You know, it's really annoying having that ring back you up on every insulting thing you say about me. Ugh, and the Admiral would have made perfect sense!
[Okay, okay. Time to get serious.]
Listen here, Bill. You've been alive for trillions of years. I spent half my life learning everything I could about you, and I never found any indication that you had any feelings about anyone but yourself that weren't, you know, things like disdain, and sadistic amusement, and violent fury...that kind of thing. To find out that you want companionship from someone is...I didn't think it was possible.
Frankly, I'm still not sure I believe it.
But if it's what I suspect, and someone on this ship matters to you -- Bill, that's the most interesting thing I've learned about you in decades. [He laughs, and breaks a grin.] This place might be getting to you after all.
Edited (Mmm too many feelings in one tag, icon choice is hard) 2018-04-12 00:07 (UTC)
[They're not going to get into whether or not he cares what else Bill is up to. Thank god Ford hasn't tried the truth ring gambit. He's got one containment plan in the works and one murder plan that he's in denial about being a murder plan.
Because it means you're changing! You're older than the physical universe, but after just two years on this boat, you've found somebody who matters to you! Don't you see how unbelievable that is?
[God. He has no idea who it could be. Dillon, maybe? Jean? ...ugh god he hopes it's not Quentin, that would be...troubling. Yikes.
But man. Maybe there's something to the Admiral's methods, crude and incomprehensible as they might be.]
[Technically he can get this by, if he wants to, and throw Ford off the trail permanently. Technically, yes. It is because of things that have happened on the ship.
The first few months he hadn't missed Ford. He'd picked up a new set of people on day one, selected pretty carefully as candidates. Bleeding Heart, Snowflake, Sparky, Gold. Sharp, dangerous in their own way, prone to temper and protectiveness when pushed. He'd put them through their paces and they'd buckled. Quit or backed off or drawn up into performative apathy like playing possum. Snowflake became useful, but Bill's already got a thousand people that are useful and not one of them is he ever going to see as an equal.
Heart was the worst case. He actually outsmarted Bill on a deal. He had fun with it. He played the game. Then Bill got ugly, and he left. Wasn't worth it. That's the reaction he gets nine hundred and ninety nine times out of a thousand. Just not worth it.
There had been Sixers before Ford, people marked by destiny with the same sign. The last guy killed himself when he learned there was no way to stop from being a vessel for Bill even though, y'know, he signed up for this. They usually do. They usually give up as soon as Bill shows his other face and isn't what they were promised. What, you thought a god would be kind? Why? They usually build him temples, and appease, and Bill thinks it's funny but couldn't find it more boring.
Heart wasn't Ford, and the old Sixers weren't Ford, and Q isn't Ford despite best efforts. And Bill has lost Ford three times now (didn't even get to outsmart him in a fair fight) and every time it happens it gets worse to try to turn around and pretend it doesn't matter to Bill either way, because, fuck. Maybe it's a lot harder to find someone that thinks you're worth it than he'd ever imagined, and maybe for the first time Bill wants something he can't replace.]
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE. KID, CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LIFE EITHER WAY?
[whoops, he said he wasn't going to use nicknames in this conversation. That just slipped out.]
[Ford sighs, and pinches his nose. If he were socially smarter, he'd be more careful what he says here. But he's not. He's an idiot who runs his mouth, especially where Bill is concerned, because he's very used to assuming Bill already knows everything.
And Ford, except under very specific pushing-for-his-way-through-sheer-confidence-and-giving-no-one-the-chance-to-argue circumstances, isn't actually that great a liar.
So, whee, honesty hour, let's go.]
I don't know! Ever since I found out how you survived, I was certain that the only way you were getting off this boat was by breaking out! After everything I sacrificed to get rid of you, you still found a way to weasel out of it! And here you are, living it up in the most touchy-feely prison in the whole multiverse, playing the same games with a ship full of people who think that just because they know you're a liar, that means they can handle you! I'm very concerned that this ship can't hold you, and I don't trust it or the Admiral to keep you in check forever!
[He's mad about that -- about all of that. Seriously, fuck you, and fuck you for surviving. But when Ford goes on, his tone changes. Some of the anger goes out of it, and it's more...it's not quite wonder, and it's not even related to hope, but it's something quieter.]
