unfair Mabel gets more hate than Luz. I feel she's had more character progression compared to the latter and at least she always got called out when she did something wrong and learned from it.

So take all of this with a grain of salt because while I've heard a little of this discourse, I haven't watched a lot of Gravity Falls (recently tried again and found myself not loving the first episode if I'm honest) and have never been a part of its fandom. However, this is a chance to talk about why Luz is so liked and 'relatable' to so many because it is not hard to figure out why people like Luz. Why? Well... A lot of it comes down to framing and how the two shows see the two girls.

Gravity Falls sees Mabel as a tweenage girl.

The Owl House sees Luz as the embodiment of what a teenage nerd wishes they were/could be.

Those are VERY different goals and framing.

One, Mabel, is going to be INCREDIBLY fallible. Neither her or Dipper are anywhere close to perfect people because... Well, they're teenagers. They get way too into certain things. They're awkward when it comes to those obsessions. They're awkward about how to deal with change, consequences, etc. like that because that's just the age they are. They're figuring out the world and are going to run face first into it and that will be awkward, clumsy and often destructive without any sort of excuse besides they didn't think the consequences through. That's kids for you.

The other is... More idealistic. Luz doesn't face real consequences for testing her boundaries and is always bailed out. When she fucks up, she always does it with the best intentions and/or no one actually gets hurt. People coddle her and always make concessions to her desires with minimal push back and always end up on her side unless they're just a REALLY big meanie head. She always makes peoples' lives better, she never gets real criticism or ridicule for her interests and is always accepted by the right people for those interests. Always given more and more for being her quirky self!

A lot of this for Luz is because she's an audience surrogate and TOH wants the audience to feel good about themselves. It knows that a lot of nerds will be the ones watching it and leans in. This is actually contrasted by the fact that, well, Mabel isn't the audience surrogate or the absolute primary character of Gravity Falls. Her role is more complicated versus Dipper who IS the nerdy one who's closer to being the audience surrogate.

Just to really drive this home: People on my Discord have talked about this and one of the biggest 'crimes' as seen by a lot of the fandom is that Mabel causes Dipper to lose out on his dream of researching with Ford and staying in Gravity Falls. I could even see some arguments of things like "He's planning a future!" or "He's making the world better!"

But... Let's shift the framing for a moment from "Mabel caused Dipper to give up on his dream" to "Mabel made sure Dipper chose reality over fantasy." After all, his desire was to throw away his friends, his family, EVERYTHING to just continue hanging out with this one old dude and studying the weird phenomenon of the world, an inherently isolating job. He gets to go on this big adventure and follow his intellectual drive... At the cost of reality and everything he has known.

So why don't people get upset at Dipper for trying to do this? Well, there's a lot of potential reasons that I can't really narrow down without watching the show. It may have just been framed as a positive while Mabel's is framed as negative. It could be that while Mabel's is just a generic, girly fantasy that not much of the core audience actually wants, Dipper's is the cool, smart fantasy that is totally not just a fantasy, but a CAREER. Or it could go back to the root problem: Because Dipper is closer to the audience surrogate, closer to the main character, there is a bias to inherently see his actions as good. We could literally watch two characters do the same thing and we will root for the main character simply because that is who we are trained to root for.

A great example of this from TOH is how Luz is allowed to get mad at people for lying to her but not the other way around. She literally attacks Eda and gets the two captured in Titan, Where Art Thou? because Eda lied to her and she is supposed to feel justified in this anger to make the tragedy angle work. Meanwhile, there is ONE time when anyone gets mad at Luz for lying and honestly, the framing and reactions cause it to end up feeling much more like it was just for a prettier scene change during Reaching Out. After all, Amity still wants to fix Luz's pain before Luz even apologizes for breaking her word by lying. So why doesn't anyone call out the hypocrisy here? Why is NO ONE allowed to get upset with Luz about this?

Because she's the main character. Because we are trained to root for her and, well, Luz also is the one we are told to want to be. She is the every nerd. She is meant to connect to a very wide net of outcasts who feel like they don't belong and wish things were different. Wishes people weren't mean to them or didn't get mad at them when they made mistakes. That just let them be the hero of their own story.

