Simple Bill - Blog Posts

A Game of Pretend

Prologue

Ford was a fraud of a muse that wanted to use him to accomplish...whatever corrupt plans he had. Bill was aware of this from the start in an instinctual way he couldn't quite place his finger on. The routine felt familiar to him, as if it was something he was destined to experience, and yet so distant at the same time. Like he had only been left with a phantom whisp of a trace to go off and use in picking up the pieces. Off.

Not that he'd never met some scheming, manipulative puppeteer who attempted (emphasis on attempt; he was no easy target) to trick and exploit him before— No, Bill was well equipped with the type and how to handle them. It was just that this time felt... different.

...

He wasn't sure what to think about that.

...

So, he wouldn't.

Ford claimed to be a benevolent god bestowing wisdom upon those living their lives in ignorance. Clearing the fog that blinded their eyes and enlightening them with knowledge previously beyond their comprehension. A muse.

What he wouldn't say was that he was liar who was barely managing to hide his ulterior motives with every breath he took. Bill didn't care nearly enough to tell the guy, though. He'd let him have his fun as long the egomaniac got the memo that the painter wasn't interested in whatever con he was selling and left to go pester the next potential puppet. After all, he was a busy guy! He had perspectives to shatter with his breathtaking — totally original — art; stars to gaze at; etcetera, etcetera. You get the idea.

As he had previously stated (and was proud to declare), he knew how to deal with scumbags like these: Beings striving to play the long game to reel you in to a false sense of security where all they have to do to pull the strings is a simple lift of a finger, and — BAM! — they have someone, either entirely out of their will or out of pressure, capable of doing their bidding.

It never got to that part for Bill, though. He wasn't one to brag (he very much was so, depending on who he was talking to), but he had a natural talent for spotting out shapes — and more — like them. He stopped them before they even had the chance to play their games. He learned the best tip was to ignore them. It usually took a while, sure, since they were persistent to get their way, but as long as you were as well, they would give up.

So, that was what he had decided to do with the confusing higher being. Any attempts at conversation from his behalf would be met with utter silence from the Euclidean triangle, whom acted like he couldn't see him. That's how most of their interactions were...in the beginning.

Hey! A shape could only be so patient before something — or someone — got on their nerves! So, eventually, Bill snapped. He started yelling at the six-fingered person, cursing him out. This only seemed to amuse the supposedly 'superior' being, though, which got on the painter's nerves more. He acted oh so better and greater, all because he could float and do...er...other things Bill couldn't remember at the moment.

In the end, he caved in to the god's desires, deciding that his irritating efforts would diminish if the triangle played along ever the slightest bit.

They began to hold genuine conversations where they learned about one another. Ford began to seem less like some far-away, untouchable being who was created into existence just to annoy him, and more like an actual person with feelings and thoughts. Who knew! And — here's the real kicker — Bill was starting to like him.

Behind that arrogant, all-powerful persona was someone who listened to him, emphasizing, understanding. He truly was intelligent and shared ideas that the painter would have never considered on his own. They taught each other things, and instantly developed a kind of chemistry and dymanic that only that one person can create with you. He was funny, charming, charismatic...

...

But, still manipulative. Still trying to rope Bill into becoming some kind of puppet he could utilize for whatever plots he has in mind. He hadn't forgotten that, nor did Ford get any better at masking it.

He knew that he should cut him off, stop things now before they began to spiral into something worse he couldn't return from. But, he was hesitant to because Ford was the only other person capable of understanding him. Because Ford filled that gaping ache of missing companship. Because he was so starved for any other kind of connection he could have after a childhood of being alone, outcasted by his society for being different. Because Ford was the only other person who was just as much of a freak as him. Because Ford could not only tolerate his weirdness, but even like it. Because Ford was the only other person who knew what was like to see the stars...

...

He didn't want to lose that. Didn't want to lose his muse who showed him wonderful things he never dreamed of seeing before. Didn't want to lose his love.

And, besides, he was curious to find out what Ford's plans were and his curiosity was one that was rarely left unfulfilled.

So, for the first time ever, Bill would entertain this manipulator. Allow himself to go along with whatever ulterior motives he has planned. Engage himself in a game of pretend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The "Euclydia Rises" AU was created by @orxinus . Thank you for reading! 💖

Next Chapter:

(Currently being worked on)

Okay, so, um, the song "Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)" feels a lot like how I think your AU is going to end story wise, and I wanted to go into depth about why. Slight Spoiler Warning for "Heathers the Musical," I guess. I won't talk about its plot, but this song specifically is one of the final ones from it and because of that it touches on some parts of the story, so a few details may be revealed. That aside, I'm going to begin my analysis:

"I wanted someone strong who could protect me."