But if it's actually working on you...who knows? I didn't expect that. I certainly didn't think it would happen that quickly. I thought it would take another couple of centuries at least! True, it's not much, and knowing you I'll bet it's kind of... [he makes a wiggly hand gesture here that implies fucked up, twisted, and kind of disgusting] eh, questionable. But it's still lightyears beyond anything I thought was even possible.
I don't know what it means. Maybe it won't mean anything! After all, personal feelings don't always stop you. Sometimes, they don't even slow you down.
[Mmmm he sure knows what that's like. Sometimes all personal feelings do is make you feel worse when it's over. Give him a second to wallow in his own mistakes.]
[Yeah, it turns out being stuck with the same group of people you can't get away from and who remember you and warn each other about you when you're not around makes you think harder about the consequences of your actions.]
I'M NOT GETTING OUT THAT WAY. I MADE A DEAL.
THIS DOESN'T LEAVE THE ROOM, PINES. IF WHITE STAR DOESN'T THINK I'M COMMITTED I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP HIM AGAIN.
[Bill scowls, but the ring confirms. Even the last word there.]
NO, STEVE! THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME HE'S TRIED TO BLOW UP THE SHIP, SOMEONE HAS TO BE THERE TO STAB HIM IN THE BACK AT THE LAST MINUTE. WE'RE GETTING OFF-TOPIC!
[True.]
I KNOW WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME ALREADY! WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU?
[Look he first met Steve while Steve was a merman, okay, and not wearing any kind of shirt at all, much less one with a star, cut him some slack. Though now that he thinks about it, there was footage from that Big Brother flood that had him in a spangled uniform. Ok, cool, got it. That's the situation they're talking about. Bill didn't take the opportunity to leave when Steve damaged the Barge? Bill stopped him?
It can't be that simple. Bill can't be sitting here waiting to get redeemed, that's not how he does things. There must be more to it -- something else Bill is up to, some other way he plans to get around the system. He frowns and files this information away for another time, when he's not dealing with Bill directly.
Speaking of, it's time to do Ford's favorite thing: breeze past questions he doesn't want to answer with bravado and deflection!]
That's not important. What matters is, you might actually have a chance of getting out of here! Bill Cipher, graduating from the Barge. Ha ha, that -- that's weird. Who'd have thought?
So, who is it? If it's not the Admiral, then it must be one of the wardens or inmates. Is it Luke? ...it's probably Luke.
[Can Stanford Pines Direct The Conversation Away From How No Matter How Many Times He's Told Bill Isn't His Problem He Is Too Worried About Impending Disaster To Turn A Blind Eye? The Answer Will Surprise You!]
YOU KNOW, I COULD SIT HERE FOR AWHILE WATCHING YOUR GUESSES GET DUMBER AND WORSE, BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN FROM THAT!
[True. It's not funny any more. He's not a stupid shapeshifter to get poked at when it's interesting and put in a cage when it's not.
It's REAL annoying to be four steps ahead of Ford sometimes. This is blatant jealousy, but Bill's not sure if it actually means anything actionable. He has no confidence in his ability to control or predict Ford right now and that means it's a no-go.]
DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO AND BE DONE.
But all right--okay. I'll leave it alone. But Bill -- did it occur to you that maybe if you try talking to whoever it is instead of going on and on about how you don't need anybody, you might be happier?
[A beat.]
I mean, they'd have to be certifiably insane, with very questionable judgment and the greatest capacity for forgiveness I've seen in any dimension, but hey! Some people on this ship actually seem to like you. It's very frustrating to me, of course, but it might work out in your favor.
[Caring about people makes you a better person, Bill. Better person means closer to graduation. Also, it's fun!]
[Bill starts ...quietly screaming around when Ford immediately follows "i'll leave it alone" with "BUT".
By the time Ford done it's morphed into an aggravated shriek, and Bill is bright red.]
YOU DON'T GET TO SAY I CAN ROT HERE AND THEN TRY TO GIVE ME ADVICE ON A SITUATION YOU WOULDN'T - UNDERSTAND EVEN IF I EXPLAINED IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE AN IDIOT! WHEN HAS ANYTHING EVER WORKED LIKE THAT?
[True.]
I CUT THE DEAL! WE'RE DONE! STOP DOING THIS, JUST STOP PRETENDING TO CARE!
