e x p e r i m e n t #01 (action/text)

[mviw]

[It's been at least several hours of dodging strangers in a mysterious garden belonging to the shifting architecture of a mansion that must've come right off the pages of a fairytale... or from a nightmare. Ford has tried everything to wake himself up from what he believes is a dream; perhaps a trap in which Bill has locked him away, or some pocket dimension, or what if he's even dead, or... or...

All he remembers is raising his hands to answer Bill's "riddle", a bright light, and extreme discomfort.

He scrubs his hand over his head and looks down at the unfamiliar device he found on his person not too long after he woke up.]

Come on, Stanford. He trapped you here. You have to wake up. This has to be a riddle, a game...

[If it's a game Bill wants, Ford decides he might have to play it long enough to wake up--just wake up--

He starts typing out a message, and reminds himself to trust no one. If he's been blasted to another dimension, it might actually be better than being locked in his own mind, but... if this is his own mindscape, it doesn't seem to fit. It's definitely something Mabel would come up with, but him? No.

What then, is it? Where is he?]

ATTENTION DENIZENS OF THIS REALM--

My name is Stanford Pines and I come in relative peace. I am attempting to communicate through this device. If you understand this language, please respond.

[That's ambiguous enough, and--] There. I drew my line in the sand.

[He pockets the numbered, lettered pad and sets out to explore.]

Comments

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[krmvgivv]

[Dipper stares at his device, hardly able to believe it, then grabs his hat and the journal and barrels out of the room.

And then he realizes he has... no idea where Great Uncle Ford is. He takes out his phone and starts to text and walk, heading vaguely towards the door. He doesn't... entirely crash into everyone!]

Great Uncle Ford! It's Dipper. Where are you? I'm in the big mansion. I can come find you!

text

[mviw]

[--Dipper! Wait... No. That's too easy.]

How do I know you're Dipper? Tell me something only you and I would know.

text;

[radiopalkiller]

What's 'relative' peace? Some punches, but no kicks below the belt? Won't deliberately shoot to kill, but no promises on good aim? No physical violence, but really impolite nicknames?

text;

[mviw]

All but the last. Also, I always promise to aim well, and rude nicknames are completely unnecessary. That's a very specific list.

text

[monosaccharide]

Oddly enough, I haven't found anyone who speaks a different language. I'm wondering if there's some sort of linguistic interference messing in our brain. Anyway, you've successfully used a phone on your first try! Very good.

[Though it may be hard to tell through the text, she's not actually being sarcastic. A lot of people have had difficulty with it, especially when they're not from a universe that has them.]

I'm Princess Bubblegum.

text

[mviw]

[Ford can't tell if he's being mocked or not, and not the praise on using a phone. Then again, he's heard stranger introductions.]

Thank you, Princess Bubblegum. Are you a monarch of this world?

text

[charlastan]

PRETTY SURE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO SPEAKS NERD HERE SIXER

[Of course Stan's missed Ford in the last few months he's been gone, but who could resist an opening like that? He basically walked right into it.]

SO YOU REALLY DON'T REMEMBER THIS JOINT// WHERE ARE YOU ANYWAY/

text

[mviw]

[There are only two people who would type in all caps and call him Sixer. This message has earned itself a long glare from Ford. The "joint" and forward slashes though...]

Of course I don't remember. None of the dimensions I've visited have this distinct look or feel.

Before we talk any further I want you to prove who you are.

[You can never be too careful. First Dipper, now Stanley? His suspicion levels are swiftly rising.]

[text]

[rosswood]

[This is interesting. Also an opportunity to have a little fun.

Who knows, if this guy turns out to be any good at breaking codes, he might come in handy down the road.]

eW91ciBhIG5lcmQ=

[text]

[mviw]

[Don't expect an immediate answer, but eventually he'll get a response...]

SWYgeW91J3JlIGdvaW5nIHRvIHdyaXRlIGluIGNvZGUsIHlvdSBzaG91bGQgYXQgbGVhc3QgdXNlIHRoZSBjb3JyZWN0IGdyYW1tYXIu

But this is much faster.

text.

[intelligently]

What other languages are you expecting? Out of curiosity.

text.

