Note: So these oneshots are mostly so I can practice writing and because I'm a sucker for tossing characters into uncomfortable situations.

Summary: The famous actor, Dipper Pines, didn't believe in the supernatural. In fact, he was just fine before a stranger gave him an enchanted artifact. AU

Pairing: Billdip (one-sided)

Superstar Stumbling

Dipper weaved through the crowd, dodging the cameras and lavish individuals milling about the massive room. His gaze sought one person in particular.

"Darn it Mabel," he muttered. "You know I hate rich people parties. How'd you drag me into this?"

He huffed when he finally caught sight of the familiar face standing beside an unfamiliar suited man. Side-stepping a party-goer, he made a beeline for his sibling. Just before he could cross the edge of the crowd, a slender frame stepped in his path. Dipper crashed into the stranger's bulk.

"Ah–sorry." He made to step around the woman.

"My, aren't you Dipper Pines?"

Dipper withheld a sigh, wondering how quickly he could end the conversation.

"Yes. Now, I really need to–"

"Oh you simply must tell me about that new movie of yours."

The woman snagged his forearm and dragged him away. He caught a glimpse of his sister chatting with the yellow vested man before the crowd swallowed him whole.

~oOo~

Once free from the chatty stranger, Dipper returned to tracking his sister so he could leave. Oddly enough, he couldn't find her anywhere.

"Mabel…" he murmured. "Where are–"

Weight pressed against his shoulder and he jumped. Glancing at the gloved hand, he trailed his eyes along the black sleeve up to an oddly unsettling face framed by blond hair and a top hat.

He stared for a moment, feeling his stomach churn.

"–for?"

Dipper blinked. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."

The yellow vested stranger bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile. "You wouldn't happen to be looking for a certain Mabel Pines, would you?"

The teen's hackles rose but he tempered his outward irritation with a rehearsed acting skill. "I am."

"I had a chat with her not too long ago before I showed her my private exhibit."

"Your private…" Dipper scrunched his face before his features stretched. "Wait, your exhibit? But then you're–"

"William Cipher!" The man tipped his hat. "The owner of this museum and host to this party!"

Dipper's level of annoyance and rising sense of dread increased. "Oh?"

"Yes, in fact I'd like to show you the very same exhibit! Come along, now!"

Bill grasped his wrist and tugged him out of the crowd. Despite the teen's protests, the dapper but odd man dragged him through several hallways until finally stopping before a elaborately decorated door.

Dipper shook his wrist free. "I really need to find–whoa."

His focus zeroed on the archaic painting visible through the now open doorway. Bill ushered him inside, chattering. Dipper hardly noticed the man's words as he swiveled his gaze about the room in star-struck awe. Coded paintings, vases, stones, and other artifacts he had never seen or heard of enraptured him. Absently, he nodded along to Bill's speech about how he came into ownership of the various mysterious items from history.

Bill subtly herded the teen to an odd stone carving, covered in what appeared to be amber, depicting a triangle with a single eye. Upon seeing the unusual artifact, Dipper's wonder faded to be replaced by wariness.

"–almost wish it were a necklace, don't you agree?"

"Um, sure…" Dipper agreed politely despite his uncomfortable posture. "But, uh, wouldn't that gem," he pointed to a aquamarine jewel, "make for a nicer necklace?"

"Why, if it were a necklace," Bill blazed over his thoughts, seeming to not have heard his statement, "I'd wear it, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, okay," He backpedaled, not liking the glint in the man's eyes and feeling his dread skyrocket. "That's great and all but I really need to–"

Still staring at the glass encased stone, the man snapped his gloved fingers. Despite the gloves, the sound pierced Dipper's ears.

Weight appeared around his neck and he staggered with a yelp; Dipper grasped the doorway's rim to steady himself and looked at his chest.

"What?" He spluttered. "How did–when–how–why–what?" He stumbled out of the doorway and into the hall.

"Pine Tree," Bill snapped again and the door slammed forwards, colliding against his back and throwing him to the floor.

"I don't believe I properly introduced myself."

Dipper, face smushed against the tiled floor, braced his elbows on the floor and made to push himself upright. The necklace seemed to add several extra pounds, however, and he could only lift his chin high enough to glare at the man.

"What kind of prank is this? Cause it's not funny."

Bill sauntered to the sprawled teen and kneeled. "Oh I assure you this is all very real," he grasped Dipper's chin, "and you won't be leaving anytime soon."

Dipper's alarm bells screeched when fingers snapped and spots crept across his vision.

"I am Bill Cipher, a dream demon and I always get what I want."

He sank into the darkness.

~oOo~