He doesn't care what happens to Bill as long as Bill is not a threat to the multiverse. Death, imprisonment, unlikely redemption -- Ford will take any of them, because it's not personal anymore.
(Except -- Bill can still hurt him by saying he's got nothing. Except it really is interesting that Bill has come to care about at least one person on the Barge. Except Ford has never seen him this openly upset before about someone pretending to care...?
"That triangle fuck's practically giddy that you're here."
[...no, that's not right. Even if the idea weren't patently ridiculous, the ring confirmed "hatred of" and "wanting nothing to do with." If the ring can be relied on, and honestly it seems it can, Ford's not part of this equation. It's probably related to a breach he wasn't there for. Those feelings do tend to stick around an uncomfortably long time.
Holy Moses. What a mess. This is clearly a very messy thing Bill has gotten himself into with whoever the unlucky bastard is and Ford wants no part of it.
He rallies.]
Fine! Take my advice or leave it, but I happen to know a thing or two about coming around from being a real jerk!
[He should have hung up a long time ago but it always feels like if he just pushes a little harder he might be able to scrape a benefit out of this hellhole of a conversation.]
[Sure, that tracks. Ford doesn't want to play the game anymore, so Bill hates him, but Bill had fun playing chess with his life. Cool, Ford still doesn't want to go back to it.]
I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU WITH WHATEVER THIS WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK IS! I THINK I WATCHED YOU DIE LIKE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND I'M TRYING TO PRETEND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I'VE DONE A LOT WORSE TO YOU THAN ELECTROCUTE YOU AND PUT YOU IN A CAGE AND YOU ALWAYS CAME BACK ANYWAY. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW KIDS WOULD BE THE LAST STRAW, HUH?
[Would he have done it differently? COULD he have?
... No. There was no other way in. It took him too long to find one as it is.]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE EVEN ... HAD, IF IT FELL APART WHEN I WASN'T EVEN TRYING, BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO! THAT'S ALL I GOT!
What are you talking about? You always saw me as a pawn in your game of interdimensional chess! You made that perfectly clear.
[Ford's very good at shutting out things that don't fit into his personal narrative of what happened. Right now, though, a lot of things Bill has said are pushing in at the seams. That was your thing. You earned it. You never humor me anymore. You didn't even end up being important. Bill didn't leave him alone when he boarded the Barge until he knew for sure Ford had quit the game.]
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[Lie.]
WE'RE VERY HAPPY, CAN YOU BE DONE? I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW AWKWARD THIS IS.
[Also a lie. Bill's eye narrows to a mean little sliver.]
FINE, I COULD EXPLAIN. BUT I DON'T WANT TO! AND YOU DON'T REALLY CARE. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE BEING LIKE THIS ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK!
[All true.]
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[Okay, okay. Time to get serious.]
Listen here, Bill. You've been alive for trillions of years. I spent half my life learning everything I could about you, and I never found any indication that you had any feelings about anyone but yourself that weren't, you know, things like disdain, and sadistic amusement, and violent fury...that kind of thing. To find out that you want companionship from someone is...I didn't think it was possible.
Frankly, I'm still not sure I believe it.
But if it's what I suspect, and someone on this ship matters to you -- Bill, that's the most interesting thing I've learned about you in decades. [He laughs, and breaks a grin.] This place might be getting to you after all.
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[Ring confirms as true. Ha ha ha. Dumbass.
Ford continues, and Bill flinches, like he's trying to hand him something disgusting. Which, you know. A load of shit generally is.]
JUST - STOP IT. YOU DON'T CARE WHAT I DO OR WHAT I'M UP TO UNLESS IT'S MY PERSONAL LIFE? GET A GRIP.
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[They're not going to get into whether or not he cares what else Bill is up to. Thank god Ford hasn't tried the truth ring gambit. He's got one containment plan in the works and one murder plan that he's in denial about being a murder plan.
But that's old stuff. This is new.]
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WHY DOES IT MATTER?
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[God. He has no idea who it could be. Dillon, maybe? Jean? ...ugh god he hopes it's not Quentin, that would be...troubling. Yikes.
But man. Maybe there's something to the Admiral's methods, crude and incomprehensible as they might be.]
