[ At the mention of Bill, Ford's expression slips into something somber, wary, and almost resigned. He takes Oscar's phone, scrolls through the conversation, and then passes it back a moment later. ]
He's already spoken to me about most of this, and I can put together the things he hasn't based on other information.
Was there a particular part you were wondering about?
[ Even Ford, with his preexisting knowledge of the multiverse, had found parts of what Bill has been talking about hard to keep up with. He won't be surprised if Oscar's answer is 'all of it'. ]
I get what he's talking about with us 'unionizing'.
[Oscar said carefully, pocketing the Fluid as he would his Scroll and shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Everything about the Triangle was confusing and unnerving. He fully understood why Dipper disliked Bill Cipher as much as he did.]
I'm just not getting where he gets the idea that Sodder is the one who wants to kill us. And, a lot of other things too-- but that bothered me.
[He took a deep, steadying breath...]
She's as stuck as all of us are, right? It's not like she's got a choice in all this.
[ The question gets a long pause out of Ford, careful and considering. It's not that Oscar is wrong, exactly, but that feels like too simple a way of looking at it. ]
It's possible, but there are different degrees of being 'trapped'. Sodder certainly controls Deerington to a degree none of us could hope to compete with. But if Bill is right--
[ Ford's tone suggests that he doesn't think it's likely Bill is wrong. ]
--then it's true that those higher powers he mentioned - I've been thinking of them as Agents, like publicity agents - are also trapping Sodder.
The problem is that all of us being prisoners doesn't necessarily mean she has any degree of concern or care for us.
[It was an uncomfortable thought that called back to the more bizarre elements of his conversation with Bill-- namely that they were all trapped for someone's entertainment. Oscar unconsciously wrapped his arms around his person, uncertainty emanating from his very demeanor.]
...This is all really sad to think about. I was hoping that she might at least have a little say in her playmates and how they're treated.
[Meaning the Dreamers. Oscar had carried a brief discussion on this matter with the Doctor recently as well.]
How do we 'unionize' and not do what they want us to do if we don't even know what they're holding us for?
cw: just assume there's lots more fourth wall stuff from here on
That's part of the issue. I think she does have a say in how we're treated - but she either can't or chooses not to control her powers. Worse, she might share Mother Superior's belief that we're just figments of her imagination.
[ And hey, maybe they are! Ford doesn't think it's that simple, but it's a possibility that's never far from his mind.
Oscar's last question, though... Ford has an answer, but it's not a comfortable one. ]
Unfortunately, that's something we may need to rely on Bill for. It's going to require a great deal of coordination and knowledge of the multiverse that most people simply don't have.
cw: just assume there's lots more fourth wall stuff from here on
[ The pacifying gesture and the clarification are both welcomed. Ford visibly tenses when Oscar admit to having gained some information about Bill from Dipper, and visibly relaxes when Oscar then clarifies that he doesn't have any details.
Well, that explains why Oscar is approaching the situation so cautiously at least - beyond the fact that it involves Bill at all. ]
At the moment, no there isn't. There are other entities that are capable of doing what Bill can, of course, but none of them are here and I don't have any way to contact them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cryptograms) wrote2020-09-06 03:13 pm
no subject
He's already spoken to me about most of this, and I can put together the things he hasn't based on other information.
Was there a particular part you were wondering about?
[ Even Ford, with his preexisting knowledge of the multiverse, had found parts of what Bill has been talking about hard to keep up with. He won't be surprised if Oscar's answer is 'all of it'. ]
no subject
[Oscar said carefully, pocketing the Fluid as he would his Scroll and shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Everything about the Triangle was confusing and unnerving. He fully understood why Dipper disliked Bill Cipher as much as he did.]
I'm just not getting where he gets the idea that Sodder is the one who wants to kill us. And, a lot of other things too-- but that bothered me.
[He took a deep, steadying breath...]
She's as stuck as all of us are, right? It's not like she's got a choice in all this.
cw: heavy, heavy fourth walling
It's possible, but there are different degrees of being 'trapped'. Sodder certainly controls Deerington to a degree none of us could hope to compete with. But if Bill is right--
[ Ford's tone suggests that he doesn't think it's likely Bill is wrong. ]
--then it's true that those higher powers he mentioned - I've been thinking of them as Agents, like publicity agents - are also trapping Sodder.
The problem is that all of us being prisoners doesn't necessarily mean she has any degree of concern or care for us.
cw: heavy, heavy fourth walling
[It was an uncomfortable thought that called back to the more bizarre elements of his conversation with Bill-- namely that they were all trapped for someone's entertainment. Oscar unconsciously wrapped his arms around his person, uncertainty emanating from his very demeanor.]
...This is all really sad to think about. I was hoping that she might at least have a little say in her playmates and how they're treated.
[Meaning the Dreamers. Oscar had carried a brief discussion on this matter with the Doctor recently as well.]
How do we 'unionize' and not do what they want us to do if we don't even know what they're holding us for?
cw: just assume there's lots more fourth wall stuff from here on
[ And hey, maybe they are! Ford doesn't think it's that simple, but it's a possibility that's never far from his mind.
Oscar's last question, though... Ford has an answer, but it's not a comfortable one. ]
Unfortunately, that's something we may need to rely on Bill for. It's going to require a great deal of coordination and knowledge of the multiverse that most people simply don't have.
cw: just assume there's lots more fourth wall stuff from here on
...Dipper explained a little about your family's association with Bill.
[He ventured, holding his hands up in a pacifying gesture.]
Not any details. Just that it's Bad.
....there's not another option, is there?
no subject
Well, that explains why Oscar is approaching the situation so cautiously at least - beyond the fact that it involves Bill at all. ]
At the moment, no there isn't. There are other entities that are capable of doing what Bill can, of course, but none of them are here and I don't have any way to contact them.
no subject
[Oscar sighed, mulling over the futility of having to rely upon a being that was no longer present within the dream.]
We really don't have any options, do we?