[ He listens in silence as Ford starts, stops, and starts again. As he fumbles through what is clearly a very difficult explanation. Ozpin can certainly understand the concept of a magically binding deal, and he can certainly understand this sort of desperation. He said he'd kill Stanley.
It's a worryingly well-targeted attack. It is, indeed, efficient.
A beat of silence hangs once Ford is completed. Into it, Ozpin sighs very slightly through his nose and goes to sit somewhere more comfortable. This is, now, a serious problem they are sitting down to address. This is a war briefing. ]
I'm glad your family is safe. [ That seems an important note to cover, and the concern in Ozpin's voice is genuine. It simmers further to the surface as he speaks: ] What do you make of the project? And what are the bounds of your involvement? It seems he could use it as an opportunity to cause harm indirectly, if it will be as dangerous as he says.
[ The concern in Ozpin's tone inspires as much relief as it does unease. Relief because the decision to disengage with the situation entirely isn't something Ford could resent anyone for, and unease because disengaging would be the wiser decision by far. It's good to not be abandoned, and worrying to have a friend remain in such close proximity to someone working with Bill. Ford's tone relaxes a little as he continues. It's still weary and thoughtful, but not nearly as guarded. ]
Stanley negotiated the contract. He ensured that any knowing attempt to place us in harm's way would rebound onto Bill. Giving us directions to cross a bridge he knows might collapse still counts, even if Bill doesn't cause the collapse himself.
[ Metaphorical bridges that the Pines already know are dangerous and cross anyway, though? Ford's pretty sure Bill won't have to answer to those. ]
My part of the agreement was to just help with the portal. I believe I could depart the project the moment construction is completed and not suffer any consequences.
[ He could, but his tone should make it obvious that's not something he's actually considering.
The first two answers come easily; it's the question about Ford's opinion on the project that takes him a moment to consider. For Ford that's the real problem that's arisen out of their agreement - the real problem that arises in any situation that involves Bill. Bill might be malicious and cruel and sadistic, but-- ]
Bill knows what he's doing. He usually does. If he's put this much time and effort into a plan and chosen to announce it to the entire city, then I believe success is entirely possible. I'd even go so far as to call it likely.
[ He listens carefully again. He does not know Stanley well compared to his brother, but still he suspects Stanley is the one he'd want negotiating anything on Stanford's behalf. Particularly regarding Bill Cipher, with whom Ford clearly has a much more deeply fraught relationship than he cares to say. Oz cannot guess at the details, but he has only ever seen Ford go grim and hesitating like this when it relates to the demon.
So it is not reassuring to hear the long, silent But.
Stanford vouches for the project with such grim certainty that Ozpin will not doubt it. He has no cause to. Instead he zeroes in on the next reasonable concern: ]
Do you think the consequences will be in our favor, if it does succeed?
[ It is entirely clear that Bill intends to grant himself dominion over Deerington. The broader implications of that are more than Ozpin can begin to unravel; he cannot say what it would mean for all those trapped here. He cannot guess at what Bill would do with the power. ]
[ Ozpin's new set of questions also require careful thought. A few months ago Ford would have said, with total confidence, that the consequences would be immeasurably devastating to anyone who wasn't Bill. Over the past few weeks, however, he's had to accept that Bill isn't the same person he remembers. He doesn't have the social know-how to explain it, and those that do don't know Bill well enough to do it for him. He's different, though, and different enough in a way that's kicked the legs out from under Ford's usual vehemence about him. ]
Bill said he wanted to remove Sodder from her position as Deerington's 'master' and control it in her stead, then let the Sleepers decide how to handle her while he turns Deerington into a sort of research station. Whether someone stays or leaves will be up to them, and those that stay will have the option of helping him build stable gateways between this dimension and others. I don't think any of that is a lie, but...
[ Ford heaves a tired sigh. This is getting into pure speculation now. He hates to share information he can't be confident in, but he needs to give Ozpin something. ]
I told you once that Bill desires freedom above all else. If he can achieve this, it'll put him as close to complete, genuine freedom as I think is possible for someone to be. But I don't know what he'll do with that freedom.
