#got milverton though good for him good for him

[frenchonionsoop]

i watched the other homoerotic detective show

[chriscalledmesweetie]

Chapter 16 is now on AO3

The Murder of Sir Emory J. Amat  by ChrisCalledMeSweetie

A Sherlock Holmes mystery, as recounted by Dr. John H. Watson.

Can you follow the clues to deduce whodunnit?

Chapter 16: Milverton

“John sticks to it that you believe someone in the house committed the murder,” said Harry. “All I can say is, you’re wrong.” 

“I should not like to be wrong,” said Holmes. “It is not my habit.” 

“I’ve got the facts pretty clearly,” continued Harry, taking no notice of Holmes’ remark, “from John and others. As far as I can see, of the people in the house, only two could have had the chance of doing it. Sebastian Moran and Irene Amat.” 

“My dear Harry,” I begin.

“Now, John, don’t interrupt me. I know what I’m talking about. Milverton met her outside the door, didn’t he? He didn’t hear her uncle saying goodnight to her. She could have killed him then and there.” 

“Harry!” 

“I’m not saying she did, John. I’m saying she could have done. As a matter of fact, though, I don’t for a minute believe she’d kill even a chicken. But there it is. Miss Hooper and Major Sholto have alibis. Mrs. Amat’s got an alibi. Even Mrs. Hudson seems to have one—and a good job for her it is she has. Who is left? Only Sebastian and Irene! And say what you will, I don’t believe Sebastian Moran is a murderer.”

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[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Oct. 2

Charles Augustus Milverton, Part 1 of 3

Before getting into the letter, I want to say I love that the case is simply called Charles Augustus Milverton. Not "The King of the Blackmailers" or "The Ruining Letters" or anything, but just the man's full name. Not even Moriarty had that honor.

I think I remember Milverton also being described as a rat at some point, which wouldn't be surprising. The description here of him is great though, just the instinctual feeling of being a prey in the sights of a predator, cause that's what Milverton is really.

A little detail which shows that not only is Milverton a very wealthy man, but unlike Amberley from the previous letter he's not afraid to flaunt it and show it off.

A neat thing about this case is that before it even begins Holmes is already at a disadvantage. Both Holmes and Milverton know that Milverton's basically got all the cards to play, and this moment is a great example of that.

In 1904 (when this story was published), seven thousand pounds would be around seven-hundred thousand pounds today, or around $850,000. So yeah, Milverton is asking for a lot of money from one person.

Milverton's smile keeps broadening through the letter, and if you imagine it never goes back down then it becomes a real creepy image of this man with this insanely large smile on his face.

Simply cornering him and taking his notebook is a desperate move on Holmes' part, and again shows that Milverton is at the advantage. The fact that Milverton calls him unoriginal for doing so is just salt on the wound.

Good ol' Watson, ready to knock a man down with a chair if necessary. Even if said man is holding a gun.

A disguise! Haven't seen one of those in a while. I'm sure Milverton will find this a much more interesting maneuver than earlier.

What a great introduction to Milverton. I look forward to the next letter.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

[explorersaremadeofhope]

What's your favorite Sherlock Holmes story?

oh no this is so hard!! i apologise in advance for how long this will get

in terms of like, craft and a good story and what i'm maybe most likely to pick up for a reread, cliché answer, but probably hound of the baskervilles. i think doyle was an occasionally really good horror writer, i'd happily have read more stories where he combined horror and sherlock holmes. i love the setting and the spooky descriptions of the moor. and it's got some of my favourite things, like watson getting to play a large role and be a hero in his own right (even if holmes does humiliate him a bit halfway through).

study in scarlet also, because it's so wonderfully character-driven and focused on holmes and watson's relationship (and how focused they are on each other), even though i gotta admit i tend to skip the middle flashback section lmao.

when it comes to the short stories they're so uneven. i think some of them are genuinely good, redheaded league is a good mystery plot and also hilarious; milverton and illustrious client are similar but both great (and feature another of my fav things: Holmes And Watson Sneak Around). musgrave ritual too, i love the riddle and the historical background, and the framing device of watson scolding holmes for not tidying up and holmes bringing out a box of old cases (did you see this comic? it's so good). final problem and empty house are kind of shoe-ins just because [gestures at their everything], but i actually especially like empt for how it shows us watson still being involved in cases on his own! solitary cyclist is solid too (and has the incongruously metal exchange 'she's my wife!' 'no -- she's your widow.')

but SH is a bit like star trek tos for me - some of the plots are thin as hell, but they have good character moments! so e.g. 3 garridebs is just redheaded league recycled, but it has the infamous 'worth the wound' moment which is incredible. blanched soldier and lion's mane are very mid (okay, lion is just bad lmfao) as mysteries go, but they have holmes being extremely dramatique about how watson has Abandoned Him. reigate squires isn't a favourite case of mine but shows holmes having had a literal breakdown and watson looking after him... i'll stop there because this is way too long but tldr, Many of them are Good for Different Reasons

[hanafubukki]

okay! so i laughed so much at this fic idea i just had to share it! if you have seen ”My Life as a Villainess” you’ll understand it better. but hear me out🥺 What if the reader is in Moriarty the Patriot and grows up as a noble. they meet the moriarty brothers when Albert was still reading to them at the orphanage but the reader makes them cookies to eat. The reader is a little dense/ naive. Perhaps meets a child Charles Milverton when they snuck out from house and played with him for a while and he fell in love with them. only to be pushed down by a few noble kids saying hes too poor to even think about it. Which starts him on the villain path….but can the reader save him? like they did with Moriartys, changing their view on nobles slightly (still burns down the house). Maybe in college they meet Sherlock at a bookstore, he is angry someone got the last book about decomposition and the reader gives him their copy saying they need it to write a paper, but he looks like he needs it more. Sherlock grabs them wanting to know all about the paper, only to have John intervene because he cant just grab a young lady like that! lol

Of course Anonie 👏💕🌻🌸 I would love to hear your thoughts.

So what your telling me is that you are making a harem with the moriarty the patriots boys? 👀👀 I approve 😌 though I never thought I would say that about milverton lmfaoo (i can see him be the yandere type just a bit honestly)

But this idea is cool! Reader might be naive but they show kindness and love and show that not all nobles are evil, which is greatly needed.

The moriarty brothers can find solace in you and they can also make sure their views aren’t tainted or biased because reader shows kindness despite coming from a rich background.

