PC CATCHALL FOR VAN ZIEKS

[greatdeduction]

Comments

week 3, Friday

[winebar]

[He can tell when he spots Sholmes that he's looking for Susato. And honestly. Why wouldn't he be.]

Sholmes.
[Calling out to him.]

She's not dead.

[greatdeduction]

...Huh?

[He stops. Stares. Like he's seen a ghost.]

What...what do you mean? How? Where?

[winebar]

I asked Yomiel. They said only two are dead. Miss Mikotoba is simply somewhere else, but they could not tell me where.

[greatdeduction]

Did...did they specifically confirm Miss Susato is missing? Or did they just say of their number are dead? Just...just to be sure.

[winebar]

The confirmed it was miss Mikotoba that is not dead.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He heaves a great sigh of relief.]

So...now what do we do?

[winebar]

... I suppose we have to trust in her ability to find her way back.

[greatdeduction]

Back from where? I swear, if they gave her some role and then made her do her work after she got injured...

[He's bristling, furious.]

[winebar]

I do not think that is it. Yomiel did not even know where she had gone.

But I cannot hazard a guess as to what it is that has occurred instead.

[greatdeduction]

...

[Now, he looks worried again.]

She may not be out of danger just yet. What if she's...trapped somewhere?

[winebar]

[He shrugs.]

If she is out of reach of even the watchers I cannot suspect there is much we can do.

[greatdeduction]

Don't...don't tell me that.

[His hand is shaking as he's trying to comb back his hair, visibly nervous.]

Surely there must be something...surely....

[winebar]

Believe in her? She's a sharp girl. We should have faith in her. Given the... theological underpinning of our situation, such things may have real power.

[greatdeduction]

I'm a great detective, shouldn't I be able to do something? Shouldn't I be able to...use all my skills, all my knowledge, and keep her safe?

[It's a sudden outburst that quells as suddenly as it came.]

[He's just tired.]

[He can't help but think of Gregson.]

How cruel it is.

[winebar]

...

[He puts a hand on Sholmes' shoulder.]

As much as you are a great detective, you are still simply a single person. You cannot expect to carry the world on your shoulders any more than I can.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He turns his face away, eyes watery with tears.]

I ever so wish I could.

[winebar]

[DON'T CRY VAN ZIEKS DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. He's just going to take a page from the Kim playbook and not perceive it.]

You know I understand how you feel. But if you will not allow me to blame myself for what happened at home, I will not allow you to blame yourself for what happens here.

[greatdeduction]

...

[WOW. RUDE. But he opens his mouth, as if to argue, and then closes his mouth.]

... [A sigh.] I can't help it, really.

[winebar]

Oh? And why is that?

[Please do tell him why you are exempt from your own advice.]

[greatdeduction]

I'm a great detective. I must be always one step ahead of everyone. Everything.

[He has to be.]

If I'm not...then am I not a failure to myself and the people around me?

[winebar]

Do the people around you only see value in you for your deductive reasoning skills?

[greatdeduction]

...

[His gaze softens? Like he's thinking of something.]

No. They do not.

[winebar]

Then I hardly see how you could be considered a failure purely for this.

[greatdeduction]

[A pause.]

...Hm. Didn't think I'd ever live a day where you're comforting me, rather than the other way around.

[winebar]

I am not comforting you. I am simply pointing out the obvious facts of the situation.