Bill can be... extremely malicious when he thinks someone is getting in his way, deliberately or otherwise.
[ 'Extremely malicious' is, honestly, putting it mildly. Ford doesn't think Ozpin wants a play-by-play of the worst things Bill has done to him, though, and Ford doesn't want to give him one. ]
But real danger is that Bill simply doesn't care about most things. He turned Gravity Falls into a living nightmare and planned the same for the rest of the planet, but it wasn't because of hate or anger. He was just bored, and the nightmare was more interesting to him.
I can predict what will happen to someone that tries to wrest his freedom away from him again. What I can't predict is what he'll regard as boring once he reaches his goal, nor can I predict what he'll do to try to alleviate that boredom.
[ He can tell that Stanford answers carefully, by the long silence over the line and the way he chooses his words. This response is not surprising, but nor would he call it a reassurance. The pursuit of freedom above all else will always have the ability to make Ozpin's blood run cold. That fixation on the concept of being trapped, and the ability to regard absolutely anyone as a jailer...
Well. He knows— intimately, repeatedly, even recently— how destructive that type of person can be. Nothing can stand against her scorching self-righteous fury. Nothing can stand against that relentless drive.
He is not eager to see what it looks like on something as erratic as Bill Cipher. ]
I understand.
[ But, oh. He turned Gravity Falls into a living nightmare is jarring to hear, and said so matter-of-factly that for a moment Ozpin does not know how to receive it. He has heard Stanford talk about his home a great deal, and never in the tones of someone reminiscing about what is now a ruin. (Of course, Ozpin has spoken of Beacon a great deal, and not at all of the Fall. But Ozpin is very well-acquainted with nostalgia and loss. He has been learning to tell stories as though they do not hurt for a very, very long time.)
He wonders what became of the town. It has been a long time since Ozpin was in this position: low on information, late to the story, caught up in someone else's war. He can do nothing but trust his sources and choose his side. He is not king, commander, or a player at the table. He is unequivocally a piece on the board.
Perhaps there's something freeing in that. Mostly it is simply tiring. ]
It is apparent that you know the situation best, Stanford. [ Ozpin sounds weary, but not bitter: he is settling in with the resignation of someone preparing to commit troops to a battle that will, without question, bring casualties. ] You are most familiar with this mission and this threat, and so I will trust your judgment. What is it you intended to ask me?
[ Ford doesn't miss the weariness in Ozpin's tone. He finds himself wondering if he shouldn't have simply given Ozpin a warning and left it at that. It probably would have been kinder.
But the fact of the matter is that Ford doesn't think he has the luxury of not asking. There are few people in Deerington Ford can consider truly trustworthy, and fewer he would consider skilled or experienced enough to survive something like this. Of that tiny pool of people, Ozpin is the only one that hasn't already volunteered himself for Bill's plan. More than that, Ozpin among those that Ford trusts the most outside of his immediate family. On par with Glitch and Lev at the very least - and even then there are things Ford will tell Ozpin that he'd never tell any of the children.
That Ozpin could simply say 'no' doesn't occur to Ford; he's already certain that if he puts forward a somewhat reasonable request, the answer will be 'yes'. The greater implications behind such an assumption are something else that don't occur to him. ]
Bill's already proposed a plan for dealing with Sodder's Guardians. My concern is for the teams working on the portals and the dangers they may need to deal with. There are some volunteers already, but I'd feel more at ease knowing you were there as well.
I was hoping you might be able to keep an eye out for Dipper's safety in particular. I suspect he'll stay close to me, but I'm afraid being a magnet for trouble is a family trait.
[ That last part comes out a little wry, if not exactly amused. Ever since the four-way argument his family and Bill had in December it's something that's been in the back of Ford's mind. ]
[ It's a Huntsman mission. A simple task of escorting the research- and engineering-minded individuals through dangerous territory and keeping threats at a reasonable distance while they work. For a moment, he is amused: this is not really so different from that first trip to the mountain, just the two of them. Merely a difference of scale.
It is readily within Ozpin's skillset. His options are to take the mission and have front-row seats to whatever plays out, or sit at home through the whole matter and let the cards fall where they may. He will not be a major force steering the outcome, in either case. He will only be there to keep people safe.
