Dipper was remaking his tie for maybe the hundred times, sighing heavily. He didn't really have the head to go out, but Mabel had assured him he would feel better once they were there. But how could he forget about his problem when the brick sitting on his desk was a heavy reminder of his time running out?

If only he hadn't left his curiosity take the best of him when he was on his night walk three weeks ago he wouldn't be stuck with this debt. He should have walked pass that back alley just ignoring and forgetting about the sound that had cached his attention. But no, of course, mister Mason Pines needed to go and put his nose into dangerous things, especially as he knew there were gangsters around the area sometimes.

He must have scared the person with who they were making a deal, maybe they thought he was a police officer, but soon after he was in trouble. Apparently, he had made them lose a deal that was worth a lot of money and their boss would kill them if they didn't have the cash. So he was stuck with paying it for them. He would have gone to the police, but at this point, lots of them were already bought by the mafia and he knew he would put his family in danger if he was doing this.

Problem was, he didn't have the money to pay them back and he already had negotiated more time, he couldn't get more. The selling of his books was not enough for that and he clearly doesn't have the time to find a job. He was grateful for his fans, but there wasn't enough of them to get him out of this. And he wasn't going to ask his family to help him, he preferred to keep them the most far away from this as possible.

He groaned when he realised he messed up his tie again, jumping when he heard his door open, relaxing when he saw his twin. "Dipper, Pacifica is waiting for us, what are you doing?" she asked, walking toward him and gently slapping his hand away from the tie, doing it for him. "Sorry, I was thinking about something" He offered, not really far from the truth. He received a roll from the eyes, his sister knowing very well how he could get lost in his mind when he was alone.

Once she made sure he was well dress they took their coat and went outside where their friend was waiting in the car. "Took you long enough" commented Pacifica, looking at Dipper taking place behind. "Sorry" he simply mumbles, hearing Mabel explaining and over-exaggerating as she was taking place beside the young lady at the front.

Soon the car was filled with the two women talking, gaining a smile from Dipper, still surprise of how they were now friends with Pacifica Northwest. They were not exactly from the same social class, but their meeting in the small town of Gravity Falls couples years back might have helped, even if they were more rival than friends at the time.

Dipper decided to stay in silence and look at the city, he wasn't really the best at keeping long conversation with those two and he still didn't have the mind to it. The ride took maybe two dozens of minutes before the young Northwest parked the car and they start walking. Dipper was just following since he never came before, way too scared to be found in a speakeasy, he really didn't need more troubles.

After five minutes of walking, they entered a back alley and went down some stair. Pacifica did the talking, showing something to the pair of eyes looking through a slot in the metallic door. This seemed to be good because quickly after he heard locked being undone and the door opened, a large man showing them they could get in, which they did quickly.

They went down some more stair before getting to another door, this time he could hear music faintly coming from it. Dipper was intrigued by the logo presented on the board nailed to the door, illuminated by a neon above the door. Was it the bar signboard? The triangle with a close eye was a curious choice, but after that, he couldn't say if it was that out of the norm. Once inside Dipper took a quick glance around the underground bar, thinking it was looking richly decorated, no wonder why it was where Pacifica was going.

"Welcome to the Golden Paradise" said Mabel close to his ear, offering him a smile. The name was fitting in his opinion, it was sounding pretty nice. He was surprised that the music was this loud, not to the point you couldn't hear yourself talk, but it wasn't as quiet as he thought it would be. Maybe it why the place was underground? So they wouldn't be heard from the outside, after all, he couldn't remember hearing anything from outside, only halfway down the stairs and even then it was really faint.

The young author was dragged to the bar, Mabel ordering something for the both of them, Pacifica doing the same after and paying for all of them. Dipper catches her eyes, ready to say he would pay her back later before she stopped him. "Just have fun Dipper, you seem like you really need it" she said, offering him a little smile. He just nodded, knowing well she wouldn't ruin herself by paying for them all.