[mviw]

Any language from the billions spoken in the multiverse. The chance that anyone might understand English was a longshot, but it seems to have paid off.

audio;

[doods]

[ The way Soos sees it, he can either text back or talk back. And talking takes way less time, so. ]

'sup, second Mr. Pines? It's Soos! I was the guy in your basement who looks like a gopher, remember? [ Soos has no idea how else he could jog his memory. That's about as straightforward as their joint experience gets, in his experience. All he can do is his best. ]

I dunno if I'd say I'm like a denizen, though? Right now I'm kiiinda feelin' "interloper." But that's just me, dude.

audio;

[mviw]

[Ford is beginning to wonder who in Gravity Falls isn't here! The plot thickens.]

Oh! Yes, hello! I remember. You work for Stanley. I suppose "interloper" is the best word for visiting another dimension, as "visitor" has a more... vacationy feel to it.

And you can just call me Ford. Ford is fine. Or Dr. Pines. [He's not all that fussed.]

ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nascensibility]

[Notoriously awful at keeping up with Wonderland-wide transmissions (as she is of the opinion that conversations should happen in-person, when possible) Evelyn misses the public missive that might best introduce a man she knows of in name and reputation.

Stanford Pines - illustrious author of the journal that Dipper Pines carries around like some sort of Bible - is a figure upon which she has vague information gleaned from poring over Dipper's book: six-fingers on each hand, potentially paranoid, but studious and thorough. Unaware that the man ever left Wonderland and not yet having met the fellow, it stands to reason she wouldn't be particularly surprised to see someone who looks a bit like Stanley Pines wandering the grounds.

(Stanley, who has by all accounts shown himself to be an insufferably rude and troublesome man, has not endeared himself to Wonderland's librarian. This should come as a shock to absolutely no one.)]

Hello.

[An afternoon walk between the boxwoods is within her general, loose schedule, and she pauses by snow-dusted foxgloves as high as her waist, looking across the planter.]

I don't believe we've met.

YESSSS!!!!!!!!!

[mviw]

[Ford has absolutely no idea that his reputation precedes him even here, though he won't be surprised that anyone acquainted with Dipper would have heard about The Author.

So far, Ford has been typing away at or speaking to the device he'd found on his person after arrival; avoiding anyone or anything in the gardens until he can gather as much information as possible about the present situation.

He hadn't expected a lovely woman to greet him while he's skulking and so he's a bit caught off guard--by both her attractiveness and the fact that she's talking to him.]

I-- Hah, no, I-- I believe I would have remembered if we had.

... Hello.

[audio]

[punful]

[Amused,] only in relative peace, huh?

[audio]

[mviw]

And why not? Some dimensions see peace as offensive. [Very matter of fact. Paranoid planner and overthinker, here.]

[audio]

[wriggedywrecked]

[Good lord.]

Greetings, nerd, I'm responding to you like a-an actual living person and not a freaking robot.

[audio]

[mviw]

[...Really. Really?]

Good. I don't recall mentioning anything about robots.

video;

[powerofmabel]

Grunkle Ford! It's me! Mabel! Look! I'm waving at you from this phone thingy. I'm here too! Has Dipper found you yet?

[she's so excited, okay.]

video;

[mviw]

[!!! Mabel! And she's friendly. That's a nice change of pace. He won't grill Mabel for proof of identity. He's fairly certain no one in the multiverse is as sincerely cheerful and excited as Mabel.

... And also, he waves back. It's a little awkward, but how could he not?!]

Yes, yes, I see you. No, he's not here yet, but he's on his way.

[Ford is also quietly relieved that Mabel appears to be alright. But why would Bill send them all to another universe? So many questions.]

[audio]

[failedparenting]

["Relative" peace? That inspires confidence.]

Stanford Pines? You gotta brother, by any chance?

[audio]

[mviw]

[Here comes an ever more inspiring sigh. What's Stan done here? Probably nothing good.]

... Yes, I do.

[belovedson]

Pretty sure Wonderland does something so we all understand each other automatically. [Otherwise someone would have spoken up by now, right?] That's where you are, by the way: Wonderland, like in the fairytale.

[The way he comes off, he might be familiar with the concept of alternate realms--but not everyone's okay with the idea of being in a so-called fictional one.]

[mviw]

So I've heard on both counts. I've been to many other dimensions but nothing quite like this one. It makes less sense than the others, and that's saying a lot.

text;

[araneidal]

I can understand you.

What would be non-relative peace?

text;

[mviw]

I take it that wording came off as leaning toward more hostile as opposed to "peaceful-intent-but-armed." Just in case the sentiment wasn't returned.

So far I've had mixed results, but I'd consider it an overall success.