To think it was already almost his birthday… huuuu.
These past few days he was rotting at home even more due to the investigation wrapping up. Before he knew it he was pained from not being able to go to work, lazing around really was too much. His co-workers — did they think he was dead??? It'd been two months since he went missing, and the odds at that point weren't pretty. Oh gosh, was the boss okay? Huuuuu…
From what he heard the fire department had gotten an anonymous tip off and saved the day. The girls had their memory washed and the incident was covered up as a three-month luxury program testing gone wrong. In the end, they'd gotten their compensation from what the cult had – which was a lot.
'It seems like a decent end. But I'd rather not have my story erased if I was cannibalized…'
[Sunflower]: On my way!
[Sunflower]: In the elevator rn
Yes… and this bumbling fool was here to escort him to Aberose for a check up today – Shishiro was worried sick about his diagnostics, rather, more intrigued about what sparked his possession. Oh saintess – he hadn't even told her about the ink drinking incident yet… or the wack mermaid pendant.
It was too much to be bombarded like this after everything, but it was to be expected after getting kidnapped. Catheris couldn't even contact Reena… only after things were sorted out he could.
He was more worried than he was during the actual kidnapping…
Knock knock knock….
Ah, and there was Mr. Beo. Hey – actually, where was Ari? He hadn't heard of him at all, not even at the wedding. Forget it, get the door.
Catheris palmed his head, groaning over his morning cup of coffee as he took in a deep breath. It was like 2:00 pm, and he'd just woken up. Seriously, his sense of time was getting warped. Nonetheless, he reluctantly pushed his chair back, getting up from the dinner table. He wrapped his blanket around him and finally answered the door.
"At your service~" Mr. Beo hummed, showing off a white sandwich bag from a cafe Catheris always used to go to.
Yes. They put this man on Catheris babysitting duties on top of everything else — he was truly the Bureau's dog.
"I just had my coffee." Catheris didn't even glance at the detective, instead hiding behind the door.
"Don't they say near-death experiences are supposed to change you? Can't you just learn to have a proper breakfast?" Mr. Beo quirked a brow.
"Hell – you're still in recovery."
"I've been fine since that day." Catheris sighed.
"Mentally." Mr. Beo pushed himself into the apartment.
"I told you – you might not realize it, but subconsciously those types of experiences take a toll on you. Anyway, just eat it for Shishi's sake – she's gonna scold me. And get ready???" He sassed.
Catheris scowled at him, still a bit droopy eyed, but threw him the TV remote and went to his room to throw off his blanket.
Huuuu… too tiring.
He reaaaaaally didn't want to go out, but he couldn't stay at home complaining there was nothing to do either – especially not with the detective in his damn living room.
Quickly, he rummaged through his wardrobe for the most casual looking things he could find – an oversized hoodie he stole from one of his… exes, and some sweatpants he wasn't even aware he kept in the move. After putting on some sneakers at his door, he was dragged to his dang doctor's appointment.
"Haaaaa. Well, well, well… who do we have here?" Shishiro reclined her chair, almost laying flat as she kicked her way to him on her office chair. She looked like some kinda crab…
"You had me a week ago…?"
"Well… well… well…"
Man, this must've been the 'every other day' day where she was off her rocker.
Ms. Shishiro rolled her way towards him with a devious smirk before kicking to her desk "Guhhhh…."
"You guys really got some good info with that taint destabilizer…" She did some clicking on her computer, and pulled up her spreadsheet and a little graph.
Like hell he knew what that meant.
"Hey. Look properly. This is pretty important stuff." She glared sharply.
"The numbers don't mean anything if I can't read them, ma'am."
"Ah."
"The trends here proved a hypothesis of mine. See, we don't get much data on old gods – if ever. All we have are a few traces from the past, lingering artifacts to observe – but this… this ritual detected ancient energy. My hypothesis was simple. The world – in its current state, is able to sustain ancient energy.
She mused, leaning forward and sitting herself straight.
"See, ancient energy is a tricky concept with how old and unpreserved its knowledge is. People have argued for decades that the holy world has changed, how the saintess age is overflowing and in its prime, how it's impossible to go back to those dark ages; it's like how science has made its mark on the world. As you already know, we were able to stop the ritual by cutting off the cultists. Truthfully– it was a close call back then. But that begs my next question, how long is ancient energy able to survive?"
She zoomed in on the graph, and used her cursor to elaborate her findings and showed him the curve with a steep spike going upwards.
"The purple is cursed energy – taint, while the red is ancient energy. You can see the red spike insaaaanely high at this point–" she swirled her cursor at ¾ right of the graph " –but falls off after that even while the cursed energy is constantly growing, because that kind of an old god's energy takes an insane amount of energy to justify its existence. In theory, with the perfect conditions – it could thrive."
"These seem like some very rewarding findings, Ms. Shishiro." Catheris nodded along, awkwardly trying to offer his support.
"Yes… it's all coming back to me now."
Oh gods she was in her own bubble.
"This also proves cultists can actually utilize ancient energy effectively as well – seems obvious but hey we're the Bureau of Paranormal activity, we're supposed to thwart cults not see them to the end."
She palmed her head.
"Well of course they also mass suicide– Makes me wonder how that kid is today…" She hummed.
"About two decades ago, the bureau stumbled upon a horrific scene, there were dozens of cultists dead on the floor as a baby wailed and wailed – still connected to its dead mother by the cord. It was an old god vessel project… were those lives the price to pay for its existence in that baby? Last I heard – that child turned out rather normal in the end. But who knows~"
Sian… he had something like that. Being able to hear Mobius' voice must've been insanity inducing. But he said he was a vessel candidate – not an actual vessel. Though, one could just chalk it up to a ritual going slightly wrong, so slightly different results. Catheris assumed there wasn't enough information on this phenomena to come to a conclusion, or even a theory.