He thanked the man behind the counter when he received his drink, starting to drink as he was still looking around the room lighted dimly. He was nearly finishing his first drink when he was pulled by Mabel to the centre where other people were dancing, obliging when Mabel started doing so too. He wasn't the best dancer and he was certainly not better when surrounded by dozens of people he didn't know. But he stayed to make his twin happy, up until her attention was fully back on her friend, then he went back to the bar, ordering a new drink, paying for himself even if it was pricy.

He went for a booth on the side, sitting on the nice banquet. He started to think about all his problems again, suddenly scared those guys might be here, but realising it was less likely to be on their territory. None the least, he couldn't get this all out of his head, looking at the musician absently.

He had to stop thinking about that, going instead for looking around the room, trying to see what kind of people were there. Mostly peoples with money, if he had to tell from their clothing and accessories, but he could recognise some people of importance too. He could even spot some police officer, guessing everyone needed a break, though it was ironic to him that in the daylight they were claiming to follow the law.

There was one man who stuck out a little more, maybe it was the eye patch or the laughter he could hear from time to time coming from him. The man seemed to be important or at least have an important talk, as two hefty men were guarding the booth.

The young man couldn't take his eyes away from the man, somehow he was looking really fascinating. From where he was he had the impression his only eye was lightly glowing with the light. He supposed he had quite some money with the clothing he was wearing, all either black or yellow and he was sure some gold must have been thrown in it.

Dipper froze when their gazes meet, before he quickly looked away, taking a sip of his glass, trying to pass it as nothing. "Good job Dipper" he mumbles to himself "Go head and attract more gangster on you, not as if you already had enough troubles" he thought aloud to himself, looking for his sister in the crowd.

After a couple of minutes, he glances towards the booth where the man was before, not seeing him anymore, even if the other men seemed to still be talking between themselves. He was somehow relieved, looking around the room to see if he could find the top hat man again.

"Hello dear~"

The young Pines nearly choked on his drink, turning around to see the man sitting right beside him. How did he get there without him noticing? He didn't know what to do, frozen on his seat, looking at the man like a deer in front of a hunter. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" offered the man with a smirk, clearly not sorry and happy of the effect he had. Dipper coughed a little, before greeting the man too, still anxious as too why he came to him.

"I don't remember seeing you here before" commented the man. "I came here with a friend and my sister" responded Dipper before seeing the stranger calling someone over to order drinks. "Oh no, I can't I-" he try to refused before being shushed by the man "This is on the house~" he received for argument. Wait. Was he speaking with the owner of the place? It was making him even more anxious to think about it. He really needed not to mess up here too.

"Don't look so tense" laughed the mobster, holding out his hand "The name William Cipher, but you can call me Bill" he said with a grin. Dipper hesitantly reaches out to grab the gloved hand "Mason Pines, but everyone's calls me Dipper" he said, already regretting giving out his real name. Especially since he was talking with THE Bill Cipher, also known as the Gold Demon and he wasn't sure he wanted to see why he was called that. Dipper was apparently getting really good at getting himself involved with gangs, even better with the big boss this time.

"Mason Pines uh? The name seems familiar" said the mobster before taking the glasses that were brought to them. "I um... I write novels with supernatural-themed, some say they belong to the fantastique literature" proposed the author, not really believing the man would know about it, he didn't seem like the kind to read that type of book.

"Yes, I remember, A friend of mine like your books, I have read the one where the character is losing his mind little by little because of a presence in the house, but have no proof of it". Dipper was surprised, it had been a while since he wrote that short novel "The invisible guest" he said, still surprise he knew his name from his books. He receives a positive hum as he was taking a sip from his drink, confirming his proposition.

"Anyway, you seemed a little worried earlier, is something on your mind Pine Tree?" asked the man, confusing Dipper as to where the weird nickname was coming from. His confusion must have been apparent, as Bill laughed, before pointing at his cufflinks "I just noticed your cufflink, they are unusual" commented the man. Well, he guessed not many people had pine tree cufflinks, but he wouldn't have thought it was something to notice well in this dimly lighted room. "It was a gift from my friend since I didn't have any and apparently they reminded her of me".

