#yes this is about me projecting on stan and ford

[jinxthequeergirl]

The Ol Switcharoo (pt2)

Stan pines x reader /ford pines x reader

Summary: Your family vacation lasted longer than expected. When you return home to Stanford, you realize quickly something wrong.

Warning: NONE

Hey! Just some housekeeping before you read on

☆Thanks for all the love ya'll it means bunches

☆this part is shorter do to me wanting to pace this better, but I hope yall enjoy none the less!

☆a few of ya'll asked to be tagged so I'm starting a tag list if you'd like to be included don't hesitate to ask

☆additionally I did have a Playlist for this specific series and if ya'll would like me to post the songs for it also lemme know

Enjoy!

~~~~~☆~~~~~

"STANLEY HELP!"

Stan felt himself freeze up, his heart race and mind go blank, why couldn't he think? Why couldn't he move?

He watched in horror as his brother floated up backwards through the air into the gaping hole in space and time.

"Do something!"

"What...what do i do!?" He asked meekly, looking around for something to help.he watched as parts of his brother slowly disappeared, and as he reached into his coat pocket and tossed something at him. "Hide my research...CALLL Y/N ANYTHING-"

Stan shielded his eyes as a bright white light filled the room and knocked him back onto the floor. The room was suddenly quiet.

"Ford!?...Ford! Come back!" He wasted no time to get back up and bang on the machine, hoping it would start back up like an old appliance. "Please!"

He raced to the lever a few feet away, desperately pulling and yanking at it, but it didn't budge.

"Stanford!?...Ford!? Are you home yet!?" The small coo of an unfamiliar voice snapped Stan from his nightmare.

"Hello!?" The voice echoed out again. He quickly got up, reaching for his only form of security. A baseball bat.

The voice had gone silent, but he could still hear someone moving he took a long pause, then opened the door swinging his bad.

"FORD WAIT! WAIT, IT'S ME! ITS Y/N!!"

Y/n?

He stopped swinging the bat and stared down at you.

"Call y/n! Anything-"

"Y/n?"

"Yes, it's me, Ford! I haven't been gone that long have i?"

He cleared. "No not at all we have some catching up to do."

You could tell there was something ford...well stan (you'd have to get used to the sudden name change) wanted to tell you while you sat across from him. Like he wanted to give you bad news. But he seemed to be thinking of the right way to put it.

"So..stan...what made you want to change from Ford to stan? Did your family have that much of an impact on you?" You tried to joke to lighten the tension that seemed to linger in the air.

"Well...something like that...listen y/n-"

"Are you OK? You seem...different you seem nervous...more nervous then when I left.." You placed your hand over top of his and offered a reasuring smile.

"I..."

stan didn't know you...he had no right to lie to you. But Ford seemed to trust you and judging from the photo on his desk in the basement, how fondly he seemed to write about you in the journal...the scrapped drawings of you in the garbage you meant a whole lot more to him then stan could understand right now, you must have felt the same way about his brother.

He remembered how worried his brother had been in making sure he understood you were absolutely under no circumstances to not touch the journals or anything pertaining to it again.

"My closest friend y/n and I have been working on this project for months now...I should have listened to her but I didn't...I need you to get rid of this journal she can't be near any of this when she returns."

"Did something happen with the portal?...with that...creature? And what happened to your hands!" You said now, pulling both hands into yours to examine them.

Besides, you already seemed so worried. He couldn't be the one to break the news to you. Not now.

Besides, he had a plan.

Sort of.

So he did what he did best.

Lied.

"Well...uh while you were away, I had a little accident. I had to get surgery...yea surgery, and the accident you know was from the portal...so I said, Forget the whole thing! "

He Tried to say it in a way that would convince even himself.

"Stanford, what do you mean? What happened? Are you just going to give up on everything we worked for?"

"I have to, I just need some time."

Neither of you noticed at first that you were holding hands as you spoke. Stan was the first to notice the closeness. It was the first time in what felt like years that anyone had shown him this kind of affection, let alone the kindness you were demonstrating with your concern.

"I don't know what happened while I was away or when you even had time for something to go wrong or why you would even start working again without me!" He noticed the slight annoyance building up and squeezed your hand.

And you took a breath. "But I understand and I won't pretend to know what happened and if you aren't ready to tell me I can respect that...things got a little rocky between us before I left and I'm really just hoping things can go back to the way they used to be with us. If a longer break and time is what you need... then I am 100% behind your decision."

He felt a wave of relief wash over him at your words. Maybe it wasn't your words but the kind-hearted look in your eyes, or maybe it was the way you still held his hands in yours.

You'd be the first two admit two things about your current situation.

One, Nostalgia was a funny thing. You knew when something was off about your bestfriend, the man infront of you was was a changed man, while his story didn't add up he looked shaken and defeated...after all this was the man you trusted with half your life. And you wouldn't lie, you had clung so desperately to the memories of college and spring through winter, it was that glimmer of hope and a mix of Nostalgia for your good times together that made you believe him.

And two, You always knew better then to trust your heart you and Ford would joke about the idea of following your heart and not your brain, how silly a concept it was that the organ that pumped blood through your body had such a pull on your decision making it made your thought process stop.

Yet here you where.

Following your heart.

"How about a few drinks and I can tell you about my trip?" You offered standing and being the first to break the lock between your hands. "And I can tell you about the plans I have for this place!"

"Plans?"

"Sure! I mean, we aren't doing our science junk anymore, so we need to make money somehow, right?"

You set down two glasses.

"Ok?"

You sat down, you listened to him explain how he had already done a few tours displaying whatever you had already had laying around and how people where eating it up.

"Stanford you've never been one for the gimmicky tricks, you've always cared more about the real deal...WE'VE been about the real deal...why lie to people?"

"Trust me y/n do a tour with me tomorrow try to show the people a real life monster and whatchamacallit and put it up against my made up creature."

You laughed. This wasn't what you had expected Stanford pines to spend his break away from work doing. It was out of character for him. But refreshing somehow.

Just like that, the seasons changed, and it was spring again

You learned quickly people didn't like the truth.

Real monsters and ghouls seemed to only upset or bother people so you and stan collaborated a way to make attractions that seemed real enough but also gimmicky enough that tourists would eventually laugh at it.

You learned pretty quickly that you were not only a pretty crafty person but an excellent storyteller.

You and Stanford seemed to almost pick up where you left off bonding and cracking jokes. It was like he was more confident than when you left him, more relaxed and full of life. You two fit right back into place with eachother with out missing a beat.

It's exactly what you'd been missing.

Soon, you were renovating half the house to be a showroom and giftshop, and soon after you were selling and wearing t shirts, you began putting up a sign. By the following summer, you were basically an operational business.

The mystery shack felt more like a brain child of you and Stanford and you cared for it like such.

It was something fun.

Something that didn't seem to be running Stanford down like the science stuff did. You could see a genuine smile on his face as he showed some local kid the corni-corn.

It was silly. You couldn't remember the last time you'd done something silly and adventurous.

It felt good.

"Another day another dollar y/n my dear." Stan said, flipping the open sign to close and placing his little red fez cap on top of your head.

"Soon enough, we'll have people from all over the place coming to get a piece of the mystery shack." He said, wrapping his arm around your shoulders, leading you back to the section of the Mystery shack that was still your shared home.

"Yea, we have a real Walt Disney start-up story, don't we stanford." He laughed loudly before suddenly getting serious.

"Listen. I wanted to say thank you for sticking with me through this. It means a lot."

"Of course, stanford." You reached up and planted a small peck on his cheeks. "We've been through everything together. I'm not going to stop now."

You could see stans face flush slightly as you stretched and yawned. "Anyways goodnight stanford."

"Uh yea...goodnight..." You heard him mumble as he touched his cheek where you kissed him.

Things where looking up.

~~~~~☆~~~~~

Tag list!:

@fanficcrow

@slay-thou-pookie

[abyssalzones]

can you tell us about your interpretation of the better world universe!!!! especially curious how stan/mystery trio works into it

hell yesssss I definitely can. ABW is maybe my favorite niche gf thing and probably the only "AU" I care about but that may be due to the fact that it's an AU that exists in the canon and we know so little about it. so it has an established foundation that you're left to fill in the details with yourself... it's like a poke bowl to me. you can put anything in there

and since I felt like it here's a bonus pic of them living their best lives pestering ford

[explanation-y stuff under ze cut because I got very longwinded]

as for specifics of how I see everything working out, there's a few key points that establish why things happened differently from canon, the most important being:

Stan agrees to hide journal #3 somewhere

Ford reunites with fiddleford and they begin working together again

both of these are already confirmed in canon, the first being the most obvious "schism" between timelines. literally everything in ABW is the way it is because stan made a different decision. kind of crazy in terms of its implications: I feel like that moment in the basement is a really good example of how stan gets so few opportunities to shape her own life (while ford is in the picture...) because of her role as the 'black sheep' twin. it's not exactly a premeditated decision to push ford into the portal, it's her acting on feelings that have been bubbling unaddressed under the surface for 10-something years at that point, and only then does she have any sort of power over the "narrative" of both her life and the story itself, something that from her pov has been ford's story. and in the canon timeline, she says no.

so like, what the hell made her say yes in ABW's timeline? this question kind of haunts me because I feel like it has to be entirely dependent on what the inside of stan's head looked like at the time. it's possible something influenced her, but overall I think it's more interesting if ford did and said all the exact same things up until this point and it really was entirely dependent on stan's decision internally.

so stan says yes, goes on a big trip to the other side of the world somehow, and buries journal 3 somewhere probably never to be found again. yay! but, uh, going on a trip like ford was suggesting would... take weeks. that would leave ford alone again. and not to have my established thoughts informed by new material or anything but bill did give him 72 hours.

so, next order of business: how in the fuck would ford convince fiddleford to rejoin him??? I'm unsure between journal 3 and tbob's information how ford may have tried to reach out to him but it seems like fiddleford was pretty adamant about staying away from that guy, out of guilt or fear of bill/the portal or both. I don't think logically it would just be a matter of ford calling him enough times or finding out where he lives- and I think that's kind of getting away from the point of why ABW is the way it is too. if stan is suddenly making decisions that are influencing ford's life, I think it would be similarly interesting if fiddleford also possessed some unique autonomy in this scenario.

aka I think ford got fucked up badly (possibly involving losing an eye) and fiddleford found him half-dead while trying to burn his house down. [mabel voice] romance!

to clarify: I don't think fiddleford is obligated to take care of ford. a major part of him leaving the project was finally making the decision to leave a situation that was hurting him, that he'd been staying in entirely because he still cared about ford and felt on some level he could still help him (which gets broken with "I don't need you!") and I think that's a very reasonable decision on his part. but I also do have to think about all the times ford has been "the hero" in situations where fiddleford ends up hurt and helpless because of something traumatizing. I think it'd be fascinating to see that reversed and have fiddleford actively making the difficult, messy decision to take care of that guy even when they're on miserable terms. and so begins like a solid week of these two desperately trying to look out for eachother in a nightmare scenario where one of them probably needs to go to a hospital + keeps getting possessed off and on and the other is going through the worst addiction/withdrawal cycle of his life irt the memory gun. yay! (part of the reason this even works To Me also is heavily informed by the lack of secrets: if fiddleford is actively dressing that guy's wounds he can't really keep it all to himself anymore. crushingly intimate perhaps...)

