Mr. Beo had always liked to play detective. Even since he was a kid, he liked cracking the curiosities of the world no textbook could tell him the answer to, rather, he wanted a challenging game of deduction to keep him busy. He followed in his father's footsteps – the previous Detective Beo, which landed him a mentorship with Ms. Shishiro in his teens. And now, at the impressive age of 24, he was Virosiad's most annoying Paranormal Investigator.
૮ • ﻌ - აᯓ★
"Oh, why if it isn't Ari~" Mr. Beo spun in his office chair, sipping his coffee.
"How's that case going, any updates?"
"Oh. The Orial got kidnapped."
"Pffff–" He almost spat out his coffee.
And that was the story of how Detective Aoirnoc Beo got put on the case. He recounted the story to Shishiro in the basement, who was looking at her computer instead of him.
"Shishiro what should I dooooo…" He whined before her like a puppy, droopy ears practically poking out.
"Beo… my darling mentee. It feels like it was just yesterday you graduated highschool…" Sniff…
???
Shishiro sighed, "What I'm saying, is that you need to realize the authority of being a mentor now."
"He's not even my mentee?" He groaned.
"You practically are, showing him — a newbie, the ropes."
"..." He practically pouted.
"–But as your mentor, I can't tell you what to do, but I can give you advice. Remember, Beo. It's time for you to get independent."
"I'm unaffiliated ma'am."
"And you hold the same responsibilities as the ones that are. The difference is, you're not tied down. Personally, I don't think it's wise to pull him out until Ari's work is done."
"Yes, yes, yes. I already know. It'd be suspicious."
"Good. Seems I've taught you well. And do you know what I told you to do after that?"
"Lurk around the situation for clues, wait for the best chance and pounce on it by using those clues. And timing is key."
"Right. Beo, I think you already know what you need to do. But you just need somebody to tell you to do it. What about when I'm gone, what will you do?"
"..."
"It's fine, Beo. Just remember the rest of the Bureau supports you."
"They hate meeee."
"No they don't–"
Well, with the conversation with Ms. Shishiro in mind: all there was to it was just formulating his own plan – which he was an expert at at this point.
A calculated rescue mission – it wasn't something that he hadn't done before, but it felt different this time. He was wondering how he would infiltrate the manor without an insignia, but conveniently (???) Ari got his hands on another one somehow.
He concealed his identity and with his already sly aptitude, he managed to make a blatant entrance announcing his whole presence to the estate, and they did not question it. That's just how it worked — better to accept than question and potentially offend a VIP.
Naturally, in his fake rich eccentric persona Mr. Beo did whatever he wanted. Ari – or his cringe codename [BunBun] had already gotten enough information to complete the mission, so it was pretty smooth sailing. Something about a ritual? That was good, fixed date, fixed time and all that. He didn't want to get in the way of the other Bureau agent, so all he did was goof off by taking pictures, using 'documenting the case' as an excuse
Ari and a few others had been tracking the cult leader for years, and this case was their most relevant lead. Emiliano Almazer was notorious for letting schemes simmer for years and would suddenly use them to act when it was appropriate, which was a hassle for everyone. The man even tormented Z and Ms. Shishiro's mentors before everyone passed it onto the current generation. Fortunately, since everything was so spread out and large-scale, this led to the operations being loose, leaving many cracks to slip through.
But why was the rookie involved?
They couldn't have known of his affiliation to the Bureau of Paranormal Activity… so that begged the question of why were they so interested in him to suddenly pull him in? The others were beautiful young women and he was a man at that. Native Virosians had a spiritual aptitude that allowed the island to prosper, and based on observations that was even stronger with Deliamosians — old, heavily religious lineages that survived that fog veiled island.
And strangely enough, one of Almazer's boys took a liking to Catheris. It was that boy, the one from his other case.
Despite a three-year age difference between the two, he felt way older than him. See, one of his assignments when he just started out was a low-stakes one of course — tracking all of Emiliano's children, around 250 in total. Sian was fourteen at the time and began displaying abnormal behavior. With his information being so hard to obtain, his mother being some Virosian actress, and him being considered an actual legitimate son, he was definitely important.
