#ler!fiddleford

“Dag blast it- UGH!” Ford tossed his flaming trench coat to the ground, spewing colorful obscenities as he tried to put out the bright green fire. By the time he managed to stomp it out, his poor coat was in charred tatters.

“There goes another one…” He swore, tossing the ruined garment into his disposal bin. The smoking experiment on his table was an even greater let-down. Rubbing his temples, the scientist grabbed his ancient tape recorder and sighed into the device. “Attempt number 57 ends in…failure.”

Ford had been at it for nearly a week, trying test after test in an attempt to get the right combination. It was an experimental weirdness blocker that could—in theory—negate any powers or effects being in their odd town could bring.

The man’s reaction had been less than quiet. Fiddleford, who had come to visit his it’s-complicated-but-we’re-getting-there partner, was drawn to the room by all the noise. “Everythin’ alright in here, Stanford?”

Ford whipped around, eyes narrowed dangerously before he realized who had entered. “Oh…yes. Everything’s fine.”

“Sure doesn’t seem like it.” The old man stepped farther into the room, furrowing his brows. He’d been doing a lot better since Weirdmageddon; his beard was clean (though he preferred long, so it wasn’t cut), his clothes were clean and whole, and he was spewing less nonsense by the day. With his improved mental state, he was able to care for those around him. “You should take a break, Ford. It’d do ya some good.”

“I’m fine, Fiddleford,” Ford huffed, brushing off the advice. He knew the hillbilly was right, but that didn’t mean he had to listen.

“Uh-huh, sure. Gotta be true, what with the fire and screamin’.” Fidds looked over at the remnants of Ford’s trench coat knowingly. That quirked brow made Ford more defensive than it probably should have.

“I just need more time. A few hours, tops.” Ford poked the smoldering remains of his experiment, trying to figure out what went wrong.

The man needed a break, but he wasn’t going to take one willingly. It was up to McGucket to fix that.

“What ya need is to relax.” Closing the distance between them, Fiddleford wrapped his arms around his partner. He squeezed just tight enough so the weary man couldn’t escape.

“Fidds, come on. I’ll be done soon en- mmph!” Ford flinched, jolting in his partner’s grip. The hillbilly’s hands were resting on Ford’s hips. While that would usually be an appreciated gesture, his fingers were wiggling into the divots of the joint; it tickled, and they both knew it.

“What’sa matter, Stanford? Got a tickle in yer throat?” Fiddleford teased, knowing the silliness of it would get to Ford. The man never could handle childish teases. The effects were instantaneous.

“F-Fihidds, no! I dohon’t have time f-for nonsense!” Ford did his best to hold in his reactions, refusing to give up so easily. He didn’t necessarily need to finish his work that day, but it felt wrong to leave anything unfinished.

“Yet you’ve got time fer workin’ yerself to exhaustion, knowin’ ya ain’t got enough energy to do anythin’ actually productive.”

Ford scoffed at the direct call-out, his ears turning pink. Well…shit. Fiddleford had him pegged, and he really didn’t have a comeback for that. After a few seconds of watching the Pines gape like a fish, Fidds chuckled.

“That’s what I thought. Now, hush up ‘n lemme help ya.” Pressing a gentle kiss to one of the man’s pinkened ears, Fidds got back to work. His thin, bony fingers worked their way up Ford’s sides, digging in just enough to make him giggle.

“Fihiddlefohohord!” Rumbling, slightly raspy giggles shook the man’s shoulders as he tried not to squirm. While the tickling wasn’t exactly what he had planned for the afternoon, he couldn’t deny how nice it was to have McGucket pressed against him after feeling so stressed.

“That’s my name, yeah. You sure that experiment didn’ scramble yer brain pan?” Fidds teased him, resting his chin on his partner’s shaky shoulder.

“Behe quihihiet!” Ford couldn’t help but gasp when one of Fidds’s hands went back down to his hips, his fingers wiggling into the ticklish little divot once again.

“You should be a little nicer, darlin’. I got all ‘a my favorite spots right here, just waitin’ for some attention.” His words carried a playful threat, his other hand moving to tease near Ford’s pits. He felt the man shudder against him at the thought.