So of course, they don't want Luz to be yelled at, even when that is the actually human and reasonable thing for someone to do. They don't want to question what she does so when the show gives them an excuse, or they have to go to reality if the show itself doesn't give an excuse (This is why people emphasize Luz's age and nuerodivergence to excuse her while bluntly ignoring Mabel's age when it comes to her actions), so that they don't have to recognize that Luz does some REALLY shitty things, especially in the back half of the show. It is simply more convenient for the narrative they want out of the show for Luz to be this way.

And that is okay from a casual standpoint. A lot of fiction is escapist. There's nothing wrong with wanting to jump into a world where you're never actually wrong and never in trouble. Where your angst is always met with hugs and understanding rather than actual human emotion. That's how media works. Most mass appeal products are escapist. It's part of why the Isekai genre is SO prevalent right now because it is one of the purest forms of escapist fiction out there, especially due to modern isekai tropes.

But if you're going to talk critically about something, escapism is very rarely a good jumping off point for it. It will make you ignore a LOT about the work because it's uncomfortable for you to ask questions about it. I'm not talking about "Why does this world have magic" sort of things mind you. I'm talking about, say, "Why does this character get so many power ups, so easily, and with little effort in earning them?" When you want escapism, the pacing won't bother you. If you're actually looking at themes and payoffs, it will bother you a LOT. And yes, this does tie into TOH because if you want to be Luz, getting the glyphs feels great! If you actually interrogate the story, you go "Wait, they hadn't actually done like... ANYTHING with her not having magic in a magical world and she already gets a spell? And two of these spells she does literally nothing for. Arguably three since she is put into timeout as a punishment and gets the glyph I guess for being a bad person." That TOTALLY is good storytelling and makes sense with positive themes and proper explorations of its own ideas.

*sigh*

It's a rough push and pull and it can make it so people, even if they like the show, who disagree with the popular opinion, the one that usually lifts up the audience flattering elements the most, are just in a rough position where they hear the same opinions over and over again. All while knowing that if they speak up, they'll be stomped on.

Just like Mabel was while Dipper was raised into the spotlight. At least by the fandom.

======+++++======

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[ckret2]

Do you think the pine twins and membrane siblings would get along at all? Gut feeling tells me Dib and Dipper at least could get along at first but that'd prob deteriorate quickly.

I think Dipper and Dib would get along like a house on fire. Whenever Dib meets another believer and their relationship subsequently deteriorates, it's because they believe in the wrong way (the paranormal investigator who only believes the stupid things) or they were just humoring him and not really a believer (the school counselor). In Dib's home show, his role in the show is being the only person able to see & care about The Truth, and is incredibly isolated because of it. But Dipper's show has no such restrictions, he can see The Truth as well, and I think Dib would fall all over himself to make a friend is age who agrees with him on paranormal matters and also has hands-on experience saving the world from aliens. They'd amplify each other's weirdness.

I feel like the sheer amount of love and support in the Pines family would bowl over Dib's poor affection-starved ass. Dipper also has a sister who believes in the paranormal but has different interests; but she's willing and enthusiastic about joining in on paranormal hunts anyway, she openly likes hanging out with her brother, and she's nice to him. Dipper also has an absurdly, hyperbolically genius male relative role model he wants to impress; but this relative is also a believer in the paranormal, has dedicated his entire absurdly genius career to studying the paranormal, and doesn't think his younger relative is insane and appreciates what he has to say. Dib would be so painfully jealous. At worst he might resent Dipper for having what Dib so badly wants; but I think he'd probably rather the Pines just adopt him.

Mabel thinks Dib is kind of aggressive but it's cool that Dipper has another nerdy ghost hunter guy to hang out with, so, she's okay with him, but doesn't really wanna be around him alone. She thinks he's secretly super sad though so he gets a pass. Gaz is infuriated that Dipper makes Dib even more Dibbish, and plus she doesn't want TWO of them running around.

Mabel thinks Gaz is pretty cool, Gaz thinks Mabel is annoying but at least not as annoying as Dipper, Mabel is brokenhearted that she's failed to win over a fellow Weird Girl. They will learn to uneasily socialize with minimal hostility while being forced to hang out while the guys try to catch Zim on camera or something, by talking about their artistic pursuits. But not talking too much. Too much and Gaz starts giving her a death glare.

