One could take a lot from that short session with Mr. Orial, when all your findings and research had been building up for that monumental confirmation with a living specimen.
His ink, in particular, was mixed with the residue of his demon's taint. Seeing as how its effects were still present after a week meant that it was territorial to an unreasonable degree. Instead of preying on the poor man, perhaps it was possessive. If true, what an interesting observation to record. Demons wanted boy toys? Mr. Orial was an undeniably pretty boy with that long, silky, blackish gray hair of his. But Ms. Shishiro thought, 'That wasn't how it works with this species?'
It didn't seem like the succubus/incubus type, so why would it...
'I can't rule out that its motive is still unknown. I'll ask him if something from his dream could correlate to it.' The nurse cracked her knuckles, lamenting over another session behind the screen today. Thank the saintesses that she made enough to pay for video editors.
***
Whilst in his bed, the meeting with Ms. Shishiro occupied the back of Catheris' mind. A neat home... he should've thrown out the handcuffs on his bedpost by now — it didn't really fit the vibe of his room. Why'd he even bring them over from his old apartment? Was he sentimental about the memories? They were good in that sense, but they were the reason he couldn't go to many places. Because of that, he couldn't even use them anymore. He tucked the thought back. Maybe one day he'd eventually come around and do something about those darned handcuffs.
"And so yeah, like, Ginger—" Reena stretched out over Catheris's stomach. "Oh my gods, Catha, do you want a kitty cat? We should get you a cat, it'd be so cute."
Ginger, Pepper, and Salt! Three's a charm—four's a... a what?
"I don't even know what I'd name it..."
Pepper was a calico cat, yet he was... Pepper?
"We can figure that out when you actually get a cat. Do you like any specific breeds?"
"I've always wanted a-"
"Tuxedo cat. So you can make a little tuxedo and match with it, right?!"
"I was gonna say a black cat, but now that you mention it, I like them too." He brushed off the thought. He liked living alone, and that'd stay the same with his now uninvited roommate. A chill ran up his spine. What if it tampered with the litter box while he was away? Maybe the cat itself...
"Why a black cat, hmm?"
"Because their eyes are cute."
Reena's slit pupils widened as she began to get up. "Oh???"
Yeah, but your son took the only name I could've chosen with the apparent theme.
"OH???" She whipped her head to face the door. "Are... are those talismans?"
"Mn." Catheris continued to space out.
"Since when did you get them? I've never seen them before!"
"A few days ago. Grandma's superstitious about those things."
"For a reason, I'm literally an exorcist?"
From a high-ranking clan from a far away country, with many big exorcist family names, apparently. He'd heard the story so many times it rotted his ears.
"Exactly, you need jobs." Catheris huffed while playfully bonking her head.
"I..." The only functioning cog in her brain jammed. "So, like, you're just putting yourself out into that world just because I'm broke?!"
"Exactly."
She wasn't a sham exorcist. Rather, it wasn't surprising that Reena couldn't detect his demon. Ms. Shishiro said the demon could be classified as one of the worst shadow demons; that probably meant the damn thing was just too competent.
"Catheris! You- sniff, sniff sniff-" Reena just slowly turned to him with an expression that didn't know whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
Log 1
——
My wrist sometimes hurts throughout the day. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to catch me during my work hours, simply an irk or two at my veins after I enter.
|[X. It should've been flushed out by his system before we even met. I even drew some out.]
Log 2
——
It's mostly gone. I caught some black spots floating around my eye this morning. They don't seem to do anything, just overblot remnant.
...
Log 5
——
I had another dream last night. The more I dream, the more I'm convinced it harbors voyeuristic tendencies or something along the lines of that stalkerish nature. Still, it's lethargic. I want to throw up. It feels like there are bubbles trapped in my throat. I've even begun to feel its gaze on me in public. I don't know which one is scarier, making me go insane whilst I'm alone, or the fact that it's no longer shy enough to avert its gaze in public. I even got the impression it was flustered when caught, probably just delusionality.
Log 7
——
My boss insisted I was sick and that he'd send me home for today. I tried explaining to him that I was fine, but he pointed out how I've looked lifeless for the past few days, and my skin had no color. Everyone was forcing me out the door saying, "Catheris, you never let yourself get dark circles!!!" They're right. I should have noticed that straight away. But I didn't. I'm also now realizing that up to this point, you must've thought the shadow demon's aware of these logs. It can't touch my room. I went to Ste Laurent's for something regarding the dreams, but it only blocks access to my room: 'Kawaii Bells' to be specific. The talismans were supposed to help with the dreams, but only the bells work in my case.
|[X. Gotcha.]