Video (suicide mention from backstory)
The first few months he hadn't missed Ford. He'd picked up a new set of people on day one, selected pretty carefully as candidates. Bleeding Heart, Snowflake, Sparky, Gold. Sharp, dangerous in their own way, prone to temper and protectiveness when pushed. He'd put them through their paces and they'd buckled. Quit or backed off or drawn up into performative apathy like playing possum. Snowflake became useful, but Bill's already got a thousand people that are useful and not one of them is he ever going to see as an equal.
Heart was the worst case. He actually outsmarted Bill on a deal. He had fun with it. He played the game. Then Bill got ugly, and he left. Wasn't worth it. That's the reaction he gets nine hundred and ninety nine times out of a thousand. Just not worth it.
There had been Sixers before Ford, people marked by destiny with the same sign. The last guy killed himself when he learned there was no way to stop from being a vessel for Bill even though, y'know, he signed up for this. They usually do. They usually give up as soon as Bill shows his other face and isn't what they were promised. What, you thought a god would be kind? Why? They usually build him temples, and appease, and Bill thinks it's funny but couldn't find it more boring.
Heart wasn't Ford, and the old Sixers weren't Ford, and Q isn't Ford despite best efforts. And Bill has lost Ford three times now (didn't even get to outsmart him in a fair fight) and every time it happens it gets worse to try to turn around and pretend it doesn't matter to Bill either way, because, fuck. Maybe it's a lot harder to find someone that thinks you're worth it than he'd ever imagined, and maybe for the first time Bill wants something he can't replace.]
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE. KID, CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LIFE EITHER WAY?
[whoops, he said he wasn't going to use nicknames in this conversation. That just slipped out.]
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And Ford, except under very specific pushing-for-his-way-through-sheer-confidence-and-giving-no-one-the-chance-to-argue circumstances, isn't actually that great a liar.
So, whee, honesty hour, let's go.]
I don't know! Ever since I found out how you survived, I was certain that the only way you were getting off this boat was by breaking out! After everything I sacrificed to get rid of you, you still found a way to weasel out of it! And here you are, living it up in the most touchy-feely prison in the whole multiverse, playing the same games with a ship full of people who think that just because they know you're a liar, that means they can handle you! I'm very concerned that this ship can't hold you, and I don't trust it or the Admiral to keep you in check forever!
[He's mad about that -- about all of that. Seriously, fuck you, and fuck you for surviving. But when Ford goes on, his tone changes. Some of the anger goes out of it, and it's more...it's not quite wonder, and it's not even related to hope, but it's something quieter.]
But if it's actually working on you...who knows? I didn't expect that. I certainly didn't think it would happen that quickly. I thought it would take another couple of centuries at least! True, it's not much, and knowing you I'll bet it's kind of... [he makes a wiggly hand gesture here that implies fucked up, twisted, and kind of disgusting] eh, questionable. But it's still lightyears beyond anything I thought was even possible.
I don't know what it means. Maybe it won't mean anything! After all, personal feelings don't always stop you. Sometimes, they don't even slow you down.
[Mmmm he sure knows what that's like. Sometimes all personal feelings do is make you feel worse when it's over. Give him a second to wallow in his own mistakes.]
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I'M NOT GETTING OUT THAT WAY. I MADE A DEAL.
THIS DOESN'T LEAVE THE ROOM, PINES. IF WHITE STAR DOESN'T THINK I'M COMMITTED I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP HIM AGAIN.
[Bill scowls, but the ring confirms. Even the last word there.]
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[He's the only person Ford can think of who has the power to stop Bill like that.]
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[True.]
I KNOW WHY THIS MATTERS TO ME ALREADY! WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU?
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It can't be that simple. Bill can't be sitting here waiting to get redeemed, that's not how he does things. There must be more to it -- something else Bill is up to, some other way he plans to get around the system. He frowns and files this information away for another time, when he's not dealing with Bill directly.
Speaking of, it's time to do Ford's favorite thing: breeze past questions he doesn't want to answer with bravado and deflection!]
That's not important. What matters is, you might actually have a chance of getting out of here! Bill Cipher, graduating from the Barge. Ha ha, that -- that's weird. Who'd have thought?
So, who is it? If it's not the Admiral, then it must be one of the wardens or inmates. Is it Luke? ...it's probably Luke.