stan gets back eventually. such is the context of this pic

from there it's a nebulous grab-bag of things I think could happen up to the foundation of the institute.

how do all three of these incredibly fucked up individuals get along? well they don't but then they do.

how do they get bill out of ford's head without performing amateur brain surgery? idk. my best guess is a fiddleford and stan bonding trip into ford's mindscape that potentially helps answer the first question. possibly utilizing the memory gun. shrugs.

what's up with that one picture you drew of parallel fidds holding the memory gun up to ford's head? well. okay that one might or might not be something that actually happened but the idea was just that ford is coping badly with a few specific things and I liked the idea of fiddleford "holding onto" something for him to remember and work through later when he's ready to deal with it, it's an interesting reversal of how he's normally more of a memory sink.

from the point in canon about them stabilizing the portal so that bill can't use it to get into their dimension anymore onward, I think it just becomes a matter of them living the lives they could've always had in canon without realizing it. hence "a better world." some cool tidbits I like to think about:

stan gets to transition much earlier (late 1990's perhaps?) and probably starts going by "lee" instead

she's also the institute's CMO and is mostly in it for going on business trips abroad with ford. and the money. obviously.

the institute probably also legitimately changes the world on a sociopolitical scale outside of just interdimensional travel since their research renders them uniquely untouchable and all three of them are trans (I'm cartoon logic-ing a little bit here just let me have this one)

ford is the eccentric bill nye esque face of the company, fiddleford is the backbone. that isn't to say ford doesn't do anything as I think he'd always moreso be in it for the science than the fame (though it is nice to be more than comfortable financially) but it's an open secret fiddleford keeps tabs on literally everything, he's still very security-oriented.

the northwest family now has a more prominent ongoing rivalry with the pines family that could be very funny to think about. they've taken all the LOGGING JOBS with their damn SCIENCE

part of the reason I thought ford should lose an eye is because I think having him wear an eyepatch would be a neat way to parallel stan's "role" as mr. mystery visually! stan wears an eyepatch for no legitimate reason to keep up appearances as a schlocky tourist trap host, but it also alludes to her being more than she seems under the surface. ford's eyepatch does sort of have a legitimate reason to exist, but he also could just wear his glass eye and it would probably be less "conspicuous." he chooses the eyepatch instead because it's part of his image as Stanford Pines, Founder of Oddology, and because it keeps him safe. there's also a little residual scarring there from damage to his eyelid/tarsal plate which could easily represent him hiding the more "damaged" aspects of himself under his successes. ouch.

I'm unsure if ford and stan would ever feel comfortable getting back in touch with their parents. I know a lot of people go that route with fan material but I don't think they should have to. I think they're much happier now having healed the rift between them on their own and getting to live successful lives for themselves, rather than to prove something to their father.

that being said I do think fiddleford gets in touch with emma-may and his son again and they end up on better terms with time and a Lot of effort. tate's family is now composed of his father, mother, "uncle" ford (in the ye olde gay closeted sense of referring to your dad's partner as an uncle), and auntie lee, and I like to think they go out on trips to the lake together often :]

also ford and fiddleford tie the knot unofficially (in the eyes of the government anyway) in 1990. owed to stan somehow getting "ordained" as a rabbi. don't ask me how.

the pines twins start visiting the institute from a younger age than they do irt visiting stan in the show-- but they're only permitted to come along on heavily-supervised interdimensional excursions once they turn 12. cue antics!

anyway, hopefully this extremely longwinded and loosely structured mess helped answer your question. I like ABW sooo so so much you guys

[shortie-stack]

I've seen a lot of posts comparing Bill and Ford (and for good reason, they are very much parallels and foils to each other) but I haven't seen as much exploring how Bill and Stan mirror each other. Where Bill saw Ford as a tool and maybe even sympathized with him because of their shared experiences (outcast by their peers for traits beyond their control, hungry for knowledge and prestige, isolated from friends and family), Bill sees Stan as the embodiment of everything Bill hates about himself. on the website, entering "Stanley" and clicking enter a bunch of times opens up pages from Bill's perspective about how stan defeated him. Bill maintains that Stan didn't actually beat him, that it was Ford's plan, that Stan just got lucky, but we know from the show that that simply isn't true-- it was Stan's plan and it was Stan that defeated him. It's interesting to note that bill is okay with giving Ford the credit for his demise, but Stan? unacceptable. we'll come back to that though.

To Bill, Stan is simultaneously everything he hates about himself and everything he wants to be. When listing all of Stan's faults, Bill calls him a "side character, a resume-inflating, cheap trick loving, past denying overgrown child protected by failure only by a forcefield of denial and shamelessness". who else do we know who ticks all of those boxes? Bill himself is a side character for much of gravity falls in the real world, but in the context of the show this statement shows his fear of not actually being anything special. sure he was powerful in his home dimension, but we see time and time again that there are other beings in other dimensions that are just as, if not more powerful (the axolotl, for instance). Bill takes credit for liberating his dimension when he really didn't, he "honors" his deals through loopholes and turns if phrase, and he shouldn't be throwing stones in a glass house, seeing as he's the one having a temper tantrum. Bill is also deeply disconnected from his past, if him telling us the story of the demise of his home dimension is anything to go by, and only digs himself in a deeper hole through putting on this cheerful, confident, powerful persona. Stan does the same thing, especially as Mr. Mystery. but the thing about Stan is that he grows and changes as the show goes on, while Bill's mindset is perpetual. They both were cut off from their family because of something they did (Stan messing with Ford's project, Bill by destroying his entire dimension), but Stan allows a new family to get close to him and chooses to make sacrifices to make his niece and nephew (and even his employees to some extent) happy. Bill on the other hand, surrounds himself with henchmaniacs, yes-men who just want to party and will follow him as long as he shows them a good time. Every depiction of Bill is a window for him to look through, and with so many in the mystery shack, it's certain that he sees Stanley, the embodiment of everything Bill hates about himself, getting what Bill thinks he could never have. and Bill hates it because it means that if Stan can grow and change and make peace with his past mistakes, it also means that Bill can too. But that would require Bill to actually be vulnerable and endure the pain that confronting your past (many, many) mistakes brings. He would have to acknowledge and accept that his home is gone because of him, that countless lives have been ruined because of him, and that the reason he has never been able to maintain close relationships is solely his fault. But he won't. And as a result, he will always end up alone, a king of ashes.

I think Bill thought of Ford as a way to fill his emptiness because of their similarities, and possibly also because he saw Ford as a form of redemption. Ford was brilliant and good and just like Bill and Bill saw that and may have thought, if he likes me there's no way I'm a monster. in a way, Bill saw Ford as the only one worthy of killing him because if it was Ford it was just a forgone conclusion: Ford hasn't made Bill's mistakes so he is automatically "better" than Bill and Stan, so obviously he could kill Bill. but to have it be Stan means that someone who has messed up in a manner similar to Bill has the capacity to be better. and that shakes Bill to the core.

[rynnthefangirl]

You’ll never catch me NOT defending a Pines twin.

Stan? All he ever wanted was his family’s love and respect. He would have done ANYTHING for Ford, he made mistakes but they were genuinely honest mistakes, he paid for them greatly and spent thirty years trying to fix things. He never meant to break Ford’s project, and he couldn’t have possibly known what the portal was. He just wanted to welcome his brother back with open arms, and got punched in the face for it. All his jealousy and anger towards Ford were totally understandable.

Ford? Stan’s mistakes may have been honest ones, but Ford still suffered greatly for them and it’s perfectly understandable for him to be angry and not quick to forgive his brother. Yes, he fucked up big time with Bill and that’s on him, but he would do ANYTHING to make things right. Also like how can you not feel bad for him, he went through actual Hell, first with Bill’s psychological torment and then spending 30 years hopping dimensions. Of course he’s paranoid and distrusting! Suffered more than anyone else, my poor grunkly meow meow.

Mabel? She didn’t know what the rift was! Nobody told her! She’s 12 years old for gods sake, of course she is easy to manipulate when she is extremely upset. And yeah she is awful to Dipper in Mabel Land, but she was literally being influenced by demonic brain magic, you can’t hold her accountable for all that. And the times when Dipper sacrificed for her was bc he was the one who SHOULD have made the sacrifice. Mermando and even Waddles are more important than Dipper having one good day on his totally doomed romantic pursuit of Wendy. Once Mabel was put in the situation where what she wanted wasn’t as important as what Dipper needed, she came through for him.

Dipper? I haven’t seen much criticism of him, and good because there shouldn’t be. My boy is brave and smart and would go through hell without hesitation for his sister. Sure he can fuck things up when he recklessly messes with supernatural stuff, but nobody’s perfect. As for his and Mabel’s fight at the end, Dipper didn’t do anything wrong. He was offered a huge opportunity from Ford and was just considering taking it. He should have told Mabel about the rift, but he was only doing what Ford said, his idol and mentor who has way more experience with Bill.

[pinkrose787]

You Can't Spell Apologize Without Lie

Summary: Bill comes into Ford's dream to apologize.

Ao3 Link

Ever since Bill died, Ford has slept a lot easier. No longer does he have to worry about that damn demonic triangle invading his dreams and tormenting him with threats of destroying his dimension.

That was until tonight.   

In tonight’s dream, he is in the Mystery Shack back when it was still his laboratory. It’s vivid in a way that his dreams never are. Except for whenever he dreamt about Bill.

“Hiya, Sixer! Did ya miss me? Admit it, you missed me.” A familiar perky voice comes from behind him.

Ford swivels around. Standing, or more precisely floating, before him is his triangular tormentor. Exactly the same as he was when Ford last saw him. Except for the crack that runs across his face filled with static. Likely a scar from when Stan punched Bill.

His eye has that smile to it. A smile that used to make Ford’s heart flutter with affection for his “muse”. Now, his heart pounds in fear of his manipulator. “Bill! You’re supposed to be dead!”

“But I’m not! I’m here!”

He takes a step back. A pointless action given Bill’s abilities. “Leave my mind this instant!”

Bill puts up his hands like he’s trying to soothe a panicked horse. He floats closer to Ford. “Listen, I will eventually. But I want you to hear me out first. Please.”

That gives Ford pause. In all his years of knowing Bill, never once did he say please. And there’s a genuineness in his voice. A vulnerability to it. But it could all be a trick. That’s what Bill does. He tricks and deceives to get what he wants.

Bill sighs. His eye looks at the ground. “I know you don’t trust me. And I know why. But it’s been so long. I’ve changed.”

