PC CATCHALL FOR VAN ZIEKS

[greatdeduction]

Comments

[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?

[greatdeduction]

[van zieks: i don't want friends
sholmes: OH ITS TIME TO RATSHAKE THIS FOOL]

Ohh? Enlighten me. Tell me. What was the reason? To take care of your precious wine stash, is that it? No?

[winebar]

You claim I thought myself the Reaper? Do you think me so foolish? I knew that, whoever it was, they would not act if I did not stand in court. I was tired. I could not live with that spectre hanging over my bench.

I stepped away so that I might press my full attention into finding the Reaper so that I might unmask them.

[greatdeduction]

I'm not saying...ugh! Metaphorically, you dunce! Of course you didn't kill people as the Reaper! Of course you weren't behind those crimes! But I hardly think you were like this ten years ago before you stepped into the role against your rill! Were you? Were you? Come on, tell me.

What were you like then, hm?

[winebar]

....

I hardly see how that's relevant.
[HOW.]

will not rill WOW

[greatdeduction]

Because at some point in the past, you weren't this stubborn, rigid person unwilling to let yourself be close. And then it changed. And you know why, exactly, it changed.

[winebar]

You can't prove that.

[MAYBE I WAS ALWAYS THIS GOTH.]

[greatdeduction]

...

Was there, or was there not a certain photo displayed ever so prominently in Inspector Gregson's office?

[you know]

[the one with the baby version of you]

[winebar]

...


I don't recall.

[]

[greatdeduction]

Oh, come now, let me spark your memory. Inspector Gregson, looking more jolly than I had ever seen him. You, ten years younger, bright-eyed, smiling. And...well. I hardly need to tell you who the third person was.

That young man in that picture was a far cry from the sullen person I see before me today.

[winebar]

That young man would not have lasted these past ten years in court. Not with the sort of criminals I've had to face.

[Van Zieks: Younger me was a WEAK NERD who SUCKED I'm GLAD he's SPIRITUALLY DEAD.]

I was never an outgoing person. I've never known how to talk to other people. That was one of the reasons I stuck so closely to Klint's side. He never struggled with such things.

[greatdeduction]

[VAN ZIEKS YOUR WEAK NERD BABY SELF, NO]

It's one thing not to be outgoing because you're naturally that way, and quite another to shut yourself in a metaphorical cage. Did you ever wonder how Klint did it? Why he had success?

[winebar]

I believe it's something one might refer to as "having different personalities"?

[Now he's getting snarky???]

[greatdeduction]

Oh, don't use that excuse. You made a friend even with your so-different personality. What stopped you from making friends after that?

[winebar]

No one else approached me.

[I firmly believe he did one nice thing for Albert once and Albert just decided they were friends after that.]

[greatdeduction]

And? You were a grand noble from a high-standing family, even compared with others. I'm sure that alone would've intimidated people.

[winebar]

And I am simply answering your question!

Enough of this. I have impressed upon you several times now that I don't require the company of others.

[greatdeduction]

And I have impressed upon you that you are an utter loon who's making a fool of himself with this blasted "I don't need the company of others" nonsense!

[RATSHAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

You want kindness. You want friendship. I know you do. You were so happy for those two days. Don't you want even a semblance of it back?

[winebar]

[He blinks hard, and looks away. He has been!!!! Trying not to think about those days!!!!]

It is not that simple and you should full well know that.

[greatdeduction]

It is not simple, no. But you have to start somewhere. Small steps. You just have to take them, my dear fellow. Give yourself a chance, already.

[winebar]

...

Perhaps I already have. Perhaps I am having little success.

[greatdeduction]

Oh?

[:o]

I'm glad for you. Tell me, is it as excruciatingly painful as you imagined it to be?

[winebar]

Given that, as I said, I am failing to make the connection? Yes, I would say so. I feel my deficiencies being thrown back in my face.