He does not even really consider a 'no.' ]
Of course. I will accompany your team, and I can speak with the other Huntsmen and Huntresses of Remnant if more help will be needed.
[ Even with the outcome murky, this does not sound like the sort of fight any of them would wish to turn away from. It is not their war, but Ozpin has never lied about the role of a hero, and that is what his children have trained to become. Their task is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to keep things from falling apart.
[ Ford wasn't expecting anything else, but hearing Ozpin agree makes the tension in Ford's chest start to uncoil. The reassurance that he'll look after Dipper not only hastens the process, it leaves something warm where the tension used to be. ]
Thank you, Ozpin.
[ The relief and gratefulness in his tone are unmistakable, but he doesn't dwell on them for long. They're short on time as it is, and there's still more ground to cover. His tone slips back into something solemn again, albeit more steady than it was a moment ago. ]
But there are a few more things you should know about Bill, first. His skills and abilities are dangerous, but dealing with him as a person can be...
[ He falters here again, but only because choosing just one negative trait to explain Bill is a bit of a challenge. ]
... upsetting. If you have a few moments I can explain.
[ He can hear the warm relief in that thanks, and it stirs an answering warmth in his chest. He chooses not to examine that too deeply. Ozpin is under no illusions he will be walking into anything other than a mess, but it is now a mess in which he has clear goals and people to protect. He bears less responsibility here than in almost any war he's ever fought. Like their trip up the mountain, there is something reassuringly simple about being presented with a goal he has the ability to address.
There is something reassuringly simple about being, to Stanford, genuinely just a man.
[ Part of the problem with admitting to knowledge of Bill's means and methods is that you also end up tacitly admitting to having experienced or at least witnessed those methods yourself. Fortunately, Ozpin has never given Ford the impression that he'll push for more information than Ford is willing to give. That makes it easier to speak. ]
Bill is very good at upsetting people, and I believe it's something he takes great personal enjoyment out of. He won't hesitate to use images of people close to you to make a point or get under your skin.
[ Which brings them back to a subject that Ford's been hoping he can sidestep, but now realizes he can't. No choice but to go all in. ]
You and I have already exchanged memories and discussed Remnant extensively. Qrow told me about your magic, Oscar mentioned you've been divorced, Ruby told me she was one of your students - you should be prepared for him to bring up any and all of these.
[ He understands the hesitation. That Ford has an extensive history with the demon is more than clear, and while Ozpins is certainly curious, it is mostly in the terms of a tactician: he'd like to know what they are up against far more than he means to pry into Ford's difficult past. Ozpin knows very, very well about wanting to let one's mistakes stay buried. In the same tones of focused calm: ]
Abilities of that sort are not unknown on Remnant. I will be certain to...
[ There is a baffled little pause here, in which a silent side conversation begins to take place. A beat of delay, on Ozpin's end, stretching out as he attempts to carry two conversations at once— and then an irritated little short exhale. ]
I see.
[ Oscar has been meddling. In profoundly well-intentioned ways, it seems, but Ozpin does not actually find this helpful or appreciated. ]
That is something of an oversimplification, and not one I prefer to see discussed publicly. My relationship with that individual became... violently fraught. It is, I'm afraid, a very long and unpleasant story.
[ And, in what is very clearly meant to close the conversation: ] Should he take her appearance, I will be prepared for it. Thank you for the warning.
[ He will not actually be prepared for it. He never is. ]
[ So apparently the post was about Ozpin, who... didn't know? That strikes Ford as rather odd; Stan's attempts to play matchmaker on Ford's behalf have never been subtle, never mind a total secret. It's not something Ford had any way of knowing at the time, but he feels as though he's done something needlessly invasive all the same.
Naturally, Ozpin's request gets a quick response. ]
Ah-- right. Of course.
[ Ford doesn't need to be told twice to not go poking into a personal matter that isn't any of his business. He doesn't need to be told that at all.