“It’s only been 3 years. That’s barely any time to me, and almost nothing to you.”

“Where I’m at time works differently. It’s been 3 years to you and several eons to me.” He floats over to Ford. Puts his arm over his shoulder, the exact same way that he used to when Ford admired him. Likely a trick to get him to trust him. “You’re a smart guy, you get how all this relativity stuff works.”

Ford pushes Bill off of him. This time his tricks aren’t going work on him. “I don’t care where you are or how time works! I want you gone!”

“Look, I’ve spent all this time being ‘dead’,” He uses air quotes when he says dead. “in this asylum that makes Hell look like Disney World. There’s been nothing to do except reflect on my life.”

“It sounds like you’re in a place that you belong.”

“Yeah, I am.”

That’s not the answer Ford was expecting. At least, not said so sincerely. Still, he can’t forget that this is probably a trick. “So, you’re here to escape from there? That’s it, isn’t it?”

“No! No.” Bill shakes his head. “I came here to apologize.”

“You came here to apologize?” Ford heard him correctly. He knows he did. It’s impossible for him to mishear Bill in these dreams. The concept of Bill ever apologizing is so alien to him that mishearing a voice that is psychically projected into his head is more plausible.

“Yes, I did.” Bill takes off his hat. He holds it in his hands. “I realized that I messed up. Badly. You were the best thing to happen to me in a trillion years, and I didn’t see that. I was blinded by my own ambition and after destroying my dimension I was too scared to let anyone get to close. So, I told myself that you were nothing but a tool to me. A means to an end. But you weren’t. You were everything to me. You were the one person who could understand me.”

A tear forms in Bill’s eye. Combined with holding his hat in hands, he looks so vulnerable and pathetic. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“So, you came here for forgiveness. Let me guess, this asylum place will only let you out if  get forgiveness from everyone you’ve ever wronged.” He looks Bill straight in the eye. “Well, you’re not getting it from me.” 

Bill puts his hat back on. It seems like he’s actually hurt by what Ford said? “That’s not it. They actually didn’t want me coming back here. They said it was a bad idea.”

“Well, maybe they were right. You should have never come back here.”

“I know, I just…”

“Just what? Just thought apologizing would undo everything you’ve done?” Ford’s voice starts to rise. “You manipulated me. You tortured me. You tried to kill my family. You damn near destroyed my dimension! I almost lost my brother because of you!”

“No! I…” Bill shouts.

Ford ignores him. “Do you want to know the worst thing you did?”

He looks Bill straight in his eye. Making sure that the demon is listening to his next words. “You made me fall in love with you. Even after every horrible thing you did to me, I still loved you! Even though I knew it was stupid and irrational to love someone who only wanted to hurt me, I still did!”

For once in his life, Bill Cipher doesn’t have anything to say.

“There were even parts of my brain telling me that it wasn’t that bad. That I’m being overdramatic. That being with you is better than being without you. And these thoughts tortured me for years. They haunted me on my coldest nights when I journeyed through the dimensions.”

“I’ve changed! I’m better now! I swear!” Bill cries.

“Well, I don’t care how much better you are! You could be the kindest person in all the dimensions who saves kittens from trees and I wouldn’t give a damn. Because it doesn’t matter how much you’ve changed, it still doesn’t negate all the horrible things you did!”

“I know that. But…”

“But nothing.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought that apologizing would help you heal. Give you closure and all that junk.”  

“You thought it would heal me. Thought it would give me closure.” Ford rolls his eyes. “Well thank you for your consideration, but I was healing fine without you. I had just gotten to the point where I’m able to see a yellow triangle without spiraling into a panic attack. But now that’s in the trash, because of you.”

Bill rubs his arm. Not looking Ford in the eyes. “I really thought it would help.” He says in a low voice. “Honest.”

“Do you want to know how I know you haven’t changed? Every single sentence is about how you feel, what you think, how what you’ve done has affected you. There hasn’t been a single time where you have acknowledged how your actions have hurt me. You haven’t even done the bare minimum of asking how I’ve been doing. Because if you did you’d know that I’ve been doing better than I ever have without you.”

“Well, you haven’t given me an opportunity to. You keep cutting me off.”

“Because every time you open your damn mouth, you manipulate me. Every. Single. Time. But I’m not going let you this time. I’m done with you and your lies.”

Bill sighs. “I’m done with all of that. I promise.”

“Goodbye, Bill. If I never see you again, I want you to know that I hate you. More than I have ever hated anyone. You ruined my life, and for that I’ll never forgive you.”

What seems to be tear forms in Bill Cipher’s eye. “I’m sorry.” His voice fades.

Ford wakes up with a jolt. He’s covered in sweat. His breathing is heavy.

He looks around. He’s no longer in the dream.

Now, he’s back in the cabin of the Stan o’ War II. Stan sleeps on the bunk below him. The sound of his snores fill the cabin. The ship creaks as the waves rock it back and forth.

There’s no chance of him falling back asleep. He doesn’t want to risk seeing Bill again. That and his heart is still pounding in his chest. Looking at his watch, it reads 3 am.

He climbs out of bed, careful not to wake Stan, and heads out onto the deck.

It isn’t much lighter out here, but at least there are the stars. Out here in the Artic, there’s no light pollution. The stars shine brilliantly. Ford can find all the different constellations without needing a map of the sky. Ursa Major, Orion, Gemini.

If there is one thing Ford missed during his travel through the dimensions it was the stars. Sure, there were countless stars in all sorts of dimensions. But none of them equated to the beauty of the ones in this one. Looking at them he’s reminded that he’s back.

He’s home.

Though the stars are a source of comfort, there’s still a deep panic within him. Bill is back. He talked to him. His adrenaline levels are the same as if he was being hunted by a polar bear. Frankly, he’d rather deal with a polar bear than Bill.

He hears the floorboards creak behind him. Seems like Stan woke up. “You’re up early. You trying to map out the stars or something?” Stan says.

“I saw Bill in my dream,” Ford says point-blank. There’s no point in hiding it. Nor does he want to. He doesn’t want to be alone in dealing with Bill anymore. Every single time he’s tried, it’s almost ruined his life.

“Are you sure? You have been having a lot dreams about Bill since Weirdmageddon.” The worry in Stan’s voice is palpable.

Ford sighs. “This dream didn’t resemble any of the others. All of those dreams are strange and disjointed. Jumping from one event to another for seemingly no reason. This was one was as clear as day.”

“So he’s back? How? I killed that little triangle jerk!” Stan exclaims.

“You did. He’s still dead, and he has a scar on his face to prove it. I think he told me that he’s in some sort of prison dimension now?” Ford sighs. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What else did he say? Because I swear if that wise guy threatened you-” Stan shakes his fist.

“No, he didn’t threaten me. In fact, he apparently came because he wanted to apologize."

“Apologize? That’s gotta be some sort of trick.”

“That’s what I thought too, but no he seemed genuinely sincere.”

“Eh, I doubt it. I know the likes of him.” Stan leans back against the railing of the boat. “Met plenty of them over the course of my life. And let me tell you their apologies are never sincere.”

Ford rests his arms on the railing. “You may be right.” He sighs. “It just doesn’t make sense to me. I keep thinking I have Bill figured out, then he pulls something like this.”

“You should take what you do know about him, that he’s a lying conniving jerk who wanted to kill you and destroy our dimension, and base your opinion on that. So, he apologized.” Stan shrugs. “That’s just words. Don’t mean nothing.”

“You’re right.”

“Course, I am. I’m always right!”

“What frustrates me is that I feel like I’ve gone backwards. Right when I thought I put everything to rest.” Ford hits the railing. “He comes back and ruins it. Now, I feel like I did before Weirdmageddon. Terrified that he’s going to come back and destroy me.”

Stan puts his arm over Ford. “Look, how bout this? Next time, he comes back, I’ll go into your dream and punch him dead again.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible.”

“Eh, I’m sure you’ll find a way with that smart guy brain of yours.” Stan starts giving ford a noogie.

Ford laughs. “Okay, okay. I’ll find a way to let you into my dreams.” He playfully pushes Stan away.

“Good. Cause there ain’t no way I’m letting that stupid little jerk come back and hurt you again. You hear?”

“Yeah, yeah.” He has a smile on his face. Most of the tension in Ford’s body is gone. Stan always was able to bring Ford back down and out of his own head when they were kids. Frankly, he doesn’t know how he managed without Stan.

But then again, he does know. He didn’t. He got swindled by a demon and became a criminal in multiple dimensions. Not a single part of Ford doubts the idea that if he had let Stan back in a lot earlier, then none of that would have happened.

There’s a moment of silence between the two of them. “Hey, Stan.”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

[fishy--friend]

Why I hate Stanford Pines: An Essay* *(yes this counts as an essay because its too long not to be)

I do not like ford (though i do tolerate his existence purely for the fact he made Stan [even though that SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE] who he was today) and before all you ford simps attack me hear me out first because for once i actually have reasons

a lot of the ford simps are like "omg hes so hot" "hes so autistic aroace rep" and fail to talk about the downright disgusting things he did

like... you know he isn't an innocent soft owl boy right? HE GOT HIS BROTHER NEARLY KILLED LIKE 15 TIMES FOR ACCIDENTALLY BREAKING A STUPID SCIENCE PROJECT AND NEVER ACTUALLY VALUED HIS EFFORTS UNTIL HE ALMOST WITNESSED THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER. Granted he had no way of knowing about what he put Stan through due to cutting him off and all, but I feel like when Stan did tell how he was doing, or showed up to Ford's place looking a mess, he could've tried to reach out for once since the last like 10 years. And sure, maybe in some offscreen moment he paused and asked Stan how he was doing, but looking at ATOTS that clearly did not happen. And even when Ford returned, he treated his brother like absolute dog shit and was going to kick him out once summer ended thinking he had someplace to live (of course if we're going off of Stan's verbal retelling of his backstory, he glossed over his homelessness and the gang fights he got into).

Ford didn't even take Stan's suggestion about using his brain to trick Bill seriously at first before Stan pointed out it was their only option. Only then, when faced with the brother he looked down upon and scrutinized for years, did he hesitate. He didn't hesitate to kick him out before, to abandon him and leave him to do god knows what, but that was the only time he looked genuinely sorry for what he did to his brother. Of course, being the one pulling the trigger is different than accidentally causing it, and you could count Ford looking away as he closed the curtains to their room when Stan got kicked out as apologetic, but even that could've been played off as sadness for not getting into his dream school.

Don't even get me STARTED on how he treated Mabel running off, assuming she was just "being moody" and barely showing concern. He didn't even pause for a moment to think about it, just hopping back into sealing the rift. And when Weirdmaggedon started he didn't even stop to worry about Mabel, to question if she was okay, he brushed off Dipper's concerns for his sister like it wasn't valid!

In conclusion, I despise ford with a burning passion and i doubt that Book of Bill is going to change that. Also can we talk about Shifty for a sec? He absolutely abused the poor thing, treated it like an animal and gave it no room for it to grow its abilities. If ford was real it would be on sight dude.

