He scoffed at her response. “I didn’t choose to have a kid with her,” he snapped back. “And don’t you fucking think I’m extremely aware of all of that? I know that she can’t be a part of any of this. And I almost don’t want her to be because I know it wouldn’t work.” He was livid as Eris shoved past him. She told him to leave, but his blood was running too hot to do that. He made his way over, shutting the door again, not needing anyone else around to witness anything that was going on. Bill stood face to face with her. “The only attachment I have to Poppy is my daughter. And I don’t even fucking know how much longer that’ll last because guess what, you’re right. Neither of them can even know about my group. I fucked up. She wouldn’t have been my first choice, she wouldn’t’ve even been my tenth choice to have a kid with. But it happened. And maybe it shouldn’t have. Maybe I should’ve known better than to try to be a part of her life. And don’t think I forget that you’re probably one of the only ones who fully puts up with me. But you going around, fucking with Poppy’s luck could so easily make all these things worse for me. Because what if somehow that made her lucky enough to find out all that she doesn’t know about me. What if she called the cops, or told one of her psycho friends. This is what they do to me when they know I do drugs,” he motioned to his face, “Don’t wanna know what they’d do if they found out I run a fucking cult.” His anger isn’t gone, but he’s not shouting anymore. he’s not seeing as much red. “Maybe I came down here yelling at you because like you said, there are only a few fuckin’ people willing to put up with my bullshit. And none of them put up with me as much as you do, and for some unknown reason, you’re like the only fucking person I trust. And maybe I’m just angry at you because I’m fucking terrified of what’s going to come for me when all of the lies I built up come burning down around me.” He let out a heavy sigh and looked at the ground. “You’re also the only person that can piss me off like you just did and it doesn’t make me want to kill you.” Bill looked back at Eris, his hand still pressed firmly against the door. “And for the record, I knew why you hate Poppy, so I wasn’t asking about her. I wanted to know why you seem to hate my daughter. Is it because her mother is the ‘wrong choice’?” he cocked his head to the side a bit. His voice is steadier and quieter, but there’s still anger boiling through him. Not all of which is directed at Eris. He’s just enraged and he’s been taking it out on Eris, which he knew wasn’t fair. “Because if that’s the case, and since you seem to know so much about what’s best for me, then please. Enlighten me. Who would be the right choice.” It isn’t a question.
eris knew what he was trying to get her to say and she was having no part of it. “do you need me to slap you? have you lost your damn mind? did you forget the many authoritative figures that are a part of your cult? have you really let the glowstick and her raggedy friends make you feel so small?” she tilted her head to the side, eyes locked with his as if she was challenging him. “i can’t believe the big baddie is afraid of the first guy who gave him a black eye.” she wasn’t going to talk about his child any further. she was not going to bend to his silly little game. “the bill cipher i know isn’t such a coward. he takes what he wants because he can. he’s the chosen one. and there is no one on this island more powerful than him. he doesn’t even need magic to make the people here do his bidding,” she raised an eyebrow. “the person in front of me? not the same.”