Life Hacks/Defuse the situation with Billy's Dad
It may be a bit of a guilty pleasure, but you are moderately amused by just how upset this misogynist troglodyte is getting over these relatively simple provocations. With your newly improved physical and mental capabilities and maxed out skills that probably include every martial art known to man, you are certain that you could handle it if he did come after you. It would feel SOOOO good to throw this guy into the ground. Unfortunately for your vanity though, you also maxed out your wisdom along with everything else, and your wisdom was telling you it would not be a good idea to let things get violent. Even with your improved capabilities, there is always the chance that some random thing could go wrong.
“But seriously though,” you say, causing the red-faced police officer to halt in his approach toward you just out of arm’s reach, (fighting distance in other words,) “I think you should really take a wider perspective on things,” you tell him.
“Yeah? What do you mean?” He growls.
“I mean that if you so much as lay a hand on me under these circumstances, you’re gonna be out of a job.” This comment doesn’t seem to please him much. You see his body give a twitch, and your enhanced social skills tell you his mind is at war with itself but still tilting toward taking action against you. “Think about it,” you continue, “I am betting you are the main bread-winner of your family. You have to support Billy there right? How are you going to feed your son and keep a roof over his head if you get a dishonorable discharge?”
He glares at you menacingly, but your excellent social skills tell you that what you are seeing is a look of defeat. He just doesn’t want to admit outwardly he has been so thoroughly beaten. It seems that your comments have fully gotten through to him, and you can’t help but crack a gloating smile.
“Come on Billy,” he growls, “these sissies aren’t worth your time. How about we go find you somebody who really knows how to play baseball instead of this girly team.” With this, he takes his son and leads him off, but he glares back over his shoulder in your direction and you can sense his hostility just dripping off him as he runs off with his tail tucked between his legs.
"Wow," says Patricia, "that was . . . intense. I was pretty worried there for a while."
"There was a little danger," you say casually, "but the odds were in my favor. If he had tried something, I'm pretty skilled in self-defense. The law would have been absolutely on my side as well. I wouldn't recommend that for others, but I felt relatively safe doing it myself."
"Weren't you scared?" she asks in amazement.
You think about it for a moment. "Not really," you say, a little surprised at the lack of fear yourself. "I mean, I'm pretty sure at a primitive level there was some fight or flight going on, but at a conscious level . . . nothing. I wasn't the least bit afraid."
"You sound surprised."
"I am. This is the first time since my . . . improvement project . . . that I have been in a potential physical confrontation. I was always afraid before. I suppose the confidence in my new abilities," Not to mention my improved mental and social abilities, you add internally, "made things less frightening."
"Still, was it really worth it just to show up a misogynist?"
"That wasn't for him," you say casually. "That was for Billy. He needs to learn that his father is wrong. That has to start by knocking his dad off of the pedestal most children put their parents on. Once Billy can think of his dad as a person instead of an infallible god, he can start questioning his father's belief system. Otherwise, Billy will grow up to be just like that asshat."
"I suppose. It was still risky though."
"Oh, I don't make a habit of picking fights with cops . . . or anyone for that matter."
"That good," she says flirtatiously, "because I was thinking of asking for your help with Dante. He really needs a good male role-model since his father isn't in the picture anymore." You easily pick up on her not-so-subtle come on. "If you think you have the time, It would be wonderful if you could stop by . . . maybe give him some pointers, work out with him or something. I could pay you."
You already have a lot to deal with with your newfound abilities . . . do you really want to mentor some kid to get in his mother's pants?
What do you do?
- Agree to mentor Dante.
- Agree to mentor Dante for free.
- Suggest including Roni in the process.
- Politely decline.
