The Man With The Skull Cup

> Are you thirsty?
>
> - Beau

**Beau**, also referred to as **the Man With The Skull Cup**, is an inhuman who first appeared in Book 1. Throughout the series he went from being another nuisance to Kate's ally, and eventually bonded to become her closest inhuman supporter. He currently serves as the cupbearer of The Lady of Stories.

## Appearance

The Man With The Skull Cup's appearance has evolved throughout the story. Initially, he would appear as a human of any age or gender, depending on who met him. However, thanks to Kate and the influence of her stories, and him receiving a name, Beau's appearance solidified to what Kate saw him as.

He looks like a man in his mid-thirties, lean but not gaunt. He wears jeans and a hoodie pulled over his bald head, with a plain gray t-shirt underneath. There are plain metal rings on most of his fingers, and many pirecings on his eargs, eyebrows, nose and lip. He even has a stud in his tongue. He is taller than Kate/The Lady of Stories.

## Behavior

The Man With The Skull Cup roams the campground, always carrying a cup made out of a skull filled with liquid, which he'd offer a drink from. Initially, drinking from this would taste foul and cause one to not be able to eat anything without vomiting for 24 hours. Refusing to drink would bring worse consequences. Being a creature of the campground, Beau had to ask permission from the manager to leave the perimeter.

After the Lady of Stories brought him back to life, Beau's rules were slightly modified. It is now possible to refuse his offer without consequences, and if you do drink, you won't need to nor be able to eat mortal food ever again. This interaction is meant to provoke self-reflection and deep pondering over an important decision.

Beau is somewhat human-like, and can sometimes display personality traits and emotions. He can come off as arrogant, disdainful, and can be a troll, especially when dealing with Kate.

## Powers and Abilities

### Blood manipulation

Beau can extract all the blood out of people's bodies.

### Legendary inhuman

After Kate's ascension to The Lady of Stories, Beau became her right hand and the second most powerful being on the campground. But if The Thing In The Dark returned, then he would be ranked third.

## Relationships

### **Kate**

Initially, Beau regarded Kate as a means to an end. But after she took out the Man With No Shadow, his attitude towards her shifted, he gained respect for her and regarded her as more important than all the other humans. Additionally, Kate had refilled his cup, bonding them in some supernatural way. However, it still hurt Beau to interact with humans. There was probably nothing romantic involved, and even if there ever was, Beau doesn't feel love like humans do.

### **The Lady Of Stories**

After Kate ascended and revived Beau, they became tied to each other's lives forever. Both being inhuman now, there is a deeper level of understanding and respect, and they are as close as can get. It certainly is not love like we understand it, but they are together because it's supposed to be that way, like two sides of the same coin. At the same time, The Lady of Stories ranks higher, so Beau may be by her side, but a single step behind.

## Trivia

* Alcohol and other substances don't have any taste or effect on him.
* In fact, according to the side stories, Beau believes all human drinks suck.
* Beau represents the part of being forced to partake in something you know is harmful to uphold the laws of hospitaly. This is based off Cú Chulainn, in which Cú Chulainn is forbidden to eat the flesh of a dog. In his story, he's forced to eat the flesh of a dog to uphold hospitality rules, and that dooms him.
* The r/nosleep readers chose The Man With The Skull Cup's name to be "Beau." The author planned to have the community decide since 2019.
* The author has adopted a dog, who coincidentally had already been named Beau.

## Quotes

> We'll just suffer together, I suppose,
>
>

> 'Only human’? It is humans that shape the world.
>
>

> “It’s you,” he said. “It’s always been you. It has to be.”
>
>
> “But… they love you!”
>
>
>
> “They love you. They love me because they see me through your eyes.”
>
>

1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/goatvalleycampgrounds/comments/p6503z/comment/h9b0ck7/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
2. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/goatvalleycampgrounds/comments/p6503z/comment/h9hreac/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
3. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/goatvalleycampgrounds/comments/p64txu/in\_case\_you\_were\_wondering\_how\_far\_back\_i\_planned/
4. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/goatvalleycampgrounds/comments/nabvad/id\_like\_you\_all\_to\_meet\_beau/
5. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/goatvalleycampgrounds/comments/p6503z/comment/h9qwc6s/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3