The Feels Awaken, Interlude: Attack of the Clonesuit
Written by @jkl-fff, illustrated by me
PART I - PART II [Interlude] (you are here) - PART III
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Ford, leafing listlessly through notes: … Suppose I could go out
and look more into this anomaly … or that one, any of them, really
—anything’d be better than just sitting here … moping. Yes,
moping, that’s really what I’m doing right now.
All that I’m doing right now. Moping …
[sighs heavily, stands up and paces around room aimlessly;
roving eyes land on a shelf of scientific glassware with several
empty decanters among them; swallows drily]
Damn, a drink would really hit the spot right about now … Gah, no!
How pathetic can I be, wanting a drink now, after decades of sobriety!
Still wanting a drink at all, just because … just because I’m missing
the kids … Damn it, man, pull yourself together!
[takes off glasses with one hand, slaps self with other]
Are you a scientist or a sentimentalist?!
[slaps self again]
Focus on your intellect!
[slaps self a third time]
They’ll be back here soon enough to visit for Fall Break,
you can look forward to that, so stop all this … this sniveling!
[resumes pacing]
… Gah, that Demon’ll probably sour their visit for me, too.
Just like he’s soured everything else in my life of late …
Besides, he’s already had too much influence over them as is,
and them coming back risks him gaining even more of one;
would be far, far better if they never came within 100 miles of him
ever again … I can … I can go to them, anyway. Stan and I.
We can go down to Piedmont and see them safely that way, or …
or I can call or use that skyelp program just about any evening …
Yes … Yes … So no more of this sniveling and moping and such …
Bill, through the elevator intercom: Hey, Stanford?! I’m coming
down now, so … uh, put away the crossbow and the dirty magazines!
Haha … ha … um, yeah …Th-that was just a joke, by the way! Except
for the part about the crossbow, obviously, ‘cause I would appreciate it
if you put that away instead of putting a bolt in this vessel!
So, um … yeah, here I come! (79 Hells, that was awkward …)
Ford, muttering and jumping back to desk: Grrr! Now?!
Pigcrap fucksnorkel, this is the last thing I need right now!
[sits in an exaggeratedly nonchalant pose;
turns and glares as Bill steps out of the elevator]
What is it, Cipher, can’t you see I’m very busy?
Bill, holding up two cans of Pitt: Thought you might, I dunno,
like something cold to drink?
[sets one can down on the desk]
Ford: … Why are you wearing a sock puppet?
Bill, shrugging: I could ask you the same thing.
Ford: No, you couldn’t.
Bill: Sure, I could. It wouldn’t make sense, but I could.
[cracks open own drink, takes a sip]
So, um, how you doin’?
Ford: You still haven’t answered my question.
Bill, shielding his mouth with non-puppet hand, whispering:
He just showed up on his own, and I can’t get him to leave
no matter how many hints I drop.
Ford, turning away: A feeling I relate to on a deep, spiritual level.
[pretends to resume reviewing notes]
Bill: Now you still haven’t answered my question. How you doin’?
Ford: … Tired. And getting more and more tired with every second
I spend in your company. So I repeat, what is it? What do you want?
Bill, sighing, leaning against the desk: I just … wanna talk is all,
I guess? It gets kinda lonely, y’know, without the Twins here.
And I do know y’know about that.
Ford, hiding embarrassment: What are you implying?
Bill: C’mon, Ford. We all miss them. And, I dunno, that’s got me
all sentimental about …
[takes a deep breath, looks at Ford, lets himself be vulnerable]
about other people I miss spending time with, too.
Ford, looking away: Yes, well, if you burn a bridge, you can’t really
complain about not being able to cross back over again, can you?
Bill, through sock puppet: Bridges can be rebuilt, can’t they?
Ford: …
Bill, through sock puppet: Can’t they?
Ford: … Not some bridges. Now leave me alone, please,
because I have a lot of work to do.
Bill, stiffening up: Fine, if that’s what you want. Sit down here
and brood in the dark, ignoring all the people who’re concerned
about your health and happiness.
Ford: Pff, right! Sure, you are.
Bill: I am, though! I’m concerned about your health! So are Stan,
Soos and Melody, and the Twins would be, too, if they could see you
like this—Mabel and Dipper!
Ford: I’m fine, Cipher. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Bill: Me and Stan’re especially concerned about you, I think.
Prob’ly ‘cause we know you the best.
Ford, reddening: I asked you nicely to leave me alone once already.
I won’t ask nicely again.
