Now Available On My YouTube Channel. Tried To NOT Sound Like I'm Fangirling For Oscar. Watch It Here.

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

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I honestly thought Phantasmat was a fever dream

His Soul (Chapter 1)

Curioso's Box

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 weren’t sure where to put the box.

After stepping off the taxi and entering your office building for the Dark Light Detective Agency, you were at a loss. The container held in your hands no longer thrummed with the active presence of the dangerous creature you’d just contained. It looked completely still and lifeless - void of the vivid colors you’d seen in Curioso’s realm. For a moment, panic surged through your being, wondering if his soul already somehow freed itself and slipped out of your grasp. 

But you reasoned with yourself.

Curioso was a perilous being who made collecting human souls his morbid hobby. He’d narrowly avoided containment again, until you got your hands on him. He was either angry or saddened by the ordeal, and you didn’t care to find out which that was. With a hurried step, you hastily set the item down on the edge of your desk. You brought your attention to your surroundings - taking note of whatever free space you had that wasn’t filled with memorabilia of your previous successful cases. 

“Now, where to put you …” You mused aloud, tapping your lower lip in thought.

Before a decision could be made, a loud grumble resonated from your stomach. You were starving . The last thing you had to eat was a few bites of the small macaron at Andrew Collins’ house. After a long day of freeing the captured collectors, you needed a proper meal. With a grumble, you took a seat at your desk and ordered takeout from a nearby Chinese restaurant. As you placed your order, your eyes refused to move from the container sitting in front of you. 

It felt ominous, even though the danger inside was no longer a threat. 

It was a tense fifteen minutes while you waited for your food. As soon as the man arrived, you wasted no time paying him in exchange for your dinner. You ate your meal a little less than gracefully afterwards. As soon as your appetite was sated, you were faced with the same dilemma again. 

Where to put Curioso’s box? 

You turned your head to admire the dark streets outside your window. It felt like you were stuck in that mansion for an eternity. Andrew retrieved you on a rainy evening, but now all was quiet outside. Was it even the same day? You had no clue how much time passed under Curioso’s spell. If he froze it entirely…or if days, even weeks, had slipped by. You won’t have an answer until you pick up tomorrow’s newspaper.

You sighed, mentally debating with yourself.

‘Do I trust to leave this… thing …by itself while I’m gone?’ After all, Curioso broke free simply because the energy around woke him up. ‘Is that all he does in the box? Sleep? Can he be a threat when he’s unconscious?’ 

Maybe it was a sense of paranoia. Or maybe you just didn’t trust how well this thing could hold him. Something compelled you to grab it and carry it with you upstairs, into the apartment above your office. You carefully placed it on your bed and started a shower. You needed to wash off the grime from your adventure today, then get a good night’s rest and face everything tomorrow. 

After dressing in your nightwear, you carefully placed Curioso on your nightstand just beside your bed.

----

When your alarm went off in the morning and you fluttered your eyes open, you spotted the box sitting in its place. Your heartbeat quickened in a panic - remembering what it was you were looking at, as the events from yesterday flooded your mind. After a few strained seconds, you sat up in your bed and stretched your sore muscles. You’d prefer not having another rigorous case today, after all the running around you’d just done. 

You went through your morning routine and brewed yourself a cup of coffee. As you waited, you couldn’t help thinking of the newly-acquired package still sitting in your bedroom. It didn’t feel right to keep that thing where you slept. As soon as you finished your cup, you brought Curioso’s box back down into the office. There, you took a more considerate glance around the room.

You had several souvenirs and keepsakes from your previous cases hanging on the walls. Your shelves were filled to the brim with various books and collectibles you’d gathered over the years. There were several things lying around the floor, mostly literature you hadn’t cared to organize. You suddenly felt bothered by the state you left your office in - when was the last time this space had been cleaned? No wonder it took you so long to find your case files! With an unsatisfied huff, you set down Curioso as you planned to spend the day cleaning things up so you’d have a proper place for his box once and for all. 

----

It was a chilly morning, so you threw on your coat as you stepped outside. There was a nearby shop with a news stand where you usually acquired your daily print. You wasted no time grabbing today’s edition and reading the date. Your shoulders relaxed when you confirmed it was Saturday. Andrew Collins had retrieved you Friday evening - so no significant time had passed while you were playing Curioso’s game. You hadn’t caught the hour when you came back, but it was likely that you returned late last night. 

