caughtinanetwork | .11

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.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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...

[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.

I can see why that would be upsetting. Merely taking his sight away doesn't seem like punishment enough, though. Is he locked away at least?

He was, for a time, but he's been sent back home. Of course that leaves him free to do whatever he pleases back in his world but there's nothing we can do about that from here.

[Sorry Hubert his mind is wandering today.]

I wonder where they would even keep criminals locked up. I didn't see a jail or anything.

It is a concern, but as far as I know it's the first time there's been a problem that large before.

That was the first time they had a problem with killers? This place must be more peaceful than I thought.

Killers on that level, yes. There have been other murders, but it seems they've all been one time things.

And there have been other incidents with dangerous situations. You're right, though. More often than not it's very peaceful here.

Did the defense force help, back then?

[He remembers Hubert saying he was a part of that, and he's thinking maybe that's why he was involved. Not because he was targeted.]

Yes. They were already on the case by the time I was murdered, but I... overestimated my abilities when the element of surprise was involved.

[He knew what was happening and was even trying to help, but that all went out the window when he was attacked.]

Ah. I'm sorry to hear that.

[He is, really. Such a thing must have been pretty traumatic for Hubert.]

[It was, and he still has issues with it. But he also has an easily wounded pride that he's reluctant to let show.]

It's fine. It's done and over with. If I focused on it I wouldn't be able to continue to do my job.

[Shiro just nods at that. This is a very personal topic, and it's not really his place to tell Hubert how to deal with it.]

I think this will be good for today.

Alright. I'd be more than happy to do this again, whenever you feel up to it.

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.11 - audio;

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