'What a freak, he just bit the cheese between the rookie's chest.' The detective balanced himself on the arched roof's support beams, looking down with a pair of binoculars.
'This is so cringe…'
Mr. Beo: ૮₍•᷄ ࡇ •᷅₎ა
See, you could tell they didn't let the boy outside. He was some severely sheltered, socially awkward rich boy – probably learned the horrendous flirting from dramatic TV shows. Fuck, he wasn't even the rookie, but even he could tell that boy needed Catheris REAL bad.
He'd been stalking their interactions for the past few days – it was quite exhausting since they liked meeting up in this dingy part of the building at some unholy hours of the night for whatever reason.
But, he couldn't help but think 'Is the cheese really that good though…'
Every time he saw him, the rookie always had it on him somewhere. So…
(,> <,,)三(,,> <,)!
No, no! Mr. Beo was here for professional reasons. So no more elaboration on the whole cheese fiasco.
Exploring the whole mansion and, well, just stalking everybody in general, had led to Mr. Beo learning quite a lot against his will. Technically, it was since it was his choice to sneak around and eavesdrop — you'd think a man as big as him would have a hard time moving around in the vents, but the Bureau even had an artifact to help with that too. But what Mr. Beo was reaaallyy interested in was how everything connected back to the fake body donation center. Ari had given him some surface level deets on the whole thing yada yada but he was a curious little thing.
So naturally the best way was inviting himself to a fancy dinner.
The wrinkly face of the head crinkled as he made a soft expression, sweetly cooing,
"Mr. Lawrence, wont you have a taste of this fine meal? You haven't had a bite of anything. Our chefs will certainly live up to your expectations."
The long dinner table was filled with people of all kind wearing masquerade masks and the sound of cutlery clattering on plates. The party was on its final course, a thick, juicy steak covered in a silky red wine sauce paired with even more red wine, utter decadence.
"Mmm…. more booozeee, more booze!!!" Mr. Beo, or 'Lawrence' caressed three empty wine bottles like they were his newborn triplets. He disguised himself with a brown wig and an ever so eccentric red masquerade mask; The theme was the Masque of the Red Death after all.
"Such indulgence… you really do know how to live it up. I wish I were young again. Thank you for reminding me, young mister."
"Now now… old Lester." The head's equally grandpa-looking friend raised a toast "Bring this gentleman another bottle! When the spring wedding ceremony is complete, we'll be fine young men again!"
The head's aide AKA Ari, stepped in "Gentlemen, ease off the alcohol. It won't be very good for your bodies and especially not your reincarnated form's health if you keep up these habits." He gave Mr. Beo a nasty side eye.
"Yes, yes!" Mr. Beo cried "Four more bottles for the table and four for me!"
Healers naturally had a very fast detoxification rate, and he was no lightweight in the first place, so he hadn't felt a twinge of alcohol in his system. Were they using the flesh to repair their old cells? Interesting, interesting… 'reincarnated forms' had a really culty ring to it.
"What were you doing back there?" Ari scoffed when he saw the detective prattling to Ms. Shishiro across the lobby, trailing behind her like the annoying roach he was.
"No idea what you're talking about." Mr. Beo shrugged his hands.
"Beo."
"I was just getting some info." His gaze wandered off into an awfully guilty look.
Ms. Shishiro smiled "Play nice you two."
"—Information that I already knew."
"And information you don't want to give me. Would it kill ya to be more cooperative? The rookie's life is on the line, here."
"I told you I could handle him myself—"
"No you can't, it's either chasing Emiliano or crashing the ceremony and dealing with the unpredictable aftermath. I'm sure you know he's an expert at getting away by now."
"I know what I'm doing."
"Cut it out boys. Ari, I told Beo he should take responsibility for the rookie. And Beo… stop interfering with Ari's position."
"I wasn't interfering, you know I'm a natural at blending in."
"Yes, and you were probably pissing him off."
૮₍ ˃̵֊ ˂̵ ₎ა
Ms. Shishiro continued "–Anyways, Ari, he's been my mentee long enough, and needs to become an adult in this field now. Wouldn't you agree?"