Gaz's opinion on Mabel immediately reverses when she learns she has a pet pig. She comes over just to sit on the floor and stare in wide-eyed wonder at Waddles's face. Mabel's okay now. She has a pig and she lets Gaz look at it.

Mabel gives Gaz a black sweater with a pixel skeleton on it.

[greenofrain]

Only Murders In The Building Murder Board

I watched episode 1 last night and I can't wait for next week, so I just wanted to compile a list of people I think could have done it. I'll probably come back and reblog this when new episodes and new clues come out.

1. Bev Melon

It must be terrible to be named after a fruit.

Bev, the producer of the film, is passive aggressive to our crew and aggressive about filmmaking. Would she go so far as murder to close a film deal? My best theory is that she tried to non-lethally shoot Charles in order to convince him that New York was unsafe to get him to come to LA for the meeting. Once she found out that she actually shot Sazz, she took her to the incinerator so that nobody would know. Of all the film crew, I think she's the most likely. The brothers sisters are oddballs, but a misdirect, and the screenwriter and VPs don't strike me as suspects... Yet.

2. Howard Morris

I'll admit, I didn't really buy into the "Howard is the Mastermind" theory until this episode. But there are too many weird coincidences to ignore. How did he let himself in to Charles' apartment? Why does he text Mabel as soon as they've broken into Sazz's apartment? Why does he need a cadaver dog in the first place? Much to think about. Maybe he tried to kill Charles to usurp his place on the podcast? With all that said, I don't think it's Howard for 2 reasons. Firstly, if he's the mastermind and we know the show has five planned seasons, why reveal it in season 4? Second, he was way too helpful with Gravey to find a body that he killed. But then again, who knows? This murderer is much more aggressive and confident than the others, anything is possible.

3. Emma (Lucy's Mom) OR Lucy's New Stepdad

It's the return of a recurring character from a few seasons ago! I think that maybe in the year between seasons 2 and 3, Emma got a new boyfriend who tried to be a father to Lucy, but she liked Charles more than him. After Ben Glenroy's death, they forbid her from seeing him again because "he's too dangerous," and she protests like teenagers do or runs away, so they take matters into their own hands. This is a long shot, but it could be possible. We know the next episode is about two figures from Charles' past returning, and this is about the only thread from Charles' past that we haven't touched on in some capacity, so we might see Lucy return or Emma make an onscreen debut.

4. Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and/or Eva Longoria

Hear me out.

One or all of them wants to take over for their respective podcaster. Eugene Levy has the clearest motive, wanting to become Charles in real life after playing Brazzos in Quebec and now Charles in the movie. Zach Galifianakis is clearly the most hostile to Oliver, and that may transfer over to Charles as well. Eva Longoria described Mabel's age gap with the guys as "creepy," so maybe she's trying to get the guys out of the picture so Mabel can get her "shit ton of money and build something with it." It's a crackpot theory, but a theory none the less.

And that's what I've got for now. Please let me know what you think, I'd love to hear other people's theories!

[butterfly-eye]

i don't wanna finish the comic... kinda a long-ish fic detailing the relationship between Carrie and Ford. They're a fun dynamic that I didn't consider enough while I was first making her so... it's happening now.

Carrie meets Ford just hours after the dust settles on his arrival. She'd have been there sooner, but as it turns out, opening a direct portal between dimensions will have some adverse affects on a girl whose perception is split between them; migraines don't get much worse than that.

She rushes up to the Mystery Shack as soon as she can. The world hadn't ended and there are no new monsters lurking around and her friends are a little banged up but otherwise unharmed, but Carrie can't find it in herself to be relieved.

Mabel introduces him as her new Grunkle Ford, who had been stuck in between dimensions.

It's hard to describe exactly what Carrie sees when she looks at him, because how do you describe seeing a concept that should be imperceptible? But what's important is this: she looks at him and she knows, sure as she knows about the stained-glass window and her eyes when she looks in the mirror.

That man is a monster.

He's the one who built the shack and he's the author of Dipper's journal and Mr. Pines' brother and Mabel's Grunkle, and traces of Bill's power linger around him, inside his head and heart and soul, invisible to all but her.