[jacky-rubou]

I had a dream where Ford acts like Dipper and makes a list of all the things he thinks he should apologize to his brother for and then he tells Stan to sit in the chair and makes Stan promise to listen to what he has to say until the end and without interruptions. Ford finishes apologizing for everything he thinks he should apologize to Stan, his brother gets up from his seat and gives him a hug saying he forgives him. But Ford is confused because Stan didn't specify what exactly he forgave, only for Stan to respond "for everything". Then the two of them start crying and hug each other tightly.

this was so cute i couldn't just not write a ficlet about it haha (hope you don't mind, but inspiration struck lol)

"Stan?"

"Hmmm?" Stan acknowledged while half-listening, his eyes still focused on the project in front of him. Clothes haphazardly loomed in a big messy pile to his left, a few duffel bags to his left, and a vain attempt to do it all alone had his attention all to itself. His mind found only a brief moment to worry as he folded and tucked a plain white shirt into its spot at the bottom, lost in the action.

At least, until he realized Ford hadn't responded. Stan glanced over his shoulder and swore he saw his twin stuff something into his coat when he caught his eye. Stan gave him a raised eyebrow, glancing at the spot of interest until Ford sheepishly turned away. Stan shrugged and continued his work, finding comfort in the idea of this tedium leading to the trip of his dreams despite how long such a thing would take for just one person to do.

But Ford was still just... standing behind him. Awkwardly. In the way Stan couldn't pretend wasn't just like how he'd wait for room to speak when they were in school and he needed to speak to a teacher. Always uncomfortable and unsure if he was being bothersome for having a question or needing help. Stan could even hear him muttering under his breath, like he was psyching himself up. If Stan was being honest, it was quite annoying that Ford wouldn't just say what he wanted instead of making a big painful deal about it.

"Just spit it out, Ford. I'm waiting," Stan blurted, irritation sneaking its way into his tone that only gathered a gasp and immediate withdrawal from Ford, "...what is it? Better be important, heh..."

"Nothing... it's..." Ford took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, "It's nothing... Just pretend I didn't say anything..."

"Ya can't just say that and think I'd believe ya. What is it?" Stan asked once more, fully turning around to find a sight he wasn't expecting. Ford was looking down, his eyes visibly watering and his throat swallowing heavily. Ford caught his staring and just... sucked it all in at once in a single moment to gather himself that felt all wrong. "What's wrong?"

"I told you it's nothing, just... let's get this all packed..." Ford walked over to stand next to Stan and began to pack clothes for their trip before Stan could even protest that there was certainly something wrong with how strongly he's deflecting. "Then we can get on that trip faster, yes?"

"Ford, you're trembling. Tell me what's wrong before you mess up all the clothes," Stan saw the sloppy way that Ford was packing, quickly devolving into just tossing shirts and pants in with no regards to order. But instead of making his brother tell him what was up, it only seemed to make him more upset. Stan grabbed his hand before he could toss anything else into a bag, finally pausing him enough for his eyes to well up. "You know you can tell me anything, right? Did something happen?"

Stan let Ford go and he stepped back, looking more and more like a sad cat with every moment. He peeked into his coat for a moment, nervously turning away before the sound of crinkling echoed in the small bedroom. Stan simply stared in confusion before Ford turned back and cleared his throat for the last time.

"You might want to sit down. And I... I would like it if you just... heard me out," Ford requested, soft and delicate as a leaf in the fall. Stan frowned, concern etching on his features as he found an empty spot on the messy bed to sit. "I'll say my piece and then... we can forget about it before dinner. Maybe even by lunch."

Ford chuckled but there was no humor in it. Much less his face, which was twisted in pained sorrow. Stan couldn't help but search Ford's eyes for an explanation that didn't leave him confused and wanting to punch whatever or whoever clearly upset him this much. Ford took a few deep breaths and Stan could see him fighting for his life to say what he wanted to in his expression.

"Promise me you won't interrupt, that you'll just hear me out," Ford requested quietly, patting his coat for the mysterious thing he'd been hiding the entire time. Stan nodded. "Just... just say it in words. I need to know I'll be heard..."

"I promise," Stan tried to tamp down the initial annoyance at the theatrics, realizing it was important to Ford that he listen, "You're worryin' me, Ford. But that doesn't mean I won't listen."

"No need to be worried, just..." Ford sucked in a breath and tensed all up like he was scared of something, "I have something important I have to get off my chest before... well, nevermind all that."

Stan stayed quiet, watching Ford's face contort into something that could only be described as pure guilt. He refused to look Stan in the eye as he began, holding himself tightly as he began to speak what he'd clearly been meaning to say the entire time. Stan listened, his job to get these clothes and stuff packed momentarily forgotten as Ford checked his coat once more.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry. I can't say that... enough," Ford swallowed thickly and looked to his feet, "So I guess I'll apologize for everything, one by one. Before we get on a boat and let this travesty ruin our relationship again."

Stan didn't know what he meant with 'this travesty', finding only concern at every possible connotation. But still he stayed silent, paying the utmost attention as Ford began to list off everything he thought he needed to apologize for with a voice that was only trembling.

"I am sorry for not considering how West Coast Tech would've made you feel, for not... thinking our dream was viable... for abandoning our dream so soon..." Ford began with a choke, a place Stan never expected him to start with, "I should've known it would upset you. I should've asked if you were okay with it. I should've defended you in that stupid principal's office. I should've rejected it. I'm sorry I didn't."

Stan wanted so badly to speak up, to say that that wasn't fully fair, finding his lips tied at the promise he'd made moments earlier. Ford was barely holding together at the first thing he'd listed, sucking it in with a frown.

"I am sorry I assumed the incident was a sabotage. I should've known you'd never do that. I'm..." Ford glanced at Stan's face before looking at the ground again, pain within his form, "I'm sorry I let Pa kick you out without so much of a word of protest. I ruined your life. I'm so sorry."

Stan stayed silent as Ford apologized for not reaching out to him sooner. For thinking badly of him, even though Stan wouldn't have known. Stan fought with his mind at the idea of stopping Ford from continuing, feeling something soothing at the words acknowledging unspoken hurt. But Stan... felt something wrong about it at the same time that disconcerted him that he couldn't place as Ford spoke on.

"I am sorry I only called you to be an 'errand boy'. I should've known what you'd think of that after you were homeless for a decade," Ford sighed softly, curling in on himself as memories flashed across his face, "I am sorry I didn't just let you burn the journal. I'm sorry I fought you and I'm sorry I... I fell in the portal and made you work for so long to get me back..."

"What..." Stan spoke before he could think, his mind reeling at just what Ford could be willing to apologize for. Ford looked at him and Stan cleared his throat apologetically at the broken promise. "Sorry... sorry, just... involuntary. Go on..."

"I'm sorry I punched you out of the portal. I'm sorry I didn't thank you. I'm sorry I said I was going to kick you out. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you or try to make amends..." Ford went quiet, quieter than he'd been throughout this little speech, and took a quick glance at the inner side of his coat like he thought he was being sneaky about it. Stan didn't call him out, simply heard him out like he'd promised. "I'm... I'm sorry I had to erase your mind... to... to see that you were better than... the entirety of, well, me.

"I'm sorry this trip didn't happen until a week from now, 40 years after when it should've been... I'm sorry for..." Ford paused, his breaths shuddering even more than they had been, "I'm sorry for being a completely inadequate brother to you. I'm... I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

"You don't have to say anything... I-I don't deserve to be forgiven. I just... wanted to get it off my chest before I trap you on a boat with me," Ford finished with his pose looking disconcertingly like how he'd hold himself after he'd been bullied as a kid; hands hidden behind his back, his head down, a nervous frown on his face that betrayed something deeper... Stan couldn't stand it. "In fact, you don't even have to go on that boat trip if you don't want to. I can't imagine wanting to live with me for an extended period of time now that I think of it. I'm sorry for not considering that before rushing you into it..."

"Hey, hey, none of that, 'kay?" Stan stood up and touched Ford on the shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. Ford looked at him and Stan could see something break behind his eyes before it happened on his face and he melted into him. Stan hugged Ford and whispered comfort in his ear before deciding it was best to give his poor twin some closure. "As far as I'm concerned, it's all water under the boat. Or however that phrase goes. I forgive you."

"For what part of it? Letting you get kicked out? Punching you? Or..." Ford fell silent, lost in thought as Stan wondered how he could've misunderstood 'I forgive you' to be only for one thing. "Or maybe the late trip?"

"No, no, Ford... you don't get it..." Stan sighed, only watching Ford become slightly panicked before he explained further with a small frown, "I mean all of it. I forgive you for everything."

"Even the errand boy stuff?"

"Even the errand boy stuff..." Stan repeated with a nod, letting out an involuntary 'oomph!' when Ford squeezed him tight in hug reciprocation. Stan blinked, finding himself almost surprised to find tears in his own eyes. Ford shook with tears of his own, barely able to keep his composure.

"Th-thank you..."

"Of course, Ford," Stan led him to the bed after noticing how unstable he was, keeping an arm around him the entire time. "I hope you know that I love you and want you on this trip."

"I... I still don't understand why... I can never make up for what I've done to hurt you..." Ford sighed softly, a tired frown on his face that was lifted slightly at Stan's kindness. He reached into his pocket to pull out what he'd been hiding the entire time, and Stan could only feel his heart sink. "I still have so much more on this list I didn't mention..."

"You and Dipper really are more alike than I thought, huh?" Stan chuckled lightly, though his eyes wandered and widened at some of the things on the list he managed to catch before Ford turned it from view. '-I'm sorry for being a burden' and '-I'm sorry I took your guest room' were the next things on the list, though crossed out with the words 'too needy and annoying' written as an excuse to skip them. "Ford... you're fine. You needed the guest room. I hardly think that makes you a burden... or any of that..."

"I should've stayed in the basement like I said I would..." Ford murmured before Stan turned his face to him with a stern frown, "What? It's true..."

"No it isn't. Stop lying to yourself or I might just slap you," Stan poked a finger in his direction, watching Ford shrink back before softening up, "You mean a lot to me, Ford. I told you that I forgave you and I meant it. Let me rip up that list and then maybe we can work on healing together, hmm?"

"But I can't make it up to you! Why are you being so nice to me?" Ford cried, pulling away only to start weeping, "You're supposed to be mad at me..."

"Hey. Let's not talk like that, eh? You're mean enough to yourself," Stan pointed out, yanking the list out of Ford's hand before he could protest and tearing it into shreds, "If you want to 'make it up to me' or whatever, you can start by helping me pack for our trip. Not like you need to or nothing."

"I guess I can live with that..." Ford sighed in resignation and before Stan could reiterate that he didn't need to, started folding clothes and putting them away without another word, "Serves me right..."

