PC CATCHALL WITH NERO

[greatdeduction]

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week 3 post trial

[greatdeduction]

[He's here in the courtyard already, sitting with his pipe in mouth and puffing away. Irene in crow form is sitting on his shoulder.]

[He's just...pensive.]

[When Nero enters, he glances over, but doesn't say anything. He just sighs.]

[perfectdistance]

[Disce pads next to him, tail swishing very slightly.

Nero's holding a sheaf of wheat and looking... only very slightly better.]

[greatdeduction]

...

[He glances at the wheat.]

What's that for?

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Calmin' me down.

[More or less.]

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Do you eat it?

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...



Do you think I eat wheat raw?

[greatdeduction]

You're not human. So what do I know?

[perfectdistance]

's not for consumption.

[He holds it a little closer.]

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Baking, then.

[He sighs.]

[perfectdistance]

I'm not eatin' this wheat.

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...

What are you doing with it, then?

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I told ya.

It's calmin' me down.

[greatdeduction]

[He seems to be getting a little irritated.]

How?

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'cause it's from home 'n I've had it since I was little.

[greatdeduction]

[He opens his mouth, like he expecting to bark something at him...]

[But it just wanes at the answer. He stares for a moment, then casts his gaze down.]

I apologize. [For what? He doesn't say. His hand is shaking.] Special home wheat...it gives you comfort just by holding it?

[perfectdistance]

[Nero points out nothing, and instead looks away. It was a hell of a trial and they weren't even close to finding Rex's killer.

Not to mention Nero's own caginess.]

... Soothes my anxiety some 's all. Somethin' to focus on.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He looks back at him.]

Are you afraid of dying, Mr. Turner?

[perfectdistance]

[Is he?

What a question.

He doesn't seem to have an answer for himself.]

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[He doesn't break his gaze.]

If you had been voted for, would you have accepted it with open arms?

[perfectdistance]

[Nero's not looking at him.]

Maybe I'd deserve it.

[greatdeduction]

[.........]

I must ask. Did you kill Mr. Rosencrantz last week, Mr. Turner?

[perfectdistance]

[His jaw clenches and for a moment he looks like he's about to fight Sholmes right there.]

No, I didn't. Anyone else you wanna accuse me of killin'?

[greatdeduction]

No. Of course not.

[His gaze is as hard as stone.]

But that is a relief. [...] I would not have wanted you to be.

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I don't want people to die!

[Frustrated, angry.]

[greatdeduction]

[That...sparks whatever irritation he had put down - and Sholmes, funny, cheerful, silly Sholmes, is suddenly rising his feet with a fury that spikes like a flame.]

Then next time, open your blasted mouth and tell us if you're guilty or not, instead of making us waste precious time on you that could have been used to save that boy!!