His Soul (Chapter 17)

His Soul (Chapter 17)

Undercover

Summary: After saving the abducted collectors, you were trusted with Curioso's box. What seems like a dangerous possession slowly turns into an opportunity to learn more about this creature and his curse. Can you earn his trust, and possibly, his affection?

Pairings: Curioso/Reader, Curioso/The Detective

--

Curioso’s mask moved closer as you arranged a blanket over your lap, adding more to the cozy ambience of the room. You knew there were several questions he was waiting to ask, judging by the way his fingers clawed anxiously at his thighs. You decided not to beat around the bush with this news. It was something you’d both been waiting for in these idle weeks. He must be just as excited as you were.

“They reopened the case with Brianna,” You began to explain. “Not the business with her wife - but the investigation with the house. They all laughed at me back then, but they’ve been trying to follow leads on the culprits and haven’t gotten a break since. They put me back on the case since I’ve been the only one to make the most progress.” 

“The police have been mucking around for this long? They should’ve just kept you on to begin with. Why did they take you off the case?” 

“Because they didn’t believe in my ‘nonsense’ about ‘magic and spells’ .” You used air quotations mockingly. “But now I can say I told them so! I…can only hope those people haven’t taken any more victims since our discovery…” 

Curioso raised a thoughtful finger to his mouth. “So, what have they learned? If anything at all?” 

“They tracked down the location in what they believe to be their bolthole. But get this…when they arrived at the place, not a single building could be found.” 

“They’re hiding it again.” 

The grin stretched to both sides of your face. “-Exactly. And that’s where YOU come in. You help me reveal it, we get to the bottom of things, and arrest these people once and for all.” You swiped the TV remote off of the table, sitting up straight as the excitement flooded you. “I’d been hoping to solve the case myself. It’s finally going to happen..!”

“I should apologize for how things went last time. If I’d have cooperated with you, we would’ve solved it long ago…” He bowed his head in regret.

“No, that was my fault. I trapped you when I needed your help. That’s not going to be a mistake I make again.” 

He turned to you appreciatively and moved so he was laying beside you. He lifted his mask and looked into your ceiling, muttering quietly. “I remember someone was obsessed with experimenting on kidnapped persons…injecting them with something mysterious, seeing if they would survive it.” He clasped his hands together and added quietly, “With how many bodies we saw, it must not have been very many. They enjoyed hunting down their sick victims like they were animals.”  

The spark in you slowly blew out, remembering the horrific details of what you were dealing with exactly. “The house must have been a hideaway, since the police were able to find the source of their operation.” 

“I’m not surprised they did. There were plenty of clues that showed whoever was there was writing letters and reporting back to someone by the name of ‘Aydan’.” 

Your mouth fell open in surprise. “What!? Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“Oh, yes, I found documents of their call history and a collection of received letters. But you didn’t particularly want my help at the time.” 

You groaned. “Okay, you’ve got to catch me up with everything you found in that house. If we’re to tackle this investigation again, we need to be on the same page.” 

“I’ve no problem with that. I just hope you’ve gained some trust in me so we can work together this time.” 

“I believe I have,” You breathed, remembering how close his body was pressed against yours and the white hand merely inches away from your leg. “With how much you were able to do, you might just be able to solve this entire thing for me.” 

“Detective! I’m starting to think you’re only bringing me along because I have magic and can do most of the work for you.” 

“Believe me, it’s actually the last thing I want.” You pouted. He tilted his head teasingly at you.

“Is someone upset that I did really good at their job? You need not worry - I doubt they’ll hire me to replace you. I don’t believe I meet all their ‘human’ qualifications.” 

Your face was heating up and you pushed aside your blanket. It was getting hot in here. And it certainly wasn’t because you were getting worked up with the fact that Curioso just pointed out your obvious insecurities. The fire was just…roaring! 

“Just give me the breathing room to find things for myself, this time,” You muttered. “You can help me get through doors and all that, but I want to be as involved as you are.” 

“Of course.” 

You nodded to show him your gratitude, then picked up the remote to turn on the TV and scroll through the programs to find something good to watch. He settled in beside you, and you smirked feeling his warm arm pressed against yours. You didn’t notice it, but you shared your body heat with him when the two of you were this close. You wondered if he could even feel it and appreciate it.

You opened your mouth to ask him, but realized pointing out your proximity might cause him to move. And you didn’t want that. You liked his company, laying next to him and watching programs like this. You hoped he didn’t mind it, since he also did not openly address it. Or maybe it was just something you were overthinking and it wasn’t a big deal at all-

The movie began, and you forced yourself back to the present so you could enjoy it. 

You were standing in your bathroom brushing your teeth as you listened to Curioso’s singing in the other room. It was an incredibly rare sound, to hear him humming or singing, or doing anything but standing still and observing you. But it made sense, because today was the day you two were heading out and officially re-starting your investigation. You’d be following the address the authorities provided you and seeing if you could locate and search the area yourself. You were instructed to apprehend any suspects and take them in for questioning. Or at the very least, learn of their current whereabouts so they could do it. 

Your eyes wandered the mirror in front of you, observing your tired face and pajama-clad body. You still needed to complete your morning routine before you could go anywhere. You asked Curioso to brew you some coffee to save you some time, which is what you presumed he was doing in the other room while he sang. 