"He's too childish for that." He sneered.
"Ah… I've had about just enough of the both of you two, time out! It's not going away until you guys work together."
Mr. Beo: ૮ ◞ ⸝⸝ ◟ა
Ari: ૮꒰-༝ - ꒱ა
"Ari, you're four years older than him. It's never that serious!"
And that was the story of how he was forced to work on the case with the coworker who had it out for him the most. Getting put in time out at this age – yeesh, embarrassing… Ms. Shishiro's timeouts were no joke either.
"Oi oi, she said work together – not you do everything while I'm in the vicinity." Beo scoffed.
"Exactly, isn't that cooperating?"
"You know damn well that's not what she's talking about."
The two were in Mr. Beo's makeshift office, playing a board game while working out the plan.
"Fuck." Ari rolled a three and moved his little bunny.
"Hah, you suck. Pay up. Hmm… or are you bankrupt?"
"Fuck you and fuck your damn railroads."
"Wooooo, that's another property ya gotta give back to the bank. Are you gonna give up your monopoly, or are you gonna give me the last property I need?"
…
Ari placed his singular pink property in the bank, and grabbed a few bucks.
Beo rolled and landed himself on that property "Man, what a coincidence…"
"Stop using your dice tricks, I can tell–"
"No idea what you're talking about…" Beo shrugged as he upgraded it to the max.
Ari let out a sigh of relief as he found himself in free parking. Beo took his turn, landing on Ari's orange house.
"Yeah, that's right. Pay up."
"Ouuuuuu, or so that's what you think. Check your properties."
???
"You took that one?"
"It's been in my hand for three rounds… squatter's rights babyyyy." It was one of the bullshit rules he came up with when they first played, so it was valid.
"Ugh–" Ari, palmed his head "I don't even come to Aberose often and this is what I do."
Despite saying that, he rolled anyway ~ right onto Beo's railroad.
Again… and again… he found himself on his railroads.
"Saintess Ovis must hate you or something." The detective chimed in.
"...Shut up."
"Hmmm… how about you chase Emiliano if he's there, and I'll pop in, take the rookie, and clean everything up? After everything I think I need to make a good impression on him…"
"Sounds good. I'll stay outside and monitor everything from there, you just need to chase him out." The two finally compromised.
"Woop woop!!!" Beo watched as Ari finally stepped into his maxed out boardwalk.
"Motherfucker…"
Dingdong! The wicked Ari was finally bankrupt!
૮₍ ´ ꒳ `₎ა
And so, like that the plan was set into motion. 'In motion' just meant the arduous waiting game he'd been playing all along, but now he was at least in on the plan. It was an easy peasy lemon squeezy job, it was merely getting the right timing for the taint destabilizer so he could interrupt the whole ritual. Anywho, acting as Catheris' guide, he wanted to get to know the new guy better.
Yeah. Well. Stalking time!!!
It wasn't uncommon for mentors to pull some crazy stuff. In Mr. Beo's mind this was just another Wednesday, and who knew what could happen to such a vulnerable guy like him. He was practically a walking target with how delicious his spiritual energy was to the supernatural.
Dude was only safe by being important, but as how safe a large herd can be – one is equally as small as the herd is large. What if someone just decided to swipe him for swiping's sake? From what he could tell by watching the widows den, they slightly disliked him. In conclusion, nobody would care.
Yes… while that was also part of his reasoning. It was kind of just funny following him..? Oh, an introspective talk on the balcony with the kid? Yeah he was making it rain coarse salt. The fortunes in the fortune cookies? You'd be surprised at the skills he'd garnered. The photos? Well what else was he supposed to do with his photography skills, saintesses forbid a detective have hobbies, hmph.
It wasn't initially like this, he was just keeping tabs on him via gossip. But what Ari didn't even know was it wasn't even hard to sneak into the mansion — he didn't need an identity and with Ms. Shishiro's insistent nagging he was more than over with everything.
Even before receiving his own insignia he knew things he shouldn't have, like the rookie killing a cultist. It was a rumor going around in the maid quarters, all the bumbling zombies were gossiping about the large ink stains which absolutely ruined the floor.
