video } the city is a nightmare a horrible dream

[krmvgivv]

[Dipper always looks a little on the paranoid and overtired side, but he looks especially bad today. Amazing how much harder it is to sleep when the very reason you have trouble sleeping in the first place is actually here and likely to torment your nightmares if you dare close your eyes. Not that staying awake forever is an option. Dipper just wishes it was. He starts the feed, then sits, back, looking grim.]

Hey. Dipper and Ford Pines here. You might have noticed the super weird triangle thing that came up recently? Well, that's not a what. That's a who. [A beat.] And… also a what, actually.

[Ford doesn’t look much better either. His brow is furrowed and his expression, grave.] That super weird triangle thing is a dream demon known as ‘Bill Cipher’. He is incredibly powerful and incredibly dangerous. Now I’m sure some of you will take this as a challenge-- How bad can he be? Right? [He shrugs airily, but abruptly points at the camera.]

Wrong. Bill is most powerful in the mindscape; a mental realm between dimensions. He can read your mind and inhabit your dreams and he is chaos incarnate. He may be charming, but above all else he is a liar and a monster.

[Dipper raises a finger.] Also? Don't make a deal with him. He will lie to you and cheat you out of your end and then he'll possess you and do terrible things to and with your body. [Terrible, terrible things. Dipper rubs his arm.]

But good news? He can't possess you if you don't deal with him, and without a corporeal form he's pretty limited in what damage he can do. Still got the omniscience and nightmares to contend with, but who hasn't had to deal with a few nightmares? [It's fine. He's fine.]

[Ford puts a comforting hand on Dipper’s shoulder.] If you happened to follow his instructions and you drew a triangle with an eye, I suggest you destroy that paper immediately--preferably by burning it. If you can help it, do NOT engage! I cannot stress that enough. Do not be a fool just because you think you can handle yourself. It’s not worth the risk.

[Dipper nods firmly.] If he contacts you? Let us know. If he… takes an interest in you or something, definitely let us know. We're experts on dealing with him. We can help. We can also answer any questions you might have. To the extent that there are answers, anyway. There are still definitely more questions.

[He gives a serious nod, glances up at Ford, then looks into the camera.]

That's it for now, Wonderland. Stay safe, and come to us with any questions.

Comments

[mviw]

... No. I don't think so, but I'm probably not the right person to ask about his motives. He'll only reveal things when he thinks he's in complete control.

[That doesn't sound suspicious at all, Ford.]

[therapize]

[No, not at all.]

And given that you're one of the two announcing yourself as the resident authority on him, it makes it sound like you've been in a situation like that: where he thinks he's got everything handled.

[So. Cami knows Dipper is wary and mistrustful. It's not that hard to guess that Ford is probably going to be the same way...but she needs to know what she's dealing with, what everyone in Wonderland is going to have inflicted on them.

So she makes a guess. She's very aware of how much control Bill had over Wirt, after all, and exactly how he got it.]

Did you make a deal with him?

private video

[mviw]

[He switches to private video because... well... he really doesn't want the entire network seeing this. He's seen her post about her practice here in Wonderland, so--]

... I have a vague idea of who you are, and don't take this as me asking for professional help, but I'm willing to give you some details.

Yes. I did. Over thirty years ago.

[He's a stubborn old man. It's really nothing personal. He'd rather set himself on fire (and does so every morning to shave) than admit he needs therapy.]

The family knows.

Re: private video

[therapize]

[Someone with the last name Pines balking at the idea of therapy. Cami's shocked.

What honestly does surprise her a little is the fact that while Ford is clearly avoidant, he doesn't dismiss her question outright. It's something, so she's willing to go with it. Besides, her goal isn't necessarily to dole out advice never mind her conversation with Dipper; she's trying to get information on Bill.]

You really have been dealing with him for a long time. So would you answer if I asked how he convinced you?

Re: private video

[mviw]

[Ford is willing to talk about this, but it's difficult. Like a visit to the dentist, really. If he can spare someone else the pain he endured, it's worth it.

He mulls over his choice of words but in the end there's only one thing he can call it.]

Flattery. Flattery and outright lies. He told me he was a "muse" and I was young, foolish, and desperate to continue my research of the anomalies in Gravity Falls, so I believed him.

Re: private video

[therapize]

It fits his pattern; when he possessed one of the kids here in Wonderland, he told the guy what he wanted to hear most. [Appealing to fear in Wirt's case, and apparently ego in Ford's. Thankfully the latter seems to have learned, or is at least willing to set aside any lingering arrogance in the face of a potential crisis.

Dipper should take notes.]

So did he just take your body for a joy ride too, or was there something more to it? [Because while it could well be that Bill just gets his kicks by picking on seemingly inferior creatures, Cami doesn't want to assume it's just that and miss something vital. Every indication she's had so far makes it seem like Bill plays his games on a psychological level; understanding his motives could in turn help someone figure out how to defend against him, or even reveal a way to beat him.]

[mviw]

Oh, uh. Yes. [He looks off to the side.] There was more to it. He convinced me to build an interdimensional portal with the secret intention of crossing to my dimension just to throw a universally destructive "party." [He makes air quotes with his fingers.]

When I found out what his intentions were, I tried to stop him. I asked Stanley for help in hiding my research when we had a fight and I wound up being pulled into the portal for thirty years.

His ultimate goal is chaos. Bill hates restraints of any kind and he sees human beings as mere flesh puppets. Fortunately, that also means he's good at underestimating the positive aspects of humanity, and if someone isn't readily useful to him, he'll disregard them.

[Ford sighs.] I probably helped him by making this announcement, but I just can't let anyone make the same foolish mistake I did. Even if someone thinks they can handle him, they'd be wrong. Nothing good comes from making deals with Bill; just suffering.