Hiddenobject-fanblog - Hidden Object Fanblog

Now available on my YouTube channel. Tried to NOT sound like I'm fangirling for Oscar. Watch it here.

So I know I made a post recommending my top-favorite Hidden Object games of all time. But. I forgot to mention a big one.

Bonfire Stories: The Faceless Gravedigger

There are technically 3 games in the Bonfire Stories series. But Faceless Gravedigger is my favorite among them, the ending was cool and had me POGGING!!! The title screen looks sick too. All in all, a great game!

I also loved Heartless, it was my first play of the Bonfire series. Title screen is great too. Big recommend, especially if you happen to be a furry(just trust me on that one). I'm so glad I found the series through this game.

...I didn't like Manifest Horror, and it's probably the worst of the three. It feels too convoluted to me, and fell short on my expectations. If you want to complete the series, feel free to try it out, but I only recommend playing Heartless and Faceless Gravedigger.

These are kind of expensive games on Big Fish, so get them if they're on sale, or check out some playthroughs on Youtube!

Trailer 2 of "Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome" available on my YouTube channel.

Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome (2012)

His Soul (Chapter 3)

Need Assistance?

Chapter 2

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

--

You were tempted to take Curioso’s advice and go searching nearby utility poles for any posted papers. You still needed to make money, after all. Your smaller jobs paid you for a week or two’s worth of groceries, but you could use a better telephone. One that didn’t require an emblem to work and wouldn’t fall apart after you used it. Your old office chair was also starting to hurt your back, so a new one would be nice...

Detective pay was great when you solved a major case. It made you fortunate enough to afford an apartment with a downstairs office. Other people didn’t have that luxury and you didn’t want to lose yours. So you were always on the search for available work. You put yourself out there as much as you could, leaving business cards with people and posting advertisements of Dark Light Detective Agency around town. You even had an arrangement for a regular ad space in the newspaper. If fate was kind to you, it was someone else who approached your agency for help. 

Luckily, you didn’t have to wait much longer until such a thing happened. 

A young woman entered your office one afternoon after your lunch break. She was wearing an excessive amount of clothing, including a coat and a pair of dark sunglasses. You figured she was trying to hide her identity as she traversed outside. You were quick to rise to your feet once she appeared and offered your help with removing her excess apparel. She thanked you as you hung her coat on the rack by your door. 

“Good afternoon, miss. What can I help you with?” You asked as you both sat down. 

She folded her hands and sighed. “Hello, Detective. I’m Brianna, and I’m afraid I have a pretty common case for you. My wife has been acting strange this past month and I have a great suspicion that she's hiding something from me. But I can’t figure out what it is.”

You removed your gloves and cleared some space on your desk. This was not only an ordinary case, but a known time-waster as well. But you’ve been wanting *something* to do, so you weren’t going to deny her plea, no matter how trivial it might be. It was always good to get out of the office as it was. 

“Do you have any more information?” You asked. Brianna nodded and pulled out a folder she was carrying with her. She carefully set it in front of you. You opened it and briefly read through what she had. 

Her wife was disappearing for several hours throughout the night and would return sometime in the morning. Brianna recorded her as having an odd smell, like she was trying to conceal something with some type of cleaner. She also appeared to be in a different mood when she came back, somewhat sluggish and reserved. She always returned in a different pair of clothing, which added to her suspicion. 

“-And before you ask, I don’t believe it’s an affair. Sophie would never do that to me.” She shook her head. “I’m just a little worried. She’s usually so energetic, but not so much anymore. It’s like something else has been taking up all her time in the night.”

“..I see. And you want me to track her for the night, to see where she’s going? Bring you some pictures?” 

“If it isn’t too much trouble, Detective. I know you probably have more important things going on…”

You slouched in your chair as you eyed your office that had been cleaned several times over. You had absolutely nothing going on right now, but she didn’t need to know that. Because of this, you happily accepted the case and received some more information from Brianna. She was thrilled with your cooperation and even paid you in advance for your trouble. 

You planned on leaving tomorrow evening to start your investigation. It wouldn’t be anything more than tailing this woman and sitting in your car for hours while waiting for any interesting sights. You’d been on cases like this before, and most of the time, they ended without much hassle - one of the parties was simply overreacting, or the other was just trying to hide a surprise or bad habit. Nothing necessarily extreme enough to get the authorities involved. 

 As soon as you closed the door, you sighed. You’d been hoping for something more exciting. Oh, well. A job was a job. You weren’t going to complain…you were the one who accepted it, after all.