It didn't take much for the detective to piece who, what, and why.
'What an interesting guy.'
Also dangerous — YEESH, he should follow him for everyone's good. It would not go well if the rookie stepped out of line (self-defense is fine, making a scene is NOT). Slipping on some butler disguise, he had to investigate the murder scene.
'You know… there's usually way more ink, did they blotch some up? That's not gonna help with the stain…'
Something felt a bit funky about the room though, sniff sniff… similar to the bloodlust the demons he'd encountered had, or well, in this situation — inklust.
'I mean he did say he had a demon possessing him, prolly that.' He shrugged his shoulders and got to mopping.
From what he heard, the guy who died was allowed to roam near the widow's den since he was one of the more important figures, and was crazy for the smell of the young women. He'd say some crazy shit how they smelt buttery and flowery??? For the past few days, he'd been gradually getting dangerously closer – raving about a sweet light milky scent coming from the vicinity to anyone who asked.
'Motherfucker, the cheese???' He thought when a maid told him the deets.
How nice, how nice! Today everything was prettied up for the wedding! It was cool taking pictures of the dilapidated haunted mansion, but getting to take wedding photos was a whole other kind of cool. As he spammed his camera, he was determined to make the file for this case the best. To be fair, it wasn't that hard when all the others were a mess. He could barely take shots in the urgency of being a paranormal investigator – not many moments of respite to take a focused snap. That never stopped Mr. Beo though, refer to the dozens of blurry photos taken as he was fleeing something — he was a dang healer, that was NOT his responsibility.
"...I've finally found you." Catheris slammed the door open, sweat pouring from his forehead, "You… bastard dog."
Well – not the worst he'd been called. Actually that was the most common one next to 'bratty fucker' from Ms. Z.
"My… my… my. How'd you know I was the one taking your cheese in the fridge." teehee.
"That's not it what I'm talking about, I already know who you are–"
Relax, relax, don't make me break character.
"Alright, fine. I was also the photographer stalking you for the wedding photos. We need good photos for the website, wouldn't you agree?"
"Don't play stupid."
Damn… did he get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Well, he supposed being forced into marriage could also make someone so pissy.
"Fine… I was also the one on the roof sprinkling salt granules so it'd look like cinematic stars for you and the young master Almazer on the balcony…"
When he noticed Catheris' eyes dilating, he knew he'd finally caught him off guard.
Thinking about it now, that was kind of fucked up — don't people say the world becomes more beautiful when you're in love??? Oh my saintesses, what if Cathy here thought he was falling for that kid now, and was offended at him for peeking.
"Mr. B–"
"Oh saintess, you even know I'm the botanist around here??? And here I thought I was being slick…"
…
Palming his head, Catheris took in a deep breath.
"I heard you drank a ton of tea from the servants. It was quite the topic. I made those too, actually. Lavender honey's my favorite. Actually, how do you find the floral arrangements? Shame, I wasn't here to see them being put up."
"Listen. It's dangerous – It's more severe than you think so I'm warning you that–"
A rookie telling a full-fledged Bureau member off about danger, aiyahhhh 'what a society we're in…'
"Are you… threatening me right now? That's illegal." He chuckled, smiling underneath that hood of his.
"I don't know where you're getting the impression that–"
"That you were an easy stalking target… sucks to suck I guess."
"Will you shut up for a second?" Catheris' calm front was cracking.
"Sowwy… Nah – I can speak for a reason."
"Then have fun talking for yourself in court when I take you to jail for stalking me."
So he had more of a spine than he thought, that was the bite of a man of his pedigree: didn't this guy know how to joke around? Oh poor Mr. Beo, the Bureau had gained another Ari. "( - ⌓ - )
"Where's your proof?"
"The wedding site photos..?"
"Oh shit. But damn, where's your proof that you didn't consent?"
"You think you're the only one who can get away with bullshit? I'll claim I have anorexia and that I'm self conscious of my body…"
…
Ok well DAMN.
"Are you really going to waste your money on a lawyer for this..?" he was appalled. "Don't tell me your daddy's a lawyer or something, that'd be 'real cliche of you."
