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"I really wanted you to like me, Mabel."
"I know."
Bill pressed his one pitch eye close to the cheval glass in front of him. He pet his forefinger against the back of the mirror as he surveyed the enchanting figure lingering just on the other side.
Pretty Mabel...whirling about the room in today's outfit. Her soft hands clung to her long skirts as she twirled in them with nary a care. She flung her shoulders back on a contented laugh that Bill never wanted to end. Her freckled nose wrinkled on her too lovely face. She brushed any creases away from her clothes, aligning her seams a final time before she sprinted for the door. Her footsteps echoed and disappeared in the distance.
Bill had to confess, Mabel had blossomed into such an enticing creature. Years passed so quickly in his realm, it'd only been an instant and that toothsome bright grin had grown into an alluring peckish smile on her pink lips. He sighed just to think of her beaming expression.
Joy was becoming on her gorgeous face.
Bill had discovered simply looking at her made him feel...good. He could watch her flit about her daily things for eternity. Every silly maneurism she possessed, her crudely loud sneezes, her disheveled chestnut mane, her nervous preening— he adored her.
Why waste time tormenting her when her could be swooning over her like this?
Bill's musings were cut short— he'd been staring blankly at the mirror before him, lost in thought, when Mabel chanced back into the attic.
His black heart thudded harder to see her again.
Mabel ran for the dresser seated beside her bed. She yanked the drawer open and shuffled frantically through its contents for something.
Bill could hear Dipper calling up to her from the other room.
"You find them yet?" His voice echoed.
Mabel held her treasure aloft with a triumphant whoop. "Just found em!" She hollered back down to him, jingling her quarry in hand. Keys.
Where could they be headed? His curiosity burned.
Mabel took the chance to snag a perfume from the dresser top and spritz herself before dashing out the door once more.
Bill hurried to the room's far window, another pane he could peer out from his world. What must be Dipper's car sat running warm in the driveway.
That's right...it wasn't even Summer. It was January and these two decided to drop on by. Why? Had they graduated their schoolings?
Dipper leant against the driver's side door casually, his feet kicked up as he waited for his sister to emerge. He canted his head over his shoulder when she came out, gave her a grin before slipping into his seat.
Bill could just barely make out the duo's conversation.
"...Gideon's….till seven?"
The dream demon pressed harder and even dashed to his lookout at the Mystery Shack entrance for a better listen, but the car windows were rolled high and the duo was already halfway up the narrowing driveway.
Bill cursed his lack of vantage. He had many peepholes scattered throughout this town. If it was Gideon's the two siblings were headed, then Bill would be making his way there, too.
It'd occurred to him that not having Mabel in his sights was...an annoyance. He despised the world less for having her in it, and to keep an eye on her was beyond pleasent. He clasped his little hands together menacingly, ciphering out the next window he could peer out.
He traveled through familiar dreamscape till he reached the parallel to the Gleeful manor. He scanned hard and found a triangular crack in a tall mirror mounted on the wall inside the humble home.
Looked like Lil Gideon was having a lil get together. He waited patiently whilst the clean-casual party attendees milled about in a friendly fashion, chatting on about their daily mundane lives. Bill rolled his eye around the room, squinting hard for any sight of his lovely Mabel. He heard her sweet voice before he saw her.
Mabel and Dipper passed around the corner, linked arm in arm as they cut through the crowd. Mabel murmured something low to him and nodded to the clear dining room ahead.
Bill's black hands clinked against the glass and Pine Tree looked over his shoulder instinctively, hackles forever risen with that boy. Like he had a sense when Cipher was around, or at the least, the paranormal.
Dipper turned back obliviously with a scratch to his neck and began leading his sister away from the crowds. Bill followed suit behind them, traveling in the reflections lining the walls. Out the corner of his eye, he caught Gideon Gleeful making his way to the duo. A cordial smile spread across his rosy face as he greeted them near the dining table.
"My dearest Pines." He enjoined them.
Gideon took Mabel's dainty hand in his own and brought it up to his lips. He kissed the emerald ring adorned on her middle finger, eyes never leaving hers.
Bill assumed she'd recoil, given her prior distaste, but she only laughed. Mabel then welcomed him into a warm hug— one that made Bill's ire skyrocket. Dipper proceeded to take Gideon's hand in a near brotherly shake.
"I thought Dipper here wasn't coming with you till next year" Gideon recalled as he leant against the dining table. "No matter the circumstance, I'm happy the both of y'all could finally join me!"
