Notes: Temporary Character Death

Bill and Trust

He trusted humans, in his own way, he truly did. Trust looks different for him, compared to how we see it.

He genuinely grieves the loss of Ford's companionship. He spent time thinking about him at O'Sadley's. It was the closest he's ever been to loving another person.

He loved Ford. He'll never admit it.

Love looks different to scarred, untrusting people like him. It is a long, difficult journey full of trial and error. Where every mistake burns their being.

He sees himself as a monster. He blames himself for an accident. For burning his home. He lives the next trillion years running away from it.

He punishes himself by calling himself a monster: he internalizes that until he ultimately becomes one. He lets people villainize him, he both relishes and is deeply hurt by people antagonizing him. Especially people who he cares for. He reacts very poorly to Ford and the last human who picked up The Book of Bill.

Betrayal is a cycle that he just can't seem to free himself from. Which is funny, he's a TRIANGLE for Axo's sake! Vicious cycles of emotional, multidimensional, and time-transcendental (Is that a term?) trauma doesn't quite fit him!

stanford pines' love language is quality time.

he feels like he lost so much time, so many years stuck in the nightmare realm that he relishes any moment that he gets to spend time with you.

the most monotonous tasks like brushing his teeth or folding laundry feel so much more enthralling with you there.

wanting you to tag along on his anomaly hunting, eager to see the excitement and awe in your eyes with every new anomaly you encounter.

sitting underneath an impressive oak tree, your head resting on ford's lap as he reads or is writing in his journal.

no words need to be spoken, just the two of you relishing in each other's presence.

"say ford, do you ever get tired of our routine?"

"no, not particularly. what makes you ask?" he hums, glancing down at you with a raised brow.

"just curious, you've just had such exciting adventures in the past. i know you were literally stuck in another realm, but i sometimes wonder if this gets boring." you admit, fiddling with the leaf that had fallen from the tree, the colors transforming with the changing of the seasons.

ford closes his book, leaning forward and pressing a kiss on your forehead suddenly.

"my dear, i could never be bored in your company. any thing i get to do with you is truly an adventure of its own."

nothing to really say here :D

Do y'all wanna hear my bill lore theory? I think bill was a messianic religious-leader/revolutionary in his home dimensions. I think he led a (holy?) war against the established order. I think there was a whole matrix/dune thing going on srsly

He was king there. He preached. He divided the town. Probably between believers and non-believers. We know he has cult leader characteristics that he uses on earth. I think this is how he developed them:

It's not a stretch to say his society was probably oppressive authoritarian 1984 etc etc. It certainly discriminated against him for being a (excuse the term) 'free thinker', which they decried as 'heresy'. I think bill was awakening people to the reality of their society, matrix-style. But unfortunately, discontented, unstable societies are not always rational when picking their leaders.

Bill had the powers of foresight, dreamwalking and more, something genuinely supernatural, unexplainable. I think this was enough for the oppressed to not only choose him as their leader, but worship him as a god king. And I think there was a point where bill genuinely thought he could liberate them, that he was the chosen one.

The downtrodden fully trusted him, gave him unlimited power to defeat the evil and rot in society. And that just corrupted bill. I think he led a war for liberation that just ended up in mutually assured destruction - with bill being the only survivor. I think the fervent worship combined with failure to save his people made him the narcissistic nihilist we know today.

Ok some of this might be a stretch but you can't deny it's fun to think about.

Headcanons for Life with a Chaotic Triangle

(Bill Cipher x Gn!Reader)

Warning: My version of Bill includes; Soft!Bill Cipher, OOC, lots of fluff moments, no use of Y/n. Reader is not mentioned to be human or not.

△ This version of Bill Cipher is a master of chaos, always one step ahead of everyone else. He loves playing pranks, bending reality, and causing mischief. But when it comes to you, he's surprisingly sweet—most of the time. He enjoys teasing you, but there’s always a line he won’t cross. It’s like he has two sides: the one the world fears and the one who melts whenever you’re around.