Still. It felt like you had been there for days. Was that a side effect of Curioso’s spell, or the disorientation of being pulled from your world into his ? Your mind spun as you tried to comprehend it all. When your head started to ache, the familiar voice of the shopkeeper broke your thoughts.

“Why, Detective! You look a little tired.” 

You looked up from the paper to meet the friendly brown eyes of an older woman, who smiled warmly at you. She wore an apron over her cream-colored blouse and dark pants. Audrey recognized you as a frequent customer of hers. The two of you exchanged pleasant conversation from time-to-time. She knew of your reputation as the local detective and often allowed you to unwind with her over a cup of tea. She was pleasant company, all in all. 

“Tell me about it. I was solving a rather long case last night.” You sighed, folding up the newspaper to tuck under your arm. 

Audrey’s eyes lit up interest - she was always inquisitive of your work. She enjoyed hearing of your adventures(from what you could reveal past the confidentiality). She reveled in the tales, confessing that it was a nice break from her usual bleak routine of managing a shop and watching grandchildren. You were more than happy to embellish your stories, and she would give you a baked good or two on the house for indulging her. 

“Anything exciting?” She prodded. Your thoughts went back to Curioso, whom you now had in your possession. You decided to withhold your tongue on that fact. 

“Do you remember reading about those disappearing collectors from the papers?” Audrey nodded, her features turning concerned. You were quick to ease her worries. “I was able to locate and rescue them all.” 

“That’s wonderful news! I was so worried, since the authorities couldn’t find them. The last two I read about were Raymond something and Julia Hadey..?” 

“Raymond Dickens.” You supplied, suddenly recalling the disturbing image of the poor man being constrained to that revolving contraption. You were forced to watch a knife hurl at his helpless body, which had landed dangerously close to his head. Your lips fell and Audrey noticed your expression. 

“Is he alright?” 

You had a feeling her poor soul couldn’t handle it, so you omitted this detail as well. “Oh, yes. I’m happy to say that all the victims are safe now.”

“What a relief.” Audrey sighed, relaxing as well. Your hands were growing fidgety and she noted your restlessness. “Would you like some hot tea? The weather’s been so chilly lately; you mustn’t stay out for too long, lest you catch a head cold.”

“Thank you, ma’am, but I should return to the office and clean up a bit.” 

“Okay, then. But promise me you’ll stop by sometime and tell me a bit about what you’ve been up to..!” 

You nodded to her request, and she sent you off with a kind pat or two on your back. The whole situation reminded you of a good-natured woman checking in on her neighbor. You chuckled at the thought. 

----

When you returned to the Dark Light Detective Agency, you were determined to get the place looking proper again. You spent a majority of the day organizing loose paperwork and untitled books. You made sure to properly sort your case files so you wouldn’t have to go rummaging for them again. You also ensured the bell emblem on your telephone was situated in its place, since the damned thing had a knack for falling off when you most needed it. Come to think of it, plenty of things in your office were frequently in disarray…

When the room was spotless and all your files were in order, you stepped back with a proud smile. Grinning in satisfaction, you grabbed Curioso’s box and displayed it on the now-clean countertop of the dresser pressed against the wall. Above it, you pinned the letters of gratitude you’d received from Andrew, Raymond, Julia, and Nancy. This area was now dedicated to your most recent case. You couldn’t feel more fulfilled. It only seemed right to make Curioso’s box the centerpiece - proof of containment of the villain mastermind of the plot. It was a glorious sight. 

You took one last appreciative glance at the display before retreating to your desk and cleaning out your drawers. By the time you were done, it was time to start cooking your dinner. You locked your office’s door and flicked the light switch off as you disappeared upstairs. You’d have a celebratory meal of chicken cordon bleu. You definitely earned it after a day of spring cleaning.

. . .

. . .

In your absence, the box started to glow a familiar blue, temporarily lighting the room in an ember red. An inquisitive hum sounded from the item, but was left unheard by your ears above, now preoccupied with the shuffling of pots and pans. 

CHAPTER 2

Second trailer of "Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome". Review of this game now available on my channel: https://youtu.be/nyu6LTymvqQ

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