"No. My mom is."
…
Fuck.
"Ok – well you never got my name so bye–"
Mr Beo leapt out the hallway and skipped outside into the private garden, scaling the brick wall with his hands, he jumped into the rose bushes he'd been tending to all along. Instantly, his nose was hit by the strong flowery fragrance.
Rubbing his throbbing head (owie!!!) he thought,
'I did so well growing my babies… I should have some of the tea I made later if there's any left…'
Mmm… chocolate rose tea.
TOT
After snapping some shots and playing devil's advocate with the servants for one last time, he'd been rushing all over after preparing his latest smokebomb model to give to the rookie: a pocket sized packet infused with his own ink for some special effects. And finally, he'd caught up to him. Who knew he could go so far with those short legs of his.
"My my my… who do we have here?" He teased in a nasally voice.
…
"I'll bite your neck off – you dog."
Yeesh… so feisty already "So you do remember me."
Catheris got all up in his face with a blank irritated expression plastered on his own. He dragged Mr. Beo by the hood, face straining as he calculatingly observed the detective's face – but alas, he was foiled by the cloak's concealment enchantment.
The detective cooed "What's this?"
"Where is Ari?"
"Who…?"
"The head's aide."
"Ah… hm??? Let me think." I don't know??? He never tells me anything.
Catheris gave him a mild thwack on the cheek.
"Owie."
Catheris gave him a slightly harder thwack.
"Ow–"
Catheris struck him again.
"Hey, hey, hey– let's be civil and sort this out with your words… repeat after me, 'I feel angry because you did blank–' AHHH."
OWIEEEE – Mr. Beo yelped, covering his mouth as he whimpered into his palm. The intense pain was radiating through his head.
"Ugh…" He slumped onto Catheris' head, unable to speak from the sheer pain.
"You can't pass out on me yet… Uhh." Catheris struck his cheek again.
What was this dude's problem…?!
"Hold on… mercy…"
"Where is he?"
"Dunno… probably doing outsider stuff – Mr. Aide was invited as a normal guest, so he's on break."
"What do you want?"
"Hm… well I have you a wedding gift here, widow."
Catheris definitely looked like he was going mad, "Uh huh, uh huh?"
"Why of course, it's your big day after all." He reached his hand into the back of his hood and pulled out the smokebomb packet
"...What's this?"
"You know, a little party popper."
"Do they look like this nowadays?"
Sure. Whatever makes you feel better.
"Yeah yeah. Please pop it when the ceremony begins." His slight lilt put an emphasis on 'ceremony.'
"That seems rather disruptive for a wedding, wouldn't you think?"
Shhhh, stop asking so many questions.
"No, no. It'll be a fun fun fun surprise so don't question it. Please pop the popper by pulling on the thread~"
"It seems like it'd be quickly confiscated, quite frankly."
"Yes. I am aware. That's why I thought ahead." He suddenly approached Catheris, inching closer and closer.
Ever so slightly pulling Catheris' hanfu open, he quickly pushed it into his chest "Please pop the party popper when the ceremony starts."
"Huh–"
While Catheris was taking the sweet time to look at his little gift, Mr Beo took the chance to climb himself up to the ceiling of the narrow hallway.
'Please don't look up, please don't look up…'
The rookie… turned out to be a really scary guy.
Kabam! The entire venue was instantly clouded in a thick, brown smoke. The wails of the damned echoed, their screeching like nails on a chalkboard.
Using his camera, a flash of white blinded the room as the screen revealed everything clearly: the rookie's silhouette blinking bright red. He dashed across the venue with a clear pink prism – an ability amplifier, and tossed it into the air where it floated.
In all honesty his smoke ability wasn't as impressive as Ms. Shishiro's tinkering, like her recent taint destabilizer, but it was damned good at what it was intended for: confusion and trapping. When met with taint, the smoke would absorb it and make itself stronger.
Scooping up the rookie, tada! The rescue mission was finally over. Drawing back his ink, the smoke dissipated. He sprinted out at full speed into the hallway, when mid dash he heard:
"Mr. Beo…?"