After you rinsed out your mouth and wiped your face, you jumped at the sudden sight of the tall jester standing in the bathroom’s doorway. He was holding out your favorite mug filled with coffee, which had such a delicious aroma that your lips craved to drink already. You took it from him with grateful hands and took a long sip, enjoying its taste and the way the caffeine took immediate effect.

You looked at him suspiciously. “You didn’t spike this, did you?”

He held his hands behind his back. His smile appeared wider. “If I did, I think you’ll be thanking me, for the big day we have ahead of us.” 

“Mm,” You nodded, licking the remnants off your lips. He was still standing there, looking at you, and you couldn’t help observing him. The imperfections of his mask still bothered you, but you weren’t going to pry about that now. Instead, your attention was directed to the sharp smile in front of you. “Do you brush your teeth?” 

He didn’t even react. “No.”

“Then how do they stay so white?” 

“Detective, I might blow your mind with this answer, but…” He wiggled his fingers in front of him. “- Magic .” 

“Hm. And your breath somehow stays nice and fresh, too?”

“I don’t breathe.” 

“...You’re an awfully boring conversationalist.” 

You nudged past him with a mischievous smile and he scoffed at your words, following right behind you on your tail. You set your coffee down and headed into your room to get dressed for the day. As the door closed behind you, your friend did not follow you in, respecting your privacy like you asked of him. But you knew he was waiting for you on the other side, because he always did. 

 “Are you excited?” His voice was muffled behind the wood. 

You slipped on your shirt and smiled to yourself. “Of course I am.” 

“Do you think we’ll manage to solve it in one day?” 

“Maybe. With your help, we probably will.” 

“...You hold me to such a high degree, but you’re forgetting that you’re the superior collector here. I gave you very little help when you solved the fate of those collectors.” 

“You’re just buttering me up.” You grew hot and bothered underneath your clothes. You always got like this whenever he complimented you or your detective skills. 

“My praise does not come so easily..! I have no doubts you’ll impress everybody today.” 

You twisted the knob and opened the door to find him seated just outside. He sprang to his feet and you pointed at him when he was up. 

“Same goes for you . Seriously, I wouldn’t be able to do this without your help. You were right, last time…I’d have been driving myself around in circles if it weren’t for you.” 

He appeared to be at a loss for words. You strolled around him and back into your kitchen, picking up your coffee and grabbing one of the oranges from your fruit bowl. You began peeling it as you sat at the table, which was littered with papers and notes. Curioso had already gone over all the details of the case with you yesterday, but now it appeared he was collecting and putting the evidence together. You arched an eyebrow at him when he came in and sat in the chair beside yours. 

“Did you keep these from the house?”

“Only some of them are real, I’m afraid the others are only what I can remember,” He picked up some of the papers and began to stack them. “Just in case you need to review what we know.”

“Great.” You blew a strand of hair from your face and sulked in the chair. “I rushed to get out of there and missed collecting a bunch of evidence.”

“Why did you leave so quickly?”

“I…” You looked away from him. “You and I weren’t talking anymore and it wasn’t great. It didn’t help when the police laughed at me when I tried to explain what we found.” 

“Our little dispute bothered you that much?” 

“Well…yeah.” Your eyes slowly met the sockets of his mask. “We’d been finally getting along and working together. It was nice talking to you so much. And then I screwed everything up and it was gone.”

He hummed and looked away. “I didn’t enjoy it, either. It hurt immensely when you trapped me again. I’d been only trying to help you. And then you threw my box in your car and everything was upside down.” 

You winced hearing this. “I hope I’ve made up for it. This time, things are going to go better; I’ll make sure of that.” 

You ate the slices of your orange while your partner went through all the papers for a second time. He used a paperclip to hold it all together and held out the stack to you when he was finished. You took it from him and slid it in your bag. You stood from the table and walked around your apartment to make sure you had everything ready for the day that stood ahead of you. 

He followed you downstairs as you entered your office. You took Curioso’s box from the memorabilia display and slid it in the last free space of your bag. He looked at you curiously and you tipped your hat at him with a wink. 

“Just in case.”

“In case you want to put me in there?” He asked. 

“In case you need to go in. Think of it as a last resort if anything goes…wrong.” 

He went quiet as you finished turning off the lights and locking up your office. You hesitated at the threshold separating your building from the city streets. When you looked back inside, Curioso was no longer standing across from you. You looked around briefly in confusion before you glanced down and found his small face displayed on the lapel of your coat. 

“Ready to go..!” He announced. You shook your head and finally shut the door. 

The drive took a few hours and you spent that time conversing with Curioso. He retreated to his box for the ride and had been speaking to you from the passenger seat. The two of you discussed more about the case and lended your theories and suspicions on what was going to happen at their main operating quarters. Who were these people, and what was their goal exactly? Were they trying to develop a medicine or test some poison on their victims? If they were kidnapping people for these experiments, then you had a feeling it wasn’t for a good reason. 

Then there was the matter of magic. Who had concealed that house? It was obvious they were hiding what they were doing, preventing anyone from finding the killed victims…but using magic was such a bizarre way of doing it. Not only did they have to find someone capable of it, but who was also okay with the reasoning for it. Because surely no one would hide a house for a bunch of people without questioning it? Or maybe they had enough money to spare and be hush-hush about it. 

You were going to find out soon. 

