How to Pretend

The 'Orpheus Detective Agency' was a broke mess, well, except for that simping Melodis count who seemed to enjoy stirring choas, single-handedly keeping the agency afloat.

Inference was busy at Golden Rose dealing with another case. Gatto was still undercover with the Melodis mess. Lady Truth held up at some sort of alchemist's library. White was... god knows where, and you couldn't con Paranormal Investigator or anyone else into helping.

Great.

You cringed at the get-up that was sent by the anonymous client, so much detail, you usually wore formal, but this was... almost as eccentric as the Benefactor of this voyage himself, as he seemed to spare no expense.

You had managed to get onto the voyage, that was the easy part though. Running a detective agency was the easy part. Pretending was not. This is why you usually make Inference and Lady Truth do undercover jobs.

However, you figured despite the underlying risk of this voyage, the crushing anxiety, and the fake charisma you threw out there to get your way, you could relax a bit. And where else to start than with the Benefactor himself?

Soon the first night of the voyage came and, despite the implications to go stay in your room, you were on the first deck talking with the Stewardess after a few drinks when a very well-dressed man sat at one of the stools beside you.

"Just a Martini, ‘Stewardess.’" The Benefactor, Frederick, spoke once Demi looked at him, most people here went as their role instead of there name, and slightly tipsy you weren't the best at this whole act thing at the moment. But you tried.

"You like Martini's Fred- er... ‘Benefactor’?" The man looked over at you and laughed at your slip-up.

"If Frederick is easier, please, go ahead." Frederick spoke suavely, no wonder whatever scheme was on this voyage was going so well, that is, if Frederick was behind it like the client tipped you off. "So, ‘Researcher’, how are you finding your time aboard the ‘Isembard’? Adjusting well?”