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[monsterstoyou]

This is Father Vincent. Leave a message. I'll get back to you. I promise. Thanks so much.

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[monsterstoyou]

Not... what he meant. Or what he expected. He glances over at Lark, clearly thrown, before he shakes that off and heaves a dramatic sigh.

"Rather funny, don't you think? A warden who hates the Admiral, assigned to a priest who... while dutiful, of course, certainly has disagreements with his God."

He breathes out.

"And if that was the case, wouldn't he have asked me if I wished to be a warden? There's quite a bit more freedom in, well... freedom."

[ukan]

"You've been through a lot. Through hell. You've lived in a version of it. I think, Vincent, that he wants you to heal a little before he offers you a deal as a warden. It's not always about punishment or retribution."

[monsterstoyou]

He nods easily enough.

"Right. Yes. Healing."

[ukan]

"You're skeptical?" He raises an eyebrow.

[monsterstoyou]

A snort.

"Of course I'm skeptical. How could I be anything but skeptial?" He shakes his head. "I am not one of the histrionic infants on board calling this place a 'cult' as if any of them actually know what that is, but I do know to be skeptical. 'Rewards' you have to wait for, that require inexact work, inexact criteria, undefined requirements? Are a trap."

He would know. He's laid it.

[ukan]

He shrugs. He's laid that trap countless times, himself. "Usually I'd agree with you. But I'm telling you what I've seen, over and over and over again. It's not punishment it's healing something that can't be healed in your normal environment."

[monsterstoyou]

"Oh yes," he says with a roll of his eyes, "'That definitely makes sense, Vincent, but this time, it's different.'

"How many times have you done this again?"

[ukan]

"More than you, and I've seen it happen more times than I can count." He's certain about this.

[monsterstoyou]

"Which translates to 'just trust me, I know better'."

[ukan]

"Or more accurately, here is the evidence I've gathered over fourteen years, dismiss it at your peril."

[monsterstoyou]

"Evidence requires evidence, Mr. Tennant. 'Exhibit A', 'Exhibit B'. Right now, you are 'presenting' absolutely nothing. I'm not dismissing anything because you've offered nothing but empty promises."

[ukan]

"You have no evidence, likewise, that it's an empty promise."

[monsterstoyou]

And Lark will watch some of the liveliness shut down.

"That's not how evidence works, Mr. Tennant. As well you know. And that is a well-known tactic of manipulation. Try something else."

[ukan]

He scoffs. "What do you think I'm manipulating you into? Self-care?"

[monsterstoyou]

He reaches up and rubs at the bridge of his nose.

"I assure you that I attend to myself first and foremost."

If there is one thing he'll always take care of, it's his self.

[ukan]

"You didn't answer the question."

[monsterstoyou]

And his eyes focus on Lark again.

"I don't know. Because you've kept everything exceptionally vague." He quote marks in the air. "'Healing' is something I've been told I need before, Lark. 'Healing' can leave marks by the right hand."

[ukan]

A slight nod. "Tell me more about that? When has healing hurt you?"

[monsterstoyou]

A deep breath in.

"You read the file, Mr. Tennant. I don't particularly enjoy going over it en masse. If you have specific questions about my experiences, please do ask."

[ukan]

"Your file never talks about you going through any sort of healing, Vincent. Only a whole hell of a lot of harm."

[monsterstoyou]

He's going to stare at Lark for a good, long second.

"...you can't be that stupid."

[ukan]

He stares back, daring him. "You deny there's harm in your past?"

[monsterstoyou]

He sucks in a breath... and then looks at Lark. Lets it go. Smiles over at him. A very nice bait, Lark. But he's not falling for it. You're not getting a rambling rant out of him that will tell you right where to poke your needles. He was already too careless earlier. He shouldn't have opened the door.

"Clever, but no. You aren't that stupid. But neither am I."

[ukan]

"I'm trying to understand the things that aren't in the file, Vincent. You can't have me read a sliver of your life and then have that be the reference point for everything from here on out."

[monsterstoyou]

He will breathe in deep and he will breathe out slow. It's fine if he explains while calm. He can provide data.

"Do you think those who did said 'harm' called it 'harm'? Do you think they thought of it as 'harming' children? 'Harming' their fellow believers?" He turns his hand. "Do you think they looked at one another and went 'ah yes, another day of beating children giving them untold psychological damage, clearly I am a Good Person'?"