Stanford Pines wasn't going to ruin everything.

Bill had worked to secure this universe for himself long ago, even before the arrival of its citizens. He had woven himself into the threads of history, hiding in every culture. He was the giver of knowledge, the bringer of light and the muse of artists and inventors. Humans were his pets and his toys, and he did as he pleased with them. He built civilisations, constructed religions, and burned empires.

A few bright humans suspected a manipulator. Humans like that were both a danger to him and a special treat. He'd quell their fears by calling himself a benevolent god, or a spirit, or a muse. He'd make them feel special and lavish them with praise and attention until they were putty in his hands. Those were the most fun to play with. Humans with the mental capability to be useful to him were a rare toy that didn't show up often, but ones smart enough to doubt him before things went sour? Practically nonexistent. Ford was once one of his special toys, his favorite one of all. Brainy enough to actually be useful, with a craving for praise, an infinite determination, and a drive to prove himself to be the best.

Then he pushed Bill away.

He understood perfectly well why Ford had chosen to push him out of his life. For all the brain in his head, the little fool didn't seem to truly understand Bill's motives. He wasn't just destroying like some common monster. He was liberating. Without Bill, Ford's stupid, piddly little three dimensional world would forever stay limited, full of laws and should nots and can nots and all of that absolutely foolish garbage. He tried to convince Ford to return to him in the only way he knew that worked. Gain trust through flattery but keep loyalty through fear.

Yet somehow, despite everything, despite the years that the two had spent trying to defeat each other, Ford still managed to escape practically unscathed. He managed to roll out of the Nightmare Realm and into dimensions just as easily as Bill had.

Little did he know, he had just given Bill a second chance.

He may have shattered Stanford's trust beyond repair, but he still had a chance with Dipper. All he knew of Bill was the single time when he had invaded Stanley's mind, and that was easy enough to explain away with a few lies about the nature of deals and some nonsense about "seeing what he's got." If Bill could get the stupid little genius on his side before Stan managed to repair the portal and get Ford back, then he'd be able to use him to reshuffle the deck in his favor. Even if Ford managed to return and find out, it'd be hilarious to watch him try to earn Dipper's trust while Stan hates him and his former "muse" whispered his advice in his ear. Lies from a friend are trusted more than truths from a stranger. By the time Dipper figures out the truth (if he ever does) it'll be too late for him to do anything about it.

The party was still on.