When you arrived at the area, you parked a little farther away so as to not be seen so quickly. You didn’t feel the strange sensation as you had last time…you had no issue pulling near the spot marked on your map. You were feeling completely at ease. It was almost off-putting, making you think you were at the wrong place or maybe the police had actually found a faulty lead. 

You leaned over and pressed one of the gems on Curioso’s box. You understood how he revealed the house last time. Reading that book has answered so many of your questions. Pressing a particular gem allowed him to extend his magic beyond the box. Therefore, he was able to dispel what was hidden. You turned your head and widened your eyes as a large estate came into view - filling the once-empty field that had been nothing but stray haystacks and junk lying around.

You pumped your first in the air. “Yes! Thank God!”

“Don’t do that ever again,” Curioso reprimanded you. You shrunk in your seat and shrugged sheepishly. “The concealing spell on this place is stronger than the last. I handled it just fine, but this definitely means it’s their home.” 

You leaned against the glass and observed your surroundings. The estate before you was a grand place with a courtyard in the back. It sat on a mountain overlooking the ocean below, whose waves thrashed wildly and unpredictably. The weather was cloudy and humid outside. You could taste the salt on your tongue as you rolled down the window. This was a desolate area in the countryside, the nearest human activity being several miles away in the city. It was an ideal spot to have a hidden base. 

Your eyes locked on some movement from the windows, spotting figures inside. There were quite a few people there despite the lack of cars and vehicles around you. You hadn’t expected a full house. You worried your bottom lip between your teeth, wondering how to go about apprehending and questioning these people. You were in their territory, now - and you’d be outnumbered if they wished to try anything. You didn’t fancy dying while handling this case. 

“I don’t know if I can sneak inside. There’s too many people here. How do we do this? Can you hide me ?” 

“Let’s say I could, but it wouldn’t last forever. You’d have to work quite fast. How’s that field & track training, Detective?”

You groaned and pressed your head on the steering wheel. “It’s been far too long.”

“How about just calling the police already? The house is here now. But there’s no telling how long until they notice their spell is broken. You need to act quickly.” 

He had a good point. You flipped open your cell phone and dialed 9-1-1…only for the call to never go through, dropping dead the instant it tried to connect. You had no reception out here and there had been no call boxes on the way. You swore audibly under your breath and scowled at the small screen. 

“ Shit! I should’ve called them before we ever came out here.” You grit your teeth together in frustration. 

“Then we need to act now…let’s try going undercover. Pretend to be one of them and say you were sent by Sophie. Ask to speak with the boss.” 

You rubbed your chin, impressed. “That’s not bad for some last-minute planning.” 

“I make a fine partner, if I say so myself..! You might want to change into something less…conspicuous.” 

You glanced down at your trench coat, hat, and gloves, the prime ensemble of a detective. You nodded in agreement and reached around to grab your extra set of clothes. You always kept an extra pair in your car for an emergency, or for this particular reason…As you were about to undergo this uncomfortable change in tight quarters, you glanced at the box and felt your face burn deeply. 

“Do you mind not looking, for a minute?”

“My eyes are closed..!”

“You don’t have any-” You decided not to bicker with him and pulled off your shirt. “Just keep an eye on the house for me, will you?” 

You managed to change into the clothes, turned away from the box while you tried not to make so much movement. Soon, you were in a change of a button-up shirt, pants, and regular shoes. You scrutinized your look for a minute, thinking deeply and turning to Curioso after a moment. 

“Do you think it’s fine? Or should you conjure me up some cultist clothes?”

“We’ll have to take the gamble. Just don’t act suspiciously.” 

You had a determined look as you opened the car door and shut it behind you. You were deliberately leaving the box behind, but made sure your bag was on your person. You glanced down to see the grinning face of Curioso attached on the outside. You sighed in relief and began climbing up, trying to keep your wits about you. You rehearsed what to say in your head several times, feeling a little unsure if you could pull this off… 

Soon, you were facing the tall front doors. You could hear the sound of chatter inside. You leaned forward and used one of the lion head knockers, wincing when the noise was incredibly pronounced on these sturdy doors. After a minute, someone opened the door, an older man with graying hair and a mustache. Immediately, he closed it behind him and stepped forward to advance on you. 

You hadn’t been expecting it and stepped back in surprise. This man’s green’s eyes were on yours in an instant, his suspicion evident.

“Who are you?” He implored. 

Despite having an imaginary script of this conversation in your head, your tongue failed to find words. “I - I am here for-”

“-For the initiation?” He asked skeptically, eying you up-and-down. You hoped your disguise was sufficient and you would not have to procure your badge and state your real business for being here. 

‘The initiation?’ You wanted to ask, but instead you nodded. “Yes, the initiation. Am I…late?” 

He visibly relaxed, but crossed his arms to show his resignation. “Forgive me - we are always suspicious of unexpected guests. Had you come here any other day, we would have killed you on the spot.”

Your face blanched. He chuckled at your reaction.

“I’m kidding! It’s nice to see a newbie come around here for once. Not many of you show up for our commencement parties. But we have been in need of new recruits ever since…one of our locations was discovered by the police.” 

His eyes appeared to peer through your soul. You gulped and tried to maintain your composure. “Yes, actually, it was Sophie who told me to come here and join you.” 