Omg, Anonie, what if 👀 Milverton was a good guy?? Reader notices the changes he was going through as a boy and steps in. Reader basically adopts him and defends him against the others. In time, milverton hrows his newspaper empire but instead of evil, he uses it for good. He helps the moriarty brothers bring down evil nobels by slandering them and letting key information out to the public so they can backlash at certain people 🤔🤔

Sherlock is astounded! What’s this?! Someone who is interested in the same topic as him?! And they are writing just an interesting paper?! Tell him more! He must know! Shhh John, don’t you see? Science is at work here and must be discussed. When he finds out you’re friends with William? Sherlock is even more intrigued because William as intriguing friends and you have definitely caught his eye

John is asking for forgive through his exasperated look, and you smile at him. It’s okay, you were used to this, you grew up with eccentric boys after all

[hergan416]

Do you have any yuumori omorashi hcs?

Wait is that how this was supposed to go? Well my asks are weird haha

Aaannyyway YES

Louis is the stoic kind so when he has to go you never know about it from him, unless you know him very well and you know just what it means when he shifts his weight Like That. He is very good at bladder control, and can hold it really well.

And while I usually hc Louis as being fairly commanding in bed, I see him listening to commands with omo. He'll hold it for you until he trembles with want and has no idea which of his wants is stronger.

Albert has 0 bladder control, on the other hand. His blood is half alcohol. His bladder fills quickly and he doesn't relish the feeling of fullness. He's probably not much of a sport about it if you ask him to wait, or you create a situation where he might wet himself. But if he tried just for you he'd be vocal and squirmy and his face would flush. You better let him use an actual toilet at the end of the day though, mess just isn't for him.

Ruskin is fully into it. Holding, water sports, wetting, everything. He will give or take commands, he is expressive and appreciative and very sexy about it. If I were to write the classic "orgasm into pissing absolutely desperately" scene it would absolutely involve him. He'd do it inside you, if you let him. He will drink water and stand and let you cock warm him in places you don't want him to pee and tremble waiting until he's allowed. Absolutely my trash omo character. Will do anything and everything ever sexy about piss. Sorry not sorry.

Milverton likes the same shit but it's Ruskin's fault. They have a conversation after the low-quality panel where Milvy is like "I just expected you to break it O.O" and Milvy ends up enjoying himself too. Milvy doesn't take it though, just gives. He's got too much of a chip on his shoulder and Ruskin doesn't ask him for it anyway.

Sherlock probably wouldn't care one way or another, he doesn't find it gross tho. Probably one of those people who thinks pee is sanitary. John gives him shit about it. Just leave his violins out of it!

[ogsherlockholmes]

21st October

I don’t really enjoy The Three Gables due to the racism in it (I made a post about it waaaayyy back when I first started this blog) and I think the main villain is actually ACD himself because of the racism. But, the fictional antagonist is Isadora Klein. 

Here is the description Sherlock gives us:

“It would be well that you [Watson] should come with me, for it is safer to have a witness when you are dealing with such a lady as Isadora Klein...She was, of course, the celebrated beauty. There was never a woman to touch her. She is pure Spanish, the real blood of the masterful Conquistadors, and her people have been leaders in Pernambuco for generations. She married the aged German sugar king, Klein, and presently found herself the richest as well as the most lovely widow upon earth. Then there was an interval of adventure when she pleased her own tastes. She had several lovers, and Douglas Maberley, one of the most striking men in London, was one of them... But she is the ‘belle dame sans merci’ of fiction. When her caprice is satisfied the matter is ended, and if the other party in the matter can’t take her word for it she knows how to bring it home to him...She is about to marry the young Duke of Lomond, who might almost be her son.” 

To summarise, Klein got herself a sugar king (I’m sure that means something to do with actual sugar and not Sherlock saying she had a sugar daddy, but the second option is funnier, so I’ll leave it to you to decide) then started dating men younger than her. On the whole, that isn’t villainous (despite what Victorian slut-shamers tell you) but she would blackmail these man when she got bored, which isn’t great. It’s like she was Charles Augustus Milverton, but she was involved with the blackmail in that she was risking her reputation if she exposed the scandal. 

Sherlock and Watson visit Klein, who basically immediately gives in as soon as Sherlock mentions the police. 

“What is this intrusion...?” she asked... “I [Sherlock] need not explain, madame. I have too much respect for your intelligence to do so– though I confess that intelligence has been surprisingly at fault of late.” “How so, sir?” “By supposing that your hired bullies could frighten me from my work...” “I have no idea what you are talking about. What have I to do with hired bullies?” Holmes turned away wearily. “Yes, I have underrated your intelligence. Well, good-afternoon!” “Stop! Where are you going?” “To Scotland Yard.” We had not got halfway to the door before she had overtaken us and was holding his arm. She had turned in a moment from steel to velvet. “Come and sit down, gentlemen. Let us talk this matter over. I feel that I may be frank with you, Mr. Holmes. You have the feelings of a gentleman. How quick a woman’s instinct is to find it out. I will treat you as a friend.” 

As an antagonist, Klein is very weak because she doesn’t even try to defend herself. I think this is most due to gender stereotyping, so that the most evil thing she is capable of doing as a woman in that era is have sex with younger men. So, she’s turned into an apologetic but sultry lady, rather than being actually criminal. The fact this quote is included as well ‘She smiled and nodded with a charming coquettish intimacy.’ only victimises her and diminishes her acts so that she is seen as a woman who made a mistake and not a blackmailer. 

I could go into a lot more detail on this subject, but I’m just going to say this: if you’ve ever seen two people, a man and a woman, commit a crime, such as murder, who receives the harsher punishment? 

When women receive less harsh sanctions for their crimes, it reinforces the stereotype that woman are weak and incapable of violence, when that is untrue.

Yes, I’m jumping quite far from the story, but I still think it’s important to look into how these stereotypes have come about, and ACD’s stories in particular can reinforce a lot of them. 

[thestarkster1465]

Ok no, listen to this

We all know about the whole 7% solution thing in the Holmes books, right? No one missed that. (BBC Sherlock fans, no this is not about Sherlock. This is Holmes.)

And he states that he only uses it as a stimulant when he is out of work. Ok. But you can’t just give up on addiction that fast, even if your name is Sherlock Holmes. So how did he do it?

I have a theory: the man was on crack half the time.

