Dipper was greeted with a headache when he woke up, looking around to find the clock, showing it was already midday. He groaned, passing a hand on his face, laying there a little more before forcing himself out of bed, going to wash his face. At least he woke up naturally and not to the sound of another object being thrown to his apartment window.
Oh. Yeah, he remembered why it was most likely not by that, he made a deal with the Gold Demon. He sighs, looking back at his own face in the mirror, still not believing he made such a deal with the man. He was starting to regret his choice a little, just a little.
The young Pines then went to his small kitchen, making some coffee and toast, not feeling well enough for a good breakfast. As he was waiting for the coffee to be ready he remembered he needed to go to the mobster house. But for that he needed the address, grumbling to himself as he was trying to find back the paper. He went through the pocket of his last night clothes, happy to find them easily and not damaged.
He wrote down the address in his notebook, like this he would be sure to have it with him since he was going nowhere without it. His attention was then focused on the little black card the man had given him before going away.
It was a black card with the bar logo on one edge, written in white and gold "Special Guest to the Golden Paradise", the two later words in gold, or what the author could guess was gold. Even the triangle of the logo seemed to be from that colour. It was going well with the speakeasy style actually, so he wasn't surprised.
"This must be what Pacifica used to get in" he thought to himself, guessing Bill wasn't letting everyone in, especially with the high percentage of rich people Dipper saw in. He placed it in his notebook, sure to not lose it that way, supposing it could be useful to him later.
He drank his coffee slowly as he was packing his work in progress in his bag and putting the typewriter in its case. He could obviously not go back on his word, specifically when given to the head of a criminal group.
He finished his coffee in one go, looking for some clean clothes to wear. He normally was casual in his clothing and wasn't bothering himself with tie and waistcoat, but went for it anyway, not really wishing to give a bad impression. He could do with that, anyway, the man wouldn't ask for him to eternally work at his house, he would get bored at some point.
Dipper took the bus, not wanting to walk all the way to the location, especially since it wasn't close. He could recognise the street name and knew it was a sector with richer houses, so he doubted the bus would get all the way in since wealthy people usually use taxis or have drivers. So he did had to walk, but at least it was less.
Once he found the house he was stuck in choc, even if he should probably not have been. The house was big and he had no doubt the criminal activity of the man had paid everything of it. He was starting to feel nervous, taking hesitant steps towards the door. Even his knocks were hesitant, although he did try to hide it. He was first greeted by an older man, maybe a servant? "Yes?"
"Um... My name his Mason Pines, Mister Cipher told me to come here today" introduced Dipper, looking around nervously, unsure if he was warned about it or if he was coming at a wrong time. The man took a glance at what he was carrying and what he looked like, before nodding. "Sir was indeed expecting you, Mister Pines, come in, I will guide you to his office" finally said the man, making a gesture to invite him in.
Dipper quietly thank the man as he passed him, following closely behind him as they were walking through the house, pretty sure it could also be called a mansion at this point. When they arrived at the destination, the older man knocked and waited for an answer before opening the door, announcing the author was here.
"Oh great, come in, come in" Said Bill, a hand on the receiver so he wouldn't be heard from the person on the other end. Dipper then got in, turning when he heard the door close quietly behind him. He was awkwardly standing by the door, looking at the mobster on the phone, talking about a job being finished, or close to. He didn't hear much as Bill had soon finished his call, turning with a large smile towards him. "Don't be scared, you can come closer" he said with a laugh at how The young Pines didn't move from his spot since he entered the room.
Dipper did that, going for a chair vaguely placed in front of the desk, carefully placing his typewriter case on the floor. "I'm happy to see you, I was starting to think you might never come" admitted the man amused, before adding "I shouldn't have underestimated my little Pine Tree".
Dipper was a little taken aback by his last word. His? He wasn't his, but he felt a little too scared to argue on it, so he simply stayed awkward about it. "I woke up in the middle of the day and had to take a bus here, sorry for the time it took" he explained with a small smile, his respond apparently good enough.
"I should probably ask one of my man to go and get you then, it would be quicker and safer" admitted Bill. "Oh no, you really don't need to bother this much for me I can-" refused the young man before being shushed by the other one. "It really is nothing and you might need some protection in the next couple of days to come".
