I know Hugi is the belle of the ball right now, but they're a character dressed as a plague doctor, running a crematorium, and described by Brennan literally as a "psychopomp". And, after today's absolutely beautiful insight into their character, there's no way not to. Sorry, I'm joining in.
The idea of them having charm as a primary stat, and incredibly low warmth, is quite interesting. All their interactions with people before the scenes with those who are grieving (apart from the party) were awkward. It's telling that they went along with Quinn while she talked, and Vic also failed in their roll there, in what seemed very appropriate, in a narrative sense. Whenever conversation moves away from the dead, Hugi isn't warm: they are very bad with the living.
But charm is good for reassurances, for talking things out. Even if your mortician is the person who performs any rites for your deceased, having them be someone who you will spill all your feelings to isn't ideal. But someone who explains the process, keeps people calm, or family dynamics, or helps them express themselves? That's charm. It's not empty, but it's pointed.
And, more than that, it is distant for the speaker, in a way. Charm can be professional, even if it affects you in some ways. And the man's last comment? Wishing there was a Hugi for them? That suggests they lost someone, and there was no one to do this. They were, to some degree, alone. Which would explain all the care towards the crematorium, the way Hugi is so deeply caring with the people they help, while still being a bit of a hopeless mess outside of it. There was no Hugi to care for them, so they became it.
