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[unilaterallydisarming]

 

 "You've reached Father Oscar. Please leave a message, and I'll get back to you in a moment."

 

Comments

[two_graves]

"Even if they didn't respect you? If they disagreed with you, or - didn't appreciate it."

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Even if they don't. Or sometimes especially if they don't." He smiled a little. "Just because they behave badly, doesn't mean I should."

[two_graves]

"Have you, ever? Behaved badly?"

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Of course. Not...to the point of murder, no, but I have behaved badly." He admitted. "I do not expect myself to be perfect, or anyone else to be. Just to try, and to listen, to start."

[two_graves]

"Not quite, mm?" Kahl asks, less from any divine intuition that because that's an extremely suspicious way to phrase it.

[unilaterallydisarming]

Oscar made a soft noise, before he sighed. "I didn't get to finish."

And he would have, given time with his tone.

[two_graves]

"You wish you had," Kahl says, attentive to Oscar's implications.

"I don't think you think it was behaving badly at all."

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Then...what do you think I did then? In the face of things."

This child. Tiger, whatever it was...certainly had different standards then he did.

[two_graves]

"I don't know. I don't even know what you did, exactly, except not finish it. And I know a little bit of the why. Would you tell me the story?"

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Not today." He offered a soft smile.

"This isn't an easy story to tell, whether I'm dead or not. Another time."

[two_graves]

"You've promised, now," Kahl tells him softly. Another time, but sometime, he will hear. But for now, he allows the deflection to stand unchallenged.

"Tell me something you really do think was behaving badly, then."

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Ah."

That...sounded ominous. Well, it wouldn't be the first time he had put his foot into it, nightmare or not. But really behaving badly...hm.

"For myself, or another?" He wanted to know. "Because it differs."

[two_graves]

"For you. But if it's easier to start with another, you can."

He's interested in the difference too, now.

[unilaterallydisarming]

"All right. I do have stricter rules as a man who is supposed to lead by example, and so...it wouldn't be fair to go by that let's go...for a more...regular example."

He exhaled through his nose. "For example, drinking in excess is frowned upon. It happens, and is...sadly to be expected in our hard times. But using it as a reason to pick fights or hurt someone- that would be behaving badly."

[two_graves]

"If you hurt someone, you should be honest about your reasons."

It's not entirely clear whether this is an interpretation or an endorsement.

[unilaterallydisarming]

"It would be best not to hurt someone at all, if possible." He blew out a breath, glancing at the...tiger child.

"There's no need to cycle the violence." He sighed, and shook his head. "It tends to beget more violence, not end it."

[two_graves]

"Never? What about the man you didn't finish?"

[unilaterallydisarming]

"That was an outlier." He said quietly. "To stop another cycle."

[two_graves]

"What if someone in your flock didn't believe the same way you do? About what's needed."

[unilaterallydisarming]

"This is something that will have to be talked over, and carefully considered. I can't make a flash judgement without context."

[two_graves]

"But surely sometimes, you ultimately disagreed."

[unilaterallydisarming]

"Of course. Not to be rude but- what's your point?"

[two_graves]

He doesn't seem offended; he frowns a little, but in the way of children chewing over thoughts they're trying to find the right words for.

"My point is...my question is, what would you do, if you had that kind of. Fundamental disagreement. With someone you were responsible for."

[unilaterallydisarming]

He considered, and sighed.

"I can't change whoever they are. I can only advise, and listen. And support them, as much as I am able."

[two_graves]

It's an answer that many people might give, and not be able to live up to it, but Kahl doesn't think Oscar could lie to him here.

"Would you let them support you, if they wanted to?"