This information made Dipper suddenly even more anxious, his hands fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. "W-why? Didn't you said I would be cleared of my debts" asked Dipper, unsure if he should just have tried to negotiate more time.
"Oh yeah, You will be, but you weren't expecting for the Weirdmageddon group to pay them for their own inability to keep their deal?" asked Bill, even if he knew it was most likely what the man had thought, maybe he could have been more precise on what he would do. Too late, things were already on their way to be settled.
"What... are you doing then?" asked Dipper, immediately regretting, not really wanting to know. "Oh, Take care of the three men you were talking about and passing the message that they shouldn't try to contact you again" explained the mobster as he was standing up "Of course it's going to piss off their boss, one should expect it from the head of a criminal organisation, so you might be in danger for some time" he finished.
By the end of it Dipper had gone pale, not sure what would be worst, still being stuck with debts or him now becoming their new shooting target. He jumped when he felt two hands gently grabbing his shoulder, moving in an attempt to make him less tense. "Don't worry Pine Tree, I will make sure nothing happens to you".
The author was just even less comfortable with these two hands massaging his shoulder, soon feeling them go away, letting himself finally relax. "If you say so" whispered the young man, feeling a pat on his shoulder and hearing the mobster walking to the door. "Let me show you where you can work! I'm sure you would prefer to be able to write a little today and I still have some things to attend to with my men" suggested Bill.
Dipper quickly nodded, grabbing his case again to follow him. When they were stepping out they could hear footstep running toward them with barks, surprising the author. He saw two Dobermans running towards them, turning around the new person, sniffing him. "Zanthar, Kryptos, sit" ordered their master. Both dogs went to sit in front of them, gaining quick ruffles.
"You don't have to worry about them, they look scary but they are both good boys" affirmed Bill, gently taking Dipper's wrist to let the dogs sniff him, telling them that Dipper was a guest. Well, the young Pines guess it was fine if they were going to be friendly with him, he always had loved pet but never was able to own one.
They were again on their way, Dipper close by as the dogs were trotting behind them. Bill was giving him indications towards other rooms he might need, like the bathroom or even one of the guest room in case it was getting late and he wanted to stay.
The criminal had guided him to his library, Dipper being stuck in the doorway, in awe from the number of books there was. This made the other man laugh "I might not look like it, but I enjoy reading in my free time" he said, taking Dipper out of his thought. "This is a really nice library, I can really work here?" he asked as he was walking to the large desk sitting in the middle of the room. "Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have brought you here, you can also read any book you wants" affirmed the man.
Dipper was still looking at the man in disbelieve, he also could read as much as he wanted for free? It was too good to be true and for him to only need to come and work here most day. "Thank you Mister Cipher" finally said the author with a small smile. "No need to be formal with me, call me Bill" asked the man with a laugh, Dipper only nodding to say he got it.
The Pines then started to place his things on the desk, Bill looking him do so with a smile. "I will leave you alone, If you need anything come and find me" he said before going away, leaving the door ajar so the dogs could get out whenever they wanted to.
Dipper then sat in the armchair, looking at the two dogs sitting near the desk, still not believing he was going to work here. But he wasn't able to enjoy this idea too long since all the other information Bill had given him earlier were coming back, making him nearly panic.
"Oh god, oh no, what will I do" he mumbles to himself, feeling like those threats wouldn't be pulled only on him, once they would find out he had a family they were going to be in danger too. But could he ask Bill to make sure nothing happen to them? He was already doing so much for him, he surely couldn't ask more of him.
He was pulled out of his anxious state of thought by the whining made by one of the dogs. He turned to see one of them beside him, head resting on the armrest as if sensing the author anxiety. Dipper left out a quiet chuckle, gently patting the dogs head. "Don't worry boy, I'm okay". Yes, he was okay. He would be okay with the help of Bill, he just needed to trust him.
He then turned back to his typewriter, telling himself to work so he wouldn't have to think about all this. Once focused on his writing he didn't think about anything else, paying no attention to his surroundings. At least he would be able to do some progress on his book, especially since he was late on his writing.
Hours passed until he was snapped out of his writing when he heard someone whispering near his ear "Pine Tree~", he turned suddenly toward Bill who was standing next to him, a smirk plastered on his face. He then sat on the corner of the desk, looking at all the work Dipper did.