She relaxes her posture and flashes a smile like she always does and jokes that at least one's taste in decor isn't genetic. The town returns to normal, as it is wont to do, and Carrie tries not to let show the sick feeling in her belly every time she sees their old-new resident scientist around the shack or the woods.

Ford, for his part, isn't oblivious to the gold-rimmed eyes that track his every move through the forest, nor way the children's friend's smile gives way to a dark glower whenever they're not looking. He can't imagine what he might've done to warrant this, being that he has said maybe twenty words to her ever, but it's very obviously not a priority. He carries on with his research and leaves her to her ire.

It comes to a head while Stan and the children are off on a road trip... something about rivaling tourist traps and vandalism. (Ford won't be bailing them out if things go south, he tells himself.) He's researching ways to protect the Shack from Bill's influence, when at some point he falls asleep. His dreams are suspiciously undisturbed.

When he wakes up, Carrie is standing over him with a kitchen knife poised over her head, ready to strike.

The next instant, she's on the floor. She scrambles back. Her expression is one of absolute terror.

"I hadn't expected you to take things this far," Ford says. He picks up the knife from where it had landed. Carrie yelps and puts up her arms defensively.

"Stay away from me!" She yells, "Don't come any closer!"

Ford doesn't know what to make of this situation, at first. This child had shown a clear disdain for him from the moment she laid eyes on him, and that dislike had culminated in her trying to kill him in his sleep. The logical course of action is to subdue her, as he has done, and inform the authorities.

Except.

He has heard much about the children's adventures over the summer, and through all of them, Carrie has been painted as cheerful, laid back despite her oddities. Every time he sees her in the company of others (really anyone except him,) she's smiling and attentive, always ready with a quip or a rambling story. Her current demeanor is uncharacteristic- reserved only for him. Why?

"I'm not going to hurt you," he says. She shakes her head.

"I'm not stupid! I know what you are!"

What?

"What?"

The glare she shoots him would be scathing were it not for the tears running down her face.

"I can see it! Did you think I wouldn't know? Did he not tell you I would?"

He feels like he's about a hundred steps behind in this conversation.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't try to- don't try to play dumb! I know you made a deal with Bill Cipher!"

Ford's blood runs cold. His mouth opens, but no sound comes out, not at first. Carrie continues yelling.

"I'm not stupid, and I'm not going to let you hurt anyone! I- can't let you hurt anyone! I'll kill you if that's what it takes!"

Oh. Oh.

He sets the knife down on the end table and sinks to the ground slowly. He meets her eyes, properly taking in the glowing gold triangle that surrounds her pupil. Were it not for her outburst, he might have assumed... well, he isn't sure what he would have thought.

"I'm not sure how you know about Bill, but I assure you, I am not working with him. I was tricked many years ago and have worked tirelessly to stop him ever since."

She seems taken aback by that admission, but she only falters for a moment.

"Why should I believe you? He's a good liar, in case you didn't know."

Trust no one. Carrie hasn't see that phrase, can't have seen it, but she lives by it all the same. It would be commendable, were it not heartbreaking.

"Look at my eyes- my pupils. I'm not possessed by Bill, nor can I ever be possessed by him again. I've made sure of that." He knocks his fist against his forehead. The metallic sound fills the silence.

Carrie studies him for a long moment. Her gaze is searching, analytical. Whatever she's looking for, she seems to find it, as a little bit of tension slips from her shoulders. She gathers her knees to her chest and keeps staring at Ford.

"I see him... in the window, the rug... all over town... he's always- always watching. And nobody else knows. Nobody else can see."

She lifts up her right arm to show off the woven bracelet she's wearing.

"He can't possess me either. I made sure to... it's a ward."

Ford's eyes widen. "A ward? How did you manage to create one? How does it work?"

"It's not... I didn't make it. It's a gift from-" she pauses, considering her next words carefully. If it would be alright to tell anyone what she sees, it would be Dr. Pines, she thinks. But the thought makes her feel slimy and scared. Maybe not. "-a friend. I don't think I can get more."

She buries her chin deeper in her knees. "I'm not going to give you mine to study, either. So don't even ask."

Silence.