Bill, through sock puppet while stomping towards exit: I guess
you would know about burning bridges, right? I mean, you’ve been
slowburning a bunch of ‘em lately, haven’t you?
Ford, raising his voice: What’s that supposed to mean?
Bill, through sock puppet: How many years d’you spend missing
your brother so much it ached, huh? I mean, you had me play him
in your fantasies hundreds of times—literally. 872 times with him
as a major character by my count over the years we spent together!
[whirls around at the elevator door and points,
which looks especially accusing and grotesque
coming through a hand puppet]
Yet, even though he’s back, you won’t even enjoy your time with him
just ‘cause I’m around!? Just ‘cause he doesn’t spit and hiss at the sight
of me like a Vampire at sunlight?! You murmur and grumble and
carry on and act … act mean and bitter at him for that?! Well, Fordsy,
if that ain’t slowburning a bridge, I don’t know what is!
Ford, stung: Y-you … Shut up, Cipher.
Bill, pointing petulantly at the sock: It’s not me. It’s him.
[speaking through the sock again]
And you’re doing it to everyone else! Including the Twins!
Ford, on his feet: Get. Out. Now.
Bill, whirling on his heel: We’re already gone!
[storms back into the elevator and upstairs with it]
Ford, covering face to contain fury: That little, monocular—
No, Stanford. D-don’t let him get to you … fffff … Don’t let …
that smart-talking shitass—No, d-don’t … fffff … don’t …
[eyes land on decanters again; desire for a drink spikes,
which makes fury explode inside of him]
Graaaaargh!
[stomps over, seizes first decanter, hurls it at wall; it shatters]
That greasepainted, crap-piling, illuminati fuck hat and
[hurls second decanter at wall; it shatters]
cyclopes poseur in a mustache-twirled, pan-licking ass wad
[hurls third decanter at wall; it shatters]
of a grephew’s face-stealing TURD BREATH!
[stands huffing and puffing for a moment; leans against wall,
slides down until sitting on floor, buries face in hands]
Ford, eventually beginning to calm down: Says he’s “concerned
about my health and happiness”—pah!—right …
Heard that one before, haven’t I?
[remembers from more than 30 years ago …
Bill, inside Ford’s mind: Uh, you sure this is a good idea?
Ford, scaling an improvised novi-wave receiver: Sure! *cough*
Why do you ask?
Bill: Let’s just say I’m concerned for your health and wellbeing.
Ford, shifting a bag of materials, climbing higher: Huh. What for?
I’m not *cough cough* sick at all.
Bill: Only ‘cause of the major storm—strong winds, pounding rain,
and constant lightning—raging around you while you climb up
a structure made of conductive metals that doesn’t have a lot of really
solid hand and footholds for your gravity-bound meatbag.
Ford, laughing: Oh, that! Don’t worry, this’ll only take another
*cough cough* minute or two.
[lightning cracks nearby]
Ford, still laughing: Whoa! Haha! That one was close!
[foot slips on wet metal; catches self]
Whoops! Heh, clumsy me … Better hurry up! *cough*
Bill, obviously worried: Y’know what? I think you should just
leave it for now. Wait until the storm clears, do something about
that wet cough like … like have some ginger tea!
Ford: The forecast said it’s *cough* to continue all week.
If I *cough* don’t fix this now, we’ll lose all that work time.
Bill: Yeah, but if you fall and break one of your fleshsticks,
we’ll lose even more time. Assuming a fall doesn’t, y’know,
do worse. Like kill you. Also, you getting pneumonia
is a thing that could cause us to lose even more time.
Ford, dismissively: It’s fine. I’ll be fine. *cough*
Bill, almost desperately: Hey, know what? Not being able to work
the rest of this week might be an okay thing! Like, you could take
a break. Relax a little, get several full nights’ sleep. Eat a few square
meals at regular times with all that nutrient stuff you meatbags need,
stave off scurvy and other illnesses you could catch as a result of
skipping meals and sleep. Doesn’t that sound like fun? We could
even have extra play sessions in your mindscape! Eh? Eh?!
Ford, tempted: You’re a *cough cough* good friend, Bill,
but I need to concentrate on this right now.
comes out of his memory …]
Ford, sitting in the lab: Heh … I did fall in the end. Didn’t break
anything, just got the wind knocked out of me and was bruised
for a bit, but still … Was that when Cipher first recommended I get
an assistant? Someone who’d help me build his infernal portal?