He can't help but wonder after the apparent contradictions in Ozpin's story, though. Ozpin told he and Stan that his wife had passed away. What on earth could have happened to make claiming she was dead was easier than admitting they had split up? ]
That's all I needed to tell you. We're working right now and Bill says everything should be ready by the 12th. Any time you can help between now and then is fine.
[ Ford flusters and shuts down, and that is... better than prying, at least. It does strike a pang of something uncomfortably like guilt through Ozpin. The man is plainly trying to help; he'd only repeated what he'd been apparently told. And, given a truly dizzying variety of opportunities to dig for Ozpin's most personal stories, he has made no move to do so. He has allowed Ozpin his secrets and his space.
He is grateful. The tension settles some, even as Ozpin remains distracted by the background conversation in his head. ]
Of course. [ The tone is a little... absent, with his attention elsewhere and his emotions unsettled, but it's better than the brusque shut-down. Ozpin tries to gentle somewhat: ] I will clear my schedule. Where and when will work be taking place?
[ Ford isn't great about reading emotions, and tends to hyperfixate negative ones when he does. Still, he knows Ozpin at least somewhat well by now. Ozpin might sound distracted and distant, but isn't completely shutting down the conversation so he's not that upset.
Probably. ]
The first portal is being built in the amusement park. Construction is already underway, so I can meet you at the entrance and lead you to the exact location as soon as you like.
[ This pause again drags long; Oscar is still speaking, and they are getting onto a more nuanced topic. Difficult to split his attention this way. If Stanford thinks he's angry to have been intruded upon, he'll simply have to show otherwise in person. ]
I can meet you there in an hour. Thank you, Stanford.
[ It's the reflexive and unreadable thank you of ending a call. Ozpin is now thoroughly distracted by his other conversation. ]
[ There is a flicker of surprise and something deeper— more acidic and unpleasant— at that 'you deserve to be happy.' Then back to the staticky simmer of annoyance. ]
'Forgive me, I must be misunderstanding. You have been openly consulting the network about my dating life?'
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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It's a worryingly well-targeted attack. It is, indeed, efficient.
A beat of silence hangs once Ford is completed. Into it, Ozpin sighs very slightly through his nose and goes to sit somewhere more comfortable. This is, now, a serious problem they are sitting down to address. This is a war briefing. ]
I'm glad your family is safe. [ That seems an important note to cover, and the concern in Ozpin's voice is genuine. It simmers further to the surface as he speaks: ] What do you make of the project? And what are the bounds of your involvement? It seems he could use it as an opportunity to cause harm indirectly, if it will be as dangerous as he says.
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Stanley negotiated the contract. He ensured that any knowing attempt to place us in harm's way would rebound onto Bill. Giving us directions to cross a bridge he knows might collapse still counts, even if Bill doesn't cause the collapse himself.
[ Metaphorical bridges that the Pines already know are dangerous and cross anyway, though? Ford's pretty sure Bill won't have to answer to those. ]
My part of the agreement was to just help with the portal. I believe I could depart the project the moment construction is completed and not suffer any consequences.
[ He could, but his tone should make it obvious that's not something he's actually considering.
The first two answers come easily; it's the question about Ford's opinion on the project that takes him a moment to consider. For Ford that's the real problem that's arisen out of their agreement - the real problem that arises in any situation that involves Bill. Bill might be malicious and cruel and sadistic, but-- ]
Bill knows what he's doing. He usually does. If he's put this much time and effort into a plan and chosen to announce it to the entire city, then I believe success is entirely possible. I'd even go so far as to call it likely.
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So it is not reassuring to hear the long, silent But.
Stanford vouches for the project with such grim certainty that Ozpin will not doubt it. He has no cause to. Instead he zeroes in on the next reasonable concern: ]
Do you think the consequences will be in our favor, if it does succeed?
[ It is entirely clear that Bill intends to grant himself dominion over Deerington. The broader implications of that are more than Ozpin can begin to unravel; he cannot say what it would mean for all those trapped here. He cannot guess at what Bill would do with the power. ]
How much of his plan is to be believed?
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Bill said he wanted to remove Sodder from her position as Deerington's 'master' and control it in her stead, then let the Sleepers decide how to handle her while he turns Deerington into a sort of research station. Whether someone stays or leaves will be up to them, and those that stay will have the option of helping him build stable gateways between this dimension and others. I don't think any of that is a lie, but...