[Can Stanford Pines Direct The Conversation Away From How No Matter How Many Times He's Told Bill Isn't His Problem He Is Too Worried About Impending Disaster To Turn A Blind Eye? The Answer Will Surprise You!]
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[True. It's not funny any more. He's not a stupid shapeshifter to get poked at when it's interesting and put in a cage when it's not.
It's REAL annoying to be four steps ahead of Ford sometimes. This is blatant jealousy, but Bill's not sure if it actually means anything actionable. He has no confidence in his ability to control or predict Ford right now and that means it's a no-go.]
DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO AND BE DONE.
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I don't see you denying it!
[Whew. Successfully deflected.]
But all right--okay. I'll leave it alone. But Bill -- did it occur to you that maybe if you try talking to whoever it is instead of going on and on about how you don't need anybody, you might be happier?
[A beat.]
I mean, they'd have to be certifiably insane, with very questionable judgment and the greatest capacity for forgiveness I've seen in any dimension, but hey! Some people on this ship actually seem to like you. It's very frustrating to me, of course, but it might work out in your favor.
[Caring about people makes you a better person, Bill. Better person means closer to graduation. Also, it's fun!]
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By the time Ford done it's morphed into an aggravated shriek, and Bill is bright red.]
YOU DON'T GET TO SAY I CAN ROT HERE AND THEN TRY TO GIVE ME ADVICE ON A SITUATION YOU WOULDN'T - UNDERSTAND EVEN IF I EXPLAINED IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE AN IDIOT! WHEN HAS ANYTHING EVER WORKED LIKE THAT?
[True.]
I CUT THE DEAL! WE'RE DONE! STOP DOING THIS, JUST STOP PRETENDING TO CARE!
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He doesn't care what happens to Bill as long as Bill is not a threat to the multiverse. Death, imprisonment, unlikely redemption -- Ford will take any of them, because it's not personal anymore.
(Except -- Bill can still hurt him by saying he's got nothing. Except it really is interesting that Bill has come to care about at least one person on the Barge. Except Ford has never seen him this openly upset before about someone pretending to care...?
"That triangle fuck's practically giddy that you're here."
"I'M TIRED OF HANGING BACK FOR YOU."
"I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE ANYONE BUT YOU!"
It can't be -- ...could it?)]
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Holy Moses. What a mess. This is clearly a very messy thing Bill has gotten himself into with whoever the unlucky bastard is and Ford wants no part of it.
He rallies.]
Fine! Take my advice or leave it, but I happen to know a thing or two about coming around from being a real jerk!
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I LIKED YOU BETTER AS A JERK!
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[Sure, that tracks. Ford doesn't want to play the game anymore, so Bill hates him, but Bill had fun playing chess with his life. Cool, Ford still doesn't want to go back to it.]
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WHY AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH ANY MORE?
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He's a lot quieter when he talks again, but it's clear he's still angry - it's just come through the other side and is running cold instead of hot.]
DON'T EXPLAIN IT TO ME. DON'T SAY ANYTHING. THERE'S NOTHING YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO ME THAT I DON'T ALREADY KNOW.
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But you -- I--
[That's what Bill was talking about? So--it wasn't the Barge after all? It was just Bill missing -- what, someone who made the game interesting?]
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Then why don't you explain it to me.
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I DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU WITH WHATEVER THIS WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK IS! I THINK I WATCHED YOU DIE LIKE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND I'M TRYING TO PRETEND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I'VE DONE A LOT WORSE TO YOU THAN ELECTROCUTE YOU AND PUT YOU IN A CAGE AND YOU ALWAYS CAME BACK ANYWAY. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW KIDS WOULD BE THE LAST STRAW, HUH?
[Would he have done it differently? COULD he have?
... No. There was no other way in. It took him too long to find one as it is.]
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE EVEN ... HAD, IF IT FELL APART WHEN I WASN'T EVEN TRYING, BUT THAT'S ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO! THAT'S ALL I GOT!
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[What the hell.]
What are you talking about? You always saw me as a pawn in your game of interdimensional chess! You made that perfectly clear.
[Ford's very good at shutting out things that don't fit into his personal narrative of what happened. Right now, though, a lot of things Bill has said are pushing in at the seams. That was your thing. You earned it. You never humor me anymore. You didn't even end up being important. Bill didn't leave him alone when he boarded the Barge until he knew for sure Ford had quit the game.]
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