"You were so concentrated I didn't want to take you out of it, you didn't even notice I was sitting on the other side of the desk" affirmed the man with a chuckle, Dipper a little embarrassed he didn't even notice him, mumbling a small "Sorry". "It's really nothing, I was happy to see you were able to work on your book here, I thought you might not feel comfortable enough for that" he admitted.
"I thought so too" admitted Dipper with a little smile "But I needed to think about something else than my situation, so I did my best". Bill hum, pleased to hear he was fine with working here, it would have been a problem otherwise. "I was going out to have dinner, do you want to join me?" asked Bill.
"Oh no, I don't want to be a burden and I need to get home anyway, my sister is going to be worried if I don't come back" refused politely the young Pines as he was placing back his work in his bag. She was moving in with him because she had broken her engagement and needed somewhere to stay, he couldn't leave her on the street. He supposed she wouldn't ask too much about where he went today since she most likely passed part of her day finalising the paper.
"What a shame" sigh the man, making Dipper feel a little bad not to accept. "But I get it, family is important, let me drive you back then".
Dipper would have refused, but at the same time, he felt like he wouldn't let go of this one, especially if he was going out anyway. Plus, it would be faster that way than trying to take a bus back home. He reluctantly accepted, not really wanting to give his address to a criminal, but Bill would probably have found it somehow anyway.
Bill was apparently pretty happy of that, helping him carry his typewriter back to his car. Dipper was going to sit on the back but realised this time no one was at the front and he felt like it would be weird to stay at the back. Once they were inside the car Dipper gave him in address, Bill repeating it as if to remember it. "We are on our way then".
The ride passed without a word exchanged, only Bill humming a song Dipper couldn't recognise. But for once he wasn't feeling too tense around the man, probably getting used to him and understanding he wouldn't hurt him. Up until now, the man had been good to him, if not even flirtatious at time. If he was going to be this nice with him Dipper could manage to often be around him.
he realised he was lost in thought again when he was taken out of them by the car finally stopping. He turns to look outside, seeing his apartment building. It was way faster than walking and taking the bus. "Thank you for the ride Bill" smiled the young Pines, gaining a dismissing wave of the hand "It really was nothing since I was heading out too anyway" argue the mobster "Have a good evening Pine Tree~" he then smiled. "You too Bill" respond back the young man before going out, waving him goodbye once in front of the building door.
He watched as the car was driving away, finally getting in and taking the stair up to his apartment. He was greeted by a tight hug from his sister, nearly dropping his typewriter on the floor, looping his free arm around her. "Dipper where did you go? You could have left me a note so I wouldn't worry about you" she asked, finally letting go of him so he could get in and lock the door.
"Sorry, I needed to get out of here to work today, I think I found somewhere nice to work at" he smiled, placing the travelling case on the table. "Am I dreaming? My brother going out of his home? Who are you and what did you do of Mason Pines" laughed the woman as she was taking a seat at the table, making Dipper laugh as he was looking for something to cook.
"Are you going out again tomorrow?" she asked, curious. "Yeah, it starting to be a little too cold in here anyway, sorry about that by the way, someone should come after tomorrow to change the broken window" he said, receiving an "It nothing" as his sister knew he wasn't to blame for the broken window.
"Are you going out tomorrow?" asked Dipper curious, making them some soup. "Yeah, I will help grunkle Stan at his shop since Ford isn't back yet from Gravity Falls" explained Mabel, saying she couldn't stay all day home and do nothing to help. Dipper smiled, knowing the young lady wouldn't stay without doing anything for long, she was a strong woman and a working one. At least Stan was ready to let her help him.
"Hope you have fun and no angry customer get back to the store" commented Dipper with an amused smile. They then sat down to talk, going over what they had missed from each other lives as they didn't meet each other really that often in the past two years, thanks to Mabel's ex-fiancee.
Luckily he still had the second bed that was coming with the apartment, very useful when someone from his family was staying over, like this they wouldn't need to sleep on the old canape. Not like he and Mabel wouldn't be able to sleep in the same bed, a thing they did millions of time before, even passed their childhood.
Dipper went to bed, thinking back to a certain blond, trying not to think too much about him as he was falling asleep.