so i'm gonna propagandize from a new angle, as someone deathly afraid of actual real life pregnancy. tw for metaphorical sa and abortion
stanford pines is a fantastic vehicle for pregnancy as body horror.
his entire story involves him making a series of extremely questionable decisions in the name of curiosity and scientific acheivement. this pathology partially emerged from lifelong insecurity, specifically over his polydactyly.
as a result of this mutation he could not control, stanford constantly oscillates between two contradictory extremes: obsessive exertions of control over his body (strict diet and exercise to try and avoid being a wimpy nerd on top of a "freak"), and a stunning disregard for his bodily wellbeing and autonomy (staying up inhumanly late working, running into danger for the chance to study dangerous creatures, the regrettable tattoos, and most damning of all, allowing an interdimensional demon the indefinite right to possess him at will).
yes, the deal was under the false pretenses that bill would continue ford's work while he slept, and that said work would bring prosperity to the world and ford's career, instead of reigning in the apocalypse. but you can't deny the eagerness with which ford agrees. bill didn't stipulate the "from now until the end of time" part (marriage vows much?) ford just Said That Shit. he sounded near-breathless saying it too. what in the utter fuck dude.
because most people would be kinda hesitant in ceding their own body like that, right? in becoming a Vessel for another being, in allowing their body to become not entirely their own. there's a pretty ripe pregnancy metaphor there, frequently expressed in horror media via possession, alien parasites, etc.
but ford, perhaps in part due to his lack of respect for his own body and its perceived limitations, is super excited to transcend his humanity with the help of a trusted higher power he regards as a close companion. it's like a special little secret, an affair.
he's sooooo "innocent maiden showing up to school/work lovesick and giggly after a late night rendevouz with her Secret Boyfriend"-coded
of course, when bill's betrayal is revealed, that trust dissolves into paranoia, heartbreak and violation. ford can't back out of the deal, is now being periodically possessed against his will and scrambles for years to escape it, eventually succeeding with a surgical metal plate around his brain.
gee, i wonder why this narrative resonates so much in a time when people are rightfully anxious over diminished ability to end unwanted pregnancies.
there are so many contradicting possibilities for how ford might react to an actual pregnancy, because of what a contradictory, traumatized character he is! personally, i think he'd be horrified given his past experience with sharing a body, but you could go the opposite direction as well by taking into account his scientific curiousity and prior willingness, dependent on who/what is impregnating him and when in his life.
so cast aside discussions of what character should get pregnant, would be a good parent, etc. frankly, i don't care about actually exploring parenthood. fuck them kids. instead, let's consider the relevant themes (autonomy, submission/trust, body as vessel) and potential catharsis via tragedy, comedy and horror. ford is practically made in a lab for this. get him pregnant NOW
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