PC CATCHALL FOR RIKA

[greatdeduction]

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[greatdeduction]

...

[That actually makes him pause?]

I can't allow myself to be wrong, no.

[syndromed]

Mii?

Well, everyone is wrong sometimes.

[greatdeduction]

....They can be. But in my case...

[And he steps forward, only to press his shoe on a shard.]

[It is a scene, alright (watch to 1:12). At first a bit silly, what with Sholmes's color change, but then the young lady rushes in, and delivers the news. Inspector Gregson is dead. And Sholmes, usually so jovial and outgoing, is suddenly taciturn, before he bursts out with emotion:]

["What use is a great detective if he can't see something like this coming, hm?!"]

[The memory fades, and Sholmes just...looks as haggard as he described himself.]

Yes. Something like that could happen, if I'm wrong.

[syndromed]

[ ... interesting.

rika sets aside the matter of whether or not it was actually van zieks - she imagines that it wasn't, based on how the two have interacted here. ]

That isn't being wrong, it's just failing to predict the future. Detectives are for figuring out the past.

[greatdeduction]

[He shakes his head. For once, he's deathly serious, so uncharacteristic of his normal attitude.]

No, you misunderstand. I had foreseen something would happen to the Inspector. But I...didn't expect it would happen quite like that. So his death is my...personal failure.

[syndromed]

But you didn't kill him.

[greatdeduction]

No. But I made a miscalculation.

[A frown.]

I should have seen it sooner.

[syndromed]

Perhaps.

But it's still far from a sin.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He huffs.]

It isn't, I suppose. But...ah. 'Tis gloomy talk, my dear girl. No need to worry yourself with it.

[syndromed]

Mii... Okay.

[ ... she's quiet for a little bit.

then: ]

How long ago was that?

[greatdeduction]

...Not too long ago, actually. Shortly before I came here.

[syndromed]

[ huh. ]

Was it actually Van Zieks?

[greatdeduction]

[He shakes his head.]

He was set up for the whole affair. He never had any part in the crime.

[syndromed]

That's a relief.

[ ... but she knows better than to just be happy about it. i mean, even if you catch the real culprit afterwards, the person is still dead. ]

[greatdeduction]

It is. But still, that case was...dark, indeed.

[A long-suffering sigh.]

Regardless...yes! As I said! No darkness here, my dear girl. You shouldn't have to deal with such grave matters.

[syndromed]

It would be nice if I didn't have to.

But this place isn't very kind.

[greatdeduction]

...Of course it isn't. But it doesn't mean we should allow ourselves to drown in the grim fog of it all. Hold our heads high, I say.

[syndromed]

[ she's a little curious to know more about this inspector, but... maybe another time. she doesn't want to make him linger on it if he doesn't want to.

i'm not even going to try to figure out a way to justify her interacting with a shard. maybe bernkastel, as a cat, swished her tail and brushed one by mistake. don't ask me.

rika talks to a friend about some kitties. ]

[greatdeduction]

...

[What....was that?]

[He opens his mouth. Closes his mouth. And looks over at her, questioningly.]

[syndromed]

[ what was what. don't worry about it. it's fine. ]

[greatdeduction]

[His eyebrows furrow.]

My dear madam, I would ask of you to explain.

[syndromed]

[ not getting off that easy, huh. ]

... I was right. That world was doomed.

[greatdeduction]

[nope, he's a nosy binch]

..."That world"? It seemed peaceful, but...the things you were saying...

[IT SEEMED REAL BAD]

[syndromed]

I believe it was Shion who killed me, that time. That's usually who it is, when Keiichi breaks into the storeroom.

[greatdeduction]

...

[A chill runs down his spine.]

...How many times have you died, Miss Rika?