Taking Kuhn's Heart and how it Shook me

20:33] Kuhn says, "I have a kit."
[20:33] Kuhn asks, "You have some time?"
[20:34] Sugarboy says, "Of course, have a seat chief"
[20:34] Amalka asks, "How goes it?"
[20:34] Sugarboy says, "... The man has a hole in his chest"
[20:34] {Item} You picked up Mythril Trauma Kit. Dropped by Kuhn. .
[20:34] Kuhn says, "I've.."
[20:35] Kuhn says, "Been through worse."
[20:37] Sugarboy quickly gets to work, removing his gauntlets and cracking his knuckles. "Alright chief, I do believe this is my first time operating on ya.. So.. Just to make sure, you're not an occult user, right?" He'd ask as he laid out necessary tools and equipment for the surgery.
(Sugarboy)
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[20:38] Kuhn throws his gaudy coat off and onto the bed, revealing the terrible burn and hole in his chest. Green blood spurts out from time to time.

"I ain't, nah'."

He still has a stupid shark-grin on his face for one reason or another.
(Kuhn)
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[20:39] Amalka is unsure as to how to fill this hole. A big big bandage?
(Amalka)
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[20:43] Kuhn says, "Keh.."
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[20:44] Israa Farhat says, "Well, uh.. I got knocked around a good lot, but I did get a pretty bad cut on my cheek.. Fell on a uh.. Blade.. Yes. A blade got me."
[20:45] Amalka says, "Sounds like some wild acrobatics, yes? Please take a seat to the right."
[20:50] Sugarboy would begin by washing out the cavity created by the occultist with holy water; burning for a moment as the two opposing magics raged at each other, but the holy would prevail and allow a soothing sensation to take over.

Focusing on the water, and redirecting the sirenian chief's blood flow, the blonde doctor began cutting away the charred flesh on it's exterior. However, he'd find that there was quite a bit of internal damage. He'd curse under his breath and would sprint around to grab an IV of concentrated soothing reed oil to inject into Kuhn's veins. The operation that was about to come would be more painful than something he could numb with holy magic alone.

The oil would begin working it's way quickly mixing with the green blood as it worked through his system quickly, expedited by Sugarboy's magic. "Spirits above Kuhn, what the fuck did he do to you? There's a ton of internal damage.. I'll be able to save most of it.. But.. Your heart's taken a beating." The doc said, being real with the chief.
(Sugarboy)
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[21:00] "Not enough to kill me."

His response is one that comes as the fluids enter his system and his eyes close. Mital and Jannah's entrance is noted, but he doesn't speak on it.

The pain was getting to him, but he would be fine. Probably.

A seared hole in his ches--

".. Did you say my heart?"
(Kuhn)
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[21:03] Amalka asks, "Mm?"
[21:10] The blonde gives a grim nod. "It looks like the secondary burst that plum bastard did cauterized one of your pulmonary veins and parts of your aorta shut.. One if not two chambers in your heart appear to have collapsed." He'd say slowly, wincing a bit as it seemed he was intensely focused. He was doing everything he could to maintain Kuhn's bloodflow in a natural pattern, but it was starting to strain the doctor.

"I'm going to have to put you under for the surgery- I'm sorry, but I'll get you all patched up, Chief." Kuhn would have a moment to speak and object if he wanted, otherwise the Doctor would swipe a hand across his eyes, depriving his brain of blood just long enough to make him lose consciousness.
(Sugarboy)
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[21:16] Amalka asks, "A patch, or a long bandage...?"
[21:16] Amalka says, "Ah yes, that would fit the cut best."
[21:21] "Seven hells. Annadel isn't going to let me hear the end of this."

The Siren lets out grunt of actual frustration, the grin on his face only dying down slightly throughout. He was starting to remember why he hated clinics. "Do what y'gotta."

He speaks in the same tone he usually would, but something was missing. That oompf that made Kuhn the charismatic fish that he was known to be. As Sugarboy does what he does best, the Siren slips out of consciousness and into a dream that might as well have been a nightmare.

One that started with the sight of Ume standing before him with a hand in the Siren's chest.

"The staff. It had to have been his staff. I should of had it. It should have been mine.." He was out.
(Kuhn)
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[21:38] Sugarboy would frown, giving bad news was his least favorite part of the job, all this time, all his patients, and he still never found a pleasant way to deliver it. But! No time to dilly dally, time was of the essence, especially in the context of hear surgery.