“No! Nohohoho, cohome on! Thihis is rihidiculous!” Stanford tried using his grumpy old man tone, but the constant giggling ruined the attempt at seriousness. He was forced to just sit there and squirm against his partner.

“That’s the whole point, ya old goof. Yer s’posed to be takin’ it easy; ridiculous fits the bill.” Fidds accentuated his point with a few kisses to Ford’s neck, though he was surprised by the adorably shrill noise the action received.

“KHHHHehehe! Fihidds!” Ford whined—actually whined—at the feeling, scrunching up his shoulders as much as the hold would allow. His neck was ticklish? How had the hillbilly never noticed before?

“I reckon someone’s been hidin’ somethin’ from me, hasn’t he?” With a giddy smirk, Fiddleford began kissing the back of Ford’s neck, purposefully nuzzling his scraggly beard against the flushed skin as well.

Ford gasped at the barrage of tickly kisses and nuzzles, strangled little giggles and incredibly silly noises getting caught in his throat as he scrunched up. It was an utterly adorable sight—one that his partner made sure to enjoy.

“Yer so cute when yer laughin’, Stanford,” McGucket cooed between kisses, putting a bit more of his weight on his partner to keep him still. “Daw, who am I kiddin’? Yer cute in general.”

The silver-haired man could feel his face burning from all the affectionate teasing. He could usually keep his emotions in check; the decades he spent in chaotic and dangerous dimensions taught him to be stoic on command.

When it came to Fiddleford, however, all of that conditioning seemed to disappear. He felt like a flustered teen playing wingman for Stanley again, though the feeling was a lot more intense and a helluva lot more enjoyable.

“Lohohohove, p-plehehehease! Ihi- GYEhehehe! Ihihi cahahan’t!” Ford blushed even harder just from the ludicrous nature of his own words. Gracious, he was pathetic…and he didn’t really mind it. His sides were growing quite sore, however, and he couldn’t take much more of the heavy giggling. “Fihihidds, plehease!”

The bearded man heard the difference in Ford’s tone, easing off to kiss his rosy cheeks instead. “Alright, alright, settle down. I’m done bein’ mean.” Gently, he guided the giggly man over to the small room he’d forced Ford to furnish, getting him settled on the nearly untouched mattress. “Told ya you’d need a nappin’ room down here.”

“Nohot the time toho glohohoat…” Ford huffed, snuggling up against his lanky partner. Fuck, he couldn’t work any more if he wanted to, which…he kind of didn’t. He was exhausted, his thoughts were sluggish, and he was really in the mood for cuddles. “Sneaky bastard.”

“Only fer you, darlin’.” Fidds peppered his face with kisses, running a hand through his fluffy silver hair.

Ford mumbled grievances, but it was obvious the touch was melting him. He was so tired…but he didn’t want the attention to end. “Could you…mmphf.”

“What’s that now? Gotta speak up.” Fiddleford had an idea of what the cuddly man wanted to say, but he was gonna make him ask for it. His flustered voice was just too adorable to resist.

It was absolutely evil, in Ford’s eyes.

“Just…don’t stop? I don’t want you to…you know. Lightly.”

Fidds bit his lip, chuckling softly at the embarrassed, broken request. Ford really was terrible at asking for what he wanted… Still, the attempt was the best he’d gotten yet.

“M’kay, I won’t make ya beg. C’mere.” Snaking a hand up Ford’s shirt, the bearded man began ever so gently tickling his partner’s sides, back, and neck. His hand drifted, the touch just present enough to tickle.

“Mmhmhmhm…” A wobbly smile tugged at Ford’s lips as he pressed his face into Fiddleford’s chest, giggling softly. Each small noise was little more than an exhale, gentle enough for his aching sides to rest while keeping him giddy. Fidds always knew exactly what he needed, and—better yet—exactly how to give it to him.

“Maybe I should start doin’ this every time ya refuse to rest. It’s workin’ pretty well, I reckon.” Fidds felt his heart swell at the sight of him, loving how he just gave in to the giggly affection.