I love the Holmes books, I’ve read them all at least a dozen times. And you can’t tell me they don’t read like a tumblr post 75% of the time. Or like an interaction between Will and Jem from The Infernal Devices. I mean in modern language, they would go something like this:

A Scandal in Bohemia

Watson: How are you going to find the photograph?

Holmes: Idk, probably set the house on fire

The Red Headed-League

Holmes: Hey, Watson, got a gun?

Watson: Yeah, you asked me to.

Holmes: Good.

Watson: You don’t? What did you bring with you?

Holmes: A whip.

The Speckled Band

Watson: So... there’s a leopard

Holmes: Yes.

Watson: What do we do then?

Holmes: Pray to God and run.

The Cardboard Box

Susan Cushing: That box has severed ears in it!

Holmes: Yeah, but look at that salt though.

The Naval Treaty

Percy Phelps: This is a very important letter, I can’t lose it, there will be a war if it gets out, I got brain fever and almost died when it was stolen-

Holmes: Sorry, I couldn’t find it. 

Percy:...

Holmes: April Fools!!!

The Final Problem:

Moriarty: *threatens Holmes*

Moriarty: *follows him to Reichenbach to kill him*

Holmes: Cool, can I write a letter?

The Empty House

Holmes: I died... not really.

Holmes: Time to scare the shit out of Mrs. Hudson, I miss her.

Watson: I thought you were dead!

Holmes: It appears that the rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated... by you.

The Priory School

Holmes: I sold my principles for 6000 pounds.

Watson: Whhaaatt??

Holmes: He’s just a rich white man, how much can it hurt?

Black Peter

Holmes: *enters with a harpoon*

Watson: Where the hell have you been roaming with that thing?

Holmes: I was trying to stab a pig.

Watson:...

Holmes: It’s not as easy as it sounds.

Charles Augustus Milverton

Watson: Okay, we’re supposed to steal this letter.

Holmes: Yup.

Watson: Except there’s this woman in front of the man we’re supposed to be stealing from, and she’s rambling about how he ruined her life.

Holmes: Yup.

Watson: Holmes, what do we do? Should we leave?

Holmes: No, let’s wait, I’m kinda curious how this is going to turn out.

.

.

.

Lestrade: Holmes, I need your help with this murder-

Holmes: Sounds like Watson did it.

Watson: 😶😶

The Second Stain

Lestrade: Look! The stain on the carpet doesn’t match the stain on the floor! Can you explain that, huh?

Holmes:...

Holmes: Bitch, someone rotated it.

The Bruce-Partington Plans

Holmes: Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Call 911!

Watson: Holmes? Everything all right? Did something bad happen? 

Holmes: No, nothing bad happened.

Watson: Then what-

Holmes: My brother is coming here.

Watson: But what-

Holmes: MY BROTHER IS COMING HERE

The Dying Detective

Holmes: I was dying.

Holmes: And now I’m not.

Watson:..

Watson: I feel like murdering you myself right now, not gonna lie.

The Devil’s Foot

Holmes: I think this is a deadly poison.

Holmes: Let’s both of us try it.

His Las Bow

Watson: I thought you retired.

Holmes: I did. But the level of jackassery here pulled me out of it.

Watson: Well, that’s true, there’s a war...

Holmes: I leave for 5 minutes and it all goes to shit.

Three Garridebs

Watson: Holmes, don’t hurt him!

Holmes: But he shot you!

Watson: Yeah, but-

Holmes: He shot you!

The Illustrious Client

Watson: Holmes, I heard you almost died! 

Holmes: Nah, I’m fine. What do you know about pottery?

Watson: What?

Holmes: Pottery, Watson. Specifically, Chinese Pottery. I want you to research on it.

The Blanched Soldier

Holmes: I want to write a story.

Holmes: And I don’t know how. 

Holmes: *writes the story*

Holmes: This is a pile of horseshit. I miss Watson.

I’d write about the long stories too, but my fingers are hurting now.

[wobster109]

Clouded Kokoro thoughts (spoilers)-

This whole case was just so persistently sweet and human. I mean, it was definitely uncomfortably filled with racism (by intentional, purposeful design), but still. I just want every character to be better off and have a good life. There’s newlyweds constable Roly Beate and Pat Beate, all scraggly and covered in patches. He works long hours and just wanted to take her out for their anniversary, and she loves the single rose pitifully wrapped in old newspaper that he presents her, and doesn’t complain about their sparse life.

Then there’s old married couple John and Joan Garrideb, and they’re just full of secrets… secrets that are gradually revealed throughout the case. But the last secret came when John took the stand. Despite having a fight where Joan slapped him and threw stuff and him and literally caught the apartment on fire, he voluntarily got on the stand with her… no small feat as he has a bad knee and is chair-bound! His apartment is two flights of stairs up, and he wasn’t even summoned, but he took the stand anyway so his wife wouldn’t have to be alone.

And standing there, for the first time, I could see him from the back, revealing the back of his robe stained and worn through at the seat, and it broke my heart! And that’s what he does through and through, doing his best to keep up appearances when his life is going to pieces. He wears a ruffled jabot and military medal over his tattered and stained bathrobe. He pretends to have a maid whom he can’t afford. The house is falling down around his ears. And his undergarments showing through his robe is just tragic. I- I just want him to be happy in his old age.

I’m falling a little in love with goofy old Herr Lock??? There’s some weird chemistry in their Great Deduction dance. And he called me partner. And he invited Susato and me to live with him! And oddly, every time I try to write him off as a ridiculous fool, he turns around and proves me wrong. Like when he revealed he hadn’t actually accused Natsume-san, and had only deduced his location. Or when he wrecked Natsume-san after the trial.

Will I end up shipping Herlock Sholmes x Ryuu? Maybe?? Idk??? Not fully over Kazuma yet but I’m feeling something for Sholmes here!

Ok, Ryuunosuke is pretty cute when he’s confident and making deductions. Way cuter than when he’s sweating and twitching in court lol!

One complaint though… why are the cases so easy? They are long but each step is fairly obvious. Especially “pursue” is super obvious… too obvious in my opinion. The visual thought bubble, the audio exclamation, and the ! sign on the circular slider.

But beyond that, what evidence to present also feels too obvious. Too often, we get evidence and then it’s used in the very next step. I remember in the original trilogy, I had to think (and honestly, guess) a lot of the time, and somehow that made it more satisfying.

