Little Dipper

Nerd Game

"So, you've been in a portal for 30 years?" Pacifica asked as they waited for Bill and Mabel to come back with the food. "That sounds scary."

"Well, it was at times. It wasn't all bad, though." Ford sighed wistfully. "I will miss some people out there, but it's good to be home. I'm still figuring out this thing Gideon threw at me yesterday, though." He pulled out a cell-phone. "I think it's a phone, but there's no holographic image so it's not like the ones in space...no video call, either."

"Depends on what apps you put on it." Pacifica turned on her screen and showed Ford an app you can make video calls with.

"Amazing!" Ford breathed. "How do I get that?"

"Well, you go to this program here..." Pacifica showed him the app store.

"Now, Gideon had me sign up to some...e-mail service. Is that a thing people use a lot these days? Digital mail?" Ford asked.

"Well, yes, but we still send letters. Do they send letters in space?" Pacifica asked.

"No, not really." Ford shook his head. "It's mostly holograms and stuff, like Star Wars."

"Oh, like the Jedi Council use to communicate long-distance?" Pacifica asked. "That's actually pretty cool."

"Oh my god, you never told me you liked nerd stuff." Candy said in amazement.

"Oh, shoot." Pacifica blushed. "Gideon was the only one who knew...I guess you guys know now."

"I should watch the movies that have come out since I went in." Ford said thoughtfully. "It's been a long time since I saw Star Wars..."

"Are you guys nerding out over here?" Bill asked as he came back with Mabel carrying food. "Even you, Miss Northwest?"

"What's wrong with that?" Pacifica asked.

"Nothing, it's just not what I expected."

"Am I the only non-nerd here?" Mabel laughed.

"I'm not a nerd." Grenda raised her hand.

"You will be by the time we get done playing DDMD!" Ford said, enthusiastically pulling out of the shopping bag.

"Put that away until we get home and eat your food." Bill said, putting straws in each of their drinks.

"Are you mothering me?" Ford gaped at him.

"Shut up." Bill sat down and started to eat.

Ford picked up his chopsticks and watched Mabel use hers before doing the same. "I'm not a child, Cipher."

"I didn't say you were. I just told you no board games at the food table." Bill replied.

"You don't think I can avoid getting food on it?" Ford asked.

"I think it'll get cold by the time you finish a turn." Bill replied curtly. "Eat, we'll play with the new games when we get home. They don't want people playing board games in the food court, anyway."

"Fine." Ford snatched up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. It turned out to be hotter than he thought and he made an awkward flapping motion with his hand as Bill pushed his drink closer to him, which he gratefully accepted and drank.

"That was HOT!" He said after setting down his drink.

"Well, yeah. It's fresh off the grill." Bill rolled his eye.

Ford glared at him and blew on the next piece before putting it in his mouth. "Schtop MOFFERING ME!"

"Don't talk with your mouth full." Bill said as the girls and Dipper laughed. "What kind of example are you setting for Pine Tree?"

Ford growled but resigned himself to silence.

–

"You got a nerd game?" Stan asked as they set up in the living room. "Yeesh, Lee."

"Yeesh all you want, I'm going to make these kids gamers." Ford said as he set up. "Oh, shoot, I forgot my dice. Uh, Stan, can you get my dice? It's in a box on the shelf near my bag."

"Got it." Stan walked out of the room.

"Doesn't this thing come with dice?" Bill asked.

"It does, but I want MY dice." Ford said firmly.

"Okay, then." Bill shrugged.

Stan came back in with a couple boxes. "Uh, which box did you say you wanted?"

"Oh, give them here." Ford got up and to grab them out of Stan's hands. Just as he grabbed them, though, Waddles came running through and bumped them, knocking both boxes to the floor.

"Whoa, careful!" Ford said, catching Stan when he stumbled.

"Uh...Lee?" Bill said nervously. "Is that what I THINK it is?"

Ford looked at the large die that had fallen out of its box and rolled a wizard symbol. "...Oh no."