To Barok,

*a letter was left in Strongharts cell this time with a pencil and paper*

Dear Mr. Stronghart,

How are you feeling? I know it must not be the best but it is a formal thing to ask. I was the one who had given you the carved wooden bird and I was wondering if you liked it. I'm by no means an expert on wood carving, but I like to do it when my older brother is busy so I'd like to think I've gotten good at it!

Sincerely,

-T.V.Z.

To T. V. Z.,

I have been living in the dark for quite some time. I long for unbiased news from the aboveground as I rot in this pit of Hades. I am surrounded by the deranged people whom I had the misfortune of knowing in my first life, though I have been blissfully separated from them, as I am at a high risk for being attacked. I spend my time writing. There is quite a lack of things I am allowed to do.

I did quite enjoy the bird you gave me. I am not allowed to have violent instruments such as whittling tools or knives with which to cut my food (if the food were better than the bland slop they feed me). It was nice to see the work that went into it. I ran my fingers down every crevasse, feeling the mistakes, the details, the knots within the wood.

It has given me something to do, and I have noticed that my fingers are so often on the bird that the natural oils produced by man have begun to naturally weather the wood into a smoother texture, far more pleasing to the touch.

Signed, Mael Stronghart.

P. S. - I notice your unusual initials. Would you, perchance, be related to the van Zieks family?

Mod Update: gifs

Hello everyone!! Currently I'm in a bit of a weird place where I can very easily answer asks but for whatever reason physically cannot add gifs, and occasionally tags, to the posts. Sorry about that! Hopefully I can update the posts later. Thanks for your patience! Keep the asks coming in! <3

Signed, Mod of the Baskervilles

Iris, what are your thoughts on dinosaurs? - 🌹

Dearest 🌹,

Dinosaurs are quite fascinating! I do think that it would be quite fun to journey out and dig for fossils, become a renowned paleontologist. How incredible would it be to discover an entirely new species and put it together?

I've even heard that Zieksie has some fossils somewhere... he won't tell me where. Someday I'm going to find out!

Love, Iris

To Enoch Drebber

Have you thought of what you will do once you're released from prison? What are your plans, if you have any?

With care,

Anon

To anon:

I much appreciate your care. I have had much time to ponder this, and I know what I would prefer to do, though I doubt it would be possible. My dream... my ever-present dream has been to become a world-renowned scientist. I don't believe there is any sort of scientific organization that would accept me considering my history.

I not only destroyed another scientist's dreams, but also blackmailed, manipulated, got people killed... In addition to the grave robbing.

That being said, I've seen much of the new coroner, and the two of us get along rather well. Despite how I treated her mother in the past, we are both fascinated by scientific endeavors, human anatomy, the pursuit of knowledge... and we both understand that our tone, or lack thereof, does not mean that we are not interested. I think she could be a good friend, and, perhaps, colleague.

With care, Enoch Drebber.

Dear sister,

Who is the man living in our house? The tall one with the white hair. Why is he here? Did you allow him into the home… on purpose?

-Barok

[modverse]

Dear Barok,

I have grown rather fond of the strange man living in your house. He is so very fun to watch! He sits upon any surface open to him, crawling inside of cabinets, bathtubs, closets, fireplaces... He reminds me of a feral cat in a very charming way.

As for who let him in, it was actually you! Benjamin asked you if he could have a friend visit, and that person just so happened to be Enoch. It seems you may be stuck with him, as he appears to be rather happy there.

Best of luck!! Rosie

ryuuno out of all your friends who is the most bumpin like fried bologna

Dear ribbonroad,

Your question perplexes me. I don't know what you mean by bumpin, and I did have to ask for help on what bologna was. I first asked Mikotoba-sensei, who told me that it was a place in Italy. I don't know how you would fry a place in Italy, and that does indeed sound like a bad thing. I then asked Susato-chan, and she informed me that it was a form of dried meat, like a sausage. As I happen to quite like fried sausages, especially when Iris is preparing them, I can assume you're asking which of my friends is as good as fried sausages.

That is quite a difficult question to answer... I have a lot of friends in my life who I deeply care for. I'd like to say that my best friend would be anyone who helped form who I am today, but that doesn't narrow it down at all. I would not be the man I am today without everyone who was there by my side in court. I also would not be the man I am today if a frightened young girl hadn't accidentally hurt Asougi.

I love all of my friends. I miss the friends, and even the acquaintances, I left behind in London. There is so much that I need to say to them that I haven't had the chance to, that I can't say until I see them face to face once more.

That doesn't seem to answer your question, but my mind is full of things I need to say that cannot be expressed in this letter.

With care, Naruhodou Ryuunosuke

Haori, how do you feel after everything you've learned about Dr. Watson?

Dear Anon,

I must admit that I was entirely heartbroken when I learned of his death. I was angry and bitter and sad, knowing that a man who had taught me so much and been so kind to me had been killed. It was unfair!

And, regrettably, when Susato-chan came home, she told me all about what she had learned about him. That he had faked evidence, cooperated in a conspiracy to make an innocent man seem guilty... It was so much to deal with. I did not want to talk about it, but it was clear that my best friend needed someone to talk to about it with. So, I listened.

I've been thinking about our conversation for quite some time now. I think there may be a side to everyone's life that we would rather not know. It is hard to share every aspect of one's life, and to express your most shameful experiences. I do not know at heart what kind of man Dr. Watson was. What I do know is that he taught me great things and he was a good teacher. No matter what his character was, that will not change.

Signed, Haori Murasame

Updated my very long dgs story.

For Klimt,

So, ahhh… why all the murder babygirl?

Ace-chaser,

I... feel as though you are patronizing me. That being said, I thought I was doing the right thing. I felt as though I had no choice but to do that to make a change. I did what I thought was best for my people. I was wrong.

Regretfully, Klimt van Zieks

Iris,

Do you ever feel judged for your parentage?

Dear anon,

Your question tugs at my heartstrings. If you had asked me this a year ago, two years ago, I would have said yes, most certainly. I felt judged for not knowing who my parents are, despite the fact that many people around me are the same way. There are a large number of orphans on the street, children abandoned on church doorsteps, and other such things. I am but one of many.

But now, in this year, I have no such qualms. I know who my Papa is, and it's Holmesies. Whoever my other parents may be, they do not matter nearly as much as the father who took me in, who raised me, who loves me so. I love him too. Perhaps one day I may learn who birthed me, but for the time being, I have the greatest Papa in the world!

Love, Iris