[ 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. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
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. ]