"I'm not sorry. And I'll deny it if you try to tell anyone."

That startles a small laugh out of him. How bold.

"Well, I can't argue with that. If I were working with Bill, you wouldn't have been wrong for what you did. But it was still reckless. Bill is powerful beyond imagination. It wouldn't take him a second to hurt you."

She nods, looking embarassed.

"Also, this would have been a very poorly executed murder. You're wearing easily identifiable clothes, and you don't even have gloves on. You'd be identified and found quickly. And what were you planning to do with the body?"

She giggles tearfully. "Well, the next time I try to murder you I'll be more prepared."

And that's the kind of thing the Carrie of Mabel and Dipper's descriptions would say. Her expression is still reserved, and she still leans a little bit away from him as he stands, but it is something.

"Well, since we're both awake, what say you to some ice cream? I'd like to ask you what you know about that ward of yours."

She rises to her feet as well. "I can't tell you a whole lot, but I'm not going to turn down ice cream," she replies.

I can't tell you much isn't the same as I don't know much, and they're both quite aware of that fact. But it's okay. There's time.

[disaster-magician]

Step 2 mc ramblings woo!! Um, some things about mcs feeling anxiety, depression, insecurity, and rebellion, but I don't think there's anything too heavy! I promise all of them feel better and do have SOME happy moments in step 2 haha

Here's their step 1 ramblings below if you'd like to check that out as well! 😊

Nova Grace "Gracie" Woods. They are questioning their gender and use They/She pronouns. Sprite is slightly edited to give her a second lobe piercing and make the headband go behind their bangs bc that bothered the shit outta me. (Check out my pinned post to see the absolutely perfect full body refs of her I commed from Sunny 🫶🏾💕)

She hides a lot of herself that they fear are childish, only really feeling able to be themselves around Tama and Qiu. She still enjoys cartoons and has a special interest in space, but has taken up band(Percussion! What loud instruments for someone so quiet, who would have guessed?) and writing as well as still being an avid reader. They've done a complete 180 on scary things as well, now loving horror movies and games. Those things frighten her much less than they did as a kid now that she's dealt with the way scarier world of high school and trying to fit in.

Her Qiu has long hair with both accessories, and Tama has short hair with the headband!

Still as shy and nervous as ever, Nova goes through life insecure and sure she's being judged on a scale she can't see. She's too short and too heavy, it's weird that they prefer ASL and writing notes over talking, embarrassing that she still likes "kid" shows(her favorite show of all time is Gravity Falls and they love that they live in Oregon too! They'd gladly dress up as Dipper with Tama as Mabel if that wasn't for babies...) and stuffed animals, her different colored eyes are freakish, and they're covered in acne. All these insecurities sometimes leave her overwhelmed, and she needs to run to her safe space in the forest to hide.

She and Tama are still best friends, they've gotten official bracelets that say so and everything! If nothing else, those two can always count on each other for comfort and friendship. As for Qiu... well, as a teenager they've realized just why they always made her heart beat faster. She's got it bad, and isn't quite sure what to do about it. Not confess, that's for sure. They can't stand the idea of losing Qiu as a friend and can't bring herself to consider there's even a chance they might just like her back. Hopefully they'll learn that it's okay to express her feelings and interests, and not to be so harsh on herself.

I haven't decided yet if I'll keep her as bffs and crushes with Tammy, change it so she's bffs with Qiu at this time, or have her be best friends with neither and keep it neutral on the friendship side. Oh, also I'm headcanoning that Tammy's ribbon is cranberry and Beck's headband is gold and glittery so they can have accessories in each other's hair colors <3

Annabeth "Beck" Hyyde. She only uses She/Her, but is fine with all terms. She hasn't put a label on her gender as of now.

Her Autumn has short hair with the earrings and Tammy has the long braid with the ribbon!

Beck is still that happy, energetic person she's always been, now just a whole foot taller(she's like, 5'10. If very tall was a height option I would pick that for her) and with double the hair(I imagine that it grows freakishly fast, probably down to her hips or something when it's down). She's also started to prefer going by Beck rather than Annabeth to most. Qiu sometimes calls her by her first name while Tamarack and her Mamá only use Annabeth. She will very quickly shut it down if anyone but Tammy tries to call her Annie though. That's reserved for favorite best friends only.