[sighs, admits]
No, I thought an assistant could help me build the portal. Cipher said
I needed one to stop me “dying like an idiot during monster hunts” and
make me “perform basic self-care for meatbags” from day to day.
I was the one who thought it could be someone to help with the portal.
[face turning red with shame]
I … It was me who made the Electron Carpet to try to switch him—
Fiddleford, someone I dared call a f-friend—with Cipher … That was
entirely me … When I suggested we use it for that, he actually told
me it was a terrible idea—told me Fiddleford was there to help keep
my “moments of near suicidal dumbassery in check” and ease
my workload, not increase both of them …
[chuckles incredulously]
That was the first time Cipher and I ever had an argument …
He said he was worried about me, and the thing I invented
the most was new ways to make him worry …
[remembers the argument, which ended with both of them
screaming “FUCK YOU!” at each other in different voices
until it stopped being angry and started being hilarious …
remembers flashes from times he and Bill worked together,
succeeded together, advanced SCIENCE! together …
remembers flashes from times he and Bill laughed together,
played together, bonded together, had so much fun together …
remembers flashes from times he and Bill spent inside
Ford’s mindscape, and how good it felt to relive his memories
of better times, to play out all his wild fantasies …]
Ford, resting head against wall, gazing at dark ceiling:
Cipher’s not … not the only one who misses spending time with …
other people … who misses the old days … And—Moses!—
I’m so, so tired from always being on guard …
from always reminding myself what he really is …
what he’s done, what he could do if he got the chance …
So tired from always keeping myself angry and bitter …
from always stoking this animosity …
So tired from always pitting myself against him …
Well, against everyone else, too …
[heaves self upright and dusts off coat; rubs temples; sighs heavily]
Could I be entirely wrong about Bill? Is it really possible he has
changed, and I’m just being a stubborn, old fool? Am I making
everyone else … Am I making myself unhappy for no real reason?
[sighs heavily again]
Not the first time I’ve asked that question, and the answer’s the same
as always. I can’t afford to take that chance—this whole dimension
can’t afford for me to take that chance. And it’s selfish of me to even
consider it, given the stakes … What’re my desires and my health and
my personal happiness against the safety of this whole dimension for
the rest of eternity? And … what’s the happiness of my family, even?
[shakes head woefully]
I want to believe Bill, but he has conned me before … Besides,
he’s immortal; he can afford to play a long game, just wait until I die
or waver … That’s why I can’t give in. I just can’t … ever …
[sound from overhead like heavy objects being rearranged]
Ford, flopping into chair at desk: Fffffuck, I wish …
I wish there was a solution to this dilemma … a way to untie
this Gordian Knot … More than anything in the world …
[picks up Pitt, cracks it open, takes a swig;
eventually looks at pile of shattered decanters]
That’s going to be a bitch to clean up …
Stan, through the basement intercom: Poindexter, you down here?
I’m comin’ down, so get out the crossbow and the dirty magazines!
[takes elevator down to the lab,
notices pile of broken glass and Ford’s drained expression]
Yeesh, what happened here? You try playin’ jenga with
champagne flutes, or something?
Ford, sighing: … Had a … a temper tantrum, guess you’d say.
Threw all the old decanters against the wall because
they reminded me how badly I want a drink sometimes.
Stan: Well, darn. We could’ve sold those; some of ‘em were
really nice crystal … But, more importantly, you feelin’ better?
Ford, taking a reflective sip of Pitt: … Not really, no. I loathe
how much, even now, even still, sometimes I want a drink
more than anything in the world … Makes me feel like … like …
Stan, walking up to rub his shoulders: Yeah?
Ford: Like nothing’s changed—maybe more like I haven’t changed—
not really, even after everything … Mmm, that feels good, Stanly …
Stan: I can understand the feelin’, Sixer … Some days …
Well, some days are just bad days. Some days, all the crap
from the past tumbles outta the closet in your head, and
there’s nothin’ much you can do about it.
[leans down, lightly kisses top of his brother’s head]
But there’s also nothin’ wrong with takin’ some time off
from all the crap, either, on those days.
Ford: Yeah?
Stan: Yeah. I been thinkin’ we could use some time off. All of us.
Chance to disconnect and decompress from day-to-day life, y’know.
We should do a movie day—just spend the rest of today together
watchin’ some far out flicks, not worryin’ ‘bout anything
in particular. Whaddya say, Sixer?
Ford, wavering: All of us, you said? Well …
[sighs]
Yeah, sure, okay. Why the heck not? What’re we watching?
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