Bruce really came through for me. I thought he was a sleaze ball last time, but I’ve misjudged. I’m sorry I tried to pin Milverton on him.

Prosecutor van Zieks came through for me too. I loled when he told Joan he “couldn’t recall”, hah! I’m not surprised - this is case 4 out of 5, and prosecutors tend to turn into my allies around then. Will I end up shipping Ryuu x Reaper? Shipping with the prosecutor tends to be a thing that happens in Ace Attorney games, so maybe?

I was all set to love Kazuma forever, but I have to say, Barok van Zieks is incredibly beautiful. I mean, lots of characters are cute or cool or even attractive, but not many are beautiful. Miles Edgeworth is beautiful. Barok van Zieks can give Miles Edgeworth a run for the title.

[renegadewangs]

Van Zieks - the Examination, part 6

Warnings: SPOILERS for The Great Ace Attorney: Chronicles. Additional warning for racist sentiments uttered by fictional characters (and screencaps to show these sentiments).

Disclaimer: (see Part 1 for the more detailed disclaimer.) - These posts are not meant to be taken as fact. Everything I’m outlining stems from my own views and experiences. If you believe that I’ve missed or misinterpreted something, please let me know so I can edit the post accordingly. -The purpose of these posts is an analysis, nothing more. Please do not come into these posts expecting me to either defend Barok van Zieks from haters, nor expecting me to encourage the hatred. - I’m using the Western release of The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles for these posts, but may refer to the original Japanese dialogue of Dai Gyakuten Saiban if needed to compare what’s said. This also means I’m using the localized names and localized romanization of the names to stay consistent. -It doesn’t matter one bit to me whether you like Barok van Zieks or dislike him. However, I will ask that everyone who comments refrains from attacking real, actual people.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

And here we have the second half of The Unspeakable Story, because the case was so long I had to split it into two.

Episode 5: The Unspeakable Story – Part 2

When we last left off, Gina was allowed to testify about the omnibus murder two months ago. Sure enough, she talks about what really happened and how she was threatened into lying in court of law. The judge realizes that he made a grave error in letting McGilded walk. Again, I'm not sure why he's only realizing this now when that trial ended in disarray, with the entire gallery shouting about whether it was or wasn't a gross miscarriage of justice.

I'm giving Van Zieks an additional scumbag point for this remark, since Ryu had already admitted to his wrongdoing and, despite Van Zieks's repeated warnings of 'are you sure about this', brought the details of the falsified testimony up himself. Don't pretend to be understanding about the position this puts Ryu in if you're going to be a jerk about it afterwards, Van Zieks.

Some shenanigans and Gregson whispering to Graydon later, Scotland Yard returns with the small box! Turns out it's a music box! When suggested that the court should listen to the music on the disc, Gregson interjects and unconvincingly claims the music box and disc are unrelated to the case. Ryu objects to say that the disc is fundamentally important for understanding the motives of the crime and Van Zieks, on his own accord, chimes in that the prosecution has no objections. When Gregson continues to stammer that the disc is police property, Van Zieks says:

“But it is policy of this prosecutor to leave no avenues unexplored. And you, Inspector, have no jurisdiction here to prevent that from happening.”

So Gregson and Van Zieks are definitely not buddies. Since Gregson is a key player in this case (and I mean that in a negative way, since Gregson is actively hiding important knowledge from the court), the fact that Van Zieks is turning a deaf ear to his pleas does in fact make Van Zieks an accomplice of ours in a roundabout way. Only for this particular context, though. The point is, so long as the prosecution continues to agree with the defense about unveiling key pieces of evidence, Van Zieks is helping Ryu achieve his ultimate goal. Also it's just plain fun to watch Gregson panic. We're having a jolly old time in this courtroom!

Unfortunately, when the box is played, there's no music. It's just weird tones. So Ryu is confronted with the question of whether the music box's sounds are relevant to the case or not. Naturally, I chose that they aren't relevant to see what would happen. I don't know why I expected any different than this:

“When you speak, you must mean what you say. ...Or be prepared to suffer the consequences.”

Penalty from Van Zieks! He's right though, I never learn. Okay, so let's say the tones are relevant. Van Zieks jumps onto that like a cat pouncing on a mouse toy, of course. He wants to know just what that relevance is. Ryu says that the chimes aren't necessarily music, and Van Zieks pursues relentlessly. “Well, now that you've told us what they are not, I'm sure the court would like to hear what they are. Do enlighten us, my Nipponese friend.” This is all very standard fare, of course. In any Ace Attorney game, the player has to outline their reasoning in steps, which means the prosecution and/or the judge will continue to ask for elaboration until all the details are out in the open. Of course, Van Zieks has to be a jerk about it as he follows it up with the words “Surely you have an idea in mind? Because if not... It will be the death of your ill-formed argument!” Eesh. Harsh wording for such a simple concept of 'your argument is void if you don't tell us exactly what you mean'. What's bothersome about these moments is that often, the player already has an exact idea in mind, but the game's dialogue will beat around the bush a bit more and really rub it in. (example: Iris telling Ryu at this very moment that the music box isn't broken at all and it's meant to play these particular chimes.) But because the player isn't given the option to just figure this out for themselves and then gets scolded by the prosecution for 'taking too long', naturally the player may get frustrated.

I'm getting there! SHEESH! It's not my fault Iris is distracting me! I had the evidence ready to present like two minutes ago!

Anyway, Ryu finally links the chimes to government messages being intercepted and leaked to other countries. These messages are usually telegraphed in morse code, so it should be obvious where Ryu's going with this. Van Zieks looks horrified at the notion of the disc containing secrets in morse code. Still, alongside Ryu he works through the logic of what happened and how McGilded would've been involved in this. Graydon, who works at a telegraph office, is of course the prime suspect for intercepting those secrets and that's the reason why he broke into the pawn shop to recover the disc. Graydon is outraged by the accusation, saying “I've had to stand here in silence while that pretentious foreign lawyer has been prattling away!”, but Van Zieks cuts him off with an objection.

“The prosecution demands the witness testifies... in response to the accusations brought by the defense!”

It's Mrs. Garrideb all over again! Yes! So just to reiterate, the prosecution has nothing to gain by doing this, the way I see it. Ryu can't actively prove any of his theories, he's got no hard evidence. The only thing Ryu can do at this point is have Graydon testify and hope that he'll slip up; and Van Zieks is supporting this notion instead of demanding to see this currently non-existent evidence. So Graydon testifies, the topic of morse code comes up again, and we get a lesson in the basics of how it works with the dots and the dashes.

