PC CATCHALL FOR VAN ZIEKS

[greatdeduction]

Comments

[winebar]

... And what precisely would you have me do? Take things less seriously? That's the last thing this group needs.

[greatdeduction]

No, that's not what I'm saying.

All I am saying is...lighten up a little bit.

[winebar]

....







I do not know how I would go about that even if I wished to.

[greatdeduction]

Come now, you did when we had those couple of days together. Not that I'm saying that you need another curse on your hands, but...

[A pause, and he smiles.]

You have the capability underneath all that broodiness, you know. It was quite adorable. All you just need to do is unlock it.

[winebar]

[He turns bright red at this. Adorable??? Hello????]

Have you been cursed anew?? I do not plan to act like that ever again!

[greatdeduction]

[bro you're]

[you're kinda]


[kinda acting like that right now]

[he WILL be merciful and not point that out.]

Oh, heavens, this is why you're in this situation! You're either so rigid that people have fun making you do anything else just to see your reaction, or you jump to the opposite side at a single compliment and collapse from the whole thing, like you've become a little baby bird! You need to find that happy medium, my dear fellow.

[winebar]

Y-you should know full well why such words coming from you is going to-
[NO!!! Shakes his head. Composes himself.]

I will do no such thing. We've been over this.
[I'm going to repress everything until I die.]

[greatdeduction]

Well, if you want a vampire to keep goading you and people to keep cursing you with silly things for the next several weeks, be my guest. If you don't....

[Hm? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?]

[winebar]

I will simply take the inspectors advice and ignore them from now on.

[HMPH!!!!!!!!!!!]

[greatdeduction]

You won't be able to ignore them for long. Besides, what could you do, ignore the rhymes? That is a strategy that won't work for you in the long run, my dear fellow. You're going to suffer.

[winebar]

I can write. Or simply refuse to help if I am tormented further.

[greatdeduction]

Ah yes, because that worked so well for your dignity before. I can hear it swirling down the pipe as we speak.

Come now, Van Zieks. You're a human being. Opening up yourself isn't as hard as you're making it out to be.

[winebar]

... People are dying here at a frankly alarming rate. I would rather save myself the trouble of becoming attached.

[greatdeduction]

Becoming attached makes you stronger. And the rate you're going, nobody will trust you to give you the information you need to keep them safe. You're doing a fine job at taking the pistol and shooting yourself in the foot.

[winebar]

[Folds his arms!!!]

I have been kept abreast of most things. I do not need to make friends with people to maintain professional relationships.

[greatdeduction]

Trust me, you're not. And professional relationships only go so far. You're sitting here blind as a bat. No wonder that vampire keeps moving in to poke at you.

I'm not saying to trust everyone you meet, or anything. I don't. But there's a difference between courtesy and simply being kind.

[winebar]

And what makes you so sure, Sholmes!? You don't know what I know, and if you truly think you know more than me, I'd hear what it is you've heard!

[Or shut up already!!!]

[greatdeduction]

...


[sorry he is just]

[going to go up and take his hand and just. hold it gently.]

I'm a great detective, who can see to the heart of a matter in an instant. Look at me. I'm sure.

[winebar]

[!?!?!?! Pulling his hand away.]

What are you trying to say?

[greatdeduction]

[using his other hand to trap his hand NOW HE'S HOLDING ONE HAND IN TWO HANDS. SUCKER]

[but he's just nodding]

...Are you afraid to lose people you care about, my dear fellow?

[winebar]

[LOOKING AWAY.]

Isn't that normal? Doesn't everyone fear that?

[greatdeduction]

Everyone does, to an extent. But you...you have let it stifle you to the point where you're terrified of letting anyone near in the case your supposed presence may allow them to come to harm.

[He squeezes his hand.]

That's why you sent your scientist friend away instantly after that one case, didn't you? You care deeply, but you would rather yourself suffocate than let others experience the harm.

[winebar]

[Pulling his hand away again!!!]

That is not why I did that and you should full well know it. I was keeping him out of the Reaper's grasp. To have done anything less would be foolish.

[greatdeduction]

[And now he's just going to reach out to grab him by the necktie and yank it down, hard.]

It doesn't matter who was really the Reaper. In your eyes, the shadows that followed you...the Reaper was you. Even though you knew you never did those dark deeds, you decided to take on the mantle anyways because you thought it was your due duty to London. And then, to seal the deal, you pushed yourself away from society without allowing yourself kindness or friendship out of your fear that you'd put more people at risk.

[He's still smiling, but his eyebrows are furrowed together.]

The time has come for you to stop playing the monster to yourself, Van Zieks. The Reaper is dead. There's no need for your shadows to be here. Let's step out towards the light, shall we?

[winebar]

[This is bullying!!!]

You are wrong, and once again, you are speaking with unearned confidence about things you do not understand. Do you have any idea why I stepped away from the courts for the last few years?