△ Date nights with Bill are anything but ordinary. He’ll take you to different dimensions, create dreamscapes that defy logic, or whisk you away to see the stars up close. No two dates are ever the same. One moment, you’re having dinner at the bottom of the ocean, and the next, you’re dancing on the rings of Saturn. He delights in seeing your reactions to his world, and he loves showing off his powers just to impress you.

△ Bill isn’t exactly the cuddly type, but he shows affection in his own unique ways. He’ll wrap you in an aura of warmth when you’re cold, create tiny versions of himself to keep you company when he’s away, or even manipulate time just so you can have a few more minutes in bed together. When he’s feeling particularly sentimental, he’ll let you catch glimpses of his true feelings through his eye, where you can see the affection and care he holds for you.

△ Bill is fiercely protective of you, though he rarely shows it in obvious ways. If anyone dares to mess with you, they’ll find themselves lost in a never-ending maze of madness, courtesy of your triangle boyfriend. But he’s also proud of your ability to hold your own, and he loves watching you handle yourself in tricky situations. He might even orchestrate a challenge or two just to see how you’ll overcome it.

△ Despite his chaotic nature, Bill is incredibly attuned to your emotions. He’ll go out of his way to make you smile, even if it means toning down his usual antics for a bit. He has a knack for knowing exactly what you need, whether it’s a moment of peace or a whirlwind of excitement. Your happiness is his top priority, and he’ll move mountains (literally) to ensure you’re content.

△ Life with Bill is never boring, especially when it comes to intellectual debates. He loves a good argument, especially when you challenge him. You’ve learned that he respects you even more when you stand your ground, and he enjoys the mental sparring. These debates often end with him grinning in admiration at your wit and intelligence, sometimes even conceding a point or two—though he’ll never admit it out loud.

△ There are rare moments when Bill lets his guard down completely, showing you a side of him that no one else ever sees. He might reveal a bit of his past, his fears, or even his doubts. During these times, he’s more open and honest, allowing you to see the depth of his character. These moments strengthen your bond and remind you that beneath all the chaos, there’s a being who deeply cares for you.

△ Holidays and special occasions are wild affairs with Bill. Expect the unexpected—like a birthday party where the cake sings or a Halloween where the haunted house you visit is an actual haunted dimension. He takes joy in making these moments memorable, with his unique brand of fun, making sure you’ll never forget the time you spend together.

△ Despite his wild personality, Bill is incredibly loyal to you. He may flirt with chaos and cause trouble everywhere else, but when it comes to you, he’s fully committed. He cherishes your relationship and takes pride in being your partner. Bill sees you as his equal, and he’s always eager to share his world—and his heart—with you.

△ In the end, Bill sees your relationship as something beyond the limits of time and space. He’s in it for the long haul, and he’s ready to keep things interesting for eternity. He’ll never let your love grow stale, always finding new ways to surprise you, challenge you, and make you laugh. To him, you’re the one thing in the multiverse that’s truly worth holding onto.

△ But let's say you’re close friends with the Pines family, having grown up around them or met them during your adventures in Gravity Falls. You’ve become like family to them, often getting involved in their strange and supernatural escapades. Dipper admires your bravery and quick thinking, Mabel adores your creativity and fun-loving nature, and Stan enjoys your wit and loyalty. You’ve spent countless summer nights with them, stargazing, exploring the mysteries of the town, and fighting off strange creatures.

△ When Weirdmageddon strikes, your relationship with Bill complicates things. The Pines family doesn’t initially know about your connection to Bill, but as the chaos unfolds, they start to notice his odd behavior around you. He’s less hostile when you’re present, and you seem to have an influence on him that no one else does. The Pines are torn between trusting you and their deep-seated fear of Bill. However, they recognize that you’re not under his control; instead, you’re someone he genuinely cares for.

△ During Weirdmageddon, you find yourself torn between helping the Pines and dealing with Bill’s chaotic reign. You try to convince Bill to tone down the destruction, using your influence to protect the people of Gravity Falls. It’s a tough balance, but Bill surprisingly listens to you, albeit reluctantly. He may not completely stop his plans, but he finds ways to bend the rules or give you subtle warnings to keep you and the Pines family safe.