Surely it can't be that a prosecutor in an Ace Attorney game is being passive aggressive again? Anyway, turns out the music box doesn't play morse code at all because instead of dots and dashes, there's only one of the two. The testimony continues on to address that Graydon's last name used to be Milverton, a fact which causes Graydon to react very heavily and attempt to deny it. Van Zieks subtly reminds him that this effort is futile, since Graydon is a communications officer attached to civil service. His personal details would've been thoroughly checked when he was appointed to his position.

I enjoy it when Van Zieks finally gets turned around to point his sharp finger and sharp words towards people who actually deserve it. Yes, he's ferocious and a somewhat horrible person, but Graydon had this coming for being, y'know, a literal murderer who tried to frame a teenage girl. Van Zieks even reminds Graydon of the same sentiment (“it would really take no time at all for the court to subpoena those records”) later when Graydon continues to deny that Mason Milverton was his father. Good boy, Van Zieks. You're learning that not all British citizens are upstanding and it's okay to accuse some of them of wrongdoing. Because remember, in earlier trials when Ryu would indirectly accuse witnesses (or juror no 4) of lying or criminal activity, Van Zieks would overreact with an “HOW DARE YOU, SIR” of sorts. But not this time, oh no. How dared Graydon?

So with the relation between Graydon and the victim of the omnibus murder proven, we've made headway, but still not enough. So long as the music box chimes seem irrelevant, we don't have the full story to pin Graydon down for anything. For this reason, Ryu gets back on that topic and insists it's very much possible for the disc to contain secret messages. Van Zieks is still not quite convinced.

Covering his insecurities with fancy speech, I see. Van Zieks can act as smart as he wants, but the brutal truth of the matter will always be that he's not smart enough to take evidence in his own two hands and flip it over or open it up. Ryu's the only one who takes the practical approach, opens the bottom and finds out that the music box can actually play two discs at the same time. One for dots and one for dashes, which means there's a second disc out there. So with this out in the open, it's time for everyone's favorite type of Ace Attorney tennis: The back and forth truth reveal! Ryu and Van Zieks take turns in detailing the chronology of Graydon's illegal dealings with McGilded, with negotiations apparently turning sour in the omnibus two months ago, and thus the brickmaker met his end. McGilded attempted to hide the stolen disc by sticking it in his coat and pawning it at the pawnshop, but Graydon found out about this, etc. We've all played the case, we all know the story.

Graydon ultimately admits to having been at the crime scene that night, but still refuses to admit he worked with McGilded or stole government secrets. (Okay okay, ALBA, your denial is too powerful to let this game end, have it your way.) Ryu surmises that only Graydon could have shot Windibank, as he would've been the third intruder holding a third gun. Graydon flips this logic around; now that he's admitted he was at the crime scene that night, he can also admit to 'what he saw' as a 'key witness'. He claims that he saw the moment Windibank was shot by the pickpocket and he took the third gun afterwards, and he's ready to testify about it. Van Zieks, who should technically be jumping at the opportunity to hear decisive testimony for his precious guilty verdict, is instead not amused at all.

“If it is shown that your claim is false, you will have incriminated yourself as the killer.”

And these are some very telling lines once again. Why would he warn Graydon about this if he didn't have reason to believe those claims would be proven false? Why would he think Graydon could incriminate himself as the killer if he were 100% convinced that Gina is the culprit? He must know by now there's a strong chance that Gina is innocent and Graydon is the real killer. But sure enough, Graydon testifies about watching through a peephole and seeing blood spatter over the coat. Blood which he couldn't know is there unless he saw the murder happen. So the judge wonders whether the coat can be tested for blood and indeed, Van Zieks confirms that it can. A German scientist discovered that test 'very recently' and it's already being used in several courts around the globe because this test was actually, y'know, verified in the field of science.

“Ideas are no use to us here. In science, as in law, theories must be proven before they stand.” “We could shatter all vestiges of doubt within minutes!”

rip. To be clear, it doesn't seem as if Van Zieks actually knows for certain there's blood on the coat, because how could he? His insistence on the blood test doesn't seem to be motivated by hope of 'cornering Gina because the blood will definitely be there'. Rather, I think he just wants to either prove or disprove Graydon's testimony so we can all get on with our lives. Plus, I think he may want to flaunt these 'official methods' just to diss (S)Holmes's methods some more. While waiting for the results, Ryu is allowed to cross-examine the very suspicious peephole testimony. Despite Ryu being the one to press Graydon at every statement, Van Zieks will occasionally chime in with questions of his own to get some clarification. Which is funny, because the prosecution isn't the one who has to cross-examine witnesses. Van Zieks should technically be staying out of it. The fact that he's butting in to needle Graydon some more is just... I don't know, it's another one of those very telling moments, I suppose. Again, he probably already suspects that Graydon is the real killer.

The cross-examination is put on hold when the test results finally come back, confirming the blood on Gina's coat. Ryu still tries to save his case by saying the blood actually belonged to Mason Milverton, but that's obviously a very dangerous route to take.

“Did you not argue fervently for McGilded's innocence? And yet now that the man is dead... You brand him as a murderer? Your conduct shatters any shred of respect you may have earnt for yourself in this country!”

We all know he was a murderer for real. Van Zieks knows this more than anyone in the courtroom (well, except maybe Graydon). Besides, Gina testified about this like fifteen minutes earlier. To be frank, the fact that Ryu is admitting to this openly should actually warrant more respect as opposed to breaking it down. Because, remember, Van Zieks gave Ryu several options two months ago to blindly defend McGilded and instead of taking those opportunities, Ryu instead admitted he couldn't say for certain whether there was foul play happening. I think what's going on here may be that Van Zieks is emotionally conflicted. He was already buying into the theory that Gina is innocent and Graydon is the real killer, but the blood on the coat threw a wrench into it all. Graydon hypothetically could only have the coat knowledge if he'd seen it happen, which makes Gina the real killer after all. With something so conclusive, any belief he might've invested into Ryu's integrity has just been 'betrayed' and indeed, if Ryu's integrity is in doubt, anything else to come from him will also be relentlessly drawn into question. That doesn't just apply to Van Zieks; all the jury members who were on Ryu's side before immediately, unanimously vote guilty. Van Zieks assumes that there will be another Summation Examination, as has become the norm.