"Ford, it's not that serious. Here, I'll help you," Stan put himself back into the work, folding clothes and tucking them away without letting Ford do too much of it. Ford looked to challenge that idea, quickening his pace until Stan finally put a hand on his shoulder to pause him again. "Ford. I love you. Remember that. Don't work yourself to death over anything, okay?"

"Okay..." Ford stopped folding clothes, turning to Stan with a sheepish frown. He took one look at Stan's concern and outstretched arms before breaking and falling into Stan's arms once more. No dry eye existed in that small bedroom, the sound of sniffling and warbling clear. "I love you... so much... I wish I hadn't tried to deny it for so long..."

"Shhh, it's okay. I forgive you. Love you too."

Stan couldn't sweep the pieces of that blasted list into the trash any faster.

[legobiwan]

Another story idea:

One of the - and I hesitate to call them "issues" as I think the series is pretty complete on its own - but one of the loose threads from the end of Gravity Falls Season 2 I'd like to tug at is the ease with which Ford finds redemption after his return to his dimension.

On the surface, it seems like the only person he needs to work to reconcile with is his brother, with whom he can barely share a civilized conversation with until after the zodiac is broken and the elder Pines twins are left seemingly helpless in Bill's improvised prison.

And yes, Ford gets the kick in the ass he needs after his brother's memory is erased (at his own hand), as he realizes at that juncture just how much his hubris has cost him (even if he hadn't consciously valued the relationship with his brother before, there have been steady hints throughout the series and books that Ford values Stan in some way, even if he's shit at showing it).

But it's all...rather easy.

McGucket asserts that he's done forgetting and ready to forgive, even though he was probably the biggest victim to Ford's actions and ego throughout the entire series. (There was another post I saw around here about "hurt people hurt people." Bill may have been awful to Ford, but Ford was almost equally as awful to Fiddleford).

Give me a story where McGucket starts to gain back those memories - of his anxiety and panic and near-slavish devotion to a man who barely gave him the time of day. Give me a Fiddleford who won't take Ford back after this all comes back to light, who finally grows a spine and cuts ties with someone who mistreated him for years.

Give me a story where Mabel is outwardly enthusiastic towards Ford, but also afraid. Afraid that she's not enough for him, that she can't be her brother, that Ford will look down on her. Give me Mabel acting out in her most-Mabelest ways to try to both win over Ford and smooth out the relationship between him and Stan (and knowing she's a child coming from an unsettled home life, this hits all the worse).

Give me a story where Dipper realizes the truth of the old quote, "never meet your heroes." Where he finally come to terms with the fact that Ford is just a person - and a very flawed person, at that. A person who nearly sold the world for his ego and worse yet, held his grunkle and sister with little regard, held Dipper's own future with little regard except how it would benefit Ford.

And yes, finally, give me a story where Stan and Ford have the seriously hash things out. Where they ned to come to terms with their trauma from their youth (and the one thing I can't blame Ford for is what happened with the science fair project. Stan shouldn't have been there and he knew better. Stan also knew he was less than second banana to his brother his entire life, and his father made no bones about showing it. Say what you will, but an almost-18-year-old Ford was never going to react well to that situation, nor would he totally understand the consequences of Filbrick kicking Stan out at that age. Stan was also horrifically co-dependent on his brother, something his parents should have helped to sort out way earlier). Stan needs to sort his issues with both his (now-assumedly-dead) parents, as does Ford. Ford needs to come clean as to the who, what, where and why of Oregon. And Stan needs a reason to live for himself, and not for others - especially not his brother, from whom he has an almost desperate need for affection. (And you have to wonder, after 30 years...now that he's gotten Ford back, is there some kind of pit that's opened up in Stan, some raison d'être that's vanished leaving him uncertain as to everything in life, even with Ford vowing change and ships and adventures from his end. That's got to be one hell of a whiplash).

Anyway, what I'm saying is I love Ford but there's a ton he has to reckon with, and worst off, he has to reckon with other people if he truly wants to change. (And oh no, can I think of another two-dimensional being who may be going through the same thing in a time-warped psychiatric institution, hmmm, I wonder...)

[jheselbraum]

can we talk about the apprenticeship again? i wanna talk about the apprenticeship again (people online are scaring me bringing back the "ford didn't really care about dipper/his family/placed them below his Greater Good" discourse again ☹️ feels like we need a refresher)

The apprenticeship was about Ford wanting a friend and buddy! It was about Ford reaching out to his family the only way he knew how! The second he and Stan were on good terms again he immediately wanted to spend time with him. The apprenticeship was Ford wanting to spend more time with his family because he doesn't think anyone will want to spend time with him without some sort of scientific endeavor to catch their fancy, and while I always thought that if Mabel had simply asked to stay too Ford would've said yes after reading tbob I am firmly convinced that if Mabel asked to also stay in Gravity Falls with him he would've started crying. And this whole "catch their fancy with an apprenticeship instead of just asking them to hang out" thing carries over to Stan where he asks Stan to go with him to fucking Antarctica to dig up Time Baby or whatever the fuck, when what he actually wants is to just finally go on the damn boat trip with Stan!

The only thing particularly wrong with the apprenticeship offer is that while it's Ford's way of reaching out, because of who he offered it to and when it would effectively mean passing on his tendency to close himself off to Dipper, Mabel, and Stan, as each of them would be alone. This effect is reversed when Ford offers the same deal to Stan, who at the end of summer would otherwise be returning to his lonely life before he met the kids, so now at the end of summer neither Dipper and Mabel nor Stan and Ford are alone. It's weird to hold that against him since that's how conflict in a story works and the payoff of Ford wanting to go travel the world with Stan at last is weaker if we weren't presented with the first option of Ford wanting to remain in the basement with Dipper cataloging mushroom samples forever.

And at the end of tbob, Dipper, Mabel, and Stan are so fucking supportive of Ford, literally laughing off his worries about his biggest insecurity (in a positive way). They don't care that he made a deal with Bill, they don't care how much he fumbled Fiddleford, they don't care about the fucking apprenticeship! They love him and they're glad he's okay!

The solution to Ford's problems, past and present, has always been reaching out. The correct action for Ford to take, whether or not he takes it, has always been reaching out.

Ford didn't reach out when Stan was kicked out. He didn't reach out when Fiddleford left the project. He only reached out to Stan when he realized Bill's abuse and manipulation when things got truly dire, life threatening, not just to himself but when Bill made it clear that he could and would hurt the people Ford cared about, too, at least emotionally. And then finally after a lifetime of closing himself off and putting up walls, he actually honest to goodness reaches out to his family (or rather, they reach out to him) and it wouldn't make any sense if building and maintaining those connections didn't finally pay off for Ford. His life is better for having formed those connections! The Pines' lives are better for having those connections as well! Stan has his brother, his twin! Dipper has a mentor figure who shares his love of mysteries! Mabel has a companion who fosters her outgoing spirit and shares her creative interests! One of the show's big themes is family, why are we acting like Dipper and Mabel should reject a member of their family who, like Stan, is a gruff old bastard who's made his share of mistakes but god damnit if those kids aren't the light of his life?

[cat-autism-wizard]

okay i yapped a lot to my friends in dc but yall deserve to hear this too

ford in mabel vs the future makes me so MAD because yes dipper is a great assistant for ford because dipper is just like him!! and i love the fact he considers dipper as a trainee in his research BUT that doesnt mean that he has to be alone? like both stans were grew apart because of a mistake stan did but with ford's way of looking at things even if stan didnt break his project they would probably grow apart because ford is greedy. he was always bound to end up alone because he doesnt trust anyone and always wants more than he has (which actually makes the og mystery twins very similar) so ford offering dipper to stay at gravity falls and dipper asking 'what about mabel?' and ford just saying 'she has a magnetic personality she will be fine' is just another way of how ford sees stan. ford doesnt realize how close they were. because if someone tried to take ford away from stan at that age ford would never let stan go but after the highschool he stopped caring about bonds as much as he did as a child.

and it also makes it obvious that ford does not know mabel. he never paid attention to her as much as he did to dipper, most likely because in his mind mabel is just a little stan and dipper is just a little ford. he doesnt see them as they are but a versiom of himself and stan. mabel has indeed a magnetic personality she could make new friends in a second but she could and would never replace dipper even for a second (i dont count dippy fresh he was created by pure spite)

but ford doesnt know that!! because he didnt even kmow about what stan did and does after they grew apart!!! he thinks stan was fine without him but he was not!!!! and mabel wouldnt be okay without dipper and dipper wouldnt be okay without mabel especially at age 12!!!!!! they are just kids!!!!

AND BTW mabel would also be an amazing trainee for researching supernatural stuff in gravity falls because she has compassion and bravery more than dipper might i add. the twins are a package deal but ford doesnt know that because ford only learned and got to know his family for real in weirdmageddon and after it due to mabel's scrapbook. and only then he stopped being greedy and accepted his family as they are, as they really are.

[potatoqueensays]

May I humbly request you elaboraremos om the Bill = Ford in your reverse falls? I am deeply interested 👀

WOHOHOHOH YES!!!! YOU SHALL!!

Thank you for your interest!!!

This makes me super excited to talk about, tbh he deserves his own post anyway!! Cause hoo boy there's a lot to unpack!! Forgive me for all the words, takes a lot to get to the main stuff.

Also thank you to @danklemckspankle for helping with a lot of the details. It's a collaborative project 💪

Let's get into it, shall we??

So! Ford in this au didn't get his science fair project wrecked by Stanley. Now Stan did drop it, but funny enough, to Stan's hopes it did work. Now that might sound like a copout, but it actually is a very damning event for Ford.

Ford gets the scholarship, and goes to West Coast Tech. He thrives, but amongst all these other geniuses he's just another face in the crowd. Now he's busy at school, but he doesn't get the research grant for Gravity Falls because he's just another smart guy.

He returns home after college and his father is expecting him to have millions and already have a job and a bunch of money. But Ford tells him that he's looking into it and doesn't have anything yet. He needs to stay at home until he can get an opportunity, but his father doesn't take too kindly to that. He kicks Ford out. Unknown to Ford, Stan isn't waiting at home due to also being kicked out. So Ford thinks his whole family abandoned him. He thinks Stan is out adventuring the world. So he's all alone without a place to stay.

Ford has already heard of Gravity Falls, even going as far to write a thesis on the weirdness of the town. But it wasn't what the college wanted, and they even went as far as to reject the thesis and the request for a research grant. So now Ford is stuck.

He does odd jobs around the states and winds up in Gravity Falls. One of those jobs landed him a place in the town. Now he hasn't commissioned Boyish (not yet Manly) Dan to make the shack yet, so he couch surfs. He does research on the side for Gravity Falls, eventually finding a cave painting of a weird zodiac and a triangle.

He summons Bill, and they make a deal for Ford to make a portal for him. Ford requests that he has a partner in knowledge and power in return. They shake on it. You need to understand that Bill isn't yet all sad boy in this as he is in the original au, cause it'd be a bit hard to change an integral part of him. Just bear with me for now!

