caughtinanetwork | .11

Entry tags:

.11 - audio;

I understand the basic premise behind... Valentine's Day.

[Hubert sounds a little awkward, uncertain and even a little nervous as he speaks.]

But I wasn't here last year, and we don't have a holiday like this in Strahta. Would anyone be willing to give me a little more information behind it? What's common for ah... not... "couples" but perhaps two close friends... ?

[Short, sweet and... mostly to the point. Mostly.]

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[Seeing the upward movement and having it be too close to get a safe block with just the staff, he quickly snaps the two halves apart, instead catching the blade with his two crossed just inches from his face.

The tip of the blade still gets too close for comfort, but amazingly he doesn't flinch too much, maintaining his stance.]

[That's actually pretty cool, Shiro was totally expecting Hubert to flinch there.

But with Hubert's swords occupied, Shiro will shift his weight to one foot and try to trip up Hubert with the other, sweeping forward with his leg and pushing back against the two swords which have his pinned.]

[There's a reason Hubert likes to jump back and take long range shots. He's good at short range attacks, but he would admit that it can be a weaker point. His stance was strong, but not enough to keep Shiro's leg from catching him.

He stumbled back, unable to regain his balance, which resulted in him landing ungracefully on his ass.]

... well that was undignified.

[Shiro is actually glad he was able to get the upper-hand on Hubert at least once, because he had the feeling Hubert was going to kick his butt and make him look like a useless old guy.]

Fighting rarely is dignified.

[He offers a hand out to Hubert to help him stand up.]

True... and I suppose I am more out of practice than I thought.

[He sighs, but takes Shiro's hand to get back up.]

Moments like these, I wish Asbel and I had sparred more before he was sent home...

It would be nice, but it's hard to control that kind of thing. The best you can do is make use of the time you have now. Luckily there's a few swordsmen here so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding sparring partners.

I'm aware. I'm... grateful for the time he was here, however brief it was.

But you're right. I simply need to get back in the habit of it.

It seems like you're doing pretty well even without sparring.

I'm certain a couple of months of slacking wouldn't completely erase my talents.

[Sound more haughty, Hubert. Really.]

Ha! Now that reminds me of a saying. What was it? "Pride cometh before the fall", that sounds about right.

It's not pride if it's the truth.

[Haha o Hubert. Shiro just chuckles at that.]

Right, right. Did you want to take a break, or keep going?

Are you sure you want to continue? Your hands are looking a little raw.

[Shiro blinks, and then he looks down at his free hand. Sure enough, it's red on his palm and the insides of his fingers.]

...Well that hasn't happened in a while.

... when was the last time you picked up a sword?

...

[He's quiet because he's thinking about it.]

Six months ago? Somewhere around there, I know it was before Christmas.

Hmn...

[Hubert makes a face, taking one of Shiro's hands to look at it.]

I suppose six months is enough time for callouses to wear away... unfortunately you're going to get blisters at this rate. I would attempt a healing arte, but that's not going to take care of such superficial wounds.

[He's still grumpy because there's no way he should be this much of a softie, even after six months. But then a thought comes to him.]

...I was healed when I came here to Vatheon. Could that healing have affected it?

[The question is more to himself than to Hubert. He has a tendency to talk out loud when he's mulling over things.

Now he is frowning and starting to shift on his feet as he thinks. What else could have changed about him from that healing? Whatever was done to him, it repaired some pretty serious damage.]

[It still manages to pique Hubert's curiosity.]

Healed from what, exactly?

[It takes him a moment to answer, because he had been thinking about the whole healing thing pretty deeply. When he does answer, though, it's in a very nonchalant way even though it's a pretty serious topic.]

Several dozen broken bones and serious burns, among other things. I dunno the extent of it all but it hurt like hell. Supposedly it killed me, even though I'm alive right now.

[Everyone he knows from his world (except for one person) comes from a time after he died, so he's willing to believe he did. That just makes his sudden recovery all the more amazing.]

... I see.

[It doesn't really phase Hubert, considering...]

As odd and unnerving as it is, there's a certain wonder to how Vatheon is capable of such things. It's even capable of bringing people who die here back to life in a matter of days.

Having had it happen to myself, it's... unsettling at the start, but you're right - for all intents and purposes I looked and felt as if nothing at all had happened to me. Save for a minor headache, that is.

[Shiro nods along as he listens to Hubert's explanation.]

That's why I'm thinking the healing might have had something to do with it. If they can reverse fatal wounds, then who's to say they can't reverse things like callouses and scars?

It is indeed powerful enough to do that. Especially when the coral is at full strength.

[Hubert huffs, thinking back to that awful night he was killed.]

Certainly doesn't excuse residents murdering one another, though.

What happened?

[From Hubert's words, it sounds like he's experienced the healing powers of the coral first-hand.]

A serial killer had a short run here, and managed to kill quite a few residents, myself included. I was taken by surprise at night on my way home, and I was overtaken before I could try to fight back.

It was... [humiliating] upsetting, but he was caught soon after and the powers that be saw fit to punish him by taking his sight away.

.11 - audio;

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