Summary: Fiddleford wants to make amends to his son.
A/N: My four contribution to @fiddleford-appreciation-month with week four’s theme: Friendship/Family. This taking place possibly after Society of the Blind Eye when Fiddleford gets much of his memories back. Hope you all enjoy.
Fiddleford slowly steps onto his sons porch, taking a deep breath. Many thoughts and scenarios run through his mind. Will his son still find him an embarrassment? Will he forgive all that he's done in the last thirty years? Most importantly: can Fiddleford forgive himself? Only one way to find out.
The old kook knocks on the front door thrice, hoping his son would be home, not wanting to go to the Lake again to distract him from his job.
Tate looks out from the peep hole for a moment to see who came over, he sees his dad, but instead of the eccentric expression he usually put on, it was that of remorse he could see on his old man's face. This made him wonder.
Fiddleford brightens up when he sees Tate, "Why good mornin', Tate!"
"Hello, dad." Tate returns the greeting, "What do you need of me? You seem to be different."
Fiddleford nodded, "I has a lot to tell ya, Tate. May I come in to share what I learn, I'll try not to be long as you got work to do."
Seeing no harm can come from a simple visit, Tate lets his father inside his house. There, Fiddleford told him everything from his encounter with the Blind Eye Society and how he got his memories back. As Tate listened more and more, he was beside himself. After all those thirty-years, it seemed to him that his father was regaining what he used to be, even if not entirely yet.
Of course, Tate had always known about the Society, having always dismissed those claims of there being monsters and creatures in Gravity Falls, never wanting to be taken again by the Society to have his memory wiped.
The father who'd built him those toys. The father with ambitious dreams of home computers, having seen him invent a laptop-like device using a suitcase and other techno-do-dads. The father who didn't lose his mind from some project he was working on.
Fiddleford concludes, taking off his scarecrow hat, looking up at his son, "And it's all true, son. I'm gonna work on regaining my old self again, and be a better person. Can ya forgive me for putting you and our family through so much? And all the times I embarrassed you from my antics. Saying sorry can't fix all that I've done, but I wanna to start making things right again."
Tate suddenly got up from his seat of his chair, embracing his father with a tight hug, tears starting to stream down from his eyes, trying not turn into a sobbing mess, "I should be sorry for not doing more to help you, dad..."
The old man pats his sons shoulder, "You've done enough worrin' 'bout me, Tate. And it's okay to cry, son."
The usually stoic Tate breaks down in tears. After so many years, the two can rest a bit easier.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Gravity Falls
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Fiddleford H. McGucket
Additional Tags: Memories, PTSD, Introspection, Recovery, Fiddleford Appreciation Month, Week 2: Recovery, Regaining Memories, the laptop - Freeform, computer repair
Summary:
Recovery comes in multiple forms as McGucket works on fixing his old laptop.
For week 2 of the Fiddleford Appreciation Month. Set between Society of the Blind Eye and Northwest Mansion Mystery.
Summary: What could have occurred between Fiddleford and the Blind Eye Society.
A/N: Hey there folks! Another fic for @fiddleford-appreciation-month this weeks being: Society of the Blind Eye. This fic being my interpretation of what occurred that got Fiddleford to not be part of that group anymore.
Fiddleford donned on his red robe, the hood bearing the symbol of The Blind Eye Society, a group of people who aim to make the townsfolk of Gravity Falls forget any at all of their worse memories that would haunt them; even their own unwanted memories they'd rather erase. The former scientist uses the cover of the dark night to make his way to the Gravity Falls History Museum, having gotten word from his right hand man, Ivan Wexler, that there is to be a meeting, having caught someone they're going to cleanse their mind. The very tool to do that being of Fiddleford's own invention: The Memory Gun.
He really thought founding such an organization was a great idea, aware that his mind's been degrading over time from the over-use of the device, he was beginning to have second thoughts.
Fiddleford takes a deep breath in thought, entering the museum the back way, then passing the various displays of Gravity Fall's colorful history of the town until he reaches the special room full of eyes watching at the secret switch to the underground passage. He presses the small stone slab, the fireplace revealing the entrance, descending down the corridor and into the main hall where Ivan and the other members were waiting, greeting their founder with the Society's hand gesture, then give a small bow to Fiddleford.
Blind Ivan addresses him, "Thank you for coming, your unseeness. We have need of your word as to how to approach this intruder we found snooping into our secrets."
Sitting on the chair, hands strapped to the armrests, appeared to be a young man in physical appearance, his head covered by the sack, although his voice could still be heard as he struggles to break free.
"Let me out of here!" the man yelled in fury, ready to fight once he breaks free if he could. "I pummel you hooded creeps!"
Fiddleford knew that voice, rushing over to uncover the sack from the young man's head. The man took a breath of fresh air; it was Tate McGucket, Fiddleford's son.
Both father and son stared at each other in shock, having not expected the other to be where they are.