Ryu grows desperate, because changing the jury's minds is going to be exceptionally difficult now. Thankfully, our hero (S)Holmes appears! That mischievous scamp!

“Detective (derogatory)”. I think it would've been an interesting plotline if (S)Holmes actively investigated the Professor case back then, perhaps even at Van Zieks's request, and failed to find the killer in time to prevent Klint's death. That would explain why Barok now thinks so badly of (S)Holmes and the amazing detective he's described as in the novels. Unfortunately, the second game never really addresses whether (S)Holmes played a part in the Professor investigation and if so, why it ultimately came down Genshin's duel and Gregson forging evidence to 'close the case'. You'd think that if (S)Holmes investigated the deaths, he and his partner would've tracked down the real killer long before things could escalate that badly.

Anyway, (S)Holmes asks for five minutes of the court's time to pass some evidence on to the defense. Van Zieks begins by saying that the trial has already taken up many hours of the court's time. So 'having spent that long already...' Gregson cuts him off to agree, saying that since they've spent so long already, they don't want to waste even more time. Unfortunately for him, that's not what Van Zieks was about to say at all.

So he's fully on our side again! Hurray! All well and good, but he does still fling one of his chalices later to signify the five minutes are up. (S)Holmes thanks Van Zieks for allowing the brief recess, the reply being that he needs no thanks, since “the die is cast”. In other words, they've already reached a point of no return here. At first this seems like a very cryptic dismissal of gratitude, but what Van Zieks is actually saying is that the jurors have already made up their minds and settled on guilty. “Any attempt to alter the verdict now would be utterly futile.” Which still doesn't say much about whether Van Zieks believes they're headed in the right direction, it only says that he doesn't believe Ryu can convince them to change their minds this time.

Surprise! Ryu doesn't have to! When (S)Holmes came into the room in disguise to deliver the lab results of the coat, the cross-examination of Graydon was actually suspended. This means that, by law, Ryu has the right to continue that cross-examination instead of turning to the jurors for the Summation Examination. Van Zieks suffers through his damage animation (which has been rarely seen by this point in the game and honestly, it's a delight to watch), calling the whole matter absurd. This is the law, Ziekie boy! Deal with it! So with this final chance granted, Ryu presents the catflap device to debunk Graydon's testimony about the peephole. Susato tampered with the crime scene and made that cat flap mere minutes after Windibank was shot. So if the cat flap wasn't there before, how could Graydon possibly have witnesses what he claims to have witnessed?

Oh, he's thrown off now. He's got no idea what to believe anymore. I can't blame him; who would expect a trial to take a turn like this? We're getting close, but Van Zieks has one more obstacle to throw our way, as all prosecutors do. How can we prove that the peephole flap was made after the crime as opposed to before it? “When was the peephole cut? The prosecution demands proof of your answer!” Again, this is par for the course. This is what any prosecutor would demand. Evidence is law in Ace Attorney world and Van Zieks needs tangible proof that Ryu isn't just a 'lying traitor' like Genshin was. Naturally, we have proof and Van Zieks is the one we have to thank for that.

Considering Van Zieks is the one who showed up to court that day with a big stack of photographs from that very same 'infernal camera', this line will never stop cracking me up.  So now we know for sure the peephole was made after Windibank was shot! Unfortunately, in submitting evidence we now also know one other thing.

To be fair, Susato didn't know it was a legit murder scene until the cat flap was created and they could see the body. Up until that point, it was just a scene for breaking-and-entering, along with (S)Holmes shooting. I'm sure that was taken into account when discussing the punishment later on, though. Anyway, we've proven Graydon's perjury, but Van Zieks insists we still haven't quite proven that he's a killer. Luckily, Ryu's already two steps ahead of Van Zieks here. Since we've proven that Graydon was lying about what he saw, the question is now how he knows about these things to begin with. He couldn't possibly have seen the peephole with his own eyes, so how did he know it was there? And how did he know about the blood on the coat? Gregson once again decides to interject, asking Van Zieks for 'a word, please'. He wants to leave the courtroom and return to the station to put in his report.

“You will remain exactly where you are until this trial concludes.”

Heeheeh. Brutal. So with Gregson forced to stay, Ryu is free to insinuate that information about the crime scene must've been leaked to Graydon. And since Graydon had no idea he'd be summoned to court to testify on the murder, he could only have received the information after arriving at the Old Bailey. The only person with the opportunity to pass that information to him (in the middle of a trial, I might add) was Gregson. Gregson immediately barks that he had no reason to leak information about the investigation to someone like Graydon, but we know that's not true. Ryu suggests there was a deal.

I really enjoy this particular expression on Van Zieks, and it fits especially well in this context. While he usually looks very calm and cold on the surface, he now looks outwardly ferocious, slightly unhinged. Perhaps even in pain. This is the face of betrayal and humiliation. We learn in the second game that Van Zieks had already suspected Gregson of having dirty hands when it comes to the Reaper, so I expect this insinuation hits extra hard now. It's confirming to Van Zieks that Gregson is indeed not above dirty tactics. He doesn't take it lightly, of course. “With the stakes so high, the prosecution is not prepared to listen to baseless charges. It is incumbent on the defense now to present evidence in support of this diabolical claim.”

So let's do it. It all comes down to the music box disc and the stolen government secrets, of course. Gregson admits that he was ordered to retrieve the stolen information and do it “on the q.t.” Top secret mission, this one, though earlier on it was implied to have been ordered by Stronghart. Van Zieks concludes that Gregson objected so heavily to the disc being used as evidence because he knew of the information on it. Gregson replies that he realized there was a possibility of it. Since we know the music box plays two discs, the deal must've involved this second disc. Van Zieks is now thinking ahead very quickly, here. He asserts that since Gregson is a Scotland Yard detective, he would've approached this deal with extreme caution and not simply taken Graydon's word for it. He would have asked for the article in question to be handed to him immediately and so, it stands to reason the second disc is in the courtroom at that very moment. Gregson doesn't take lightly to the accusations and when Ryu suggests a cavity- sorry, I mean body search, Gregson agrees to it without so much as a flinch. Suspicious behavior, to say the least. But this means the body search is allowed and everything rests on the outcome.