Now Ford isn't well acquainted on the engineering side of things, so he's in a bit of a pickle.

But!! Lucky for Ford, there's a southern hick a couple states away that matches his smarts! A scientist named Fiddleford McGucket made a personal computer that while expensive, Ford managed to get his hands on! This guy seems promising, so Ford reaches out to him with a request and shares his thesis on Gravity Falls to hopefully drag him in.

McGucket loves it! So they agree to work in Gravity Falls together and they build the portal.

On the side however, Ford is talking with Bill. He fills his head with dreams and visions of acknowledgement. It's everything he's needed and more. It kinda goes to his head as he ignores personal needs like eating in return for the dreams. The dapper dorito eats up the seeming gullibility of the scientist. Inflating his ego to the damn heavens at this point.

Ford and McGucket have been arguing on the side as the research gets back seated. After a test with the portal, McGucket falls in and sees what's on the other side. He tells Ford something is wrong with the project and goes radio silent for a couple weeks before returning back in hopes of convincing Ford the dangers and hoping to see it through.

At this point it's important to note the Gremloblin incident didn't happen so the memory gun has not been made. Despite McGucket's hopes the portal is almost finished at this point and it seems like it's all Ford cares about.

Eventually an altercation arises as McGucket realizes Ford is not stopping. He tries to tell Ford of the danger and what he saw. He says he misses time with his family and wants to go home. Nothing is right anymore and he's being plagued daily with nightmares and declining mental health.

Ford is fed up at this point. He comes to a realization, that everyone has only ever told him what he can and can't do. This is his one shot, a chance to make everyone see. Everyone see him.

He pushes McGucket into the portal.

Oopsies. That's a problem!! Welp. He has no assistant now. Now granted, Bill is real happy for interruption being gone, but good ol' Sixer doesn't work with engineering. Someone else has to step in!

So Bill gets on his case now. Even tho McGucket has been dealt with, the portal isn't finished! So he threatens him, simple threats really. Stealing eyes, puncturing holes in a lung, just basic stuff.

Suffice to say Ford isn't happy about this. He's being rushed, and he already had a hell of a reawakening. So he starts to get back at Bill for his harping. Using his power to harness the portal. Experiments to see how he interacts with the world, testing the limits of Bill's body. All under the guise of research. On a...base level of course! All research is important, but Bill has become an obstacle on his own.

Bill was never his muse, just....a means to an end.

So Ford calls Stanley. Of course he doesn't forgive him for not asking about him, but that doesn't matter now. There's more important things to tend to. His brother has actually ended up making money, if the number of commercials he's seen on the television says anything.

He keeps Stanley at arms length, never actually letting him see the portal. Vague explanations of an important project, he just needs Stan's funding and some parts, he can handle the heavy lifting. Lest someone meddle into his work again

He has another side project on his mind, a little bunker somewhere in the woods of the town. In case of a cataclysmic event, or man eating creatures. Do he gets Stanley to help build it for him. Floor planning, parts, doors, tech and all that.

The interactions between them are kept to a minimum, to keep from bothersome questions and meddling. Eventually Stan has enough from the cold treatment and backs out, saying he's got better things to tend to. (In a future post I'll probably elaborate more on Stan :] )

So Stanley leaves. Keep in mind it's the 90s now, and even if technology improves, this isn't a one man job. No matter how much Bill likes to say he's support. You could say Ford is more focused on the portal than Bill, who had the idea in the first place! But whatever, it'll all be worth it once it's done.

He figures maybe he could do this alone, the last two people turned out to be hindrances, so maybe for a year or two he could try his luck.

Of course he gets side tracked with messing with Bill, with his harping on the portal growing less and less. He even....starts to slowly change color? Growing less yellow and more dull. That's something to research more! His research is definitely not humane, but Bill isn't human! He's a triangle! So what does it matter? This won't have repercussions!!

When Bill possesses his body from time to time, he tries to mess with him, but it weirdly doesn't deter Ford, only spurs him forward. Anything to test the limits of Bill. For science!

The couple years of working alone don't prove at all very helpful. Unfortunately, it looks to be like he needs a new assistant and he needs to get back on track. That bunker won't make itself!

So he calls someone new. The last two people proved to only be hindrances, and he actually went easy on Stanley all things considered. But he needs to be more hands on!

So he calls a lady who just moved to Gravity Falls with her husband, someone unaccustomed and unbiased. A one, Mrs. Gleeful.

She is decent enough as an assistant, proving actual decent company. Being that she doesn't question the work or interrupt. She does what is asked, serving coffee if needed, or getting spare parts.

It lasts up until late 2003, where she reveals she's having a child with her husband. She needs maternity leave, but she claims it won't interfere! So long as she swears.

She has her child the next year, but something changes. A couple months after, she makes the same claims of her family needing her. Claiming they're more important than the project.

This doesn't go on well. A spark goes off in Ford's brain. The last time this was brought up it didn't go well. So he digs up old blueprints, something he was working on when McGucket was around.

He erases parts of her memory when he calls her back. Her thoughts of her family are gone, they don't exist in her brain anymore. He tells her they're roommates working on a project, and convinces her to stay.

If she questions him or asks about her family he erases her memories again, and again, and again.

This goes on for a year, and eventually her mind turns to mush. Leaving her a crazed shaky husk of a sensible woman. She is too crazed to work with anymore, so he kind of sets her free like an animal. Throwing her into the woods for whatever creature out there.

Word reaches round of a missing woman relating to a researcher. This naturally reaches Stanley's ears for his penchant for gossip. He tries not to assume the worst and visits Ford.

Ford is so sucked into his work, solidifying his previous belief of doing work on his own. The portal is just one move away from opening, Bill has shut up, and no one is in his way.

Until Stanley. He visits, and sees the man Ford has turned into, and all hope he ever had is gone. He decides to needs to do something about this, stop whatever his twin is up to.

He leads him to the bunker to talk. But when his fears are confirmed true, he punches him. Brass knuckles reluctantly worn. The altercation results in cracked glasses and shards of glass cutting an eye, Ford goes blind in his left eye.

With the man injured, Stanley leaves the bunker and closes it, locking his brother in. No amount of begging or yelling will get Stan to open the door.

During the time he was alone, Ford had a creature in the bunker to study. It was thought to be too dangerous, but that same claim doesn't hold up anymore.

He still has the contract with Bill. So the two are trapped with Ford. The only ones to talk to for 7-8 years. He pushes his anger onto Bill, and talks to the Shapeshifter in spare time. The only beings to talk to for so long does things to your brain. Not good.

So when eventually two young kids open the bunker, he has some plans to set in motion, particularly considering a certain triangle.

So!!! That's the overall idea, ofc to elaborate on more when I talk about the mystery twins and Stan since that could tie more things in. And also weirdmageddon (normageddon? Fordmageddon?) would have to be it's own thing.

But uhhh, art!!

This was a little idea of what Ford would look like post bunker, or after getting out. (Ignore the lack of sideburns this is all I have rn)

Bill changes his name shortly before the mystery twins summon him, cause like. Oof. Separate himself from the guy that outcrazied him!!

Probably a future post about Bill would be better, cause like the physical, emotional, and mental torture he went through is kinda glossed through in this. It's mostly Ford heavy and on his side of things.

But!!! I had fun establishing all this, again my friend is to thank for a lot of this stuff. I recommend following or sending an ask to get his side of this!!

Also apologies for the wall of text, this man is a loaded gun.

Oh also he couldn't have gotten out of the bunker since it remained semi unfinished, since Ford focused more on the portal. So he's trapped until into the bunker 🤷‍♀️

Thank to again for the ask, this was probably a doozy to get through lmao 🫶

[year2000electronics]

WAVES AT YOU. I JUST THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO FORD AND BILL WORKING TOGETHER ARE *FASCINATING* TO LOOK INTO. Literally it's so interesting to see how Bill manipulated him, what the hook was, and why Ford stayed on the project for as long as he did. Billford you are so. Paces around. Fuck dude I dunno what else Ford could have done!!!! I dunno what else *I* would have done!!!!!! These sillay cartoon characters are going to haunt my thoughts for months

YES EXACTLY! it's just so crazy and i think the sentiment of like, "what else could you have done?" resonates so well for me because sure, there are things people "could" have done. ford "could" have not read the inscription, he "could" have listened to fiddleford, but its like. thats almost the same thing as saying that stan "could" have told ford about the project after he broke it. thats like saying ford "could" have run away with stan. its the different character flaws that make us WHO WE ARE and what drive what SEEMS like "happy accidents". everything in ford's life led up to him summoning bill, and because of his terrible home life, his several shattered connections, his ego that is a coping mechanism more than anything, things just fall into place! i think that's why i LOVE the fact that ford summons bill, rather than bill seeking ford out. it paints a very human sort of manipulation and disastrous connection where it was never "destiny" for bill to find "the perfect partner", same way that it was never "destiny" for stan to break ford's project. but oh, how inevitable it feels anyways...

[divorcedfiddleford]

Random but - if you were given an opportunity to rewrite Ford's character and his arc in the show (and later J3), how would it be like?

canon gay and trans

so the thing is that i think most of how ford himself is written is really really good! i just think that the writers (particularly alex) have a bias against him, and so a lot of the narrative ends up feeling like he's either being punished or being forced to atone for his past. so i'm gonna ramble and daydream for a bit but i want to be clear i actually really like how he's written in general (yes, even in the book that i have so much beef with!!)

there's very few moments of catharsis for him, and those that he gets are either short (reunion with fiddleford) or undermined by the writers' bias (the ending of journal 3 where he burns all his bill stuff but has to keep reminding us that he was stupid for trusting bill in the first place). so i think a lot of the problems i have would be resolved with tonal shifts and a few cuts, like that fucking scene in the stanchurian candidate with the mind control tie. the implication of reaganite ford is bad enough but then to have a guy who has very specific trauma relating to being mind controlled/not being in control of his own body just hand that over is really fucking stupid. then again i think that whole episode is stupid so i'd end up rewriting all of it lmao

i've said before but if i really had my way i'd cut roadside attraction entirely and replace it with another ford episode. i loved how goofy and fun dd&md was and i think if more of that lighthearted side of him was shown it would endear him to the audience more. a long time ago i had an idea for an episode where they go back to the bunker and ford basically does puppy talk to the shapeshifter who is actively trying to kill them. i never followed this idea through to its conclusion but i think it still sounds entertaining, plus it would also give more time for him to reunite with fiddleford so it wouldn't have to be squeezed in the finale.

speaking of the finale... my personal fantasy is that i'd love to have a scene stuck in there where stan apologizes to ford. it REALLY stood out to me that despite all their fighting, ford still at least says the words "i'm sorry" to stan. stan never apologizes for anything he did to ford - neither for breaking his project, nor for banishing him to the hell dimension for 30 years. i get that they were mistakes, but you still have to apologize for mistakes (and if i allow myself to get very self-indulgent for a second, i've often thought the whole story would be a lot more resonant if stan broke ford's machine on purpose). i had a whole section in here where i talked about what a scene like this would look like but it was so long... if people want to hear more about it i'll say more but it's the kind of thing that warrants its own post.

