[ . . . well. that certainly isn't what he expected first thing in the morning.
what on earth did weiss do. ]
What happened?
[ how much damage control does he need to do with the squad, is really what he wants to ask, but you know. kids. they do dumb things sometimes. whatever. ]
I sealed Mercury's record provided he doesn't commit further crimes.
This makes him a citizen under protection of the laws of Nova City so long as he doesn't murder anyone, basically, even though he had a murder charge while in this world. I was trying to think outside of thr box to prevent more bloodshed. I doubt it's more than a temporary stay at my expense but it gives us time to find other preventative measures.
it actually isn't a bad idea, in theory. offering clemency in the promise of keeping mercury on a leash, and giving him the opportunity to succeed here -- it's what ozpin would have done. but it also provides mercury with a reason to be subversive, and more careful in how he commits his cruel acts.
but really, there is no right answer. and ozpin is far too accustomed to being faced with no right answer, and having to pick the best option out of two terrible ones. ]
Sometimes, there is no right answer. You did what you felt was best, for both yourself and for the city. Whatever consequences or successes that result from this, you will not have to face them alone.
Torchwick said he was willing to negotiate if I had something worth trading and back then I hadn't understood what he'd meant and I didn't particularly want to listen to anything that monster said whether it made sense or not. When Mercury said people were going to die if they went after him, I knew they would regardless. It was either wait until people got hurt or try something.
Of course I'm not alright. Even without what happened at Beacon I wouldn't be alright.
You did what you could, and trying something is better than not trying anything at all. You did the right thing, with what tools you had available. You pushed past your personal feelings and made a sound decision, grounded in what you believed was right.
I am not upset with you. On the contrary, I am rather proud.
But please, take a deep breath.
[ he can almost envision weiss saying all of this in person, at a mile a minute, with much gesturing and irritation. and maybe a little defensiveness. ]
Would you like to come to my apartment, and talk about what to tell the others? There is also a spare room available, should you require it.
Yes. I don't actually know where you live so you'll have to send me the address.
I hope I won't need the spare room but given who my housemates are I have little doubt this is going to be easily accepted- particularly since I doubt it'll be the only deal I'll make once Mercury opens his big mouth.
The deal stands for Nova City provided he commits crimes in no cities. I'll speak to them, but the paperwork I gave him explicitly states no other Guardians are required to uphold that end of the deal. I doubt he trusts me enough not to have read the papers before signing given how little I trust him.
[ so, in theory, mercury is still a criminal in the other four cities, and only remains safe in nova city. which seems a bit useless, to ozpin, but surely the other guardians would respect at least one of their decisions. either way, total clemency hasn't been offered, which may help ease the blow to the other students.
still, offering mercury (who has no remorse over his actions, and has committed more crimes still within the city) a pardon is a difficult thing to swallow. he, though, isn't the true force behind what happened to vale. and ozpin is old enough to know that sometimes you need to make a deal with the devil in order to ensure another day.
weiss' friends (and weiss herself, really) are a bit too young to know that, yet. ]
What a predicament. But everything can be worked with, correct?
I will see you when you get here, Miss Schnee. Be safe.
[ She hopes everything can be worked with. This is a new sort of thing she's trying here, she's not really sure how it's supposed to go. It makes her honestly glad that Ozpin is going to help her figure out at least how to deal with her friends (people she doesn't have to worry about liking her are a lot easier to deal with because she doesn't care if she pisses them off).
Weiss parks in as covered an area as she can. It's almost paper day and she doesn't want to have to move her car to avoid getting it beamed with a newspaper. ]
Unit #2... That was easy to find.
[ Not even a high count! Weiss knocks on the door and rocks on her heels while she waits. When the adults from their world aren't here, it feels a little more like she's on her own. It's.. somewhat of a relief to have someone to lean on like this, even if she knows she's in a position where she should be able to handle this on her own. ]
[ it takes approximately two seconds for the door to open -- sometimes, ozpin's semblance is a lot more useful in every day occurrences. like crossing rooms in a split second when the time is urgent. such as now, and weiss is greeted with a warm smile, and ozpin steps aside to allow her in.
the apartment is meticulously clean and put together. mostly because glynda insists. and he hasn't really had much time to properly ruin it yet. ozpin waits until weiss is inside, closing the door neatly behind her, before speaking. ]
Would you like something to drink?
[ diplomacy is difficult for adults. it is even more difficult to grasp for teenagers, even those who have been through hell. weiss can afford to relax, for half a moment, before delving into the mess that the city is in. ]
[ Ozpin, Weiss isn't going to die if you answer the door at a normal speed you show-off. Weiss actually looks surprised when he manages to open the door so quickly, but he asks a question and she nods. ]
Coffee, please. Black.