“Shuhush,” Ford huffed lovingly, moving in to kiss him. His stubbly upper lip scratched Fidds’s as he blindly leaned in. Their lips met, each smiling against the other’s as they drifted off wholly into their own little world.

While he would’ve loved to keep kissing Ford for the rest of the night, he could feel how sluggish the man was getting. It was time to rest. He pulled away from the kiss, lovingly stroking Ford’s sides.

“Alright, darlin’. Time to turn in.” Wrapping his thin legs around the man’s waist, Fiddleford gently scratched Ford’s scalp to wind down. As expected, the scientist let out a sleepy sigh, leaning right into the touch. Fidds’s other hand was still stroking his sides, barely tickling. It was sweet, domestic, and made both men feel oh so loved and whole.

“Mhmmm…goodnihight, love.” Ford muttered one last endearment before dozing off, finally giving in to the drowsiness that washed over him. He felt a few light kisses on the crown of his head, reassuring him all the way to unconsciousness.

“G’night, Stanford. I love ya, darlin’.” Fiddleford held Ford close, sighing contentedly as he heard the man’s breathing even out. Finally, he’d gotten his stubborn partner to pass out and rest. The next day would bring the same challenge, but he’d be more than ready to face and overcome it.

50/50 Switch

Obviously having grown up with Stanley, he's had his fair share of tickle fights. In some cases his twelve fingers give him the advantage, but at the end of the day, Stanley was stronger than him and better at roughhousing and usually won those

In his young adult years, that started to die down, until he met Fiddleford in college. It started off unintentional, Fidds was just a touchy, physically affectionate guy. One day he just meant pat his roommate's shoulder but his hand strayed a little too close to his neck and Ford ended up hunching his shoulders up with his breath hitching, and ever since it stopped being accidental

If Fiddleford thought Ford was working too hard for too long, skipping meals and sleep, he'd just go up behind him and slip his hands under his arms to scritch at his ribs, because it was the only way to convince him to rest. Ford was usually too tired to fight back anyway

Eventually though, Ford retaliated and he found out pretty quickly that his assistant was just as bad, if not worse than him

While doing research in Gravity Falls, he discovered the Leshy (changing the mythology a little here to be less dark and more Gravity Falls friendly, please forgive me) which is a forest trickster spirit that leads travelers from the path and may even tickle them. Ford met one that got him good, and was even fascinated with his extra fingers once they got a change to speak. That was the day he found out his knees were ticklish.

Being the only human lost between dimensions, people tend to get really curious about you, and even a bit touchy. It was pretty common for people to find out he was ticklish and then keep doing it because they found his reactions cute the same way humans think it's cute when a dog kicks its leg. He eventually got used to this

After coming back from the portal and having settled back in a little, he and Stanley sort of go back to being brothers. Stan hasn't changed at all, and one day he grabs Ford in a head lock, only for Ford to immediately go for his sides and get him to let go pretty quickly

One time he pinned Stan to the ground, arms behind his back, and just zeroed in on his ribs because he was being a pain. He wouldn't stop until Stan apologized for turning the house into the Mystery Shack

His worst spot is his underarms, it immediately renders him defenseless. He curls up and stops fighting because his body just gives up

His hands are also ticklish, but he's only ever let a certain previous banjo-playing partner of his tickle there. This spot gets him incredibly flustered since it's one of his biggest insecurities being adored and treated so gently like it's one of the most important things in the world

His laugh is really wheezy, airy, and uncertain because since he's not used to laughing that much

Stanley

Ler Leaning Switch, as in: He acts like a ler but it's also pretty easy to get him screaming if you can get past his defenses

If you manage to tickle him, he's VERY quick to pull the "I'm just an old man" card, but it rarely ever actually works because his family knows him. This man singlehandedly fought off a hoard of zombies and a whole ass dinosaur, he'll be fine

Before Ford came back, he was the family's biggest tickle monster, and could not be defeated. After Ford came back though, he was the only one that could get past Stan's swinging, grabbing, pushing, etc., to get him pinned long enough to tickle him, which immediately saps his strength and he's left just kicking and screaming dramatically