anyway. moving on from the show itself. so possibly my hottest take is that i think journal 3 should not have been published KJSHDFLGKHSDFGUIWEHRGJSDF. basically i think instead of trying to write the actual journal 3 they should have picked a handful of stories from his research era that they wanted to tell and made a graphic novel about that. i got WAAAAAAAYYYY off topic and wrote PARAGRAPHS about this but it's not related to the question you asked so i'll just summarize by saying i think it would play more to their strengths as writers, leave more to the imagination, and they could leave out all those fucking retcons that i hate

as it is, though, again, i think that ford is written pretty well in the journal. there are a few off-handed comments and lines that give me "he would not fucking say that" vibes but overall it very realistically portrays what it's like for someone to be manipulated, isolated, drawn away from his loved ones, etc. it's a very poignant story which resonated with a lot of people, myself included. again my main problem is that it's undercut with the writers being like "BROOOOO HE'S JUST LIKE ICARUS!! FLEW TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN!!!!!!!!" as though it's all his fault, and that it ends on a very moralizing "i learned my lesson" note. so really the biggest characterization problems i have with journal 3 have to do with fiddleford, but that's a whole other can of worms

anyway i hope this was... interesting? informative?? i hope i answered your question to your satisfaction. have a nice day :)

[pinesfamilyguidetotheweird]

Gravity Falls Thoughts: Ford and Trauma™ (Part 01; because I know I'm turning this into a multi-part series)

So...when you start to think about it, Ford has been through a lot. Because of Gravity Falls' nature as a 2-season Disney cartoon, I feel that we've only scratched the surface of all the crap this man went through.

And thanks to the fandom...good Lord in Heaven, all the flippin' Trauma!!! Sweet Moses...

I mean, other than Bill Cipher and Weirdmageddon, Ford has a level of trauma that not a lot of people have.

Of course, Ford isn't the only one with Trauma™. Really, all four of the Pines are traumatized in some way. I mostly want to focus on Ford for now.

Now, most of the trauma Ford is given is fan speculation/interpretation. The thing is though, is that these traumas would make sense if Gravity Falls was given a more serious direction. (sort of like Steven Universe, a show that is more emotionally driven)

Okay...first things first, nutrition.

In a previous post I've made (I think it was about the Feral Ford headcanon; which I may or may not go into further detail in this series), I said something along the lines of how Ford wouldn't be all that bothered by weird looking food or could even stomach strange food combinations.

While a part of me still thinks this, another one thinks of something else thanks to reading a lot of fanfics of his essentially living off of nutrient pills.

This is from Ford having to be constantly on the move to avoid Bill's reach during his travels. I'd imagine it's a rare occurrence for him to be able to sit down and have a decent meal, either at an establishment or even hunting for food. Not only that, but you have to remember that a lot of the places he went to probably don't have food suitable for humans.

So, Ford has probably taken to nutrient pills so that way he's always on the go, among other foods he's able to preserve and carry.

The thing is, living on mostly nutrient pills could only take you so far before it could be more of a bad boon. Nutrient pills wouldn't exactly give you the appropriate amount of calories a human adult male needs. Especially if they are constantly in danger.

This can lead to some malnutrition.

Yes. I took time to research this so we can properly make Ford's life more like hell.

Signs/Symptoms of Malnutrition (according to NHS)

(Other than the main concern of weight loss and BMI being low)

reduced appetite

lack of interest in food and drink

feeling tired all the time

feeling weaker

getting ill often and taking a long time to recover

wounds taking a long time to heal

poor concentration

feeling cold most of the time

...feeling cold most of the time...

"feeling cold most of the time"

...And who wears a turtleneck sweater/trench coat combo during the summer?

And, lastly, Low mood, sadness and depression.

Furthermore, it would seem that Ford would have developed a low tolerance to actual food (other than bland, mushy stuff) and is probably incapable of eating a whole meal without throwing up.

It's a struggle to be sure, especially if Ford already has a history to forget meals, even as a child (may or may not be projecting here as someone who forgets to eat)...not to mention the months of paranoia due to Bill prior to being sucked into the Portal.

I'm honestly imagining a scene in which Abuelita (bless her soul) tries to feed Ford when she sees how skinny he is...or at least what she perceives as skinny. And no one (no one) can say no to Abuelita Ramirez. And it's Mexican food. There is absolutely nothing bland about it. And Ford does his best to eat it...only to scurry into the bathroom after three bites. He didn't mean to be rude. It was honestly very delicious. Ford's body just couldn't handle it at the moment.

At least Abuelita is understanding of the situation and becomes Stan's right hand woman on his quest to help Ford with his eating habits.

...Great, another idea for an upcoming fic...I had a title in mind but I feel like I should call it *Trauma* Ford Edition.

[subwaystanwich]

Our Secret

Hey guys! Here's the piece I was working on, that I showed the teaser of! I hope you enjoy my first piece of writing on this blog! Minors DNI!!! This is a mature piece.

WARNING: This piece contains sibling incest. If you have found this mistakenly, please move on for your comfort and safety. If you choose to read this piece you are consenting to being exposed to this content.

You can find the fic on ao3 or read it down below!

The unknown always appealed to Ford. It was mysterious, it was weird, it was perfect. So falling for his twin wasn't scary, it was something new to explore. Uncharted territory that he was ready to fling himself into. It was bizarre, it was something people would judge him for. But Ford was used to judgment, used to stares. He had his six fingers to thank for that.

But realistically, Ford knew that he wasn't the best choice for his brother. Stan deserved a happy ending, not to be constantly worried about people finding out about his relationship. So Ford should be happy about his twin's relationship, right? He should be over the moon.

But he wasn't.

Carla was stunning. Stan was always talking about how he couldn't believe someone as gorgeous as her would be interested in someone like him. Ford wanted to grab his brother and tell him of course she liked him! Stan was handsome, and had a magnetic personality. He was so lovable. 

But he was also fragile. And his fragility was all Ford could think about as he sat in his bed, watching Stan stare off into the distance. His eyes were rimmed with red, having spent the better part of the last hour crying.

“Hey Ford?”

Ford looked up and saw Stan looking at him, looking absolutely wrecked. It broke Ford’s heart just to look at him.

“Yes Stanley?” Ford responded.

“What’s wrong with me?” Stan asked softly.

Ford blinked, confused. “What?”

“I said, what's wrong with me? I'm such a screw up. I get bad grades, Pops hates me, and now Carla's gone. What'd I do to piss the world off?” Stan said, eyes flicking from Ford to the floor. “I'm pathetic.”

“No you’re not,” Ford said firmly. “You're not pathetic. Carla was a fool to leave someone like you.”

Stan let out a harsh laugh. “She found someone better. Someone who’s leagues better than me.”

“Thistle Downe is not leagues better than you. I’ve heard his music, and he’s the pathetic one if you ask me,” Ford said, and patted the spot next to him on the bed. “Come here,” he said.

Stan stood up from their desk chair and slowly walked over to Ford, springs squeaking as he sat down. Ford took one of his brother's hands in his own and squeezed tightly. He looked up, and two locked eyes. Ford let go of Stan, and instead, cupped his brother’s face with his hands.

“You’re a bright light, Stanley. Don't let this burn you out.”

Stan's eyes welled with tears, and Ford wiped them away with his thumbs when they fell. He needed to help his brother, but nothing seemed to be working. What could he do? And then suddenly it came to him.

“Do you want to make Fort Stan?” Ford asked, hands dropping away. Stan let out a watery laugh.

“We haven't done that in forever,” Stan said, but there was a spark in his eyes that hadn't been there before. Encouraged, Ford continued.

“We could build it and put pillows and blankets in there! And you can bring those magazines, and I'll bring my books!” Ford said excitedly.

“I also have a stash of snacks under my bed,” Stan said. “And not just toffee peanuts!”

“Ugh you better have something different over there,” Ford said with a shudder. “Those things are terrible.”

Stan laughed good naturedly and crossed the room, pulling out his magazines and food. Ford grabbed his top sheet off the bed, and the two began construction. Stan seemed cheerful, and Ford cheered internally. Comforting people was not his forte, but somehow this was working.

“Perfect!” Stan finally said with a grin. The tent was erected, and the two brought their items in. 

“Okay, so the only snacks I actually have are toffee peanuts and jelly beans. But--”

“Jelly beans?” Ford said, eyes wide. “I thought you hated jelly beans!”

“Eh,” Stan said shrugging, “I know they’re like, your one weakness, so I put some up here in case it looked you needed some. And now’s the perfect time!”

“You have them here for me?” Ford said, surprised.

“Well yeah,” Stan said with a smile. “Gotta have something for you.”

Ford smiled softly as Stan opened up one of his magazines. It was full of pictures of bikini clad women, and Stan kept showing Ford the most risque ones.

“Stop it!” Ford finally said with an eye roll. “I don’t want to see that!”

“Why?” Stan said, “You gay or something?”

The words were said casually, no malice or harshness at all. Stan was clearly just teasing, but Ford found he couldn’t speak. Gay. He knew that he’d only had a crush on one girl before, and he knew that he loved his twin more than natural…but he’d never thought to label his feelings before. But now that the words had left Stan’s lips, Ford realized there might be some truth to them.

“Sixer?” Stan said, looking up, concern on his face. “You okay?”

“Yes of course,” Ford said shakily. Stan frowned. Unlike Ford, Stan had always been good with emotions, good at figuring out how people were feeling.

“You don’t seem okay,” he said, setting his magazine aside and sitting up. He slid over towards Ford, who tensed up at the action. “Is it what I said? About being gay?”

“Why would it be that?” Ford said, voice unnaturally high.

“It’s okay if you are,” Stan said, putting his arm around Ford. “I kinda always knew.”

“What?!” Ford practically shouted, pulling away from his twin as though he’d been burned. “I’m…I’m not, you’ve got it wrong, I don’t—!”

“It’s okay Ford,” Stan said softly. “I promise, I’m not upset.”

Ford went quiet, staring at the ground. “Maybe…maybe I am,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t worry about it,” Stan said. “We can share secrets you know. I’ve got ‘em, you’ve got ‘em. We can tell each other!”

“Like what?” Ford asked Stan, giving him a side eye.

“Well,” Stan said, drawing out the word, “I…I’ve had crushes on guys before too.”

“Really?” Ford said, eyebrows shooting up. “Who?”

“You know Ezra Miller from Saturday school?” Stan asked. “I had a thing for him.”

“Wow,” Ford breathed. He had no idea! Stan said he’d always known that Ford was gay, but Stan? Ford would never have guessed in a million years!

“But you were with…you’ve dated girls,” Ford said, sounding confused.

“I guess I’m into both?” Stan said, looking thoughtful. “Also Robbie Milfred. He was always nice to me but I got over him pretty quick once he started hanging out with Crampelter. Ugh. So, who have you had crushes on?”