△ Eventually, the Pines family learns about your relationship with Bill. They’re initially shocked, especially Dipper, who’s skeptical and worried about how this could affect their battle against Bill. Mabel, ever the optimist, tries to see the good in your relationship, and even Stan has to admit that Bill seems to care for you in his own twisted way. Over time, they come to realize that your bond with Bill might be the key to saving the town—or at least keeping things from getting worse.

△ Bill’s affection for you becomes even more apparent during Weirdmageddon. He may be the lord of chaos, but when it comes to you, he’s softer and more considerate. He’s still his mischievous self, but there’s a noticeable change in how he treats you compared to everyone else. He’ll create safe spaces amidst the madness, allowing you moments of calm and peace. The Pines notice how he goes out of his way to make sure you’re unharmed, even if it means delaying his plans or redirecting his chaos.

△ During the final battle against Bill, your presence becomes crucial. The Pines rely on you to get through to him, to find a way to reach whatever humanity—or triangleity—Bill has left. Your connection with Bill makes the difference, giving the Pines an edge in the fight. You manage to appeal to his better side, convincing him to spare the town or at least leave you and the Pines alone. It’s a tense moment, but your love for Bill and his love for you ultimately help sway the outcome.

△ After Weirdmageddon ends, the Pines family’s view of Bill softens, if only slightly, because of you. While they may never fully trust him, they acknowledge that your influence kept things from getting even worse. Your relationship with the Pines is forever changed, but it’s stronger for having gone through the chaos together. Bill, on the other hand, may still be the master of mischief, but he’s more careful about how his actions affect you and your loved ones.

I literally wrote this at 4-5am and if I don't share it now I probably won't share it ever so I'm sorry if this sucks lmao

The Bad Timing

It was an autumn evening in 1981 and you and Ford were on the sofa, cuddling.

"I loved you ever since you met me."

Ford tilted his head to look at his lover laying on his chest. "When I met you?"

"M-hm." Was all you said. Ford chuckled.

"Don't you mean 'When I met you'?"

You smiled, still not looking at him. "Nope. I meant when you met me." Then you finally looked at him. "Because if I loved you when I met you, it would be weird."

He was silent for a while, thinking. "I don't get what you mean, darling."

You chuckled. "It just feels right to say it that way."

This confused Ford even more but when he opened his mouth to ask, you gave him a look that said "Don't think about it that much." So he changed his mind and didn't ask anything. 'It must be something that doesn't make sense but they like anyway.' he thought. You had things like that, he got used to it. You actually thought him not everything has to be factually accurate and sometimes doing some things in the wrong way was more fun. Just like this sentence, although he couldn't see the appeal to it yet.

You planted a small kiss on his cheek and he kissed your head. You both savoured this moment of cuddling on the sofa on an autumn evening, while his mind wondered off to the day you met in the library.

~

While he was in the portal he thought about you every day. One day he remembered this moment and he smiled. He still couldn't figure why you said it that way. But it didn't matter anymore, did it? He was lost in other dimensions and he lost hope on going back to his own. By that time he thought you would've moved on and maybe found someone else. Even though he knew that was most likely the case, it still hurt him to think every time. He just hoped he could go back one day and reunite with you and his brother.

After he came back from the portal, he was expecting to see you, if you were still in Gravity Falls, maybe married and with kids, grandkids even. It would hurt him for sure, but also help him to get over you.

He decided to ask Stan about you. Maybe you were still here and he'd get to see you once again. But before he had a chance to ask him, he saw you.

You were right there, right in front of him, at the gift shop, rearanging some items. You had your headphones on and were humming the song you were listening to. You didn't notice him until you felt his gaze on you and turned to him. You smiled politely and took of your headphones as you approached him.

"Hi! You must be Mr. Pines' brother, right?"

He looked confused and surprised at the same time.

"I'm Y/N. Nice to meet you." You extended a hand to shake his hand. He waited for a while, like he was lost in thought. After a few seconds he finally snap out of it and shook your hand.

"Stanford Pines." His voice betrayed him and shook a little.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Pines." He mumbled something like "You too." before you excused yourself to get back to work.