"T-Tate what are--"
"No, dad! What are YOU doing with all these people?" Tate snaps at his father. "Mom and me have been worrying about you for years, having not heard from you. Then these people kidnapped me when I saw one of them." the young man then notices how much his dad changed since he last saw him, Fiddleford appearing more worn in the face, hair graying and getting thinner, "What happened...?"
Fiddleford didn't know how to explain what occurred those years ago from working with Ford, those memories having become more vague over time. However, his focus shifted to Ivan when Tate claims to have been taken by force, "He wasn't snooping around, wasn't he?"
Ivan dipped his head, looking rather guilty, then glancing back up at the founder, "He spotted one of our own. We HAVE to keep who we are and what we do a secret, your unseeness. We do what must be done to keep what you've created safe."
As of late, Ivan had been suggesting the people forget more than just their bad memories, to actually take people in, rather if their willing or not. The founder could then tell Ivan was vying for control and power, making the excuse that it can be taken into consideration. He couldn't keep a man like Ivan in line forever.
Fiddleford then looks at his son with a more calm tone, "I'm trying to help the people of Gravity Falls forget their bad memories, like how I forgotten my own and all these folks here too." he takes the Memory Gun from the box, "I can even help you too, son, and make this whole incident go away."
"No!" Tate barked in protest, "I don't want to be forced to forget! You really think you can magically make this all go away with a zap from that thing?! Probably the reason why everyone here acts so off in the head." His bangs covered his anger-filled eyes, his teeth gritting, feeling greatly utterly betrayed. "Why didn't you at least tell mom and me what was going on with you? We could have helped you, dad... or at least try to understand. Please don't do this." Tears began to fall from behind those bangs. This did not phase Ivan nor the rest of the members, Ivan becoming more impatient with the founder's delay of action, having no empathy for the founders son. Ivan believes he could do so much more.
Fiddleford's heart sank hearing this from his only child, starting to have second thoughts, making him question what he's been doing. He takes another look at the Memory Gun, then at Tate, sighing as he lays down the device, ordering, "This one... shall not unsee what he's seen. As said by the Founder."
Everyone in the chamber gasped, their own founder breaking the number one rule of their Society, muttering started between the members, questioning their founders choice.
"What?! Founder this cannot be. Please reconsider what you're doing!" Ivan pleads his leader, "We've never allowed one to have their memories intact. Even if he is your own son, you'll be breaking the very rule we all live by." Ivan grew furious, "This can't be allowed!"
Fiddleford glares at his right hand man, "I'll NEVER hurt my own kin like this, Ivan! Especially my own son." He proceeds to free his son from the straps of the chair, Tate feeling a little more eased that he got through to his dad. "I am also considering of disbanding the Society, perhaps we need to stop forgettin'."
In his growing anger, Ivan grabs the Memory Gun, dialing the words 'Blind Eye Society' to specify what will be erased from memory, "I cannot allow you to do that, Founder. Or should I say, former Founder."
"Run Tate!"
Fiddleford throws some kind of item at Ivan from his pocket, hitting the tattooed-head man directly in the right eye, making him writhe in pain as he yells, "Get them!"
Ivan fires the device, missing Fiddleford and Tate as the two ran as fast as they could, the other members in pursuit of them. The father leads his son out the back way to escape quicker before Ivan and them find the two.
"You go on ahead of me, Tate, I'll remain behind to hold them off. It's me they're mad at." Fiddleford urged his son, clinging to what sanity remained in him, catching their breath, but Tate shook his head.
"Dad... they're gonna kill you. Then possibly me and the rest of the family." the man spoke in fear, not fully knowing what they'll do to him and his family.
"I know they won't resort to that, I promise. I am so, so sorry for what I've put you and your mother through, son. I'll make it right to you somehow. Now go before they catch you. I'll be fine." he tries to reassure his son.
Tate runs off into the night, not looking back, tears streaming from his eyes, as he heads straight back to where his mother and him were currently staying. He had the ill feeling things weren't going to be fine for his father.
The Society members apprehended Fiddleford, strapping him to the chair, Ivan with Memory Gun in hand, aiming right at the former founders head. Ivan now having wrappings around his bleeding right eye.
"You will unsee what you've seen! I will lead our glorious society into a new age where everyone will be blissfully ignorant of all these supernatural occurrences. Whether they like to or not. You will not be missed, Founder." With that said, Ivan pulls the trigger of the memory gun, draining Fiddleford's memory of everything about the Blind Eye Society, the memory stored in the canister the device had attached to. Despite the pain he was feeling, Ivan smiled in satisfaction, handing the canister to one of the members to be taken to the Hall of the Forgotten. "Fiddleford McGucket, what do you know of the Blind Eye Society and who leads it?" Ivan asks to confirm if McGucket recalls or not.
Fiddleford's eyes widened, responding, "My mind is clear, thanks to the Society of the Blind Eye." A response Ivan wanted to hear.
"It is Unseen!" Ivan and the rest of the members exclaim, two of the members escorting McGucket out of the Museum. Ivan holds his eye in pain, one of the members spoke in concern.
"We must have that treated, sir. And what must we do now that our Founder is no more? And of the other McGucket?"
