[Oh wow what a horrible thing to remind him of. He isn't that easy to win over, come on. Right?
He's been making things for the people on the ship he likes. What if he has been extending trust too easily? What if he's just going to end up used again?
Whoops, desperate isn't a good look, and exploitably gullible is even worse. A wall that had come down around Ford's heart creeps back up.]
I don't--
[He sighs. Wearily:]
I don't expect them to.
[But I won't be here long enough for that to matter dies in his throat. How long is it going to take to make sure Bill is under control? He doesn't know. It won't matter to Stan or the kids, they won't know the difference, but for Ford? It could be years. It feels like a very, very long road stretching out in front of him.
Strangely, the brightest spot on it was what he'd been thinking about a minute ago: the possibility that maybe, if Bill does stay here long enough, he might change. The hope had dimmed when Ford had found out it was him, and Bill had said things about I think I watched you die and I don't even recognize you. He'd known, then, that there was nothing he could do: Ford Pines is not the man for this job, and he's never going to offer Bill what Bill has been missing. But Bill has also said That's all I got and I can't un-hurt anybody. Weird things to say to someone you find disgusting.
Ford sighs. Okay. This is probably going to amount to nothing, but there's just enough room for doubt that he's going to ask.]
Fine. But before you go, and this is really over, there's one last thing I want to discuss.
Are you only letting me out of this deal because you don't want it anymore? Because I'm never going to be what you do want ever again, and you've given up?
[He doesn't sound hopeful. Mostly, he sounds resigned. Ford's expecting yes. He's expecting it to be for the reasons Bill outlined, and nothing else. He's imagining the very possibility. But better to clear it up now than to wonder later and not have the chance to bring it up.]
no subject
He's been making things for the people on the ship he likes. What if he has been extending trust too easily? What if he's just going to end up used again?
Whoops, desperate isn't a good look, and exploitably gullible is even worse. A wall that had come down around Ford's heart creeps back up.]
I don't--
[He sighs. Wearily:]
I don't expect them to.
[But I won't be here long enough for that to matter dies in his throat. How long is it going to take to make sure Bill is under control? He doesn't know. It won't matter to Stan or the kids, they won't know the difference, but for Ford? It could be years. It feels like a very, very long road stretching out in front of him.
Strangely, the brightest spot on it was what he'd been thinking about a minute ago: the possibility that maybe, if Bill does stay here long enough, he might change. The hope had dimmed when Ford had found out it was him, and Bill had said things about I think I watched you die and I don't even recognize you. He'd known, then, that there was nothing he could do: Ford Pines is not the man for this job, and he's never going to offer Bill what Bill has been missing. But Bill has also said That's all I got and I can't un-hurt anybody. Weird things to say to someone you find disgusting.
Ford sighs. Okay. This is probably going to amount to nothing, but there's just enough room for doubt that he's going to ask.]
Fine. But before you go, and this is really over, there's one last thing I want to discuss.
Are you only letting me out of this deal because you don't want it anymore? Because I'm never going to be what you do want ever again, and you've given up?
[He doesn't sound hopeful. Mostly, he sounds resigned. Ford's expecting yes. He's expecting it to be for the reasons Bill outlined, and nothing else. He's imagining the very possibility. But better to clear it up now than to wonder later and not have the chance to bring it up.]