He looked at you quizzically. “The name doesn’t ring a bell, but she must have been working under Nathan. Come inside. You’ll speak with Aydan, and if you meet his qualifications, you’ll go into the courtyard to start your initiation.” 

You followed after him trying not to wring your hands together. The inside was darker than it was outside - the wallpaper a crimson red, and the carpets and furniture an ivory black. The lights were dim but they also weren’t - flickering to provide just enough light to each person who came around it. You turned your head to look at the different portraits and pictures hanging around, of various well-dressed people and animals. It looked like a wealthy scene, proving your suspicion that these people must have enough money for bribery. 

While you looked around, Curioso’s whisper came into your ear. “You are treading dangerously.” 

You whispered back as quietly as you could in the direction of your bag. “This is good. If I can get a direct look into who runs this place and what they do, it’ll make it easier to arrest who’s in charge and bring this whole operation down.” 

He didn’t say anything to that, and you followed this man as you two walked through different crowds of people. They were holding drinks and laughing, talking together as they made different gestures with their hands. You spotted one man who seemed to procure a champagne bottle out of nowhere and pour it into a lady’s awaiting glass. When your eyes glossed over to her, she pulled out a small piece of paper that had writing mysteriously appear on it without any mark of a pencil or pen. 

Are they using magic? 

Your thoughts were disrupted when he stopped in front of you and gestured to a door. “He’s right in here. Inform him you are here for the initiation, and he will begin the questioning.” 

You nodded your thanks and he dismissed himself. You attempted to watch him leave the hallway, but he stopped and turned to watch you before he could disappear out of his sight. You exchanged a polite smile before turning the knob and walking inside the room. You quickly shut it behind you and glanced forward, only for your eyes to lock with the orange ones of a stout man sitting behind a large desk. 

'Orange eyes?' You dwelled over the peculiarity for only a second before your attention flitted over to who was beside him. 

And your jaw dropped in shock.

A hidden object game, also called hidden picture or hidden object puzzle adventure (HOPA), is a subgenre of puzzle video games in which the player must find items from a list that are hidden within a scene.

His Soul (Chapter 14)

Me And You

Summary: After saving the abducted collectors, you were trusted with Curioso's box. What seems like a dangerous possession slowly turns into an opportunity to learn more about this creature and his curse. Can you earn his trust, and possibly, his affection?

Pairings: Curioso/Reader, Curioso/The Detective

--

Your eyes were narrowed as you focused on your breathing - trying to utilize your nose as much as possible while you jogged on the uneven terrain. You hadn’t gone on a run like this in awhile. The cool air felt good as it hit your face and roughly blew through the strands of your hair. You grinned when you made it to your desired location - the top of a small mountain overlooking your town below. You remember coming here in your early days, making use of your healthy bones while you adapted to the new work you were overtaking. 

You shrugged off the backpack from your shoulders. Bringing the box with you was a testament of your agility, and you decided it was not something you were going to do so often. You felt more tired than you used to…it must be because you were aging , and not because extraneous exercise was more difficult than it used to be.

“We’re here,” You announced. You set Curioso’s box on the lone bench overlooking the edge and placed your fists on your hips proudly. 

“Am I allowed to come out now?” Came your friend’s voice. 

You grinned and dipped your head in permission. “Go ahead.”

You were expecting the bright flash that came with his entrances, so you had your eyes closed before it even happened. When you blinked them back open, you found the tall jester staring out into the vast sight before you. He seemed to be frozen in place. You took this opportunity to sit down and get some rest. You took a swig from your wattle bottle while dabbing the sweat from your forehead. 

“It’s wonderful,” He sounded amazed. 

Your own eyes flitted to the stars and satellites in the sky. Light pollution made it a bit more difficult to find constellations nowadays, but it was still a lovely sight, nonetheless. One you’d been hoping to share with somebody else. It was fortunate not many people knew about this area, and you had purposefully left later in the night so less people would be out and about. Sure, it was a little darker and colder than you were used to, but…as long as you had some company, you didn’t feel as uneasy about it. 

Curioso was soaking it all in, and you couldn’t help smiling while you watched him. 

It had been a couple weeks since you learned of his past and read the infamous book Andrew handed to you. The two of you had been settling into a routine, and now you could easily recite the days you spent with Curioso. Your mornings were filled with companionship as the jester would always greet you from your bedroom and watch you make your breakfast. Then he’d keep conversation with you while you read the paper, and follow you down into your office to see what work you had for the day. What happened after that varied - sometimes you got calls, visits from interested clients, or nothing would happen at all. Either way, your friend was more than satisfied by simply watching you write and work, or would help you pass your time by organizing things and tidying up for you. 

He hadn’t lied - he was happy to fulfill the duties you asked of him, which was to upkeep your office and apartment. You sought out his help to sort your paperwork and work out a better system for your desk. He did all of these things and went above and beyond - becoming your faithful assistant in the hopes that you would make him your partner in return. 

You’d only gotten a call to visit the police department and investigate something small. Despite promising him he would only be bored out of his mind, Curiso still insisted on joining you. He remained in his box while you carried it on your person, getting to see you in action once more and offering his own commentary and theories on what you were doing. 

You hoped you would get a big case again soon. Having Curioso witness the mundane days of your life wasn’t…the best thing in the world, and made you a little insecure about how highly he viewed you. But if this changed his impression of you in any way, he didn’t show it at all.  