[ Even if her name means white, she definitely doesn't like her coffee to be milk with a shot of caffeine in it. ]
--Were you just waiting in front of the door like a pet? [ Because you know, puppies are cute but that's kind of disconcerting to think of Ozpin just excitedly waiting at the door for Weiss to arrive. Did he.. not have anything better to do? She can't fathom how he got there so fast since she's pretty sure no one with a cane should be able to move that quickly. ]
The most likely explanation is the simplest one, which I already gave. You'd be surprised how many people wait in front of doors for me without warning.
[ Most of their names are Jaune Arc, but hey. Weiss follows him to watch him make the coffee. She'd rather not be alone right now, even if it's just waiting on a drink. ]
Either you happened to be passing in front of the door or you're much faster than you appear.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text;
what on earth did weiss do. ]
What happened?
[ how much damage control does he need to do with the squad, is really what he wants to ask, but you know. kids. they do dumb things sometimes. whatever. ]
text;
I sealed Mercury's record provided he doesn't commit further crimes.
This makes him a citizen under protection of the laws of Nova City so long as he doesn't murder anyone, basically, even though he had a murder charge while in this world. I was trying to think outside of thr box to prevent more bloodshed. I doubt it's more than a temporary stay at my expense but it gives us time to find other preventative measures.
text;
it actually isn't a bad idea, in theory. offering clemency in the promise of keeping mercury on a leash, and giving him the opportunity to succeed here -- it's what ozpin would have done. but it also provides mercury with a reason to be subversive, and more careful in how he commits his cruel acts.
but really, there is no right answer. and ozpin is far too accustomed to being faced with no right answer, and having to pick the best option out of two terrible ones. ]
Sometimes, there is no right answer. You did what you felt was best, for both yourself and for the city. Whatever consequences or successes that result from this, you will not have to face them alone.
Are you alright?
text;
Of course I'm not alright. Even without what happened at Beacon I wouldn't be alright.
text;
I am not upset with you. On the contrary, I am rather proud.
But please, take a deep breath.
[ he can almost envision weiss saying all of this in person, at a mile a minute, with much gesturing and irritation. and maybe a little defensiveness. ]
Would you like to come to my apartment, and talk about what to tell the others? There is also a spare room available, should you require it.
text;
I hope I won't need the spare room but given who my housemates are I have little doubt this is going to be easily accepted- particularly since I doubt it'll be the only deal I'll make once Mercury opens his big mouth.
text;
Did you consult with your fellow Guardians before offering Mercury this deal?
text;
[ Weiss is texting on her way to her car. ]
text;
still, offering mercury (who has no remorse over his actions, and has committed more crimes still within the city) a pardon is a difficult thing to swallow. he, though, isn't the true force behind what happened to vale. and ozpin is old enough to know that sometimes you need to make a deal with the devil in order to ensure another day.
weiss' friends (and weiss herself, really) are a bit too young to know that, yet. ]
What a predicament. But everything can be worked with, correct?
I will see you when you get here, Miss Schnee. Be safe.
text;
Weiss parks in as covered an area as she can. It's almost paper day and she doesn't want to have to move her car to avoid getting it beamed with a newspaper. ]
Unit #2... That was easy to find.
[ Not even a high count! Weiss knocks on the door and rocks on her heels while she waits. When the adults from their world aren't here, it feels a little more like she's on her own. It's.. somewhat of a relief to have someone to lean on like this, even if she knows she's in a position where she should be able to handle this on her own. ]
offline;
the apartment is meticulously clean and put together. mostly because glynda insists. and he hasn't really had much time to properly ruin it yet. ozpin waits until weiss is inside, closing the door neatly behind her, before speaking. ]
Would you like something to drink?
[ diplomacy is difficult for adults. it is even more difficult to grasp for teenagers, even those who have been through hell. weiss can afford to relax, for half a moment, before delving into the mess that the city is in. ]
offline;
Ozpin, Weiss isn't going to die if you answer the door at a normal speed you show-off.Weiss actually looks surprised when he manages to open the door so quickly, but he asks a question and she nods. ]Coffee, please. Black.
[ Even if her name means white, she definitely doesn't like her coffee to be milk with a shot of caffeine in it. ]
--Were you just waiting in front of the door like a pet? [ Because you know, puppies are cute but that's kind of disconcerting to think of Ozpin just excitedly waiting at the door for Weiss to arrive. Did he.. not have anything better to do? She can't fathom how he got there so fast since she's pretty sure no one with a cane should be able to move that quickly. ]
offline;
[ said with the air that she is about to get a Teacher Talk, and ozpin moves toward the kitchen, at his usual lingering pace ]
What is the saying -- think outside of the box. What do you think is the most likely explanation?
[ he says, as he readies the machine ]
To give you a hint, it is not your first suggestion.
offline;
[ Most of their names are Jaune Arc, but hey. Weiss follows him to watch him make the coffee. She'd rather not be alone right now, even if it's just waiting on a drink. ]
Either you happened to be passing in front of the door or you're much faster than you appear.