Ivan simply grins from the question, "There are going to be some changes around here, for now, meeting adjourned. As for the son, he won't be telling anyone about us. None will believe him, and he knows it. Unsee you later, I'll be sure to get my eye treated right away." The remaining members leave with the parting words, "Unsee you later."
Meanwhile, Fiddleford lied unconscious on the steps of the Museum, awaking the next day, recalling not a thing even when his son tried to tell him otherwise. Not long after, Fiddleford's mental state worsened to a point where he's speaking in utter gibberish and having become nothing more than a crazy kook the town sees him as, and leaving his son and family helpless to do anything that could help him.
Characters: Fiddleford McGucket, Tate McGucket, Mrs. McGucket (mentioned), Stanford Pines, Adeline Marks (mentioned, created and owned by @hntrgurl13 ), Raccoon Wife.
Summary: Fiddleford returning home to recall some cherished memories.
A/N: Another submission for @fiddleford-appreciation-month for this weeks theme: Memories/Recovery. This is how I imagine he would do after what happened with the Society of The Blind eye, with an addition or two. Hope you all enjoy.
After having been dropped off back at his makeshift hut of a home in Gravity Falls' junkyard, Fiddleford McGucket, with the labeled canisters that contained his memories and the machine to process said canisters, the old man moved away the sheet that acted as his door, entering inside his home.
"I'm home, raccoon wife!" he called out to the critter he has living in his home; not an unusual guest to have. The raccoon greeted the old man from where she was lying on a beaten up cushion.
"How 'bout you come sit with me as I regain my memories." the old kook smiles at the critter, who doesn't reply but goes scurrying right next to Fiddleford as he sets up the machine and the screen, thankfully not needing to be plugged into any electrical socket to function.
Fiddleford thumbs through the canisters, trying to decide which one to view first, taking one up at random, "How 'bout this one then?" he spoke aloud, attaching the canister into the machine, the screen turning on to show him what he forgotten all those years ago.
_______________________________
The images he was seeing caught him off guard, he was seeing his young self in college, walking in the halls only to have bumped into someone who was immersed in a book; that someone being Stanford Pines, the man who would become his great friend and colleague, and the man who changed his life forever.
Out of reflex, the young man Fiddleford slapped his agitated and excited knee out of habit, slightly embarrassed, he apologized, "So-Sorry 'bout that, sir! I wasn't paying attention to where I was goin'."
The young man Stanford waved his six fingered hand to assure him, "Oh no, you're fine. I had my book in my face so I wasn't paying attention either it seems." he cleared his throat, balling his fingers into a fist, still insecure about showing his extra digit, "I'm Stanford Filbrick Pines."
Fiddleford lightly smiles, noting the extra digit the man has, not seeming to be off put about it, "Fiddleford Hadron McGucket, a pleasure to meet you! And may I say, you have quite the hands there, not every day I see one with an extra digit."
Ford quickly retracts his hand, putting them behind his back to hide them, a habit that did not break since childhood.
Fiddleford then almost instantly could read his new friends face, seeing that he has been bullied for them, something he could empathize. He continued with openness of mind, "Which is not a bad thing to have at all. I know I've been made fun of for my accent and eccentric nature, but I try to pay no mind to them."
Ford then mutters, "And a sixth digit on both my feet..."
"Say, how 'bout I walk with you to class?" Fiddleford thumbs over the way to the lab area.
Ford nods with a small, grateful smile, "I'd appreciate that greatly."
For the whole day, Fiddleford got to know his new friend.
_______________________________
In present day, Fiddleford wipes his eyes, watching more of his college years spent with his old friend, Ford, learning much from him and his family over the years. Years later meeting another assistant by the name of Adeline Marks, of whom he would come to know as a great friend as well. Within those years, he got to meet the love of his life who would become his wife, those old feelings stirring back up, but quickly die as he recalls that loving relationship. Having died years ago when his wife left him after he abused the use of the memory gun he invented; the very thing that caused so much misfortune for him and many other people. He did love her so... The screen stops showing him the memory, the whole thing coming back to him now. He couldn't help but to sob in the furs of his raccoon wife in front of him.
After a little while to calm down, it was starting to get late, but the kook refused to turn in for the night, wanting to watch at least one more canister before he does so. Doing the same as he did the last canister, he plays the memory on the screen. The footage he's watching left his mouth agape.
______________________________
Fiddleford happily presents a wrapped present to his young son, Tate, today being his birthday.
The boy with the long bangs that obscured his eyes was excited, quickly opening the gift to reveal a toy robot.
"What do you think, Tate? Do you like it?" Fiddleford tussled his boys head.
The boy paused, checking out his new gizmo toy, "Like it? I love it, dad!" Tate gave his father a big, thankful hug, "You make the best gifts, dad, because they come from you, and they're so cool!"
___________________________
Fiddleford kept watching all those precious memories of his son, all leading up to the day Fiddleford left to go help out Stanford on his project in Gravity Falls. At least he got to say his goodbyes and love you’s. In the morning, he plans to go set things right with his son, hoping he would forgive him.