You’re the only one, Ford thought to himself. But there was no way he could say that out loud! Sure Stan said they could share secrets, but this? This was a secret that he couldn’t share no matter what.

“Nobody,” Ford said.

“That’s not true,” Stan said, scooting closer to Ford. “I know there’s someone.”

Ford gulped, eyes flicking up to meet Stan’s. His brother was looking at him, but the look in his eyes was different. He couldn’t place what was different about Stan, but something had changed. The air was different, and Ford’s heart was beating a million miles a minute.

“There’s really not,” Ford said, leaning back. But as he did so, Stan moved even closer. Their thighs were touching, and oh god their thighs were touching. Ford focused all his energy on keeping the blood in his head and not his…other head. There was no way he could get a hard on near his brother, and certainly not from something like that.

“I said we could share secrets,” Stan said, voice deep and layered, dripping with honey. “I meant it. Any secret you have, you can tell me. Want me to tell you another of mine?”

“Sure,” Ford said, hoping that whatever secret this was would get the subject to change.

“I want you,” Stan said, and placed a hand over Ford’s. “I always have.” Ford choked on air. “Stanley!” he said, shocked. “You can’t…”

“I can,” Stan said, touching foreheads with Ford. “And I know you like me too. Don’t pretend. I see how you look at me when I change in front of you.”

Ford’s breathing was heavy now, and he closed his eyes. This was a joke, surely. Stan would pull away at any moment, laughing at how gullible Ford was. They would both roll their eyes and get back to those stupid magazines. There was no way this was really happening.

“Stanley, we can’t…”

“Why not?” Stan said, hot breath on Ford’s face. “This fort is for secrets. I won’t tell anyone what happens in here if you don’t.”

“I…I don’t know…”

“I do,” Stan said, and Ford suddenly found his lips captured in a kiss. His eyes flew open, shocked. Stan was kissing him. Stan was kissing him. Ford found himself melting into it, soft sounds of lips on lips filling the air. He let Stan work his mouth open with his own, and soon their tongues were sliding slickly against each other. Ford let out a moan that he would normally be embarrassed by, but the groan that Stan answered with made all thoughts of shame leave his mind instantly.

Ford couldn’t believe this was really happening. Every fantasy he’d ever had, it was finally coming true. Stan gently pushed Ford down, their kisses growing feverish now, desperate. A match had been lit, and now the fire was spreading. Stan’s hands explored Ford’s sides, and Ford felt his pants growing tight. But it didn’t matter, because Stan was clearly suffering from the same condition. Ford could feel his boner pressing against him, and he longed to see it, to touch it.

Ford ran his fingers through Stan’s hair and instinctively tugged. Stan made a sound, a purely animalistic sound, and his hips jerked forward.

“Stanley!” Ford cried out. 

“Shhh,” Stan said, but his hips kept moving. “Don’t want Ma and Pops to hear.���

Oh god. Ma and Pops. If they knew that their children, their precious babies, were dry humping the shit out of each other…there would be hell to pay. Ford could practically see his Pops’ face growing red with anger, and his Ma letting out choked sobs.

But he didn’t have time to contemplate this more, as Stan latched onto him, where his shoulder met his neck, and began to suck and bite.

“St-stan…” Ford moaned, trying to keep quiet.

“Yeah?” Stan said, hips moving faster. Ford felt himself moving in time, both of them chasing their own pleasure. Soon, fireworks exploded before Ford’s eyes, and he had to shove his knuckles into his mouth to prevent himself from screaming out his twin’s name. Stan followed soon after, and kissed him one last time, softly. He gently rolled off, and pulled Ford close.

“We should probably clean up,” Ford murmured. 

“Later,” Stan said, and Ford nodded. But he couldn’t help but think…everything is different now.

[creativity-deficient]

So, in defense of Stanford Pines

As the gravity falls fan in me has awakened once again per the release of the Book of Bill, I wanted to write a quick character analysis/essay on one of my two favorite characters in the series, Stanford Pines.

Now it’s important to note that Ford is in fact, a very flawed character, and this essay is in NO means meant to downplay that. He’s absolutely an egotistical asshole who was way too in his own head and focused on the end goal to fully appreciate the people and things he has around him, which ultimately ended up playing a huge part in his downfall.

However I do want to talk a little bit more about his side of things, as this is something I feel like isn’t quite done enough justice in the series, making it easy to just see him as a jerk or take Stan’s side in the fight between them, and has always been something I’ve really appreciated about both Journal 3 and now, the book of bill, both providing a new perspective on his character and exactly WHY he turned out the way he did.

I want to start from the beginning, by delving a bit into Ford’s childhood.

It’s a common misconception in the fandom that Ford had a good relationship with his father. He was the loved child, while Stanley was the unloved child. Now there’s no denying that Stan’s relationship with his father was…considerably worse, but with how deep Ford’s own insecurities and his obsession to “be the best” lie, I find it very hard to believe that his own relationship with his father was a healthy one either.

Filbrick was considered a VERY strict man, who was not easily impressed, making it very likely that Ford was either groomed into thinking, or at least at some point convinced himself that his smarts were the only worthwhile thing about him, especially since he pretty much already felt like a freak because of his fingers.

It’s even mentioned in the book of bill that his father wouldn’t want him returning home without millions. I mean, does that SOUND like a loving father to you?

And that brings me to his falling out with Stan. Yeah, EXTREMELY dick move to let your father kick out your teenage twin brother over some dumb mistake, however, it’s always felt a bit weird to me, like there was much more going on then just “you destroyed my project I’m throwing out our entire brotherly bond we spent the last 17-18 years building fuck you” because let’s face it, huh??? Kicking your own TWIN BROTHER, who you have been best friends with all your life, to the curb for some dumb school you literally learned about DAYS ago was something that never made sense to me, and I always struggled to understand why and how it even had to come to that.

But, let’s look it at this way. To Ford, Stan was the only person he had. They were the only people each other had, the only people that truly got each other. Ford considered Stan the only person he could trust at that point in time, this only person who wouldn’t treat him differently than others. And what does that person do? Completely betray that trust and destroy his project. Yes, we know that it was an accident, but Ford didn’t. Was he wrong to automatically assume that Stan did it on purpose instead of just, you know, talking it out? Oh absolutely, but we already established that he clearly doesn’t have healthy coping mechanisms, and all things considered, I don’t think Stan really helped his case when it came to proving his innocence, as both before and even after the confrontation, all he can seemingly think about is their boat. All things considered, I can’t completely blame Ford for thinking it was an act of betrayal. Does that completely justify his response? Oh absolutely not. But I DO think the situation goes a bit deeper than people assume.

Then we have his time in gravity falls. It’s hinted at a bunch throughout the series, journal 3, and the book of bill that Ford, despite his anger, truly missed his brother, and regretted his actions towards him (the swingset and stan o war in his dreamscape, holding on to that photo of him and Stan as kids all those years, not being able to think back on his childhood at glass shard beach without growing sad, etc).

“Well, why didn’t he just contact him then???”

Well, to be fair, he kind of had a lot going on, and by a lot, of course, I mean Bill.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the relationship between Ford and Bill was EXTREMELY toxic. Bill, doing what Bill does best, leeched onto Ford’s already deeply set insecurities to led him into a false sense of security, one where bill and ONLY bill truly understood him, and that everyone else was out to get him and couldn’t see his true potential, effectively isolating him from his friends, family, and even society.

Ford went through HELL in this period of time. He was left alone by bill for long periods of time until he was desperate and dependent enough to lash out. He was gaslit and manipulated into pushing the people he cared about away. When he decided he wasn’t going to do bill’s bidding, he was literally TORMENTED for it. In all fairness, I don’t really think he was in the right mindset for ANYTHING during that time, losing himself in BOTH his own stubbornness and this endless cycle of abuse.

Despite this though, despite ALL of this, all the manipulation, their falling out, etc, Stan was still the first and ONLY person Ford thought of to take the Journals, the only person he considered to be trustworthy. Yes it was petty of him to bring up the project yet AGAIN (let it go my dude), but I do think it is important to acknowledge that he still thought of Stan pretty highly at the time, or else that wouldn’t have been the case.

“Oh but Alex he told Stan to get away from him yadayada!!!” Uh, no he didn’t. He just told him to hide the journals, not that he couldn’t come back afterwards, that was just Stan assuming the worst.

On that note, I do think it’s important to also acknowledge that while Stan is definitely, in the eyes of a lot of people as well as myself, the more sympathetic of the two, he’s definitely made his fair share of mistakes as well. I don’t think there’s really truly a right or a wrong in this argument, I think instead both of them are two very complex characters who had both been through a lot at that point, and both have made their mistakes (even if Stan’s were a bit more justified in most cases)

Then of course, he gets pushed through the portal, and spends the next 30 years between dimensions.

Now for anyone who hasn’t read journal 3 (spoilers ig? The book is pretty old atp but I figured I’d give one anyways) Ford is basically told by an oracle that he “has the face of someone who is destined to defeat bill” (a lot of people call him egotistical for assuming the oracle was talking about him and not his brother, but I digress. If an oracle looked YOU deep into your eyes and told you you had the face of someone destined to save the universe, be honest, would YOU think they were talking about your sibling??) Ford then proceeds to spend the next 30 years building a weapon to effectively defeat bill, and just as he’s about to finally use it, he’s sucked (not literally) back into gravity falls, not ONLY effectively erasing all of his hard work and progress, but risking weirdmaggedon in the first place. On TOP of it all, he also learns that Stan has been using his name all these years, and that he now has a pretty extensive criminal record.

Yes, Stan did it all in his best interest, and Ford could’ve absolutely shown more appreciation, but all things considered, I’d be pretty pissed off too.

But, all things considered, at the end of it all Ford still has those he hold close to his heart. He missed Stan all those years, considered Fiddleford a true friend and was super appreciative to have him there while they worked on the project together, he’s joyous to find out he has a niece and nephew, etc, and when he realizes he’s hurt these people, namely his brother and former lab partner, he feels immense guilt, and does everything he can to atone to it.

I truly think Stanford’s character development is one of the best in the series, as he finally learns to appreciate what he has instead of trying to chase down an unachievable end goal, and it’s definitely something that I feel goes unnoticed in the grand scheme of things when it comes to his character.

Now, what was the point of this 1 am ramble?? The point was the highlight the wonderful complexity of Stanford Pines’s character. Yes he was an extremely flawed man. Someone who pushed away those he loved him pursuit of greater things, and let his own pride be the fall of him. However, at the same time, he’s also a man who bears a lot of scars, both metaphorical and literal, and an extremely complex character who deserves a lot more than to be characterized as this “cold, uncaring asshole” something I’ve seen WAY too much of. I feel like it’s important to acknowledge that he’s made mistakes while also recognizing the complexity of a lot of it too, as well as acknowledging that he did indeed, learn from those mistakes.