At anytime where the personalities seem off, and they will be, realize that there is actually a plot related reason for that. I can't quite say now what it is, but as the characters start becoming more aware of it, so will you readers.

If it isn't obvious what went on here, then all will be clear soon. You will be confused, but that's the point. There are many things wrong with this world. Yet, it's not an AU. How does that work, hmm?

*Edited due to 'A Tale of Two Stans'*

She woke up in the basement. An eerie feeling of wrongness filled her. She didn't feel right, physically or mentally. A glance around gave her another feeling, one of unfamiliarity. She spotted an ageing man sleeping arms crossed on a desk, papers scattered everywhere and a laptop ruffly pushed to the side. Who was he, and why were they there? Where was Dipper?

Her last question was spoken out loud. "Who's Dipper? I don't know anyone with that name!" Then, her strange feelings blinked out of existence ever so suddenly, and she no longer cared. Just a dream.

She remembered everything now! Silly tired mind. She looked around at the glue and glitter around her and grinned. She had been working on a new dress for herself, and her great-uncle Ford had been working on his latest book. The basement was the perfect place for creativity, they had found. Almost all of their greatest work had happened in the basement. It also wasn't the first time she had fallen asleep down there.

"Grunkle Stanford! It's a brand new day, and there's only so much summer left. We should go to the lake, or go out for ice cream." She jumped up and went to Stanford's side. "Come on, wake up!" She punched him lightly on the shoulder, getting only a grumble in response.

She pouted. Her great-uncle was always like this in the mornings now. She wasn't quite sure why she expected some other reaction now. This wasn't to say that her great-uncle was a bad guardian that never spent any time with her, but she was a morning person, and she missed the times when he'd force himself awake to at least make her breakfast and talk with her for a bit, before taking a midday nap. A look at the clock on the desk told her it was even already past noon!

"Well, if you're just going to sleep all day, I'll go spend another day with Gideon and Bill!" Those words had Stanford up in an instant. While he quite liked Gideon, the girly boy being the perfect match for the role of his great neice's best friend, Bill was...something else. He hadn't trusted that man from the moment they had met, and he was never going to be trusting him anytime soon. But Mabel adored him.

"Mabel, why don't you stay here today? I do need help with my newest plot point." He yawned after saying this, and shook his head sharply, trying to rid himself of the odd feeling he had. Gosh, he felt like sitting down with a nice glass of vodka, a good Russian brand preferable, and it wasn't even late. Wait, what was he thinking? If he wanted a good glass, he'd have to go up to Canada! Russians drinking vodka? That was about as silly as the countries of England and France being anything but friendly with each other, and those Canadians not being ax-crazy drunks who always wore a smile on their faces. Stanford liked that about them. Rarely did you find a pushover like the ones common in the United States.

"But now that I have the idea in my head, I really want to go now. You should have jumped when you had the chance." She laughed, "But don't worry. We can spend time together later. After we work on your book, we can watch a movie. How's that for a good idea?" Stanford relented, and sighed, placing a hand on his great neice's shoulder.

"Fine, but remember that if Cipher harms more than himself, I'll beat him like a red-headed step child." Mabel's grin fell.

"You worry too much. And it's not funny to joke about that. You know that Bill doesn't have any family." 'Not anymore' echoed in Stanford's mind, from a previous conversation they had. He couldn't quite remember when it had happened, but with all the other disturbing things he'd said, it wasn't a surprise that some of the details got lost. He had said it cheerfully though, Stanford did remember, but he had no other proof that Bill had done away with them himself. He still didn't like him hanging around his neice, even though he'd made an oath to never harm her and Gideon (and only them. No other person applied). Stanford would never be able to live with himself if she got hurt.

"Still, that guy deserves a few punches to the face. He must have told you about what he did to those siblings. Tyrone and Jamie. I saw what he did to them. Tyrone doesn't look too bad, but Jamie's quite bent out of shape..."

But Mabel just laughed it off. "Believe me, he actually learnt his lesson with that one. Never again will he attack kids that have another eight siblings on hand! Bill really didn't think that one through, something even he admitted. He almost lost an eye! He would have had to start wearing a monocle on his other eye. Oooh, and he could have worn a fancy top hat. A bow tie too. Bow ties are cool!" Stanford felt a pang of fear at the thought of Bill Cipher wearing such fancy things.

He shooed Mabel away to go play with her friends, giving an extra warning around Cipher, just as he always did. Stanford sighed. Maybe he was a little over protective, but it had been just him and Mabel for a long time. But why did that suddenly feel like a lie? He was sure it was true as sure as he was sure the sky was blue. No, he remembered, it was purple.