Bill gawked silently from his placing in the mirror on the wall. These three had become friends over the years, and he hadn't even noticed? How preoccupied he'd been with other things...
Little Mabel had sprouted full in the meantime, growing into a young woman without his observance. Even Gideon was strapping now. Not so lil anymore. He kept Mabel in his shadow, nearly two heads taller than both siblings.
Mabel had to crane her neck just to look him in the eyes.
Bill suspected a hint of feminine approval in Mabel's gaze. She let her hazel eyes linger a second too long on Gideon's broad shoulders. Bill seethed from his placement and eyed a few possible host candidates bustling about.
One bumbling waiter struck an applicable chord within him. The other catering staff seemed to take no notice with him. When the went on breaks, he was left out from the circle. He had no phone in his pocket and no hope in his eyes. Just cigarettes and a thin wallet.
A lost soul that was just begging to be replaced— and such a conventionally attractive form, too. Would Mabel fall prey to those tortured grey-blue eyes? The boy's hair needed taming and his posture demanded immediate improvement, but there was potential in him nonetheless.
Bill kept track of the busboy, and waited for him to take another leisurely break on the Gleefuls' patio. He'd make his move when that poor boy was alone. The mortal was hardly using his vessel constructively as is, Bill would see to it that his full capability was met. A befitting, and surely welcomed, transaction.
Mabel elicited a throaty laugh at something Gideon said, her soft hand patted his chest as she wiped a tear from her eye. Bill saw a blush creeping across Gideon's freckled cheeks, his eyes fell to where Mabel's hand lay.
Bill's vision flashed red. Mabel's hands flitted back to her sides and she looked to her phone before murmuring something about the restroom. Gideon pointed to the hall on his right and she hurried down it with haste, giving her brother a momentary wave.
Coincidentally enough, Bill's hunt for the day wandered out the back door and on to the patio.
How convenient.
Bill trailed behind him, following in each reflection he could before manifestation was imminent.
The busboy lit up a cigarette that'd been tucked behind his ear. His disheveled blonde hair fell dead in front of his lusterless eyes. Seemed as if this boy needed a pilot. Like living had been such a burden on his weary mortal soul.
Who can blame him in this world?
Bill weighed his options here. Why exactly did he want this human vessel? This could be a waste of time and energy— though redundant in his godlike state. But it seemed that whenever the Pines family became even minutely involved with his scheming, things went awry, and if one was to be the forefront of his endgame...he wasn't sure how this would pan out for him.
Half-way through the cigarette and Bill thought of that pretty pink perfume Mabel had spritzed on herself just earlier today. If Bill possessed a human host, he could take Mabel's warm body in his arms— he could linger in her decadent scent for hours, twirl her silken hair round his boney fingers.
Bill would finally know how Mabel's skin felt beneath his own hands. What little noises she'd make when Bill had her tucked beneath him.
This young man looked no older than Mabel herself. Must only still be in his mid twenties. Perfect.
Bill watch as the human took a seat on a stone bench, resting his tired head in his hands. His eyes half lidded as he looked past Cipher.
"Hey, buddy, why the long face?"
Waiter boy snapped to attention. The cherry fell from his cigarette. He peered around, checking to see if he was as alone as he'd once thought.
Bill choked back a laugh. No need to petrify the boy. He doubted the man would need coaxing to a well needed break in existing. Hell, Bill should be getting paid to steer this meat sack around for a couple of weeks. This was a blessing in disguise, the kid just didn't know it yet.
"W-who…? Hello?" The boy asked out loud, his voice choked. Disbelieving. Like maybe he'd just imagined that voice calling to him.
Bill decided to waste no more time in the build up of his Big Reveal. He made himself visible to the human with a flash of smoke and a tip of his hat.
"Jesus Christ!"
Bill cackled and held up his hands in defense. "Hey-hey! Whoa! No need for name calling, kiddo!" Bill chided, giving the waiter a final once over. He circled his specimen approvingly. This form would be adequate for now, at least.
He slipped his black hands across the name tag pinned to the human's chest.
"Cornelius?" Bill scoffed and tore the thing away. "That's a terrible name. I'm not using that, hope that doesn't void contract." He trailed, giving his bow tie an adjusting tug.
"C-contract?"The bewildered human breathed out past his shuddering.