Things were going slow once more, so tonight, you decided to get moving again. You were determined to take more walks around the park and resume your morning jogs. An idea popped into your head, and you invited your jester along, who was more than happy to actually get out of the house and have another glimpse into the real world. You hadn’t let word out about where you were going and what you were going to show him, in the hopes that it would be a surprise. 

…So now, here the two of you were, listening to the leaves rustling in the wind and crickets chirping around you. Your eyes scanned across the many lights and colors spotted around the city.  You perked up when Curioso strode over and sat right beside you, crossing his legs and straightening his back. 

You bit your lip at the sound of his bells ringing with his movements. It was always so amusing to you - a constant reminder of the ensemble he was wearing. “Well? Are you glad you came?” 

“Oh, very much,” He sounded so happy that your heart ached. “Thank you for carrying me here. I’d have spared you the effort and ran right along with you, but…”

You waved your hand. “Don’t worry about it. The weight on my back’s going to help me get in shape.” 

“You look good. I don’t know why you’re worrying so much.” 

Your ears burned at the compliment. Your eyes inadvertently glanced down to your body, and you quickly looked away. “I don’t really like sitting around and waiting.” 

A moment of quietness passed as the two of you sat there and enjoyed the scenery. He clasped his hands together and turned to you curiously. “Does it ever get lonely? Having to be by yourself, in anticipation for something to happen..?” 

Your lips fell as you dwelled on your days before getting the box. Yes, you did spend your time dawdling around your abode, trying to distract yourself and ignoring the fact that you were alone. You had no significant other, no pets, no roommates…only Audrey down the street, who you saw nearly every day, but your visits together only lasted so long. You thought of the hollowness you always felt when she’d leave, where you’d have to figure out yet again how to bide your time. 

But you didn’t feel that way anymore. You had someone else to talk to, spend your time with. It was a striking comparison to your days in solitude from before. 

“I guess so.” 

He looked down to watch the grass moving with the breeze. “It was lonely for me, too, when I was in that box. Never knowing if I’d be let out again, or if I was doomed to spend the rest of my days there by myself…” 

You looked up with concern displayed on your features. His stare moved to his lap, where he began to fidget and flex his mechanical fingers. 

“Your company is nice, is what I’m saying,” He finished. 

“You don’t really have a say in the matter, though, do you?” You smiled sheepishly. What was he supposed to do? Insult you and risk being trapped inside again? He returned your grin. 

“Oh, but I do. Remember, Detective…I chose you to own my soul. I didn’t know if you’d ever take me out, but…thank you. For doing so.”

Your face burned again and you could do nothing but nod dumbly. Truth be told, you never would have taken him out if he hadn’t made himself appear on the box. You were under the impression he was trapped for good - witnessing him still seeing and talking with you changed everything. Letting him out was to make up for your misstep, but it was so much more than that now. You gave him his due freedom, made sure he could control whether he was in or out…and Curioso had taken that to his advantage. 

He still returned to the box, of course - when you would have nothing else for him to do and the two of you eventually ran out of conversation. You were sure he was returning there sometime during the night. He said he could rest there, so that’s what you assumed he was doing…but he was usually around you, in person, clearly preferring to be out than in . And you could understand that completely. But it was an interesting observation, all the same. 

“I made you something,” He spoke up quietly. He was avoiding looking at you, which only made you tutter in response. 

“Oh, yeah? What is it?” 

His grin stretched a little wider as a small flash came in his hands. Presented before you was a figurine of… yourself ! Your eyes widened as you looked over all the small details, admiring your signature getup when you were out in action. Your hat, your coat, your long sleeves and shoes…he even modeled you with a magnifying glass in your hand, quietly showing to the world that you were, indeed, an investigator. 

You were too stunned to speak as it was gently laid in your open palm. A teasing voice drew you from your thoughts. 

“It’s you .” 

“I-I can see that…” You cleared your throat when your voice cracked. “When did you have the time to make this?” 

Your fingers trailed over the material, feeling the paint strokes and cuts etched into the figurine. It was clearly hand-crafted. You were well-aware Curioso could conjure up anything with his magic; back in Andrew Collin’s house, it was usually the scales of judgment he’d hold while you mulled over the awaiting fate of the collectors. Nowadays, it was anything you asked for and whatever he wanted to hold and use. 

A smirk grew on your face when you remembered the first request you made - which was an encyclopedia. You’d only been teasing him and wanted to see if he would actually do it. He did, but not without calling you a ‘nerd’ , and plopping a big book in your lap whose pages were filled with nonsense. You knew he did that on purpose, and you remember how hard you had laughed. It was a good memory. 

But this …he took his time making it; you could tell how many hours was poured into its execution. He was undoubtedly talented. 

“When you were sleeping and I had nothing else to do, I’d go in my box and work on it. It must’ve taken me about a week…do you like it?” 

Your eyes glistened as your sight became slightly blurry. “I do. Thank you.” 

This was when he shifted himself on the bench, appearing uncomfortable but clearly having something else to say. “I…I also made something else, to go along with it, but…you don’t really need it…” It looked like he sucked in a breath with the way his chest expanded. “Actually, forget I said anything-” 

‘What? No. Show me what you made.” 

