[If only the pleasantly light rosy aroma drifting on the steam were enough to carry his worries away, too. He cradles it closer, curious to find out how it tastes but not wanting to burn his tongue. He looks up at Hubert with concern and on tenterhooks, face losing color. It sounded a lot like orientation, only worse, more invasive.]

Several days... of that? [he reflects.] How can I not fret about you having to go through such prolonged indignities? What... What sorts of sexual scenarios? Unusual... torture? What does that mean?

[Ah, yes. It would appear that Ferdinand is asking all the questions. He doesn't really want to know. But he also cannot imagine going forward living with the weight of knowing these people had messed with Hubert, Bernadetta, Annette, or anyone else while being in the dark as to how they experienced it. It almost doesn't seem fair that he got a free pass to remain relatively untouched and unscathed by what Duplicity is probably going to keep doing. That is a haunting thought as well, and he doesn't feel ready to deal with something as horrid as sexual experiments and exploitation at all. Knowing could at least prepare him for what else they might be in for. How can Hubert possibly be okay, even if he claims he is now? His heart hurts that he did, and that he wasn't there for him, couldn't do anything to stop it.]