[ Ford heaves a tired sigh. This is getting into pure speculation now. He hates to share information he can't be confident in, but he needs to give Ozpin something. ]
I told you once that Bill desires freedom above all else. If he can achieve this, it'll put him as close to complete, genuine freedom as I think is possible for someone to be. But I don't know what he'll do with that freedom.
Bill can be... extremely malicious when he thinks someone is getting in his way, deliberately or otherwise.
[ 'Extremely malicious' is, honestly, putting it mildly. Ford doesn't think Ozpin wants a play-by-play of the worst things Bill has done to him, though, and Ford doesn't want to give him one. ]
But real danger is that Bill simply doesn't care about most things. He turned Gravity Falls into a living nightmare and planned the same for the rest of the planet, but it wasn't because of hate or anger. He was just bored, and the nightmare was more interesting to him.
I can predict what will happen to someone that tries to wrest his freedom away from him again. What I can't predict is what he'll regard as boring once he reaches his goal, nor can I predict what he'll do to try to alleviate that boredom.
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Well. He knows— intimately, repeatedly, even recently— how destructive that type of person can be. Nothing can stand against her scorching self-righteous fury. Nothing can stand against that relentless drive.
He is not eager to see what it looks like on something as erratic as Bill Cipher. ]
I understand.
[ But, oh. He turned Gravity Falls into a living nightmare is jarring to hear, and said so matter-of-factly that for a moment Ozpin does not know how to receive it. He has heard Stanford talk about his home a great deal, and never in the tones of someone reminiscing about what is now a ruin. (Of course, Ozpin has spoken of Beacon a great deal, and not at all of the Fall. But Ozpin is very well-acquainted with nostalgia and loss. He has been learning to tell stories as though they do not hurt for a very, very long time.)
He wonders what became of the town. It has been a long time since Ozpin was in this position: low on information, late to the story, caught up in someone else's war. He can do nothing but trust his sources and choose his side. He is not king, commander, or a player at the table. He is unequivocally a piece on the board.
Perhaps there's something freeing in that. Mostly it is simply tiring. ]
It is apparent that you know the situation best, Stanford. [ Ozpin sounds weary, but not bitter: he is settling in with the resignation of someone preparing to commit troops to a battle that will, without question, bring casualties. ] You are most familiar with this mission and this threat, and so I will trust your judgment. What is it you intended to ask me?
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But the fact of the matter is that Ford doesn't think he has the luxury of not asking. There are few people in Deerington Ford can consider truly trustworthy, and fewer he would consider skilled or experienced enough to survive something like this. Of that tiny pool of people, Ozpin is the only one that hasn't already volunteered himself for Bill's plan. More than that, Ozpin among those that Ford trusts the most outside of his immediate family. On par with Glitch and Lev at the very least - and even then there are things Ford will tell Ozpin that he'd never tell any of the children.
That Ozpin could simply say 'no' doesn't occur to Ford; he's already certain that if he puts forward a somewhat reasonable request, the answer will be 'yes'. The greater implications behind such an assumption are something else that don't occur to him. ]
Bill's already proposed a plan for dealing with Sodder's Guardians. My concern is for the teams working on the portals and the dangers they may need to deal with. There are some volunteers already, but I'd feel more at ease knowing you were there as well.
I was hoping you might be able to keep an eye out for Dipper's safety in particular. I suspect he'll stay close to me, but I'm afraid being a magnet for trouble is a family trait.
[ That last part comes out a little wry, if not exactly amused. Ever since the four-way argument his family and Bill had in December it's something that's been in the back of Ford's mind. ]
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It is readily within Ozpin's skillset. His options are to take the mission and have front-row seats to whatever plays out, or sit at home through the whole matter and let the cards fall where they may. He will not be a major force steering the outcome, in either case. He will only be there to keep people safe.
He does not even really consider a 'no.' ]
Of course. I will accompany your team, and I can speak with the other Huntsmen and Huntresses of Remnant if more help will be needed.