His mask turned away before something else was conjured in his hands - a taller yet thinner figurine of…himself. It was still admirably made and well-painted. You couldn’t help grinning when you saw the sight. The opportunity to tease him was just too good to pass.

“Self-absorbed, much?” 

“It’s not for me ,” He snapped. You hunkered back down and he bowed his head in apology. “It’s..to go along with yours. The Detective and their partner! A-At least, that’s what I was hoping it would convey…” 

You swiped it from his hands with a smug smile. “Alright, then. I’ll keep it.” 

“You - You really want it..?”

“You made it, didn’t you? Like you said - they’re a team, so it’s better if they’re together. You know?” 

Curioso let out a nervous, disbelieving laugh. Like he couldn’t believe what you were saying. But you made your point by lifting your head and holding the figurines close to your body, turning away from him protectively. 

“They’re mine, now, so don’t even think about asking for them back.” 

“Of course not..!” He was still chuckling. You enjoyed the sound - you’d never heard him laugh so genuinely. It was a sound you instantly grew addicted to. “I have so many in that box. In fact, if you want any more-”

“No, no. Only these .” You lifted them up for emphasis. He leaned over to ruffle your hair. 

“And you can keep them.” 

Heat returned to your face as you looked down at what you were holding. Suddenly, you were breathless, uncertain. “I…don’t have anything to give you. It never really occurred to me-”

“-You don’t owe me anything. Just bringing me out here is plenty.” 

“Come on. A walk this short and you give me handmade figurines that probably took you weeks to make?” 

“It’s what I’ve been doing for decades..! And really, it’s not the walk itself that’s the gift, but the freedom you give me. Your company. That’s what I get out of this.” 

“My company? A gift ? What an absurd thought.” 

“People have to pay to have you around, don’t they? I get that for free.” The white of his teeth became illuminated by the moon above, and you felt hypnotized by the sight. Were they always that sharp? 

“I, um…” Words failed to leave your tongue. You found your mouth was dry and had to swallow. “I never did ask you about an allowance, or anything you wanted in return for all you’re doing for me I know you wanted to join me on my cases, but if there’s anything more-” 

He ‘tsked’ at you. “Detective! Have you forgotten I am your loyal servant? You need not offer me anything.” 

“But surely there’s something else I could give you..? I don’t really like having a servant. I don’t even like people paying for me–” 

He stretched out his legs and pretended to crack his back, despite the lack of bones in his invisible body. “As you said, I am your friend, not a servant. Doing friendly things for you. As your truest friend.” 

You carefully set down the figurines beside you and took in a deep breath of the fresh air. Well, as much as the pollution and smog would allow it to be. There were still remnants of a blush painted on your face, in disbelief at the gift given to you and his reasoning for it. You’d never really been given a gift like that before…’thank you’ presents from some clients, sure, but nothing this…personal. 

“Curioso?” Your eyes narrowed in thought as you looked out into the darkened horizon. “If you could have one thing in the world, that’s not getting your body or your freedom back…what would it be?” 

He jumped up in his seat. “Is it time for 100 questions already?” 

“Come on. I’m being serious.” 

He joined your view and you heard him clicking his teeth together. What a curious sound. “I already have it.” 

You arched an eyebrow in disbelief. “Do you?” 

“Yes. A companion - a friend. To make my life a little more...full.” He turned to you quickly. “And what about you? What would you have?” 

You looked down. Your feet were close to his - calves nearly touching but not quite. It was then you realized the small space between you two. You’d been huddled next to him without any second thought. It just felt so…natural. He was your best friend, wasn’t he? You’d been living with him for a bit now. Closeness wasn’t so strange. It wasn’t anything you thought about at all. But here you were, sharing it with him. Like it wasn’t something you were ever deprived of. He wasn’t even warm - the feel of his artificial ‘skin’ was rather cool with the weather tonight. 

You really wanted to say, ‘someone to love’ , because that’s what’s been missing in your life, hasn’t it? A close partner to share your living with, to come home to and wake up beside? A friend was nice, but you already had Audrey. Two friends were…compensating for something, surely. Not that you couldn’t have as many friends as you wanted, but you would always be missing something closer. 

Something you never bothered to reach - focusing on your career and dismissing all attempts at socializing at bars and clubs. But now, the itch was inside you again, regretting what you have and haven’t done in these years. You only had so much time to live, and you didn’t want to spend it alone. 

Meeting his imaginative eyes, a smile played across your face. “I already have it, as well.” 

Except you knew you were telling a lie. With the curious tilt of Curioso’s head, he didn’t seem to believe you, either. But he said nothing, and you figured this was for the best.

What do you think of the beauty and the beast hopa that sometimes gets bundled with pota?

Mystery Legends: Beauty & the Beast? I played the free trial after loving the POTO game, and I liked it! I think I was waiting on Big Fish Games to have a sale to get it, but I forgot to keep checking, so I haven't played the full game yet.

I don't think I jumped to get this one because there are just *so* many fairy tale-themed HOPAs out there and it's hard to get my attention. If/when I get the full game, I'll post about it on the blog!

His Soul (Chapter 18)

Elise

Summary: After saving the abducted collectors, you were trusted with Curioso's box. What seems like a dangerous possession slowly turns into an opportunity to learn more about this creature and his curse. Can you earn his trust, and possibly, his affection?