He looked behind you. All his thoughts about this reunion was crashed. Because in no scenario he thought that you would not remember him. He also, in no scenario, did ever think that you would be the same age he met you.

He went down to his lab in a hurry. He needed to be alone. He couldn't understand what was happening. How did you not age at all? Were you not human anymore? Or were you ever a human or were you something else this whole time? A vampire, perhaps? Or had you find a way to stop aging? How come you didn't remember him? Did you act like you didn't know him on purpose? But it really was like you two were meeting for the first time back there.

Then it hit him. The thing you said over thirty years ago. The time he met you. You had loved him the moment he met you.

"Because if I loved you when I met you, it would be weird."

Your words echoed in his head as he finally understood it all. He met you thirty years ago, but you met him just now, at the gift shop.

You must have traveled back in time. You weren't from his time. You were from now, the year 2012.

So at the end of the day, you had no chance on getting back together. Not because you were married, not because you were over him, but because of something you both couldn't control: The bad timing.

I'm obsessed with the idea how their hands can interact with each other

"I have missed you"

THE ABSOLUTE URGE TO TURN THIS INTO A 100K WORD FIC IS KILLING ME PLEASE I HAVE 3 JOBS 😭

Nightmare Realm! Bill Cipher X Reader Headcanons

I don't see a lot of reader-insert writing for what Bill was like before the events of gravity falls. I think he'd be wandering the Nightmare realm for a long while, trying to understand how it works.

You remember the day you met Bill. You two are peas in a pod, joined at the hip since then, thick as thieves- sometimes literally! It's rough out here, in the Nightmare Realm.

It was a slow development, eons of keeping each other company and one day, his attitude towards you changed. It happens after you express a desire to leave the realm, to find broader skies and diverse dimensions. He's right there with you, already thinking of a ticket out of here!

You sometimes catch the way his eyes widen with something close to love, yet closer to obsession when he sees you fight your way out of a sticky situation. It was an intensity that would make the devil blush.

He'll give ya anything you want. A puppy? Sure! He'll make it rain puppies. They'll have an extra set of eyes or limbs, but that's close enough right?

Flowers? He actually paid attention this time and MADE you ones you like- plucked straight from the mindscape of the world's best florists. They're just as cute, fragile, and breakable as you! So what if they screamed and sprouted eyes?

Bill would never admit that he grows softer by the day with how you look at him, marvel at his powers and being with those wide, sparkling eyes of yours.

When you aren't looking, Bill makes sure to check on those flowers. With a snap of his fingers, he'd force life into them, making sure they never wilt.

In a world full of opportunistic and truly desperate dregs of what used to be people, he made sure to keep your light alive. The nightmare realm feared Bill, he'd keep you were safe.

He makes a ukulele from the hair of whoever wronged you- stringed intricately to it WHILE their streaming head is still attached to the instrument! It makes for interesting back-up vocals. He'd sing you a happy, whimsical little serenade he heard on Earth once. 

He's make sure to zip up the mouths of anyone who talked badly of you- literally! Sometimes you come across those random people around the nightmare realm, still unable to run their mouths.

He stopped a comet for you, just so you can cross the asteroid belt towards your favorite interdimexican joint. 

And if the line was long, he'd get rid of whoever's ahead of you with a snap- they'd turn into silly string or balloons. 

Of course, he'd turn them back to normal at your behest. He listens to you! Sometimes.

Bill is much more sappy than you give him credit for. He will deny it till his dying breath. It just looks… different than what mortals would call romance.

He painted the black canvas of the void with stars, comets, suns and moons for your amusement. He loves making them dance and spell out your name. Really extra, but Bill's all for big displays of affection!

He’ll poke fun at how dumb and easily amused you are, but if you see past his scathing banter, you'll see how his eye softens and gazes at you with an other-worldly fondness. Closer to obsession, really- but tom-ay-to, to-mah-to.

He'll never admit it, but he absolutely melts when you call him yours. Some other nicknames that would make him feel like putty would be Sweetheart, honey, light of my never-ending-all-consuming-void.

But of course, he won't say no if you started calling him by his REAL name. The one that would scramble your mind, melt your ears off your face, and vaporize you into nothing but atomic dust.