“If, following the search of the inspector's personal effects, no disk is found... You will be deemed unfit for court service, this trial will end and my country's government will formally demand of yours that you are severely reprimanded.”

But Van Zieks, if Ryu were deemed unfit for court service, who would you face in hectic turnabout trials? He's your one true nemesis now, remember? The judge agrees with Van Zieks's sentiments, but Iris has some very interesting insight: “You're just threatening Runo because you're scared!” Since Iris is one of the most clever characters in the games, we have to examine this statement further. If he's scared, then what's he scared of? My guess would be the firm, undeniable confirmation that Gregson is willing to screw with a fair trial and let a killer walk free. Yes, he was ordered to do this by his superiors (STRONGHART), but it doesn't change that Gregson is throwing an innocent girl under the omnibus to get what he wants. And again, keep this in mind, Van Zieks already held suspicions that Gregson had something to do with the Reaper curse. But they were friends once; Gregson was Klint's friend. There's a difference between suspecting an old buddy of being up to no good and hard evidence that it's true. What adds credence to this being the reason of Van Zieks's fear is one of the game's recurring themes: You mustn't look away from the truth, no matter how blinding it is. No matter how painful, it needs to be acknowledged.

So the game asks whether Ryu still insists on the search, knowing there'll be grave consequences if nothing is found. By this point I was so tired that I didn't choose any of the other options and went straight for the correct answer: Search someone else! Gregson's being so cool about it that we can already surmise he doesn't have the disc on him, but he did have the perfect opportunity to hide it on the taller Skulkin brother earlier in the trial. So Ryu insists on there being a search, and Van Zieks says:

“But your typical Nipponese stubbornness may well land you in hot water this time. Perhaps the lesson will do you some good.”

This sort of implies to me that Van Zieks has also realized the disc isn't on Gregson's person. He's known the guy for a very long time, and so, he'd also know that Gregson is easily flustered with zero poker face skills. There's no way he could look so cool if there was a chance of the disc being found in his pocket. So this is the point where Ryu reveals that he doesn't want the search done on Gregson, which does succeed in ruffling our dear old inspector. Gregson starts accusing Ryu of having lost his mind and the court shouldn't have to put up with this nonsense, with the gallery also erupting into chatter. Iris snaps and tells everyone to be quiet. Ryu's just doing what he was told to do and having the courage of his convictions, so they should all respect that and listen to what he has to say. The judge admits that the court is in awe of the defense's convictions and I could write an entirely different essay here about Ryunosuke's growth throughout the games, but I won't. Point is, the cavity- sorry, I mean body search of Nash Skulkin is allowed. Gregson absolutey has zero poker face without a doubt, as he tries to object to the search in the name of Scotland Yard.

“In this courtroom, only the prosecution and the defence have the authority to object.”

Gregson tries to sputter his way out of this, but Van Zieks says: “I have no idea what forces are in play that might influence your actions, but personally I have no intention of obstructing the course of this trial.” (Gregson literally said that Van Zieks needed “Stronghart's paw print” to get more details on the top-secret investigation into McGilded's shady activities, but sure. No idea what forces are in play. Okay.)

Pin 'im down and use the rubber glove, bailiff! The missing second music box disc is pulled out of Nash's jacket and Ryu explains why he knew it'd be found there.

Uhhhhhhhhhh. I think what Ryu's trying to say is that Gregson would rarely fly into such a rage that he'd assault someone physically, but... This man absolutely loses his composure all the dang time. Just ask the fish n chips he keeps aggressively chomping down or scattering over his shoulder. He doesn't strike me as a composed character at all, so to say he behaved “extremely out of character” is kind of off to me. But whatever, it proved our point so I'll let it slide. When the judge asks why Gregson didn't just submit the second disc as evidence the second he got his hands on it, Van Zieks surmises that if the information on the disc were revealed in court, it'd be problematic. Gregson once again confirms he's working under direct orders from the ministry (STRONGHART) to keep the stolen info on the down low. But now we've got a problem. Neither Graydon nor Gregson will admit that they made a deal for the disc (it just magically appeared in Gregson's possession then, sure) and so long as they don't admit to that deal, we still can't prove Graydon lied about his testimony in regards to Gina being the shooter. The judge is ready to turn the matter over to the jury for their final learnings, and if these people had any common sense they'd all vote not-guilty because Graydon is getting away with his nonsense through a sheer technicality. Even so, Ryu intends to put the squeeze on Gregson by playing the second disc along with the first to determine whether there's truly morse code involved. Either Gregson admits to unlawful dealings with a witness to protect state secrets, or those state secrets get played out loud for everyone to hear. Gregson warns him he'll be making an enemy of the entire British government if he lets those secrets out into the world. Ryu insists he'll stop at nothing to do his job and protect his client, no matter who he makes an enemy out of. Van Zieks pours himself another glass of wine in silence.

Yeah, a real shrewd, calculating man. Uhuh. Again, I want to take a second here to point to the symbiosis we usually have between prosecutor and lead detective. Even in the case of Fulbright and Blackquill, with their unique circumstances, they still worked in tandem. You'd never catch them bickering about whether or not to present a certain piece of evidence. It's fascinating to watch Van Zieks consistently ignore Gregson's pleas. Speaking of which, let's have a leg slam to shut Gregson up.

“I'm a prosecutor. ...I'm no Scotland Yard puppet. In this courtroom, my duty is to the law. So let me propose a toast. To uncovering the truth... by fair means or foul.”

YOOO!!! Get him, Zieks! There's absolutely no denying now that Van Zieks is 100% on Ryu's side. He knows that playing the secret message will cause Gregson to cave and admit to his shady deal. And once we know for certain Graydon's testimony is one huge sham... Well, as Van Zieks already said earlier, Graydon will be incriminated as the real killer.

So the box plays for about ten seconds with actual morse code this time and Gregson cracks like cheap porcelain. When Ryu confronts him with how this dealing would lead to the defendant being wrongfully accused of murder, Gregson just kind of shrugs it off. On its own, you might be thinking Gregson is a scummy asshole for this, but there's some very important factors to keep in mind here from the second game. First of all, very simply, Stronghart ordered Gregson to retrieve the info 'no matter what' and Gregson isn't in any position to refuse at this point. But then there's the Reaper's curse, which is way more important. Even if Gina were found not guilty, she'd still have to die. Not just die; Gregson would have to arrange for her death. I doubt he enjoys being in that position, so it's easier for him to just willfully sabotage the trial and have Gina be executed by the government. Some of the blood would still be on his hands, but at least he wouldn't have had to orchestrate some elaborate death trap himself, leading to all the blood on his hands. (Cool justification, still second-hand murder.)