Pairings: Curioso/Reader, Curioso/The Detective

--

Next to the man you assumed was ‘Aydan’ stood a suited figure with their hands clasped behind their back. Their hourglass figure made you believe it was a woman, but no hair cascaded down the red shoulders of the suit. What caught your attention was the glaring fact that this person did not have a face. Or any head at all. It was simply a blank space above the collar of the suit, and from where you were sitting, you did not see any neck leading to the body. You would have believed it was a mannequin, had the figure not slightly shifted under your attention.

You didn’t realize you were gawking.

It reminded you of Curioso - lacking any human skin, almost appearing invisible. Your partner wore a mask, so it was easy to tell where his eyes would be, but what you were looking at now…it was hard to pinpoint where it was facing exactly. Your attention was directed away when the man across from you loudly cleared his throat.

“Good afternoon. I trust Clinton led you here with no trouble?” He asked politely. His voice was deep and inviting.

You took this opportunity to lower yourself in the awaiting chair, sitting up professionally. You wore the most genuine smile you could manage. “Oh, yes, he was very helpful.”

“Good, good.” He sniffed, reaching into his desk and surfacing a piece of paper. “I was told you’re here for the initiation?”

Still not knowing what you were getting yourself into, you nodded helpfully. He bobbed his head a little in return and wrote something down. In this brief second, your eyes darted over to the suited being beside him, who had not moved an inch.

“So, let’s get the obvious out of the way. What do you practice?”

You blinked at him. “What?”

He shook his head. “Sorry, I forgot you’re a novice. What field of magic are you practicing?”

You had absolutely no idea how to answer this question. Prior to Curioso coming into your life, you knew very little of magic. When you first started your detective job, your belief in the supernatural was limited. But after the cases you’ve been on and the things you’ve seen, you’ve only recently begun to truly believe in things that challenged the laws of nature. Obtaining this jester and his box flipped your whole world view upside down - as they were visible proof that magic existed.

But even the book you read about his magic and his curse supplied little to you in the vast field of sorcery, so you didn’t know how to respond. You sat there with your mouth open, the word ‘divination’ on the tip of your tongue, as that was what the translator had told you she practiced, but you were interrupted before that term slipped out.

Curioso’s voice whispered in your ear. “Tell him ‘pyromancy’.”

“Pyromancy.” You blurted out.

His eyes glistened before he scribbled this information down. You began to sweat in your seat. What was pyromancy again..? A pyromaniac was someone who was obsessed with setting things on fire…so if you combined the two in this context…

“It’s the first question we ask because anyone who comes to our commencement must be practicing magic, otherwise how else could they have come here?” He gestured around with his hands and chuckled.

You laughed as well - just now realizing that you were the only person here who was not an enchanter, and had only arrived by chance that you were with someone who was. Only people who could magically see past the concealing spell could have found this place. Dear God. There was no backing out of this now, was there?

“As for the next obvious question - your name?”

You supplied him with a fake one on the spot, knowing that your true identity would lead to your police status. You’d have to stick with this alias during your time here…you clasped your hands in your lap to stop yourself from fidgeting. You couldn’t appear nervous. You’re a novice pyromancer here for an initiation…but initiated into what, exactly?

Aydan asked for more information from you, such as your age, how long you’ve been practicing your field, and other things you could easily lie through your teeth for. It wasn’t until he moved the subject to their organization that you found yourself growing nervous.

“-And how did you hear about us?” He asked with intrigue, leaning back in his chair and looking at you.

“Ah-” You decided to try this for a second time, even though it hadn’t worked with Clinton. “Sophie suggested that I join. She told me all sorts of good things about…what you do here, and I’ve finally come around to see it all for myself.”

“Sophie…Carter?” His eyebrows furrowed together and he turned around to face the filing cabinet behind him. But the suited assistant by his side was already skimming through a drawer and handed him a folder - which he took and opened on the desk in front of him. “...As I thought. She was one of many that was recently detained by the police.”

You feigned surprise. “She was? I guess that’s why I haven’t heard from her in awhile…”

He shut it and sighed, handing the dossier back to the one in the suit. As they took it, you saw a petite gloved hand take it from him. But there was no wrist to be seen in between the glove and the sleeve.

“The sacrifices we have to make…We shouldn’t have to worry about any more police interference. We learned what we did wrong with that location.”

This piqued your curiosity, but prying about it might arouse his suspicion, so you kept quiet. You were too busy eying the one beside him, studying the slim suit and the constantly-upright posture. It almost looked like a butler, ready to serve even the slightest demand.

When you caught Aydan’s orange eye again, he was grinning at you. “Fascinated by her, aren’t you?”

Your eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t seem upset…so maybe honesty wouldn’t hurt. “I am, yes. What is she?”

You felt rude not addressing her directly, but you wanted to play things safe. Aydan turned in his seat and admired the suited woman for himself, who stood stock-still with the utmost politeness. You couldn’t imagine where she was looking - but you presumed she had her head held high.

“It’s the greatest thing I have ever come across,” His yellow teeth shined as his grin widened, reaching out to trace a hand along her suited side. This action made you uncomfortable, but she hadn’t faltered in the slightest. “Magical servants. Bounding their soul to you for an eternity. Answering to you, serving you however you’d like, giving you whatever you need…just like a real servant, but they never die or complain. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“I haven’t,” You lied. “It sounds incredible.”