He took a sip from his drink, before seeing the man still looking at him as if waiting for him to say something before he remembered the initial question. "Oh, it really is nothing, I wouldn't want to bother you with my problems, I'm sure you already have enough to take care of" he responded, seeing yet again some glasses of alcohol being brought to them. When did the man ask for them? He didn't notice.

"It true there is a lot I have to take care of, but I don't mind listening to some nice gentleman, I could maybe even help" he suggested. The young man was really not sure about that. It was really not a good idea to talk about it, but he took one glance at the gold looking eye before feeling like he could really tell everything.

Dipper quickly looks at the new drinks in his hand, going for a bigger swing this time, feeling like the man wouldn't give up easily anyway. He then started lightly, mostly introducing his financial situation that was really poor at the moment. Lesser the alcohol in his glass was, more he was telling, finally telling him in what debt he was in. At the end he left out a heavy sigh, passing both hands on his face.

He had drunk a little too much, he was really not used to it. He turned to the man still smirking at his story as if amused at how he managed to get in such trouble. "Well, seem like you are running out of time, but maybe I could help you with your problem" suggested the man, bending a little towards him and invading, even more, his personal space, he was already sitting close enough, he was now way too close.

"I have nothing to repay you" said Dipper, anxious that this would involve him doing anything that could get him in bigger problems or even prison. Because of course the man wouldn't propose such a great opportunity and it being free. This seemed to make the mobster smile, backing off a little as he was placing his glass back on the table.

"Oh no don't worry, what I will ask of you is really nothing, I'm sure you can do it" finally said the man "In counterpart I want you to come and work at my house, you can do that right?" he asked. Dipper was confused, not understanding why he would want that. He really didn't want to involve himself further with gangsters, but at the same time Bill said it, he was soon approaching the due date for his payment. He glances away, internally debating with himself.

But did he really had a choice in the end? He knew soon even his sister and Uncles would be dragged in all this by his fault. He shut his eye, taking a deep breath, still not believing he was really accepting this.

When he opened his eyes he looked back at the man, Bill's grin growing wider when he saw his gaze. He held out his gloved hand again, knowing very well he had made his mind. "Do we have a deal?". Dipper did hesitate again to shake his hand, but when he went to grab it his hold was strong "Deal".

The man was clearly delighted, taking out a small notepad from inside his vest, opening it to quickly write on one of the pages. "You can start tomorrow to come to my house if I'm not there my men will let you in, there's also my number, in case you have trouble and need to reach me" explained the man, giving him the paper with the elegant handwriting. "And you don't have to worry, your problems are going to be taken care of very quickly" said the man confidently, before reaching in his pocket again, a little card stuck between two of his fingers as he was holding it out to the younger man. "Here's a guest card so you can come back whenever you want, just show it at the door and at the bar, they will know what to do".

The young author took the little card but didn't really have time to read what was on it as Bill was starting to stand up. "I'm really sorry to go this early Pine Tree, but I have some things I need to attend to" said the man, only making Dipper go on how it was really nothing and normal that he needed to keep this place running. "I'll see you later then~" finally said the man before going away, and Dipper was sure he had winked at him, even if he couldn't tell with the eye patch.

He took some time to relax, trying to take a look at the papers before he heard his name being called, quickly putting them his waistcoat pocket, making sure not to crease them. He then looked up to see Mabel and Pacifica coming back to him, telling him they wanted to go since they were starting to get tired. He obviously accepted, getting up, not surprised to feel his legs a little less stable than before.

The three of them then went back outside and then to their car, Pacifica saying she would drop him first since he was the closest. He said it was good, before tuning them out, thinking about how his night had gone.

It felt like he just made a deal that would bring him problems in the future. But it was too late to go back now.