From Excalibent: "We know that Bill can possess people, but just how noticeable would he really be if he really tried to blend in? With all of his past knowledge of stuff in general and the main characters, he'd be unnoticeable. In Sock Opera though, I don't think he was trying all that hard. I think it would be cool if you did something to the extent of 'Bill tricks one of the characters into a pact/possession'. Good writing, by the way. Cheers!"

Thank you! I like this idea, and I agree. Bill probably would blend in better if he tried harder. This one-shot is set after Not What He Seems (again, this is only a "what if" scenario, until we learn what happens next so bear with me). Enjoy!

How Far We Fall

Mabel shifted her weight in front of the attic door. She didn't know what to do. It was as simple as that. Should she dare...? What would he say? Would he yell at her like he had that first day, or be cold and closed off as he had ever since?

She just didn't know. That scared her more than anything.

"Are you just going to stand out there?"

Oh. He knew she was here.

Mabel opened the door, not really questioning how he knew (she wasn't exactly quiet going up the stairs anyway) as she stepped in. He was on the bed, reading a book. Not the journal. As far as she knew, he hadn't even touched that book since... well...

She cleared her throat awkwardly when he didn't look up from the page he was on.

"Yes?"

There it was. That cold tone.

"Dipper... we need to talk."

"There isn't anything to talk about. You clearly don't trust me and I've just come to accept it. Obviously, Stan was right about the portal so there's nothing to discuss."

"Dipper, you don't understand," she tried again. "I trust you more than anybody. Even Mom and Dad! Even Grunkle Stan."

"Then why are you still talking to him?"

Mabel sighed. She wasn't sure of the best way to explain that.

"Because he isn't a bad guy. He just wanted to save his brother."

"He could have destroyed the universe, Mabel!" Finally, a hint of emotion crept into his voice. He still wasn't meeting her eyes; they were obscured behind the book.

Another sigh. "I know. I just... I just think that, what if that was us? What if I was the one in another dimension and... you were the one trying to save me? Wouldn't you try to convince someone not to shut it off?"

There was silence. His brow furrowed. She could tell without seeing his face that he was thinking hard.

"I... Yeah. I guess."

He sighed now. "I'm sorry, Mabel. I just... this is all so confusing and..."

"I get it," she said, a rush of relief filling her at his words. "I'm tired and confused too, Dip. Everything is so... different."

"So... are we okay?" There was some hope in his words and her heart swelled as tears of happiness pricked her eyes.

"Definitely, bro-bro."

As she hurried out of the room, smiling wide for the first time in a while, she failed to notice that her brother had dropped the book down and was grinning wickedly. His slitted pupils narrowed as a small cackle left his throat.

Too easy.

I feel so evil. It must be Bill's influence.