[ A relationship is not empty merely because it's politically motivated or contrived by circumstance, which is an entire speech he could launch into. Just now, though, Ozpin is in too good a mood to bother. It's... nice, having Oscar echoing back happiness at him. ]
That's kind of you to say. [ He glosses right over that; they're both aware of the stewing self-loathing just beneath. Speaking of, though...
There is a hesitation. Then, said more genuinely: ] I've now told him something of the story. It's a very strange experience to speak with someone who is uninvolved.
[ In Ozpin's entire life, no one has ever been uninvolved in the war. ]
[ The question of who Ozpin is has always been a thorny one, but right now it doesn't feel that way. It feels all miraculously simple, actually. Stanford enjoys spending time with him; Stanford is undeterred by the truth; Stanford seems to think he is a good man, and no more.
It's a little too tender to dwell on comfortably, so he turns it around. ]
You sound as though you speak from experience. [ There is a teasing tone coming into his voice now, but gently. ] Perhaps I'm not the only one being 'soft'?
[ This said with the dry weight of someone who has had to be fifteen, or play witness to being fifteen, far too many times. ]
'Confusing' sounds like an apt description. I have been there, as I'm sure you can imagine.
[ He could certainly leave it there. But the moment hangs warm and friendly between them, and Ozpin thinks it may do them good to push just a shade further. They've approached this before but never touched it too directly, and perhaps it would be good to have these things out. Their situation is far different now than it's ever been.
Lightly, but with a genuine interest beneath it: ]
You say that two aren't interested. What of the third?
[Perhaps this was as good a time as any for this conversation. Oscar rolled over, staring out the window at the cloudless winter sky while he mulled over the proximity of the limits between them. There was enough of a separation that they were still two, and yet one.
It was a peculiar state of existance.]
I... Don't feel right telling him that truth. It might make him really upset, and I don't want to watch that with him too.
[Briefly, he recalled a wintery unchanka and an eyepatch-- the association unmistakeable.]
[ Ah. Dipper Pines. There's something distinctly amusing about the parallels there: Ozpin kindling a romance with the elder Pines researcher, and Oscar with the younger.
(Some would parse this less as 'amusing' and more as 'fucked up'! Ozpin is not that person.) ]
I understand.
[ This echoes between them for a moment, heavy and genuine. ]
These conversations can be very difficult. It takes time to foster a degree of trust and understanding that makes confiding such a truth possible. You might think of it like building the foundation of a house: the relationship you are developing now— whether it is romantic or not— will be the steady ground upon which everything else comes to rest.
You will find that not everyone agrees with me on this matter, Oscar, but I do not believe our story is owed to those we are close to. They deserve your respect, your care, and your loyalty. But I would not fault you for holding some matters close until you are comfortable. It does not make a connection any less meaningful.
[ Sometimes the right time to confess that you're being bodysnatched by an ancient entity is 'never.' Go figure. ]
[ He listens, considers. A gentle pause hangs between them a moment before Ozpin speaks again. ]
Then tell him when you feel the time is right.
You are more than your curse, Oscar. I don't mean to dismiss the... ongoing complications, given the way we are speaking right now. Still. Here in Deerington, to a degree that would not otherwise be possible, you can simply be yourself.
[Such gentle encouragement was unanticipated, and the buzz of warmth itself was enough for Oscar to feel more grounded and whole in that moment than he had for much of the last couple of weeks.]
Yeah, you're probably right, [he agreed.] We've got a chance as long as we're here. You to be yourself, and me to be... myself.
I don't want to forget any of this one day. Maybe we should make the most of it while we can.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
That's kind of you to say. [ He glosses right over that; they're both aware of the stewing self-loathing just beneath. Speaking of, though...
There is a hesitation. Then, said more genuinely: ] I've now told him something of the story. It's a very strange experience to speak with someone who is uninvolved.
[ In Ozpin's entire life, no one has ever been uninvolved in the war. ]
no subject
[Oscar confessed, letting their own shared self loathing slide by. They could deal with that... Later.]
It's just nice being heard, and recognized as nothing more than Yourself. Its been a long time since someone's appreciated you for who you are.
no subject
It's a little too tender to dwell on comfortably, so he turns it around. ]
You sound as though you speak from experience. [ There is a teasing tone coming into his voice now, but gently. ] Perhaps I'm not the only one being 'soft'?
[ He's felt those crushy flutters, kid. ]
no subject
I'm almost fifteen! That's normal, right?
[He thought of dark hair, an understanding tone of voice, a wild spark of something impossible in their personalities...]
There's three of them, okay? And two I'm pretty sure aren't interested. Its... Confusing.
no subject
[ This said with the dry weight of someone who has had to be fifteen, or play witness to being fifteen, far too many times. ]
'Confusing' sounds like an apt description. I have been there, as I'm sure you can imagine.
[ He could certainly leave it there. But the moment hangs warm and friendly between them, and Ozpin thinks it may do them good to push just a shade further. They've approached this before but never touched it too directly, and perhaps it would be good to have these things out. Their situation is far different now than it's ever been.
Lightly, but with a genuine interest beneath it: ]
You say that two aren't interested. What of the third?
no subject
It was a peculiar state of existance.]
I... Don't feel right telling him that truth. It might make him really upset, and I don't want to watch that with him too.
[Briefly, he recalled a wintery unchanka and an eyepatch-- the association unmistakeable.]
no subject
(Some would parse this less as 'amusing' and more as 'fucked up'! Ozpin is not that person.) ]
I understand.
[ This echoes between them for a moment, heavy and genuine. ]
These conversations can be very difficult. It takes time to foster a degree of trust and understanding that makes confiding such a truth possible. You might think of it like building the foundation of a house: the relationship you are developing now— whether it is romantic or not— will be the steady ground upon which everything else comes to rest.
You will find that not everyone agrees with me on this matter, Oscar, but I do not believe our story is owed to those we are close to. They deserve your respect, your care, and your loyalty. But I would not fault you for holding some matters close until you are comfortable. It does not make a connection any less meaningful.
[ Sometimes the right time to confess that you're being bodysnatched by an ancient entity is 'never.' Go figure. ]
no subject
I want to tell him one day, though. After he trusted me with info about how Bill has made trouble for his family, it's only right.
I want to trust him too, but this isn't something I can just drop on him. He... He deserves more than that.
no subject
Then tell him when you feel the time is right.
You are more than your curse, Oscar. I don't mean to dismiss the... ongoing complications, given the way we are speaking right now. Still. Here in Deerington, to a degree that would not otherwise be possible, you can simply be yourself.
It's not a blessing we should ignore.
no subject
Yeah, you're probably right, [he agreed.] We've got a chance as long as we're here. You to be yourself, and me to be... myself.
I don't want to forget any of this one day. Maybe we should make the most of it while we can.