"Hm…?" He smiled at how smoothly everything was going.
"No, no no…" The words practically mashed together, hooking his arms around Mr. Beo's neck for better support, "Wait, no – you have to go back." He palmed his head, looking pained.
"Hah? Don't tell me you'll miss that kid. I'm sure he'll find a way."
"..." Catheris pawed at the detective's chest.
Wait. Did he actually fall for–
"Fire..."
The detective stopped dead in his tracks, "Huh?" He tilted his head, dumbfounded.
"He's burning this place… evacuate the girls."
"..." Huuu…. More work "I'll make it quick then."
And he did, taking an extra fast sharp turn ( ùᗜú)
"I'll just set you down here…" Mr. Beo went to the corner of the venue, dusting the ashes off a seat for the oh-so-spoiled and prissy prick
"Take a nap or something." He took off his coat and placed it over him.
'Wouldn't want complaints about his manners from him or Shishiro.
The detective sighed as he pulled something out of his shirt pocket's spacial pocket — a levitating glowing dark purple cube; It was Shishiro's brand new taint de-stabilizer she'd entrusted him to try out. With a snap of his fingers, they reverted to sane.
"You're safe. Please don't panic, gently shuffle through the main entrance. We've run into some… errors." He chuckled to make light of everything that just went down, but you know, yeahhhh.
After the widows neatly filed themselves in a line and got out, it was time to finally fetch the rookie. Glancing at the corner confusedly, he whipped his head to another corner, and another, and another. Walking to the original corner, it seemed he'd just… vanished.
"That's not right." He pressed the bottom of his lip, thinking.
Wait.
HE'S burning this place..?
"No fucking shot–"
Shit, shit, shit–
He whipped out his walkie talkie [Ari, call the firemen.]
[What the fuck did you do.]
He always knew that Sian kid was fucked up in the head (that belief was reinforced by all the eavesdropping) but jeez louise. Erratically, he was pumping his palm for a signal of the rookie. It wasn't helpful when they were constantly running.
'Well… they gotta get out, right?'
He ruled out any harm being done to Catheris, seeing how that loverboy was head over heels for him. Catheris could also kill him easily if necessary; though he had no experience, an A-Class's raw stats were more than enough. Basically, the plan was to wait for them outside to either stop or run out the burning building and swoop in again.
Noticing Catheris's dawdling by the back at the garden, Mr. Beo went that way, and saw him bloodied and convulsing on a bed of forget-me-nots.
?!?!
'Man, I'm in so much trouble. How am I supposed to explain this to Shishiro–'
"...Yeah, I found him. Over." He sped-walked over there, defeated. He could tell he was still alive, still sensing the ink activity. Instantly, he got to work on healing him.
"Upsy daisy now…" The detective slung him into his arms "You did enough today. Sleep."
Zzzzz. When he looked down, Catheris was already passed out on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm bringing him over right now. Over." He whispered.
[Why are you whispering?] Ari's voice at the end of the line asked. [Get out soon, the firemen are already working on it.]
"Shhh…" Mr Beo looked up, staring dead into crazed purple irises.
Sian Almazer.
It looked like he wanted to murder the detective. It was odd, they both knew each other for ages. Sian as that deranged cult boy (now loverboy) and Mr. Beo as a man from that organization always in his father's way, and now they were finally face to face. Loverboy here probably hated him even more for taking his precious salvation.
Sucks to suck, kid. He'd have to get way better at what he was doing if he wanted Mr. Beo to work on his case personally.
"So… did you get Emiliano… over?" Mr. Beo put his walkie talkie up to his ear. If Ari was gonna bitch about him ruining everything with his smoke, he'd just use the rookie's new state to shut him down. He doubted it though, everyone was tired.
[No. That bastard didn't even come in the first place. He just wanted results. I'm sure he'll be back soon with Sian to test again but he's definitely gonna be more reclusive than he already is after this.]
"Oh… should we buy a cake for the new guy? You know… for surviving his first abduction. Yeah. Totally."
[Mn. Put it on the bureau's card. I want some too. They didn't even bother making a wedding cake, you know.]