She still hasn't quite figured out that she has a crush on Tamarack yet, just knowing that she finds her more amazing than most and her heart always beats faster when they're together. It would take a miracle for this sweet, oblivious kid to realize her feelings at this age. At the very least, she needs someone to spell it out for her. Or maybe if a certain glittery haired neighbor confessed first..?

She's joined the high school soccer team and already stands out as an incredible and talented player. It makes sense, she's only been practicing since before she walk as her Mamá likes to say! Her athleticism, bright personality, and unique looks have made her kind of popular already, even if she doesn't realize it. She tries to be kind and open to everyone, but her two neighbors will always come first.

She knows Tammy and Autumn are having a hard time right now, and will always make time for them to listen to their rants or to distract them with something fun. Their problems are much bigger than her own after all, her issues are just small things like struggling to maintain Cs in school and still forgetting words in english sometimes(and maaaaybe she has a problem with her Mamá dating if that turns out to be true...), she can push through and stay upbeat and happy for everyone! If she doesn't, who will?

The class clown, a jokester, whatever you want to call him, Eli always has a joke or bad pun ready to make people laugh and lighten the mood. He's leaning in hard to his comic relief role and will drop everything to help others if need be. He's stopped caring about rules and being polite like he did as a kid, adults don't know anything anyway.

Elijah "Eli" Anderson. He still identifies as a boy and uses He/Him, but has started to question if that's completely right

His Qiu has long hair with the choker and Tam has the long braid with no accessories!

He cares about his best friend Qiu and Tam the most, though. He's spent hours trying to cheer them up when they're feeling bad and thinking about what he can do to help. His reckless altruism concerns his Ma, but trying to talk to him about it has only led to arguments and points of tension that he doesn't know how to heal. Why can't she see that he just wants to make others happy?? He's frustrated that they don't see eye to eye with this and it's lead to frequent arguments, even though he desperately wishes to get along with the only family he has.

He doesn't care about school anymore, or really anything he used to. Everything is so boring in this little town, he just can't bring himself to care or do anything most days. The only thing that seems to make him happy these days is playing video games, but it's not like he can do that for a living. Whatever, that's a problem for future Eli. He'd prefer to focus on others anyway, the happiness of his friends is much more important to him than his own.

Cass is...temperamental these days, to put it nicely. She responds with huffs or sarcastic responses almost exclusively, and good luck trying to get her to say anything nice about this stupid hellhole town. She's always been a little ornery and rebellious, but lately she seems almost nightmarish in her demeanor.

Cassiopeia "Cass" Aoki-Jones. She still identifies as a girl and exclusively uses She/Her. She's decided that "Cassie" is too babyish and will snap at anyone who still calls her that.

Currently, her Qiu has short hair with the choker and Tee has short hair with no accessories! Honestly, for her playthrough I'll probably let past choices determine the neighbor's looks.

She hates this small town more than ever. She hates her stupid mother who dragged her here. She hates school and skips as often as she can without getting caught, and is completely checked out when she is there. She hates her bright blue hair and insists on dyeing it different colors instead. She hates most of the adults too, with the exception of Mr. Yusuf. Even that relationship is pretty rocky, and she herself doesn't know what has to happen to make it a good day for her.

The only things that seem to make her smile anymore are ballet and practicing guitar, and she puts more effort into that than anything else. She's getting pretty good at them too, if she does say so herself! (Opal has noticed her starting to bake in secret, and that seems to make her happy too. She doesn't dare bring it up though, afraid that mentioning it will make her stop and lose that bit of joy.) Most days, she just locks herself in her room and practices or does nothing but avoid the world.

As angry as she feels at the world, spending time with Qiu or Tee does bring her some peace. She feels relieved that she has someone to talk with about gender stuff, or to complain about complicated parent relationships. Or to just talk about how hard being a teenager is. Cass can recognize now that her feelings towards both of them is something a little different than friendship, but doesn't dare bring it up. What if saying mushy stuff like that makes them hate her? No, it would be better to just not say anything so that she can keep their friendship, one of the few good things in her otherwise miserable life. Just another thing she'll keep bottled inside, good plan Cass.