“They are extremely rare. I was incredibly fortunate to come across Elise. She has been my servant for many, many years.” He puffed his chest out as he continued to boast. “Sure, they’re a little strange, not having any faces or bodies…but if you make them wear something, then it’s not all that bad.”

You watched the two with intrigue. “How did you get her, exactly?”

You saw a flash of mischievousness in his eye as he addressed you. He shook his head. “I can’t spill my secrets. But just know that they are one in a million, and if you ever meet someone who has one, you better try killing them for it.”

Your smile felt tight trying not to react to that last part. Aydan looked down at the paper and read over everything he’d written. He looked satisfied as he checked something off and dropped his pen. “Looks like you’re a good fit for our family. If you pass initiation, and you have enough training, you’ll be experienced enough to work with us soon.”

“Training?” You implored.

“It’s recommended for newbies like you to work under the wing of one of our more experienced employers.” He paused to shrug. “-Unless you impress me at the initiation today. But be warned: I am one of the best maguses you’ll ever meet, so leaving an impression on me is incredibly…rare.”

You swallowed to get the moisture back in your throat. You didn’t even know where to begin with pyromancy, so you had no idea how to stand out besides being incredibly…incapable of any magic. Still, you held your bright expression and nodded to him in understanding.

“Feel free to mingle and meet some of our members at the party. Initiation starts in a couple hours, where you’ll be tested with a few other newcomers for entry into our club.” He glanced you over and turned to Elise. “Get our new arrival some more…fitting clothes to wear, will you?”

She conjured up some elaborate silk clothes for you. Curioso’s magic had blue and red colors that accompanied all his conjurations and spells, but Elise’s was a bright pink. Which was a color you’d also occasionally seen from your jester. You took them from her with a polite bow.

“Thank you.”

She simply held her hands together and Aydan flicked his wrist at you. “Put those on when you have the time, and enjoy some of our wine while you’re here.”

You were finally dismissed from the room, rushing away from the door to get as far away as possible. Once you were in a more desolate part of the hallway, you slumped against the wall and let out a deep sigh. At least that was over with…and it went pretty well. You were positive you hadn’t appeared suspicious at all.

“His aura wasn’t THAT impressive,” Curioso murmured in your ear. Your eyes widened and you involuntarily gasped at his voice. He’d been pretty quiet during that whole exchange.

“Did you see her!? Elise?”

“Yes - another who is cursed.”

“It’s amazing. I never thought I’d see someone else like you.” You were still trying to come to terms with this discovery. “I wonder if you two can meet.”

“We’ll worry about that another time, Detective. You have an initiation soon.”

“Right..” You put the clothes in your bag for the time being. Why wasn't he as excited as you were about her? Maybe he just was focusing on more important things. You probably should, too. “I’m going to need your help with that.”

“Obviously. And if my magic is good, then we don’t have to worry about you actually training to become a pyromaniac.”

“What was that about, by the way?” You narrowed your eyes skeptically. “Pyromancy? What is that?”

“The magic of fire..! It’s my favorite. We’ll have fun, you’ll see.”

“Alright…” Your eyes wandered to the open floor of party-goers. You couldn’t keep isolating yourself and whispering to your bag. You’ll need to mingle and make some acquaintances to fit in with everybody here. “In the meantime, I need you to help me. If any of these people ask or expect me to do some magic, can you…ah…well-”

“-Do everything for you?” He finished.

“Yes. Exactly.”

“I will. But please tell me you’re going to learn all you can and find a way to get out of this. I don’t know how long our charade will last, but at some point someone will check if you have a magical aura, and they will find that you don’t. We need to be out of here before that happens.”

“If you’re around me, then I have one.” You smiled. “Don’t worry, my goal is to learn what’s going on here and shut it all down. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“That’s good. Keep your confidence. You’re going to need it.”

You let your bag fall to your side and began your search for some sort of restroom where you could change. These people might be able to conjure themselves some fancy clothing right on their body, but you did not want to ask Curioso to change your clothes for you. You didn’t know what he could and couldn’t see…and having him seeing you naked wasn’t something you wanted to happen right now.

…’Right now’? Your face flushed at the sudden thought, hoping he couldn’t read your mind. Or anyone else here, for that matter...Wait. Was that a possibility? Of a mind-reader being at the party, who would expose you for who you were? Oh, God. Oh, god.

“Calm down, Detective. The restroom is right there. Can’t you see through the doors?”

You scowled and twisted the doorknob to the room he mentioned, locking yourself in a decently-sized bathroom. Well. At least they had those here. You placed your bag elsewhere and turned it to the wall, with the false hope that Curioso couldn’t see you changing.

As you looked into the mirror and admired your more formal getup, you made your goals clear in your mind: learn what this operation was for, who was involved, and who is in charge. Your lead suspect in that department was this Aydan fellow. He was friendly, albeit a bit intimidating, but the most fascinating thing about him right now was that he also owned a magical servant. And you were determined to learn more about her during your brief stay here.

Is she a captive, like Curioso had been under the Enchantress? Was she in danger? If there was any possibility of that, you wanted to help. You couldn’t let the victims of this curse suffer like your dear friend had.

You thought of him and it warmed you deeply. He was with you right now. He was going to help you. And you had no worries of anything going wrong so long as he was here.