Little Dipper

Ridiculous

Ford headed for town, looking around. "Shoot, I forgot to ask WHERE the picnic was." He muttered. "It could be in the woods for all I know. I should turn back and ask." He headed back to the Mystery Shack, but paused when he noticed movement in the trees. "Ah, there they are." He slipped into the woods, looking around for where he saw them walking by.

"...and, honestly, I'm feeling a bit nervous with that gun in my room, but I don't feel safe enough around him to ask him to put it somewhere else." Bill was saying as he walked next to Tad, who was using his demonic-looking form, with Blendin and Dipper a bit ahead carrying a blanket and picnic basket.

"Well, maybe someone else could suggest it?" Tad suggested.

"Yeah, who? He's convinced I've brainwashed everyone." Bill scoffed. "I'll just have to suck it up, I suppose."

"He thinks you've brainwashed Time Baby? Really?" Tad sighed heavily. "That's just groping at straws, that one is."

Ford felt insulted, but decided not to say anything and followed quietly.

"I don't know how to convince him that I've really changed." Bill sighed.

"Well, changing the subject a bit, I have a question." Tad turned to him, stopping mid-walk. "How long ago did you renew your physical form? You've been limping for a little while now."

"Shit, was hoping you wouldn't notice." Bill cringed.

Tad smacked his head lightly. "Don't swear around Dipper and answer the question."

"Uhm...I last renewed it the night of the party, since we had everyone there to do it and I needed it." Bill said thoughtfully. "So, let's see...Day 1 was when Ford came back, then there was a day between that and the DDMD thing, and then it's been two days since then..." He jolted. "We're going on six days! It's only supposed to last 48 hours!"

"I noticed." Tad nodded. "Something is linking you to your body strongly enough that you can retain your temporary form for a much longer time."

"What is it?" Bill asked. "The portal's closed!"

"Why don't you find out?" Tad suggested. "Use your Sight."

"Okay..." Bill brought his hands up to his eye in a triangle shape and focused. Tad waited patiently and then Bill gasped and dropped his hands to his sides.

"Well?" Tad asked. "What did you see?"

"A rift." Bill looked at Tad and grabbed his arms. "There's a fucking rift. The X in the sky! Gideon saw it in his vision, I should've figured that out! Ugh, no! We can't let that vision come true!" He held his head. "We can't let that rift open, Tad, we can't! We can't let them in! W-We can't...they'll..."

"Breathe, Cipher. Breathe." Tad gently pulled him close and stroked his hair soothingly. "No matter what happens, you're not alone, okay? I won't let them hurt you, or anyone else for that matter. And if we can find the rift and seal it, then it won't be a problem."

Ford was SURE this was all a farce. Surely, they knew he was listening and was acting like they were going to seal it, when really they would open it! Oh, he knew Cipher was a master manipulator, but to go this far...

'I have make sure he never finds the rift.' He thought, running off back to the Shack.

–

Bill went down the elevator and looked into the basement. "Ford? Hello? Y'here?"

"You're calling me by my actual name?" Ford asked from over by the portal.

"Well, we're not around others." Bill shrugged and walked over to him. "Any luck on finding out why my powers got stronger? Because I'm kind of starting to freak out a bit here."