Bill offered him a courteous bow. "Introductions are in order, seeing as I know your atrocious name." He whirled his black cane for punctuation. "The name's Bill Cipher, and boy do I have a deal for you."
The boy's trembling seemed to ebb away as Bill carried on menial conversation. He floated a few feet from the boy, giving him space to breathe. Humans needed to do that, right?
Cornelius pulled at his own bowtie. Awful colored fabric, but it'll do. "A deal?" He looked to the crumpled cigarette lying between his feet. His hands shook as he combed them through his hair. "I...I don't even know what you are."
Bill tsked. "Well now, that's not what's important here, my boy. Now see— I'm a god of sorts, and that entitles me to some powerful magicks." He drifted nearer to Cornelius and perched on his shoulder, giving each one a good pat. These'll do nicely. "Magicks I can use to make your wildest dreams become absolute reality." He enticed, wriggling his fingers.
The boy rubbed his arm pensively, obviously uncomfortable to look Cipher in the eye, but the metaphorical clock was ticking, and sustaining a corporeal form on his own in this realm was tiring.
"Come on kid, I know you've got dreams." He cajoled, offering his hand up, all too ready to seal this deal. "If you let me possess this body of yours for a teensy bit, I'll make it forever worth your while." His pupils flashed with different currency symbols.
The boy tensed. "Possess me?" He scoffed. "You're kidding." Must be some lick of sense in that head of his, but for all the cruel things Bill was worth— there was no use in being dishonest. He simply needed a vessel. He'd even give the boy if this worked like he planned? Well, he'd be renting this body for months on end.
The kid would be getting paid for part-time about a win-win.
Bill pressed his finger over the thudding heart in Cornelius' chest. "Now I know exhausted when I see it, and it's plain to see that you're barely managing in this world as is." Bill murmured mock soothingly. "So, why don't you take a little mental break, say for a week or two? Let me be in total control. You rest. Linger in my dreamscape." Bill would make it pleasant for him.
The boy was reasonably hesitant but Bill could see he more than had his attention. His interest.
"Listen kid, all I need is a yes or no." Bill offered up his hand for a shake. "Think about it, for the nex-"
"Could you really get me cash?" Cornelius rushed, interrupting Bill's persuasion, though it seemed a bit unnecessary at this point. "Like a lot of money? When? H-how, in what form?"
Bill laughed. "I can get it to you any way and in any amount. I can make a stack of it stand up and walk to your front door." He had him. Hook, line and sinker. "All you gotta do is shake." And linger in what was basically purgatory for a few weeks.
The human looked to Bill now, a hint of resolve in those exhausted eyes. It was almost sad how little a fight this boy put up, though Bill supposed that was all the better for the both of them.
Bill splayed his fingers and a blue aura flashed around his hand. Swallowing it up in a azure flame that flickered wildly. Volatile.
"You won't feel a thing, scout's honor." Bill relayed honestly as Cornelius reached for him.
The boy paused only for a second. "Just...don't hurt anybody."
"Oh I wouldn't dream of it, boyyo!" With that, Bill snatched the human's warm hand. With a single tug, he wrenched Cornelius' tired soul free. His body fell limp in a crumpled heap on the patio, his skull cracking against the corner of the stone bench.
Bill winced for his host, but dove into him nevertheless.
Cornelius was breathing awed in the background, whirling about his new plane and marveling at his weightlessness.
Bill sat up with a groan, pain blooming from the gash cut across his hairline. He rubbed his hands there and hissed between his teeth to find blood there.
Birds flitted about in a nearby stone basin filled with water. Bill shooed them away before scooting on his knees to inspect his marred face in the reflection. Blood dripped onto the surface and he scooped a handful up to wash the worst away.
Cornelius drifted by his side, seeming already content in his new uncorporeal form.
"What is it that you need a body for if you've already got this kind of magick?" He asked brazenly, lounging on his back in the air, his face turned up towards the bright evening sky.
Bill surveyed his new face with approval. He grinned, flashing his teeth. A toothsome smile, but white and even. He stood on foreign limbs, his knees wobbling before he regained composure.
Just like riding a bicycle.
He brushed his lanky fingers down his breast coat, leaving no wrinkles behind as he made his way to the backdoor of the Gleeful manor before he called back. "Because, you fool , to win a girl's heart— you need your own!" Bill patted his hand across his chest triumphantly, his gait proud as he waltzed inside- a new man.
Cornelius did not choose to follow.
.