"We could~✿" A semi-familiar female voice suddenly came from the corner "It seems fate has allowed it again. When should we see the magnolias together, hm?"
???
Who–
With a pot of coffee in hand, was Ms. Lain twirling her lavender floral skirt as she spun towards him.
"Pleasure to meet you again, Orpheus~" She put a hand on his shoulder, pressing her glasses up "Took your breath away, huh?"
Catheris… simply blinked at her, wide eyed.
"I mean I was obviously left unemployed after the fire. I didn't know you were here though…!! How nice – how nice. I have a familiar face here with me now – you can guide me right?"
"I got kidnapped before I could really learn anything…"
She patted his back so hard it was more like hitting "Ahhhh. Then we can be newbies together..!!! How exciting!"
Lain: ໒꒰ ´ ˘ ` ꒱ა
Catheris almost spat out blood. Choking on a cough, he sneakily pulled away.
Ms. Shishiro butted in, "It wouldn't matter anyways – even if he did know what he was doing, you guys have different jobs."
"Ah." Lain paused.
Ms. Shishiro turned her head to Catheris and expLaind.
"We hired her for her knowledge of the old world, so she'll be down here with me. Ms. Lain, Mr. Orial here is training to become one of those agents I had told you about."
"I see. ✿"
"So anyways," Ms. Shishiro began, "I did some testing on your ink, and it turns out it has a slightly lower taint concentration."
"Is… that so?"
"Yes. I think your ink system is getting more used to it. Have you noticed anything different from your last possession?"
"I can't remember…. I'll think about it next time."
"Yes – that'd be wonderful. Also, I've been waiting for you to bring up that ink drinking incident Ari told me about, but you haven't said anything for a week-"
Oh saintesses above no.
"Mr. Orial, – Catheris, wait. There's something I've been meaning to show you."
Catheris had looked… drained to say the least from all of Ms. Shishiro's ink talk: like some leech went crazy on his face. Mr. Beo was escorting him home – it was probably for the best.
"Eh?" Catheris was caught on the particular tenderness of his voice.
Thinking about it, why did he call him 'Mr.' Beo while Mr. Beo referred to him by his first name…
"We have a mini cinema in the basement. I think you'd process the whole kidnapping situation better if we watch this together. I'll explain everything from our POV, too… I know you're tired from Shishiro's experimenting, but you just – seem a little shell shocked from everything I've noticed this week." Mr. Beo reached into his coat and pulled out his copy of Selene. It was Alexei Gardenia's literally worshipped silent film, and the one based on Naeda's story.
Well.
"I suppose I have nothing else better to do…"
It was about time to get out of the house.
"Oh – do you want anything while you watch?" He perked up. Catheris felt a little insulted from the way the other was acting so shocked that he even accepted.
"I'm fine with just regular popcorn."
"...You know, you never told me why you were acting off last week." Catheris popped a piece of popcorn in his mouth."
Catheris squinted his eyes, this must've been the billionth yearning scene, he didn't even feel the tension anymore; the push and pull turned into sway and nay. Oh saintess, they were just dancing around for each other for so long. He thought it'd be more exciting like the original myth, but guess not…
"I'm a method actor, of course."
Mr Beo: ^^3
"Ha. ha. Ha."
"What about you, were you method acting with Sian?"
"My favorite color is blue."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"…Nothing."
Truth be told he was actually pretty excited (not that Mr. Beo had to know) to watch this. It really was a beautiful film, and he really was feeling the tension, risque forbiddenness, and the burning desire between the leads. All of that was real, the actors' chemistry was definitely insane. But what was NOT real was the pacing, things got quite repetitive quickly… maybe he was just – not a fan of these silent noir style films?
Eh… Why was the mermaid beached??? What a sudden mood switch. What's up with that big shadow in the water…
OH.
.
..
…
Mr. Beo let him sit through the credits stunned in silence for a good few minutes.
"So, how'd you find the film?"
"It's stupid." Catheris put it bluntly.
"Needlessly tragic, and needlessly aesthetic. The film obviously overcompensated with the visuals and directing put into it. I can see why Alexei Gardenia's career flopped."
"Hmmm, but isn't the beauty of these tragic love stories the romanticization?"
"..." Catheris inhaled.
"It's meaningless in the end, isn't it. I don't understand, why would you love somebody so much and not even make an effort. It's inherently a bland narrative"
Naeda had actually committed suicide after the Fisherman had died in the original myth.
"Hmmm….?" Mr. Beo tilted his head all sly, only egging him on.
"What use is utter devotion if you don't intend to act on it – the mermaid should have either thrown herself on land or the Fisherman could have simply stepped into the ocean sooner. Would it be miserable? Yes. Could you at least say you tried? Yes. Romance… is something worth fighting for. Even if you do break up – it doesn't make those experiences any less if you were happy."
"Someoneeee's feeling emotional."
"..."
"..."
"...You'll understand when you're older." Catheris turned his head to the screen again.
"And those cultists… were morons. When you consider the transfer of energy, well, in the end the base concept is simply 'how much energy can you gather to support this life.' People made extravagant sacrifices because the ritual appeased its respective god, and made it more likely they'd actually respond to your request. But if you're reviving an old god… well. Mobius is dead, he can't see the damned ritual, you're only pouring resources into his revival, not sacrificing them for him – and oh gods he can't even see the sacrifices. They were definitely right in a sense but there was no need to go through such measures–"
Catheris sighed, "Well, cults aren't exactly known for making sense anyways."