Reverse Falls: Welcome to the Show

7] Help Wanted

Gideon arrived back at his dad's house shortly after walking Pacifica to her own house. After what they had faced that night, he wanted to make sure that she felt safe and secure.

Gideon stepped into the house, locking the door behind him before proceeding towards the kitchen to get a glass of water. His stomach growled, making him crave a simple microwaved macaroni dinner. The first thing he noticed when he took a glass from the cupboard was a bright yellow note taped to the window of the microwave. Gideon carefully set down the empty glass on the counter and took the note.

Sorry couldn't make it home
Working late tonight
-Dad

Gideon frowned down at his dad's writing. He had thought that his dad would've at least attempted to set aside time for some bonding time, but to no avail.

Now, while angrily crumpling up the note, Gideon knew the truth; Bud Gleeful was never going to change. He began to despise himself for imagining anything otherwise. He had strayed from his own motto that he had long ago burned into the back of his brain. . .

Keep your hopes low, and you'll never be too disappointed.

Gideon's mind was now too full of anger to think about food, though his stomach still rumbled as he tossed the balled-up note into the trash bin.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

"DIPPER! DOWN STAIRS! NOW!"

Dipper couldn't remember falling asleep, so waking up to the sound of Stan's yelling left him feeling confused while he struggled to fully wake up in his warm cocoon of blankets.

"DIPPER PINES!" Stan screamed from downstairs.

Dipper groaned slightly as he tore himself away from his mattress and climbed out of the pile of sheets. The bitter morning cold washed over him as he rubbed his eyes and and stretched out his long, bony arms. The little amount sunlight spilling into the room from the triangular window made him begin to question himself as to whether it was morning or late afternoon.

Just as he began to open the door, he realized he was still wearing his jeans and jacket from the night before. Dipper panicked and scanned the room for some sort of an idea. If Stan saw him dressed like this, he would know something was going on. Dipper obviously didn't have time to change into anything else. It took him a few seconds to spot his old bathrobe hanging from a hook on his bedroom door. It was just long enough to hide his jeans. Dipper quickly pulled it on and slipped out of the door.

He didn't have to walk too far. Stan was already standing at the bottom of the staircase, gripping the railing and glaring up at his nephew with a dangerous fury burning in his eyes. Mabel stood a few feet from him, staring up at her brother with a rather smug expression painted on her face.

"I'm going to ask you a question, and you will answer with the truth," Stan demanded. "Have you ever left this house unsupervised?"

Dipper swallowed hard before responding. "Yesterday was the first time-" Dipper flashed his sister a look of distrust "-for me."

Stan turned to Mabel. "And you?"

"I've lost count." She responded with such carelessness that Dipper felt the urge to strangle her.

Stan's face grew red. "I knew it. I knew that I shouldn't have trusted you two to be on your own. You know the rules, and its time you obeyed them. Starting today, you both have full-time caretakers."

"We're not children," Dipper said quietly. He instantly regretting saying this.

Stan's eyes narrowed.