His hands would become a blur to those watching, but through the doctor's eyes, he might as well have been in slow motion as his focus intensified and adrenaline pumped in his own veins.

He'd reach for a special scalpel, it was shorter with a ring on the end, which he'd place his middle finger through. He'd begin cutting away the membrane that held the heart in place, and then the charred arties and veins. In just a few moments, the heart was removed and Chief Kuhn would've been considered medically deceased.

However, his blood would continue to course through his veins under the doctor's will, he timed it just so that enough blood had just been oxygenated enough to give him an ample window for the replacement.

The old heart placed in a container beside it, the new one would be grabbed and promptly put in it's place. Sugarboy would attach the bare minimum first to get blood transferred to his lungs. Then he'd begin attaching the others, cauterizing the synthetic tubes to his veins and arteries.

It wouldn't be long before the green blood filles the prosthetic heart as it began to pump on it's own. A short sigh of relief would leave the doctor's lips as he blinked for the first time in what felt like forever. He'd place mithril wires, reconnecting his sternum which was broken into, allowing it to heal over time, and then pulling the muscle and skin back over it, taut, before stitching it shut.

He'd reach for some incense and waft it under Kuhn's nose, stirring him to consciousness again. Sugarboy would fall back into his chair with a hopeful, but exhausted grin. "So.. How ya feeling now, Chief?"
(Sugarboy)
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[21:47] Amalka says, "Wh-- I guess limbs aren't the only prosthetics. Man is mythril useful."
[21:47] No wonder those medical books are so thicc.
(Amalka)
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[21:55] The nightmare was unending. And unlike the things he experienced while awake, he did not have total control over the innerworkings of his mind. As Sugarboy's talented scalpel went deeper into the shark's body and quite literally dug his heart out, it took something else with it.

The twinge of kindness and compassion that Kuhn had been clinging onto all of these years.

Regardless of what he said or how greedily he acted, the Chieftain had always wanted what was best for those around him deep down. Gehenna was a family that they had rebuilt from the ground up, and he would not let such a construct crumble as long as he had anything to do with it.

But once those delicate strings are snipped by the medic, something changes within him. The black abyss that was his subconscious becomes even darker still, and the horrific images of chaos and discord that he had been running from since the Wraith attacked the square all catch up to him at once. But now surelywasn't the time to give in to them. Doing so meanty death, as far as he was concerned. In a last ditch effort to regain control, Kuhn focuses on the one thing that can contain and pacify him.

From nowhere a sea of golden coins rains down upon his frame, which his arms flail to in an attempt to catch them all. But it wasn't enough. It was never enough. The black void is filled with a shimmering gold, and the horrors and terrors that plagued the young shark's mind are drowned inside of this pool of false riches. Immediately after, the shark wakes.

Rather than simply waking back up, the ruby red shark's frame shakes violently, almost like a fish out of water. His eyes shoot open and while his hands feverishly pat his body down to ensure that he is alright, a force of the arcane reaches out to snatch the very heart that Sugarboy had taken from him and leave it hovering in the air.

"It's mine. It is all mine."

Golden eyes lock onto the medics, gazing into the very windows of his soul. Did he understand?
(Kuhn)
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[22:13] His smile would brighten as he saw the most eccentric chief spring to life. But the excitement that Sugarboy felt would quickly be dashed as he met Kuhn's gaze. He'd gesture to the floating heart that the sirenian had seized, his hand making an offering gesture.

"It's all yours, bud." He'd say, feigning happiness, but deep down he saw that look in Kuhn's eyes. That look of something missing, something irreplaceable lost.

What have I done?
(Sugarboy)
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[22:21] The heart continues to hover in the air around the recently revived Siren, taking on a path of orbit around him as he slides off of the bed and onto his feet.

He was sore, but nothing HURT. Nothing besides the area where his heart once was. Sure, he had a new one. But something wasn't the same. He wasn't the same.

After taking a few moments to gather himself, the towering shark-titan starts on an unsteady path for the exit.

"This isn't working, Mital. This Gehenna as it is will not ascend to the heights we want it to. . .Fix it, brother."

What was he even talking about at this point?
(Kuhn)
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[22:59] Sugarboy fall back against the wall, a hand running through his sandy blonde hair as he slumps to the ground. His head would hang in his hands as he brought his knees to his chest.
(Sugarboy)
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[23:04] Amalka flinches a bit at the thump of the stone wall, seeing the doctor slide down to the floor. Her wooden chair screeches.

