Little Dipper

Fishing Buddies

"Here we are!" Stan grinned as they pulled up to the lake. "The perfect fishing spot! C'mon, let's go get you some fishing gear!"

Gideon looked out at the lake thoughtfully, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "I haven't been here in years." He said to himself.

"I thought you said you'd never been fishing?" Stan asked.

"I didn't come to fish. Remember when I was five, and all those boats kept mysteriously sinking? The sailors were found dead, save for the few that survived to tell the tale."

"Oh yeah, something about a siren." Stan nodded. "You were five then?"

Gideon nodded.

"What happened?" Dipper asked.

"My father came with the party to check things out, but because my mother was ill he had to bring me. I ended up finding the siren in the cave behind the waterfall and convinced him to come out with me." Gideon explained.

"What happened to him?" Bill asked.

"He's still in town. I'll point him out if we see him." Gideon replied. "He's confined, though. Too dangerous to let him out freely, and they didn't know where he came from to send him back. He certainly didn't go back on his own. Besides, he might come back with more sirens."

"Sounds vaguely familiar." Stan shrugged. "Five years ago, I was still keeping to myself. Anyways, fishing shack is over here!" He headed for the only building at the lake and opened the door. "Heeey, Tate!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Pines. Here to buy?" Tate asked, hanging up something on the wall.

"Yep! Gideon here hasn't been fishing before, so I'm gonna show him how!" Stan clapped a hand on Gideon's shoulder affectionately.

Tate looked over. "Oh, yeah. You guys are like family now, right? Okay, let's start with finding out what size life-jacket he wears, then we can look at getting you some gear. Your boat is where you left it, no 'monster' has trashed it." He rolled his eyes under his hat. "Come over here, Gideon."

Gideon walked over to where he was directing him and took off his suit jacket so he could measure him. "Monster? You mean that elusive Gobblewonker?" He asked.

"If such a thing ever existed, my dad probably scared it off with his fake one." Tate huffed, then went to pick out a lifejacket for him. "Here you go, kiddo. Man, you're growing fast."

"How much?" Stan asked.

"It's Li'l Gideon's birthday, so I'll just make everything free as a gift." Tate waved it off. "Go pick out some good fishing stuff with him."

"Thank you." Gideon blushed a bit pink.

"Alright, let's get you some gear!" Stan grinned and went over to the rack of rods. "Go ahead, Gideon, pick one out."

Gideon joined him, looking at it thoughtfully. Tate looked at Bill, rubbing his chin. "Your earring looks familiar."

"Earring?" Bill reached up to it.

"Yeah, like somethin' I saw dad draw before." Tate shrugged. "Anyways, cool costume. What're you supposed to be?"

"A demon." Bill grinned.

"Hm. You're missing horns." Tate walked away.

Bill made a face. "Yeah, yeah, I don't have horns. So sue me, there's more to life than having horns, y'know."

"Sore spot?" Stan asked, looking at him.

"Bit, yeah." Bill nodded. "A lot of my friends have them and they tease me."