Megalomaniac Ford's like a god to Simple Bill; one who watches over him and advises him. He's a much more powerful being who can come to Bill's aid, may he ever need it. A potential protector. He's also a muse to the Euclidean triangle: Guiding him, inspiring him, and — in a way — taking care of him by sharing his 'wisdom'.

"I let his anger fester and infect me."

This is going to be where I'll first enter my theory zone. Considering that MM!Ford has, more or less, the same type of childhood as Canon Ford, he most likely also wanted to prove his greatness to the world. Show them all the wonderful things he is capable of doing, how he's going to be the one to change their lives, and how they're going to regret all of the cruel things they said to him growing up once they see him blossom into what he was always meant to be: A renowned genius. He was outcasted by society for being different — for being better, and able to realize and see things others could not ever possibly comprehend.

Upon becoming familiar with Simple Bill, he probably recognizes just how similar their upbringings were. How they were both social rejects born with physical 'defects,' enlightened on a level far above their peers', and capable of making a difference if they seized the opportunity properly. Like Canon Ford did with Dipper for the mentorship (don't read this as me hating on him, please), Megalomaniac Ford most likely ends up projecting on Bill due to these similarities. Why should Bill have to suffocate in mediocrity when he's capable of achieving greatness? Why should he allow himself to be held back by such flat minds, dumbing down the beauty of the stars in his paintings? He should prove them wrong, make a difference!

...And maybe even show Euclydia the stars for real....

His anger and indignation would infect the painter's mind, slowly consuming him within.

"His solution is a lie, no one here deserves to die — except for me and the monster I created!"

So, it was implied in one of your earlier comics that MM!Ford plans on getting Bill to show Euclydia the stars — and more — by saying, "We'll show them," when Bill mentioned that his parents wouldn't understand anything his muse talks about, since they don't even understand the stars. To 'solve' Bill's problem of not being understood by a dimension living in ignorance of things bigger than them, he could show them the stars. It would be the perfect start to liberating their minds! If not for one small thing: Introducing the stars to Euclydia massacred the dimension and it's people, as revealed in TBOB. So, the supposed 'solution' would end up killing them. But, Ford would most likely argue that it would be worth it to enlighten them with the knowledge and bestow intelligence greater than they've known on them. In doing so, he would become a monster. All for his dear painter.

"Heads up, J.D., I'm a dead girl walkin'."

Since this AU is a role reversal, some events are parallel to the original show; meaning that there's a good chance that Simple Bill would confront Ford on his true intentions. And, once he does, he's as good as dead. Canon Ford at least was in a dimension Canon Bill couldn't each, so he couldn't harm the ex-devotee with the full extent of his power. MM!Ford, however, can come and go to Simple Bill as he pleases, so there's no safety net for the Euclidean triangle once he leaves his museum's side. He may as well be a dead triangle walking.

"And there's your final bell (Ah). It's one more dance and then farewell (Ah)."

Again, I feel like Euclydia is going to be endangered and at risk of being destroyed some point towards the end.

"I wish your mom had been a little stronger. I wish your dad were good, I wish grown-ups understood, I wish we met before they convinced you life is war."

This is probably the most self-explanatory, but I'll still delve into it anyways. Caryn — and this isn't me calling her a terrible a mom — didn't stand up for how her boys were treated in any way as far as we could tell on screen. Filbrick was, evidently, a terrible and abusive father. Pressuring Ford to be perfect and only valuing him for his intellectual worth, while tossing Stan aside as a scapegoat. Ford, as stated earlier, was turned into an outsider by society and wasn't fully understood by them. Through experiencing a life as tragic and difficult as this, Ford developed a certain mentality. He decided to live by "survive of the fittest," but in the mental sense. Bill probably wishes that he could've turned back time and stopped him from embracing this way of life.

Anyway, this was my analysis essay. Thank you for allowing me to ramble. I live your AU and hope that you have a good day!

FUCK YESS ive compared simplemaniac with veronica and JD a lot already and i love this one hehe theyre sooo fucked up i love this

Simple Bill: "Does your mommy know that you eat all that stuff?"

Megalomaniac Ford: "Not anymore!"

MM!Ford: "When mom was alive—"

(AU and artwork used created by @orxinus )

(Incorrect Quote sourced from "Heathers the Musical".)

simple!Bill is so sad :(

MM!Ford and Simple!Bill - @orxinus

Deity!Bill - @fazfuri