[ 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?'
[ The static ratchets up, and it comes with the mental impression of a sigh. ]
'Of course. Oscar, you may rest assured that this is not my first, tenth, or even hundredth experience navigating the possibility of romance.'
[ Was that acknowledgment of feelings for Stanford? It might have been. This does leave aside that it's been at least a century, and he has not necessarily been very open with his partners, and counting the romances of his hosts is tenuously relevant at best. But Ozpin is not interested in discussing those facts. ]
'I would prefer to handle it without external assistance.'
[Oscar pressed his lips together, stubbornly not backing away from the insistence.]
'We both know it's been a while.'
[The impressions, the fragments of memories, had become closer to the surface since his fall from Atlas. There were moments when he could almost feel threads of power at his finger tips-- and the memories, if he searched, were clear as the skies of a Mistrali summer.
He didn't dare to search too often.]
'He's also not from Remnant, so you can't necessarily follow the same rules. Dipper mentioned some... disturbing things about their world.'
[Body snatching demons, for one thing.]
'You need to be careful, but not so careful that you both hurt each other. We both know how that goes, too. You deserve better than that.'
[ The low curl of self-loathing provides an interesting counterpoint to the buzzy annoyance. Ozpin's mental tone gives no indication. ]
'That is a very kind sentiment.' [ That he is plainly not agreeing with. ] 'But I will thank you to let me handle it personally from this point forward.'
Oscar's own bristling annoyance could be felt through their connection as well, nevermind their mutual tendency toward self loathing. Oscar wanted to snap something about Oz having more of a chance at romance than he did, but instead he held his metaphorical tongue.]
'It's obvious that you two like each other. Don't screw it up, and try to open up a little.
That's how friendships work, and it should work for this, too.'
[ Oscar may not mean to broadcast his simmering thoughts, but they come through regardless. "More of a chance at romance..." ]
'While I appreciate the effort to provide assistance on my behalf,' [ spoilers: he doesn't ] 'I suspect you're well-aware that 'opening up a little,' as you put it, has not served me well in the past. At the risk of understatement, it is not one of my greater strengths. And I do not see the need for it here, where we finally have a chance to put the mistakes of our pasts behind us.'
[ That's pure stubbornness, optimism at a stretch; he knows Deerington permits no such thing. ]
'In any case, it wouldn't do to sell yourself short, Oscar. If the possibility of a romantic partnership interests you, I see no reason not to pursue it. We are, as I've said, uniquely free of consequence under these circumstances.'
[ What he means is: your partner won't be killed horribly for the crime of association. Probably. ]
[Even in the interminable headspace defined only by the ticking of a clock, Oscar's voice squeaked in his embarrassed frustration. Unbidden he thought erratically of images and feelings-- dark hair, reddish clothes, the cool touch of finely polished custom steel-- and he struggled to maintain composure.]
I thought I told you not to just read my thoughts like that!
[He blurted out loud, unthinking. Then, in the headspace once more:]
'The people I like probably don't want someone who might not be themselves in a little while. Besides, they're taken... Or probably not even interested.'
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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.
1/3
Abilities of that sort are not unknown on Remnant. I will be certain to...
2/3
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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'Of course. Oscar, you may rest assured that this is not my first, tenth, or even hundredth experience navigating the possibility of romance.'
[ Was that acknowledgment of feelings for Stanford? It might have been. This does leave aside that it's been at least a century, and he has not necessarily been very open with his partners, and counting the romances of his hosts is tenuously relevant at best. But Ozpin is not interested in discussing those facts. ]
'I would prefer to handle it without external assistance.'
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'We both know it's been a while.'
[The impressions, the fragments of memories, had become closer to the surface since his fall from Atlas. There were moments when he could almost feel threads of power at his finger tips-- and the memories, if he searched, were clear as the skies of a Mistrali summer.
He didn't dare to search too often.]
'He's also not from Remnant, so you can't necessarily follow the same rules. Dipper mentioned some... disturbing things about their world.'
[Body snatching demons, for one thing.]
'You need to be careful, but not so careful that you both hurt each other. We both know how that goes, too. You deserve better than that.'
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2/3
This is Ozpin's face as he tries for patience. Given Oscar's innate link to his emotional state, it's not very convincing. ]
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'That is a very kind sentiment.' [ That he is plainly not agreeing with. ] 'But I will thank you to let me handle it personally from this point forward.'
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[Self Loathing? A thing? No, not at all!
Oscar's own bristling annoyance could be felt through their connection as well, nevermind their mutual tendency toward self loathing. Oscar wanted to snap something about Oz having more of a chance at romance than he did, but instead he held his metaphorical tongue.]
'It's obvious that you two like each other. Don't screw it up, and try to open up a little.
That's how friendships work, and it should work for this, too.'
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'While I appreciate the effort to provide assistance on my behalf,' [ spoilers: he doesn't ] 'I suspect you're well-aware that 'opening up a little,' as you put it, has not served me well in the past. At the risk of understatement, it is not one of my greater strengths. And I do not see the need for it here, where we finally have a chance to put the mistakes of our pasts behind us.'
[ That's pure stubbornness, optimism at a stretch; he knows Deerington permits no such thing. ]
'In any case, it wouldn't do to sell yourself short, Oscar. If the possibility of a romantic partnership interests you, I see no reason not to pursue it. We are, as I've said, uniquely free of consequence under these circumstances.'
[ What he means is: your partner won't be killed horribly for the crime of association. Probably. ]
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[Even in the interminable headspace defined only by the ticking of a clock, Oscar's voice squeaked in his embarrassed frustration. Unbidden he thought erratically of images and feelings-- dark hair, reddish clothes, the cool touch of finely polished custom steel-- and he struggled to maintain composure.]
I thought I told you not to just read my thoughts like that!
[He blurted out loud, unthinking. Then, in the headspace once more:]
'The people I like probably don't want someone who might not be themselves in a little while. Besides, they're taken... Or probably not even interested.'
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