...I'm terribly upset and sorry to say that Mr. Van Zieks is dead. But not by the hands of a murderer, as expected. I am not sure how, but he met his end at the hands of spectres last night, along with that floating skeleton boy we saw at the masquerade, Emil.
[ That... is a double blow. While he'd only gotten to speak to Emil the once... he was so innocent. He told him he'd be his friend...
But even worse, hearing that about van Zieks sends a chill through him.
He promised he'd help keep him safe. The spectres... did they come in through windows that he wasn't able to close yet? Would he have been able to do something if he was here?
For as stable as Sholmes helped get him, this makes him start to draw back a bit. Metaphorically and literally. He needed to know, but the news is still so awful. ]
[But it just makes his expression turn stern, shaking his head. Another reminder, at how much is at stake. How all of them could be in danger, at any time.]
...The townspeople were...most generous in performing rites for the both of them. But it is a most devastating loss, regardless.
[He looks down, reaching for the other's hand to hold with his, intertwining their fingers.]
It's even more reason why...I will fight with all my power to keep you safe.
[ There's a soft nodding. He's still so tired and feels like such a broken man, but this helps.
Finley's no longer shaking and hiding, but still in her rabbit form and he, himself, is no longer ignoring that touch. It's progress.
There's a soft sigh. And he remembers. ]
Oh, there was a note you should see.
[ He's digging out the small bag he carries on him, the very one that Irene was digging in for coin and hands it to Sholmes.
Of course, what's in there are the two letters he'd received from the dead, the original note and that picture of Sholmes from their selfie session. All of them have light stains of blood on them from the tear in his bag. But also in there is the new note. ]
Yeah... I got lucky it didn't get completely destroyed.
[ He would have been sad had all those letters and the picture been destroyed.
But note! In loopy handwriting! (Not the same as his other note.)
The Authority is not the Creator it claims to be. It is easy to fall victim to their lies, as one of the eldest beings of this universe. Xaphania is no exception, and to have one's pride wounded is to no longer seek understanding. ]
It sounded like those might opposing sides. When I asked about the Celestials and Temporals, they said they didn't know. That they only knew about The Authority and Xaphania.
The Book of Life can't fall into either hand... that it would allow them to manipulate and discard the worlds. Our worlds, included.
I don't know if I should. I don't even know what I should tell anyone.
[ Sholmes being the exception, of course. ]
I don't want this falling into the wrong hands... especially if people can lose control of themselves from the Angels.
[ He sighs, leaning a bit against Sholmes now. ]
In case it ever comes up, the angel that helped us was named Raguel. They used to be a friend of God. They sacrificed themselves to purify that dragon and save us.
I don't know. When we were trying to escape and make it back to the gate, it came to attack us. That's where I lost the leg. The gate we were supposed to return from was destroyed... that's when Raguel sacrificed themselves. We never would have made it out of there without that.
[Irene squawks at Finley's change, burbling as she rubs her beak against her - before she sighs, and shifts into a hare probably for the first time in several days.]
[And its fine, the blood is hashtag aesthetic.]
Yes, of course. [And he leans in, pressing a kiss against his lips.] We've come so far. Let us continue.
[Irene snuggles up against her. Just the way it should be.]
Yes. [He says, quietly - again his arms wrap around him, keeping him close.] No matter what...you have a great detective to believe in. Always remember that.
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...I'm terribly upset and sorry to say that Mr. Van Zieks is dead. But not by the hands of a murderer, as expected. I am not sure how, but he met his end at the hands of spectres last night, along with that floating skeleton boy we saw at the masquerade, Emil.
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But even worse, hearing that about van Zieks sends a chill through him.
He promised he'd help keep him safe. The spectres... did they come in through windows that he wasn't able to close yet? Would he have been able to do something if he was here?
For as stable as Sholmes helped get him, this makes him start to draw back a bit. Metaphorically and literally. He needed to know, but the news is still so awful. ]
I... I see...
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[He doesn't know what to say after that.]
