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Finding the photos was pretty much the mental equivalent of finding the lost ark. So much knowledge that might be in store, but dare he try to obtain it? He’d debated about it for a long while, wondering just why he should risk asking one of the older hunters. It was over ten years ago. He’d not seen (well, recognized) anyone with the uh… few exceptions but those exceptions were more or less crazy.
Caelius seemed the type to flat out demand where Marcus had found the photo before burning it, lopping off his head, and then maybe burning everything else. Just as extra measure.

Dr. H well he was a bit more sane. Creepy as all ********, (he shot his assistant for fun for ******** sake), sadistic, but he was marginally less likely to kill him for just asking. Marginally. But the note he’d found with the photo was a bit..haunting. “I wonder if I'll see any of these people again, or if they'll see me before that. Honestly I don't know half their names but I'm pretty sure this is the last time any of us will gather. At least we'll all be together in photos." He’s found it in the mash of photos gathered, almost forgotten. It was such a jarringly human thing to write that is seemed out of place almost.

Overall, Caelius was more likely to stab him than help him, (or berate him), and Dr. H might just be mocking and send him to try out a new golem or something in death sweeper. Which didn’t sound fun either but it did sound less permanent than full on death. He’d made copies of some of the photos the day before, a small precautionary measure of his own. In case… the photos were not welcomed. Now a day later, Marcus was in the life hunter labs outside the office of one enigmatic division leader. A knock on the door as he asked. “Dr. H? Are you busy? I have a few questions I’d like to ask if you have time.”

The reaction from Marcus was similar to guilt and pain. Why did you have to bring that up he was slowly dealing with that fact god please don't remind him. Oh lord- Poor Gale. If that kid ever got hooked up with one of the girls- More guilt. Still the doctor hadn't said he was busy and hadn't told him to go to Julie or any other person and Marcus would take that as a slight invitation in.

"Uh.. Thank you?" He really wasn't sure how to respond to that really. "But no, I actually came become of something I found while repairing a building out in the abandoned town." He offered one of the photos, a group of hunter goofing off, to the division lead. "I'd ask Caelius but... he... yeah. I.. yeah. I...don't think he'd take well to...them." A healthy dose of fear existed for the death division lead. Marcus wanted to live a while longer. Granted Dr. H might experiment but he didn't seem like the type to kill a man just for looking at him wrong.

"Most seem to be dated in 1999, and I was wondering if you knew anything about those in the photos."

What was that smile? Why were you smiling like that Dr. H oh god he should have never even asked.
Well if you die I suppose it was nice knowing you.
Dis was not helping the speeding bullet train of thoughts as Dr. H confirmed the guess at where some of those hunters were now but- "All of them?" Jesus, the death rate was high. They had been told that life expectancy wasn't long but just- Damn. And why did you have to hang those bits of info around him Dr. H? Why? You were so cruel to his curiosity, (and he'd only been a cat for a few minutes okay).

"I am half wanting to hear what I guess is the story behind that is but the other half of me wonders if the can of worms is even worth it. But that aside-" Pulling out the group picture, all the hunters were lined up, many smiling. It was by far the largest one he'd found. The date on the back written in a different script than the others. Marcus pointed at two figures. One with a familiar black and white hair style, another with a hood over half his face, a scar just barely showing. "Is that you and Caelius? I... found one or two others but- I wasn't sure."

"....That's... comforting?" He really hadn't many words for what he was being told. They all died, and apparently he might get a chance at joining them. At the very least, "I suppose I can be grateful you're being honest about... life expectancy."
You're gonna dieeee
Well yeah, eventually everyone does just-
I don't want to wait years to have another a** to amire and a mind to violate.
Nice to know you care about me so much.
Opening the folder, photos of the hunters varied, but the coats and scarves hadn't changed much. Some traditions stayed alive even after many who followed them died. That was part of life. Two picture were pulled out, one was Dr. H with a much smaller woman, flowers in her hair and just- tiny. Marcus had been reminded a bit of Julie with the flowers. The other was of a younger Caelius, a busty woman hanging off of him and the death hunter looking somewhat.. distraught.

"It's just.. a bit odd really, coming across photos of you two. Can I ask-" Tempting fate but why the ******** not at this point if he was digging his grave might as well dig it deeper. "How you got promoted?"

Marcus saw gentle and inferred it as 'Dr. H you were so creepy sometimes.' At least he wasn't stabbing Marcus yet. Or poisoning him with strange status effect cookies. "....Conquest?" He made a question of it. 'conquest' had been mentioned but wasn't that more a concept than a being? The point about the death leader did get get more scrutiny. "I wasn't aware weapons could be passed on like that." He thought that they just-
What did you think?
That you went dormant.
...We do. But not all.
"But I guess this was a bit of idle curiosity and a bit of wanting to solve a mystery?" He wasn't sure how else to say it. "I get caught in a storm when working in the town and manage find shelter in a building yet to fall apart. I run across a literal wall of photos, some of which look distinctly like two of our division leads. None of the photos are after 1999. No other hunters in them I've ever seen on the island. I know most hunters go out on missions but it seemed odd that out of all of those hunters-"
He'd only recognized Dr. H and Caelius. "How did they die?"

Mental breakthrough! Marcus realizes Dr. H is going to always creep him out. "....Well then." He looked at the photos and gave a nervous chuckle. "As noble as dying to save the world is, I think I can do without the uh- photos of the bodies. I'll just- uh-"
Step away slowly?
Yes that.
"Thank you for your time Sir."