Just kidding. He won't tell you what it is. Depending on whether or not you're mortal, he'd never risk your well-being like that.

Much.

He will always praise you. For your ups and downs, for your wrongs and rights. He's right there with you, no matter what.

But, he'll get an extra kick out of seeing displays of power from you. Y'know, putting people in their place, defending him from opportunistic bounty hunters. Maybe burning a town or two in his honor, if you lack morals like that! That is H-O-T!

He loves you and his admiration burns. For Bill, love is something close to giving up your entire existence towards each other- in all forms, for all of time.

He will share pieces of himself with you, but give him an inch and he'll take a mile.

He's afraid of vulnerability. Love is a weakness, he's burned himself so many times with mortals and cosmic beings alike.

So, he'll expect you to give yourself fully to him... But he'll be hesitant to do the same. 

You and him against the world, forever and in death.

There are nights where he'll warp the nightmare realm into your own personal playground. 

He'll make music play out of nowhere, cheerful little tunes he heard in the mindscape of Earth's greatest artists. With a twinkle of his eye, he'll slip his hands over yours and guide you through steps. He teaches you new dances you've never seen before.

You'll dance the night away as he a chorus of screams and wearing flames surrounded you. Your very own, blue and warm spotlight shines over your perfect features. Bill can't possibly take his eyes off you! Whether or not your afraid or elated at the chaos he brewed, he absolutely ADORES you!

Love is acceptance and submission. No matter what, no matter the cost. So he won't understand why you disapprove of certain things he's done. He understands morality- but that's a meat-bag concept! You two are beyond that!

It would shock him to find you won't go with his Weirdmageddon idea.

His pranks turn harmful, well, even for you. Turning coffee to decaf was his worst idea before, but that quickly turned into making arsenic taste like blue raspberry so everyone in Gravity Falls wouldn't be able to tell the difference between that and Kewl-Aid.

Over time, his whimsical, funny little ideas turn into plans. Things that made you laugh out of the sheer absurdity of his ideas, becomes a twisted reality.

He expected you to be with him for all of eternity, no matter what.

So why? Why were you pulling away?

He just doesn't understand. Deep down, he does. But he refuses to acknowledge that.

The sweet gestures and love bombing come back tenfold. Until it becomes unbearable.

He nearly burns you in his attempt to show you a sun so bright and so powerful. He thought you'd love terrifying displays of power as much as he does. 

At some point, if he thinks you're pulling away, he'll try to cut you a deal.

He knows you from the inside out. He knows what makes you tick. What you need and want.

If you refuse him time and time again, he gets a little upset. But deep down, he likes the chase. He admires individuality, it is chaos and creative balanced- it makes you YOU. Not just some sad sack he had control over, in a world full of puppets.

Deep down, he doesn't want to take that individuality away from you by shackling you to his whims.

But Gods don't love the way mortal men do.

They consume and devour. Overpower everything until nothing is left and they can rebuild it all in their image. They do what they do best, cast dominion over everything they see and rule.

He whisks you away to the edge of the Nightmare realm, near a void no one comes back from. 

A pair of his slender black arms wrap around your waist tightly, almost suffocatingly. Another pair of them sprouts to lovingly cradle your neck and turn your gaze towards him. 

He holds you over the edge of this void, vast and endless. You drown in the twisted obsession building in his eye. He takes in your terrified, confused expression, and whispers promises of a future with him. Your form shakes, your feet swinging desperately for purchase.

"It's you and me against the world, I will never let you go."

All of this fear and hurt, just to prove his point. That you need him, and he needs you. If there was one thing Bill had been good at his entire existence, it was sowing fear deep into the minds of everyone he met.

It's up to you, whether or not you'll give in to that fear.

God, proof-reading this just makes me realize how in deep I am. Did you see the little secret notes between the lines? <3 Thanks for reading!

made this ages ago and never finished, but I hate that so much work is in my drafts so maybe someone should see it.

I learned a ton after this, like key framing, I was mostly using ibis paint so that wasn't available. Maybe I could fix it up one day, but probably not. Got too ambitious I guess