[ Even with the outcome murky, this does not sound like the sort of fight any of them would wish to turn away from. It is not their war, but Ozpin has never lied about the role of a hero, and that is what his children have trained to become. Their task is to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and to keep things from falling apart.
A little more gently: ]
I will do my best to keep an eye on Dipper.
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Thank you, Ozpin.
[ The relief and gratefulness in his tone are unmistakable, but he doesn't dwell on them for long. They're short on time as it is, and there's still more ground to cover. His tone slips back into something solemn again, albeit more steady than it was a moment ago. ]
But there are a few more things you should know about Bill, first. His skills and abilities are dangerous, but dealing with him as a person can be...
[ He falters here again, but only because choosing just one negative trait to explain Bill is a bit of a challenge. ]
... upsetting. If you have a few moments I can explain.
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There is something reassuringly simple about being, to Stanford, genuinely just a man.
He settles in to listen. ]
Of course.
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Bill is very good at upsetting people, and I believe it's something he takes great personal enjoyment out of. He won't hesitate to use images of people close to you to make a point or get under your skin.
[ Which brings them back to a subject that Ford's been hoping he can sidestep, but now realizes he can't. No choice but to go all in. ]
You and I have already exchanged memories and discussed Remnant extensively. Qrow told me about your magic, Oscar mentioned you've been divorced, Ruby told me she was one of your students - you should be prepared for him to bring up any and all of these.
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Abilities of that sort are not unknown on Remnant. I will be certain to...
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3/3
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Ah, yes...? He was asking for advice on the network and spoke in vague terms, but I believe it was about you.
[ Is he wrong? Ford doesn't think so, but it's certainly possible. ]
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I see.
[ Oscar has been meddling. In profoundly well-intentioned ways, it seems, but Ozpin does not actually find this helpful or appreciated. ]
That is something of an oversimplification, and not one I prefer to see discussed publicly. My relationship with that individual became... violently fraught. It is, I'm afraid, a very long and unpleasant story.
[ And, in what is very clearly meant to close the conversation: ] Should he take her appearance, I will be prepared for it. Thank you for the warning.
[ He will not actually be prepared for it. He never is. ]
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Naturally, Ozpin's request gets a quick response. ]
Ah-- right. Of course.
[ Ford doesn't need to be told twice to not go poking into a personal matter that isn't any of his business. He doesn't need to be told that at all.
He can't help but wonder after the apparent contradictions in Ozpin's story, though. Ozpin told he and Stan that his wife had passed away. What on earth could have happened to make claiming she was dead was easier than admitting they had split up? ]
That's all I needed to tell you. We're working right now and Bill says everything should be ready by the 12th. Any time you can help between now and then is fine.
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He is grateful. The tension settles some, even as Ozpin remains distracted by the background conversation in his head. ]
Of course. [ The tone is a little... absent, with his attention elsewhere and his emotions unsettled, but it's better than the brusque shut-down. Ozpin tries to gentle somewhat: ] I will clear my schedule. Where and when will work be taking place?
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Probably. ]
The first portal is being built in the amusement park. Construction is already underway, so I can meet you at the entrance and lead you to the exact location as soon as you like.
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I can meet you there in an hour. Thank you, Stanford.
[ It's the reflexive and unreadable thank you of ending a call. Ozpin is now thoroughly distracted by his other conversation. ]
4/3 for Oscar only
'Oscar. What, precisely, have you shared with Stanford about my history?' ]
Re: 4/3 for Oscar only
'... Only that you're divorced and the ex-wife is a bitch. That you're kinda shy because of it.'
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'This does not strike you as a extremely tenuous and indeed frivolous reduction of the truth?'
[ A beat, and then the irritation ratchets up. ]
'Was this posed to the entire network?'
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[Oscar sassed-- the multitude of half truths Oz had told over the centuries made this look.... Innocent.]
'I didn't name names. Anyone who figured it out only did because they know you.
You and Mr. Ford have something interesting going between you, and I think you deserve to be happy too.'
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'Forgive me, I must be misunderstanding. You have been openly consulting the network about my dating life?'
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'Not You, but an older friend of mine. I told you, I didn't name any names.'
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