It was like this every year.
Catheris stepped off the subway, cheeks puffed up and pink as he sneezed into his handkerchief. The small crowd behind him began to quickly disperse to the escalators, and he was left alone.
Every damned winter in Virosiad inched closer to becoming much too overbearing. Catheris always sighed it off as he pushed through the winter. It was the time of year everyone went away on their yachts, flew to their private islands, got away. However it was his duty—and the others'—to maintain the island smoothly. Perhaps he should start experimenting when to use his vacation time... forget it, he always went with Reena to her country in the summer anyways. For a person like Catheris, that sort of expected rhythm kept him grounded.
"Huuu..." Catheris tugged his scarf tighter.
He was determined to speed walk to his favorite little coffee spot and warm himself up. Perhaps he should get a pastry alongside his usual? He picked his head back up – ultimately deciding he had way too many stamps he could begin cashing in for a treat (they were just sitting in his purse, the paper growing stale).
He found a man standing right in front of him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Yes?" Catheris almost whispered, still trying to find the energy in this cold morning.
Directions? But who's vacationing here in winter?
Ah.
No.
There was a certain stillness in the way he looked at Catheris.
Please don't tell me about your obscure saintess.
"Your suit is nice, where'd you get it?"
Ah. It was always nice hearing compliments on his sewing and tailoring skills.
Catheris rubbed his eyes. He found the people in the distance blurry.
"Hold on.."
Did his eyesight get worse or was he just spacing out? He reached for his reading glasses in his purse. Suddenly, a wave of deja vu washed over him.
"...Have we met before?"
He huffed on the lenses, wiping away condensation with a cloth. That voice...
"Haha, you're funny."
'No, I'm serious.'
He raised his glasses, about to put them on when a wave of sleepiness washed over him. Blanklessness consumed his head. This man's face was indiscernible—a censored block of color. Black spots dotted his vision as his head began to whirl, like his mind got sucked into a hypnotic swirl.
Ah—his business card, where's his business card—
***
Had Catheris Orial noticed anything odd or well—peculiar—this week?
It was hard to say. Rarely anything outside of his affairs lingered on his mind for long. It was rare to latch onto a memory in such a busy country like Virosiad. Pushed into the back of his mind, Catheris had a vague impression of this one (1) oddity.
-Instance 1: Sushi Restaurant
Catheris internally jumped at the sight in the mirror, it was that man from earlier. Thick, long black braid and looked like the son of some actress and CEO. Ring a bell? It definitely rang Catheris' as he turned around.
"So, about that drink."
" This isn't a bar," Catheris continued to wash his hands, maybe for a little too long—his fingertips were growing pruney.
"Okay?"
It wasn't a bar, but the restaurant did have one. Man, and Catheris already paid for him and Reena too.
...
The leech looked awfully peachy.
"Oooh, mango yuzu sounds good."
Maybe he was just a rich dude who gets off on random civilians paying for his drinks. Odd—but Catheris had seen worse, really. This was just, uh. Light coercion.
Catheris promptly paid for the man's drink and left under the guise of having a call. Gosh, the idea of vacation in winter?? Great. An onsen would be nice.
"I see, what a shame." The man winked. "Can I get your name–"
Before the man could even open his eyes, Catheris was already out of sight – turning a corner.
Ueguegehuegergh.
-Instance 2: Apartment Incident
"Excuse me, do you know where 803 is?"
Catheris' eyes grew wide upon recognizing the voice. Poor Catheris almost dropped his groceries.
The braided stranger blinked.
"Uh, you do know this floor, right?"
Catheris gave him a blank look, then nodded toward the direction of 803.
"It's a bit tricky, but it's at a hook at the end of the hall.
803... Catheris rarely saw him. 803's tenant didn't go out much—always wore a black cap and masked up his face. What'd this weirdo want from him?
"Thank you–"
Catheris already disappeared to the direction of his own apartment number.
-Instance 3: Suit Fitting
"You know, I'm into older men." Catheris suddenly blurted during the suit fitting.
"So you're telling me you're into men."
Where did these kids get the audacity from these days? You're 21, pipe down.
"No, not anymore. Don't hit on me for free tailoring."
"Ahahaha!"
[Earlier during the tailor session...]
"Ahaha!"
"So Orpheus is your name?"
Yes and no. Catheris nodded.
"It suits you."
"Thank you."
Catheris wasn't sure he'd grow into the fake name.
"You're lucky you need light alterations. The boss wouldn't do this especially on such short notice again."
["His father's a really important client, if this is about the time I'll pay you–"
"Fine." Obviously he'd went to Catheris for his suit magic to have it done fast. Yeesh.]
Turns out the man was the son of some CEO and a Virosian actress: Sian Almazer. Notably, he recognized 'Almazer' as a last name from that fake body donation center.
"You know, you remind me of my father's attorney a lot."
"Is that so?"
Catheris leaned in to get his measurements.
"I've only seen her a few times. Maylis Magnolia—what a woman. By any chance, are you two related?"
"I'm simply sponsored by the Orial family."
***
"How's your mission going?"
Mr. Beo's voice rumbled. His husky voice vibrated in his chest, rough and dehydrated from the overwork. He glanced back at the BoPA's—Bureau of Paranormal Activity's— assassin after he was finally done with his report. They really milked him for all he was worth.
"It's going smoothly."
"Give me a high five~ that's your detective for ya—"
"Of course I fit in."
He ignored Mr. Beo's raised hand.
"They were all long gone to notice anything off."
Ari readjusted his black cap, pushing down his fluffy white hair as he morphed his presence into the shadows.
Mr. Beo slumped back into his chair, pursing his lips like a duck.
"Yeah yeah, nothing good comes from the winter cult crazies."
"It makes the job easier. People gone means cultists are more concentrated."
"I'll go on vacation next year if you go."
"No thanks. Unlike someone, I have an outside life."
The detective groaned in a whining manner.
"You're just whoring. Come on," he half-teased.
"So?"
"I can't win with you."
"You don't win, ever." Ari maintained the dryness with every. Irritating. Word.
"So what's the deal with your group? Necromancers, really? Catheris looked like he was gonna pop a blood vessel—you should've seen him."
"Catheris? The Orial? You're his mentor? Poor guy." Ari scoffed.
"Is that what people are saying? Im not his mentor — just observing him for now. Ms. Z is more of his mentor."
"His family is close to the native Virosians."
"Still don't know what this has to do with reanimating the dead?" Mr. Beo whistled.
"I don't know either. I'm still finding things out. It probably does have to do with Virosian mysticism—like always."
How curt.