Colin's posts

Hal just smirked.

"Of course." he replied.

"Now... need a lift home, or do you have that covered?" he asked.

"Because I can obviously help with that." he told her.

"Regardless, shortly after you get home... there'll be Indian food delivered there." he assured her.

"You deserve a relaxing night in."

Hal just smiled.

"Good." he said.

"And thank you, Angela." he said further. "Your work here makes it easier for us all." he told her.

"But for real. Go home and be with your loved ones." he continued.

"I'll even have food delivered there for you, just as a personal thank you, as a friend." he went on.

"What do you think would be best?" he asked.

Hal just sighed.

"He has a temper." he said.

"Simple as that." he told her. "The allegations against him are all correct, and then some. Though he's never left lasting damage." he went on.

"Truth be told, seems he's being harder on himself than anyone else is." he then admitted.

"Also, Angela? Go home." he told her.

"You're working late. Go home to your daughter." he said.

"We have night staff here for a reason. Izea will be fine, you don't need to worry about her." he then assured her.

"And I'll handle telling her about this." he then added.

"It is." Hal replied.

"Hence why her ears healed the way they did from their injuries." he continued.

"I didn't even consider that possibility until NOW. Just never really thought of it." he admitted.

"And it happens. VERY rarely." he assured her.

"SO rarely, that... well... the phenomenon doesn't even have a proper term for it." he then revealed.

"Closest anyone's ever come is calling folks like that 'Manafests', as their mana... well... literally manifests itself solid to heal notable injuries."

Hal shook his head.

"No!" he said.

"No, no, no." he told her.

"This isn't a bad thing. Not in the slightest." he assured her.

"It's... just... well..." he then stammered, before sighing.

"Izea seems to be a REAL oddity." he commented. "So much so, in my existence, I've only ever seen something like this... a dozen times? Maybe?" he went on with a small shrug.

"And it's related to her ears." he then said.

"Essentially, her mana has crystallised around her heart to... well... heal it."

Hal looked at the tablet and swiped through the various x-rays.

And she saw his eyes widen as he did so.

"...this..." he mumbled.

"This can't be..." he said.

"No, this... this can't be possible... can it...?" he mumbled to himself, scratching at his chin.

"Well, I'll be a camel's hoof..." he then said with a light chuckle.

"This world never ceases to amaze me."

"Hm." Hal mumbled.

"So he's disfigured her, essentially." he said.

"That's good to know. Might play a factor in his future, depending on what Izea has to say." he continued.

"...it'll be nice if they can give her a functioning eye again, though." he went on. "Lunet's own vision WAS given to her, but we'll need to see if hers and Izea's circumstances are too different for them to work with." he reasoned.

"But I digress." he mumbled.

"What is the second thing?" he asked.

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.

"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.

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.

"....." 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..."

"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.

"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."

"....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.