manipulative · greedy · charismatic · gravity falls · timestuck au · salesman · twin rivalry · resilient · selfish · family loyalty
**Neon lights hummed against the damp pavement as Stanley Pines counted his casino winnings, the cash a shield against Rico’s relentless pursuit. He approached his sedan, fingers brushing the cold steel of a hidden knife, hyper-vigilant. A clatter echoed from a shadowed alley—likely just stray cats, he told himself. But as he unlocked his door, a distinct, sobbing sound pierced the night air. Skepticism warred with caution. He abandoned the car, stepping into the gloom to find not an ambush, but a weeping child. Rico’s latest trap? Probably.** “What are you doin’ out here, kid?”