Val... wasn't exactly himself at the moment.

He wasn't exactly a zombie, and he seemed quite paranoid.

However, the short orders reached his brain, and he quickly opened it and bolted inside.

Once he did, he huddled in a corner, and shook.

At that point, Roxie received a message back from Hal.

I'm on me way now. it read.

After she'd done that, Val seemed to calm down slightly, but he still looked jumpy... to say the least.

About a minute later, Hal showed up and approached her.

"All right." he said.

"What happened?" he asked.

"And what kind of state is he in?" he asked further.

"I need to know the details of this."

Hal did not look pleased.

"Damn it." he cursed.

"He'd better hope she pulls through." he said further, referring to Val.

"Or I'll bring the full force of the law down on him." he continued.

"So THIS was his dark side..." he muttered.

"He actually made an attempt on her life."

"....hm." Hal muttered.

"I see." he said.

"That's still unsavoury." he commented.

"But... you really think so?" he asked.

"Is it possible these accusations towards him are as a result of an explosive temper...?" he went on.

"Roxie, as a succubus, you can pretty much see into men's hearts and souls." he then commented.

"Does he seem like a bad person to you?" he asked. "Or, rather, does he seem like someone that is unapologetic about this, and will try everything he can to rationalise his actions?" he then clarified.

"Duly noted." Hal responded.

"Good to know, I suppose." he said.

"So we're not dealing with some evil mastermind, or whatever. Just seems like someone that might be able to use some help, himself." he mumbled.

"Depends on how he cooperates in the future." he went on.

"Anyway." he said further.

"You said an hour for him?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Keep an eye on him until then."

"Yes." Hal responded.

"In the meantime, I'm going back to my office." he told her.

"Odds are the medical team will want to update me on Izea in due time, and I want to be where they can find me." he reasoned.

He then nodded to her and headed off, sparing a glance at Val.

Val just continued to sit there, still scared, but Roxie could clearly see the guilt.

And the concern.

"....." he was silent, before sighing.

"I preferred it when I was insane." he said.

"At least it took my mind off of how monstrous I am." he told her.

"...looking back on it, maybe I deserve this." he went on.

"I have a history of losing my temper and... well... disciplining my models." he then said. "But... it was never permanent. I never even left a scar. Or anything at all." he continued.

"But this? This is different. This is the worst thing." he said further.

"...but... I guess this was bound to happen. This is natural progression, given how long my temper went unchecked for..."

Before Val answered, Hal appeared using his mana, but before he could say anything, the man started answering Roxie's question.

"...sometimes it was a rough grab." he said. "A jerk to the side. Sometimes a push. Sometimes... sometimes... a slap..." he mumbled, before listing off various different things he did that were... abusive, yes, and completely inappropriate, considering the nature of his relationships with his models, but none of them seemed to be anything especially horrific.

The worst was a minor burn from his electricity on a shoulder, that had healed perfectly as time went on, not even leaving a scar.

"..." Hal was silent as he heard all this.

"Matches up with the reports." he whispered to Roxie.

"He's confessed to all the reports we've gotten, and then some." he added.

"I know." Val replied.

"But it doesn't change what I've done." he said.

"Looking back on it... all that I did was unacceptable." he reasoned.

"I should never lay a hand on my models without their permission." he continued.

"...damn it all." he whispered.

Hal just sighed quietly.

"...I don't think I need to talk to him just yet." he whispered.

"I WILL tell Hollie and Sydney about these confessions, and his attitude, though." he then said.

After about an hour or so, she heard a knock on her office door.

"It's me." she heard Hal say.

"Come in." she replied.

Hal then stepped into the office and shut the door behind him.

"Sorry I wasn't in my office, if you tried to get me there." he apologised, making his way over. "Myself, Hollie, and Sydney were discussing the fate of Mister Valentino." he told her. "And your prognosis for Izea helped with that." he went on, sitting down.

"At least, for now." he muttered.

"Depends on what these 'couple of things' are that you need to discuss with me, regarding her." he finished.

"So... what are they?" he asked.