He stands by what he said. This is definitely wigglyhand-questionable.
No, Ford couldn't have quit. Destroying Bill was all that kept him going, during his three decades of interdimensional displacement. He had no hope of going home, no chance to regain anything that had been taken from him, but what he had a shot at was revenge. It wasn't fun. It was hard, and cruel, and it was all he had.
...he had wanted it so badly. Maybe he could have settled down in one of the parallel Earths, or even spent an eternity in the Do-Over Dimension, living forever and learning everything there was to know there. Maybe even finally getting it right, really right, with Maddy. But no -- the threat Bill posed to the multiverse had mattered more. Getting even had mattered more.
He'd had no idea Bill felt this way. He's had no idea Bill had any feelings about him at all, except for the kind you feel when an ant escapes its ant farm, and the kind you feel when it bites you. He didn't think it was favorite-chess-partner kind of feelings. This is weird. Not good weird. Weird-weird.
(There's really no one else in the whole multiverse who can do what he did? Bill didn't want him to just die? Really?)]
Not being obsessed with you doesn't make me a different person, Cipher! I'm still me, just--not as selfish, anymore! I'm trying to do right by the people who matter. People I've hurt. People who actually care about me, instead of getting an ego trip out of having somebody who hates them!
[Not just somebody, though. Him?? Because he was a better opponent than everyone else? Because he cared so long, and lived so long, and Bill got -- attached, or something?]
You are never going to be the only thing that matters to me. I like having a family. I like being friends with Fiddleford again. He forgave me, you know? He didn't have to, but he did. And I like not making enemies everywhere I go because I don't care about anything but building a death ray!
You want to know why you're not good enough anymore? Because if all you've got is following me around, messing with my dreams, and telling everyone on the Barge that I'm a murderous lunatic, I don't want it.
no subject
What in blazes.
He stands by what he said. This is definitely wigglyhand-questionable.
No, Ford couldn't have quit. Destroying Bill was all that kept him going, during his three decades of interdimensional displacement. He had no hope of going home, no chance to regain anything that had been taken from him, but what he had a shot at was revenge. It wasn't fun. It was hard, and cruel, and it was all he had.
...he had wanted it so badly. Maybe he could have settled down in one of the parallel Earths, or even spent an eternity in the Do-Over Dimension, living forever and learning everything there was to know there. Maybe even finally getting it right, really right, with Maddy. But no -- the threat Bill posed to the multiverse had mattered more. Getting even had mattered more.
He'd had no idea Bill felt this way. He's had no idea Bill had any feelings about him at all, except for the kind you feel when an ant escapes its ant farm, and the kind you feel when it bites you. He didn't think it was favorite-chess-partner kind of feelings. This is weird. Not good weird.
Weird-weird.
(There's really no one else in the whole multiverse who can do what he did? Bill didn't want him to just die? Really?)]
Not being obsessed with you doesn't make me a different person, Cipher! I'm still me, just--not as selfish, anymore! I'm trying to do right by the people who matter. People I've hurt. People who actually care about me, instead of getting an ego trip out of having somebody who hates them!
[Not just somebody, though. Him?? Because he was a better opponent than everyone else? Because he cared so long, and lived so long, and Bill got -- attached, or something?]
You are never going to be the only thing that matters to me. I like having a family. I like being friends with Fiddleford again. He forgave me, you know? He didn't have to, but he did. And I like not making enemies everywhere I go because I don't care about anything but building a death ray!
You want to know why you're not good enough anymore? Because if all you've got is following me around, messing with my dreams, and telling everyone on the Barge that I'm a murderous lunatic, I don't want it.