This dude's laugh is HARSH but the family finds it endearing because it's very him. The Mystery Twins even find it comforting after a while because it's their Grunkle, someone they look up to and feel safe with

His worst spot is his hips. If he's standing, his legs will just immediately give out. If he's laying or sitting, he immediately tries to bring them up and curl up while pushing at whoever is tickling him (usually Ford)

You can't have ears that big and them not be ticklish. They're ticklish. It's part of why he hates anyone trying to whisper to him, so he lies and tells people it messes with his hearing aid.

Loves to bother his twin. If he sees an opening, he'll slip his hands under Ford's arms (and catch him when his legs give out. It's a Pines trait.)

He's constantly scooping the kids up and going full tickle monster on them

With Mabel it's because he genuinely just enjoys playing with her, but with Dipper he thinks the kid needs to loosen up a little and get out of his own head sometimes. Also because he's well aware Dipper tries to grow up too fast, and a healthy dose of tickles from his uncle gets him acting like a kid again

He's the type to playfully growl when tickling someone

Big fan of tickle hugs because it's an easy way to trap a lee and get their sides

Bill

He will also use his stubble to his advantage when he can; on necks and bellies during raspberries

This applies to both of the twins but I'll put it here: As children, their mom used to sometimes tickle them, if they were sad, grumpy, or got into play-arguments with her

As much ler energy as he gives off, I think he's a 50/50 switch

Especially in a human vessel, with how much he seems to enjoy pain because it's a physical sensation he can't usually experience, I think he'd enjoy being tickled just as much

I think he'd be the type of lee to tease his ler and fluster them with how bold he is to ask for it. Like in a human form, I think he'd just plop himself in a ler's lap and raise his arms or something, he has absolutely 0 shame or embarrassment. The only reason it bothered him when Mabel tickled him is because he had a goal and he was trying to do something and she stopped him

Tried to use tickling as a torture method on Ford once, back when he didn't fully understand it still, and was shocked to discover the man didn't even really mind it that much. After all, he'd much rather tickling than something horrific like having his bones replaced with porcelain

In a human form, his favorite spots to be tickled are his tummy and back

A melt spot he ended up finding out about is under his chin, it gets him all soft and giggly

In triangle form, he can be tickled, he just never thought he could because no one ever tried

I think canonically he said dreamcatchers tickle? I'm not entirely sure how that works but it's canon I think?

He's small enough to be cradled in one arm and tickled with the other

I saw someone headcanon that his feet have toebeans, and I have to agree, and they're ticklish

Bill isn't one to start small and lead up to a big finale, if he finds a death spot, he will zero in on it until you tap out (which he will respect, because I said so)

Bill LOVES a good chase. If a lee runs from him, he loves to go after them and hunt them down, it makes the reward of finally getting them that much sweeter. (This is brought to you by that one scene where he pops up like "Peekaboo~!" in literally the teasiest voice)

Ford is his favorite Ler and Lee, he just loves to a nuisance in general to the guy

Sometimes he'll fluster Ford by filling his mind with teases and images but it also tends to backfire because Ford is just as good at teasing and he'll retaliate

Fiddleford

Ler Leaning (like 80% ler)

Having grown up on a farm, he's pretty used to roughhousing and wrestling with his cousins and friends

He used to play tickle monster with Tate when he was still a kid. Tate would go and hide while Fiddleford searched for him. Once he was found, he'd be scooped up into his father's tickling grasp while his dad playfully growled. (He was a good dad before he left)

In college he'd tickle Ford to get him to finally stop studying and get some sleep

Like many young adults in college, he'd get into petty arguments with his roommate over something small, and on more than one occasion he's wrecked the shit out of Ford if he ate something if Fidd's without asking

I also headcanon that he was friends with Stanley for a while while all three of them were in Gravity Falls together. On a couple occasions his southern sass would come out and both of the twins would gang up on him, usually with one holding him down because he's "farm-strong" despite being smaller