Her first instinct was to call out to him, but she holds her tongue for once. Instead, she slowly approaches, and crouches herself onto the floor as well. But, she wasn't sure what to say.
(Amalka)
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[23:13] "That.. Look in.. his eyes.." Mumbling to himself, his voice wavering with emotion. He could feel the tears well up just behind his eyes, but none would come out. Was he consciously holding them back? Not wanting to look weak infront of his student and fellow Gehennan? Did he not want to concern some he had come to see as a close friend? Or was it his magic working subconsciously, keeping the tears at bay?

Something had to give, and more words would spill out. "I.. I took his heart.. His spirit.. Such a hollow look in his gaze.. Khun was.. My friend.. My family.. Did I do something worse to him?"

His head would start shaking, as if he were trying to shake off the bad thoughts, his face still hiding behind his hands as he receded further into himself.
(Sugarboy)
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[23:24] Some strange lump formed in her throat. She crawled further across the floor, until her knees bumped against Sugarboy's legs. Amalka raises her hands, looks at them, and decides to put them on the sides of his thigh. A firm press, that reminds a person of their existence. Amalka remembers the feeling of a firm presence, somehow long ago.

It was too hard to talk out loud, and her throat made her lower to a whisper. "Kuhn has his soul-- he has his life essence. He is living, so it isn't too late."

"H-he seemed different, I know. But there's always something we could do about it. The prosthetic works like our hearts, after all."
(Amalka)
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[23:27] Amalka whispers: Our heart is left behind with the body; it grows and dies like flesh and blood alike. All you did, was to heal it.
[23:36] The doctor who seemed lost in his own mind would jump a bit under Amalka's touch, but would quickly relax into it. He'd pull his head out of his hands, propping his face into the side of one palm, offering a weak smile and chuckle. His ocean blue eyes were bloodshot and dry looking.

"Heh.. You're right.." The smile quickly washing away as worry crept in. "But.. There's always a cost for what we do.. A cause and effect.. Peripheral things we can't account for.. I save people's lives.. But at what cost? They lose bits and pieces of themselves.. Replaced by metal and machine.. What else do they lose that I can't account for?" He'd look at her pleadingly, asking questions that were perhaps way too above her, maybe he didn't even expect an answer, just venting his thoughts.
(Sugarboy)
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[23:39] Sugarboy exclaims, "Our magic.. It's apart of us.. It ties our bodies to our soul.. It's.. There!"
[23:39] Sugarboy says, "Like.. What if I removed a vital part of his circuitry.."
[23:45] Amalka leans her legs into his, knees now propping her chin up. Her hair and clothes: rumpled and wild from this whole day.

"Mmmm," she rumbles into her knees.

"How many circuits are there? Thousands? I've forgotten the exact number I've learned. But the body is indeed good at making up for deficiencies."

Thinking about the body so much, this much, an idea pops into her head.

"Let's meet Kuhn later. We won't know for sure until we study him, Teacher."


(Amalka)
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[23:56] His knees would part as ankles crossed over one another. He still held his hand against his own cheek, but he would smile towards his student endearingly.

Was it something he picked up over time? The pressure of being the head doctor that he felt he needed to be perfect with every surgery? Flawless in technique and skill, but crippled when something went awry? He had started disconnecting himself when doing surgeries, sinking into his own subconscious and letting his magic take control. It was a safeguard that forced itself after he was tortured, something he relied on when he himself couldn't bare to handle stress.

His wife had noticed it just after two surgeries and talked to him about it, he didn't want to rely on it anymore, so he tried connecting with his patients more throughout procedures. However, this was only the second one he had done after the switch, beating himself up over possibly missing a minute detail.

But in this moment, he admired Amalka so young and full of spirit. Unbridled with the same guilt he carried, eager to learn and help. He would nod, smiling even wider as he rose to his feet, offering her a hand up.

"Yes, we absolutely should.. After all, following up on patients is an important task for us doctors, no?" He'd ask in a playful tone, though he was thankful for her support.
(Sugarboy)
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[23:58] Amalka says, "Coming up. Oogh, feel stiff."
[23:58] Sugarboy says, "Hehe same"
[23:58] Sugarboy says, "Kuhn is probably resting though"
[23:59] Sugarboy asks, "So let's see who we can chat with in the square, hmm?"
[23:59] Amalka says, "Hmm."
[23:59] Sugarboy would ask offering an arm to her as they sauntered out of the clinic
(Sugarboy)
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[00:00] Amalka says, "Let's go let's go."