“Detective, you have a new case! How thrilling!” 

You were scared to death again at the sudden sound of Curioso’s voice. Your eyes flitted over to the box sitting across the office. His face wasn’t projected right now, but the colors were bright. You rubbed the side of your face in frustration as you approached it. He hadn’t spoken to you for a week after your last brief conversation - but it made sense he would appear now. You were doing exactly as he had hoped for. 

“Yes, just not a very eventful one, I think.” You responded, rolling your office chair to sit in front of the box. This notion must’ve been noticed by Curioso somehow, as he immediately made a comment:

“Getting comfortable?” 

You were confused. “You…can see? From inside that thing?”

“I can do plenty of things you probably think I can’t.” 

You intertwined your fingers together in thought. If he was here right now, willing to talk with you, then you wanted to get some answers. The last exchange you two had brought some interesting theories to your mind, about this whole situation. If you were in possession of this jester creature, who said you couldn’t learn more about him? Who knows - he might appreciate the company..?

“Oh, yeah? How many fingers am I holding up?”

You lifted your fingers. There was no hesitation in his reply. 

“I’m not playing that game.” When you refused to lower your arm, Curioso groaned in agitation. “..You’re holding three.” 

Your eyes widened in surprise. “So you weren’t lying..! How far can you see? Is it my whole office or just a few inches in front of you?” 

“How about we talk about your new case instead? I find that more riveting.”  

You frowned. Why was he avoiding answering you? It was a simple question. “Why? It’s not that interesting. I’m sure you heard all the details.” 

“Not with *that* attitude! Anything can be an adventure if you make it one. And I have a great idea on how you can do exactly that..!” 

He sounded way too excited for your liking. He had returned to the jovial tune he used to have, when you first met him. It made you weary as you slightly cringed away. “...And what is that?”

“Take me with you, Detective.” 

“What? I’m not letting you out, I’ve told you-” 

“You don’t have to release me. Just put my box in a bag and carry it with you. Simple?”

“Okay, that just brings me to my first question - how far can you exactly see, to make any of that worth it?” 

There was silence. Then an audible huff. Could he actually breathe? Or was he just doing that to express his annoyance? “-Let’s just say I can see around whatever room I’m in.”

You rubbed your jaw, slightly impressed. You couldn’t wipe the confident grin that spread on your lips. “But you can’t do anything in your state right now..?” 

“If I could, I assure you, Detective, I would have done it weeks ago. Now. How’s about taking me along for your trip?” 

An uneasy feeling found its way into your stomach. Something didn’t feel right about this. Clearly, he had an ulterior motive if he was willing to come along with you. Part of you wanted to believe he was feeling lonely. There was no one else besides the floating souls he had taken in his realm. But the other part of you was still suspicious that he was trying to find a way out of your box - and possibly your hands. You wouldn’t let that slide. If you were carrying him, you would never let Curioso out of your sight or your possession. You envisioned carrying around the box the entire time. You didn’t like the weight and lack of inventory space that would bring. It was too much of a burden. 

The creature could hear your hesitation. Before you reached a decision, he pleaded. “Think of how useful I could be to you. You can set me down somewhere and I will search for you while you do other things. I can find useful items, hidden objects-”  

“-All of those things I can do on my own, in due time.” 

“Ah, but think of all the advantages if you let me out..! I could go anywhere you desired. Do anything you want. You and I could be a team, Detective !”  

Would it be advantageous to have a magical jester at your side? Who could teleport wherever he pleased and altered reality as he wished? He could be an extra pair of (figurative) eyes and ears for you. He could do anything you couldn't. It would be a tool no other detective agency had. 

There was just one problem-

"I don't trust you enough for that." You stated firmly.

"I promise I won't misbehave. I won't even collect another soul, you have my honest word-"

"You'll promise anything to get out of that box, I'm sure." 

You stood from your chair and wheeled it back behind your desk nonchalantly. You were sure he was watching your every movement while your back was turned.

"Unless you can prove to me that you've changed, and you won't do what you did at Andrew Collins' house, then you're staying in there. I'm not going to be your next puppet to play with."

"Of course. You're much too smart for that." He murmured so low that you barely heard it. He might not have intended for it. "But how can I prove anything to you if you won't let me out?" 

"Earn my trust. I'll have you figure that one out on your own." 

You actually left with that statement, heading upstairs into your apartment without a further word. You were planning how tomorrow night would transpire and making notes on what to bring. You had high hopes you could solve this case with a breeze.

And more importantly, without Curioso's help.