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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]

"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'?"

[ukan]

That's better, he thinks. Just watching Vincent.

"I don't think they cared very much if they were good people or not, to be honest with you. I don't think they cared if what they were doing harmed you or helped you."

[monsterstoyou]

"Then you really don't understand what's in there. Delightful."

He breathes in deep again, and the smile is a little less tight.

"If I tell you to talk to someone who has a better idea of how to explain this sort of thing, will you?"

[ukan]

Even better.

"Of course."

[monsterstoyou]

That smile widens.

"Excellent."

A peer over his glasses.

"Go talk to Arthur Lester. He'll help you." A pause. "He promised me he would."

[ukan]

"And what specifically should I ask him, given he's not from your world?" And Lark finds him too annoying to want to spend time digging around with.

[monsterstoyou]

"Religious orphanages," he says easily enough. "He'll know where to go from there, no doubt."