[But it just makes his expression turn stern, shaking his head. Another reminder, at how much is at stake. How all of them could be in danger, at any time.]
...The townspeople were...most generous in performing rites for the both of them. But it is a most devastating loss, regardless.
[He looks down, reaching for the other's hand to hold with his, intertwining their fingers.]
It's even more reason why...I will fight with all my power to keep you safe.
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We fight together, right...?
[ He slowly brings his other hand up to rest on Sholmes' neck. ]
We have the stars and the future to look to.
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[He sighs at the touch, rubbing his thumb over the other's hand.]
You and I. As one.
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[ There's a soft nodding. He's still so tired and feels like such a broken man, but this helps.
Finley's no longer shaking and hiding, but still in her rabbit form and he, himself, is no longer ignoring that touch. It's progress.
There's a soft sigh. And he remembers. ]
Oh, there was a note you should see.
[ He's digging out the small bag he carries on him, the very one that Irene was digging in for coin and hands it to Sholmes.
Of course, what's in there are the two letters he'd received from the dead, the original note and that picture of Sholmes from their selfie session. All of them have light stains of blood on them from the tear in his bag. But also in there is the new note. ]
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[But he'll take the note with his free hand. What does it say?]
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[ He would have been sad had all those letters and the picture been destroyed.
But note! In loopy handwriting! (Not the same as his other note.)
The Authority is not the Creator it claims to be. It is easy to fall victim to their lies, as one of the eldest beings of this universe. Xaphania is no exception, and to have one's pride wounded is to no longer seek understanding. ]
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[He pores over the note for a moment, thinking.]
I can't say I've heard of either of these. "Xaphania"?
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The Book of Life can't fall into either hand... that it would allow them to manipulate and discard the worlds. Our worlds, included.
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[what the HECK]
Will you...let the Watchers know of it?
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[ Sholmes being the exception, of course. ]
I don't want this falling into the wrong hands... especially if people can lose control of themselves from the Angels.
[ He sighs, leaning a bit against Sholmes now. ]
In case it ever comes up, the angel that helped us was named Raguel. They used to be a friend of God. They sacrificed themselves to purify that dragon and save us.
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[If anyone can be compelled...then anyone can be used, and made to give away secrets.]
Raguel... [All these SAD ANGELS. GOD.] Where did that dragon even come from, anyways?
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And yeah. Angel friend. :c ]
I don't know. When we were trying to escape and make it back to the gate, it came to attack us. That's where I lost the leg. The gate we were supposed to return from was destroyed... that's when Raguel sacrificed themselves. We never would have made it out of there without that.
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[He strokes over the other's hair, frowning sadly.]
I'm sorry to hear that. it sounds like...they desperately wanted you to succeed, even at their own expense.
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[ So. That really sucked a lot. But let's be real, Kotetsu is the same kind of creature, so... he can't throw stones. ]
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[Yeah, it does ring familiar, with what he's heard from Kotetsu before. He's at least happy he won't pull something THAT drastic. Hopefully.]
Well, we won't let their sacrifice be in vain. We shall strive to keep the book safe, at all costs.
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Yes... [ Also, sorry, Sholmes. He's probably gotten you kind of bloody from all this? They're both a mess.
Also, Sholmes can probably feel the shift against his back as Finley finally eases into a tiger again. Tired tiger, but tiger nonetheless. ]
No, we won't. I have to see this through to the end, too. Their sacrifice wasn't just for the book... it was for our lives, as well.
[ So, no dying, hopefully. ]
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[And its fine, the blood is hashtag aesthetic.]
Yes, of course. [And he leans in, pressing a kiss against his lips.] We've come so far. Let us continue.
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Mm, yeah...
[ And he reciprocates the kiss. It's soft, but it's there. ]
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Yes. [He says, quietly - again his arms wrap around him, keeping him close.] No matter what...you have a great detective to believe in. Always remember that.
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Kotetsu nods softly, leaning heavy into the holding. ]
My own personal hero. [ There's a hint of a smile, a genuine one, at that. ]