&& endless mystery;

Dipper quietly cursed his curiosity that had led him so close to the boat. He should have known better, but of course, like all those other times he had gotten himself in trouble, it was too late to cry after he was already neck deep in trouble. More and more people were brought to stare at him, tangled in the rope webs on the ship’s deck, feeling way too exposed and cornered but no matter how he squirmed he couldn’t get out of the ropes. The newest human, a blonde, was brought to just stare at him like all the others. And Dipper just glared at him hesitantly, as if daring him to come any closer.

Dipper just stopped and stared, finally feeling his own stomach turning and for a small moment he was sure that he was going to throw up too. Until he had the sense to look away, looking annoyed and awkward once more. “ Bill! That’s- - That’s disgusting as all Hell! “ the brunet groaned, and oh god he could smell it too. Nope nope nope. “ That’s it! Here, clean that up. ” he just threw the rag at the table, still not looking that way. There was no possible way for him to hide all this from the others. They could walk in on any moment. 

“No, I’m not gonna leave you to die… I’ll…” Bill took a moment to think about what his options were. “I’ll carry you, we can both go looking for them. I don’t mind, it’s better than you dying on me.” He knew he had to find away to save both Dipper and the others, but was running out of ideas.

Despite the pale color that had started to spread on his face, Dipper’s eyes were still bright and attentive as they looked at the demon, thinking. Would he actually do such a thing for him? Not that going outside was any better idea than staying here... “ The wind, it’ll freeze me in minutes. Besides I can’t navigate in such a thick snow storm, we would just be more lost... " he couldn’t think of many ways out of this. Many ways that didn’t include miracles that is. “ A-aren’t you cold? ”

A wave of aggression washed over the tired brunet. He didn’t have the energy to argue right now. Or to do much anything else. “ Because by the morning I’ll be frozen solid, and the others might still be out there! ” by others, Dipper mainly meant Mabel, but also the others of their small group who had been scattered around just before the snow storm hit them. The small cave did little to protect him from the cold and if he had been able to still stand he would be out there himself, looking for his twin. Why hadn’t he just listened to the nagging feeling of doom he had gotten a day before this trip.

((GUYS, JOIN. NOW.))

Fortunately Dipper didn’t have a light stomach, having gotten used to rather gross table games with Mabel from young age. Else he might have had to add a puddle of puke to his list of things to clean up as he caught glimpses of the way Bill ate his sandwich. And talked all the while doing so. That was a rather impressive feat on itself tho. Being able to eat like that and not choke to death when the assumed the demon didn’t have much recent experience from eating. And he wasn’t sure if it was relieving or not to hear that Bill didn’t enjoy sacrificial deaths of humans. Or if that just meant that all he would need to do was one false move to end up on his hit list. “ Well that’s...good. I mean, not killing humans for fun. Can’t imagine what it’s like getting pyramids build for you though. ” at least he assumed they were talking about pyramids. What else had they build in Egypt? The now wet rag was swiped across the table once, before the boy sighed. “ If it’s any possible for your highness, could you try to not make such a mess again? We have to clean you up too you know. ”

The instant Dipper realized that there was someone there with him - other than Mabel - he jumped awake and leaned up from his pillow, wide brown eyes jumping around until they landed on the blonde. It was visible how the gears turned in his head slowly and surely, as he remembered. “ B-Bill. ” he stated in surprise, feeling rather stupid right after that name slipped off his lips. He didn’t really want to seem any more foolish than he already had.... His wrist started to itch immediately, but he only pressed it into the fold of the blanket. “ I... yeah... I’m awake. What time is it? ” the brunet asked, eyes flickering towards the window. Oh, oh man. He still had not talked with Grunkle Stan after he slipped off during his lunch break. And just like that the good old mantle of stress started to land on Dipper’s shoulders.

Oh no, some of the juice had already started to dry up, making it really sticky and almost impossible to clean up. Dipper dried off what he could, turning to rinse the drag as he listened. Huh, he wondered what it was like as an immortal demon. At least he assumed Bill was immortal. Or just very long aged. Maybe he lived off from the frustration of the humans he bothered through the times. “ What kind of sacrifices did you like then? ” the boy blurted out without remembering his promise to himself to not be nice to the demon. “ Uh, I mean like. I would have probably guessed blood sacrifices too. You just seem like the kind of guy who enjoys death and pain. ” That didn’t really save it, and he hoped that he didn’t sound too interested. Even when he was slightly curious.

Dipper shivered but then hurried out of the kitchen and hopped the stairs two at a time to get to upstairs. Mabel was still asleep as who knew how early it was, and the brunet sneaked in with light feet. The first thing he did was pull out a fresh t-shirt that he quickly changed into, patting his trusty vest on top of it. Then he went to his closet and patted over the pile of clothes. The solid form of the weird tooth was easy to feel from under all the clothes and he was glad to know that it was still there. With the decision to get back to investigate it closer later, he threw his dirty shirt on top of the pile and closed the door. He was downstairs before Mabel was any wiser, combing through his hair messily with his fingers.

Dipper picked up a rag, his intention to clean up the table. Or more likely, just try to save what could be saved. He didn’t want the others to walk in and see the mess. “ Hard to believe someone would worship you... ” the brunet muttered as he soaked up the liquid in the rag and wondered after two swipes how he was ever going to finish this project like this. But he couldn’t deny that he wasn’t a tiny bit curious about what Bill said. It was easy to remember how old a demon could be, and what they had seen... He wondered what all Bill did know. Not that he was going to actually ask him about anything, cause that could be considered an actual conversation.

Money... effigies... demons... Well that was all new information. Gave a whole new meaning to ‘money’s the root of all evil’. You would think that Grunkle Stan would get the heebiejeebies from cash if that was the case but his love for money was something that no one could act that well. Maybe it just took a demon to know a demon. “ I don’t think you understand what ‘act natural’ means... Okay sit down, on a chair, and I’ll get you your sandwich. ” Dipper sighed and just turned to get out all the stuff he needed for a sandwich. They came out rather simple, due to lack of ingredients, but still neatly piled and balanced in just the way he liked them.