Uh, wait, this is a Van Zieks essay, not a Gregson essay. So anyway, after Gregson gets choked by Graydon and nobody steps in to help him, we finally get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Graydon has a semi tragic backstory and he was the one who cause the omnibus fire.

I guess Graydon wasn't too familiar with the Reaper's curse. Either that, or he didn't believe it was real. So now, to reiterate, we're told several times that anyone prosecuted by Van Zieks is doomed, but only one of the defendants Ryu's had so far has died a tragic death and it wasn't even because of the Reaper's curse. It was because someone else sought revenge, so even if Van Zieks hadn't been the prosecutor, McGilded still would've died. Graydon then goes on to talk about what happened in the pawnbrokery and how he shot Windibank without even thinking about it. Van Zieks has something to say about this.

“A man who used his wealth and influence to distort the facts and escape justice for the crime of murder. What tragic irony... For what you have done... is exactly the same. You've become the very monster you saw, and despised so deeply, in McGilded.”

I feel like this is even more elaborate setup to the fact that Van Zieks's brother, a wealthy and influential man, was actually a mass murderer. For bonus points: 'someone realized the wealthy man was a murderer, knew he wouldn't be confronted with his crimes and therefore took matters into his own hands with vigilante justice'. Does that sound familiar too? Gosh, I love foreshadowing. The judge tells Gregson he'll have to face charges as well, with Van Zieks chiming in that even if it was in the line of duty, Gregson's crime is a serious and inexcusable one. With that, the attention is turned to the defense. The judge says that the morse code thing was an unexpected revelation (and this is said in a complimenting sort of way), with Van Zieks unable to stay silent on this:

“In fact, I think we should applaud my learned friend's courage here today. I propose a toast. To demanding that government secrets be disseminated before the entire courtroom!”

Hee hee... Well, Gregson did warn him beforehand that he'd be making an enemy of the British government if he played those music discs. Ryu becomes very flustered and apologizes, but the telegraph juror interjects here to say that the dots and dashes weren't really morse code. Rather, it was just gibberish to her. So despite Iris looking thoughtful, it seems we didn't spill any beans after all and the matter is dropped. We move on to our verdict, a unanimous not-guilty for Gina Lestrade. Hurray!

Now there's a very clumsy scene transition of Ryu and Van Zieks standing in the abandoned courtroom, facing one another. I suppose Van Zieks made some sort of gesture for Ryu to hang back so they could speak in private? It's odd for them to still be standing behind their respective benches, though. Since court's dismissed, it'd be easy for them to just walk up to one another instead of shouting across an empty room. It may be symbolism that there's still a gaping void between the two of them; the Professor incident. Or maybe I'm giving the game too much credit there and they just couldn't be bothered to animate new backgrounds for this single scene. So here we have a very important conversation. I'll type it out:

“I must say you've surprised me, my Far Eastern friend. Despite being a Nipponese, you saw through the pretence to the malice that festered within that Englishman. And at the same time, you saw through the grime to the surprising heart of your English client. You have a curious talent for judging character, especially considering our very different cultures.”

So here we have a telltale problem with racial prejudice. Van Zieks assumed that because Ryu has a different background, especially culturally, he wouldn't be able to understand or relate to English citizens. We've seen this sentiment before in case 1-4, where Van Zieks is shocked that Ryu would understand the mind of an English policeman. Ryu says that he doesn't think there's anything curious about it at all, because whether people are from Britain or from Japan, they're all human beings. They're not so different on the inside. Ryu is effectively saying that Van Zieks needs to stop categorizing people based on their nationality because that doesn't work. Human beings are human beings; some of them are good and some of them are bad. Van Zieks doesn't directly reply to this, instead confirming what we already suspected.

“You know, I took this case for one very simple reason. To lock swords with you once again here in the courtroom. When I encountered you for the first time two months ago, it reminded me... of toasting friendship and trust with another Nipponese... only to find my trust betrayed. Through you, I hoped to look into the eyes of the man I once knew... and try to understand.”

So remember in the previous essay when I surmised that the torrid look of hatred in Van Zieks's eyes was directed at someone who died ten years ago? Well, it's confirmed here. Van Zieks didn't see a fresh newbie whenever he looked at Ryu; he saw Genshin Asogi. The betrayal which took place ten years ago was never given closure. Sure, Van Zieks managed to send Asogi to the gallows to exact 'justice' and get some form of payback, but he was never given Asogi's motives. He never got to confront this man with the emotional turmoil or the hurt, because he wouldn't have been given the opportunity to do so and even if he'd tried, he wouldn't have gotten satisfactory responses. Asogi was abruptly executed and Van Zieks never learned just what possessed a dear friend to murder his brother. He was left with boiling hatred, grief and a whole lot of questions. So indeed, now he hoped to 'understand' Asogi through Ryu, but that was never an option to begin with. Ryu has no relation to that man, so Van Zieks might as well have tried to grasp that understanding by 'locking swords' with Beppo. It's about the same level of futility. Van Zieks's misguided attacks appear to be born from the assumption that it must've been a cultural thing; that perhaps betrayal is something which comes naturally to people from Japan. It's an incredibly stupid, naive way of thinking, because by simplifying Genshin's motives down to his race and cultural upbringing, it takes away the option that there's a far darker truth to be found. Quite frankly, I think Van Zieks is afraid of that truth, just as he was afraid of confirmation that Gregson's not above dirtying his hands. To affirm that Genshin Asogi's friendship was genuine and he truly was an honorable man would imply that he'd had a reason to take Klint's life. I'm not saying it was a good reason! I'm just saying... a reason. When Ryu asks for more details on what happened back then, Van Zieks won't reply.

“Coming to be known as the Reaper of the Bailey, and my retirement from service five years ago... It gives me cause to wonder if our meeting has some deeper purpose. So... Farewell, my learned Nipponese fellow. Until we meet again.”

(He crushes another chalice in the process of saying this, because of course.) The deeper purpose alluded to here, along with the earlier line that Ryu may one day learn the answer, can only mean that Van Zieks foresees something of a journey here. A path to walk down together with Ryu in which, eventually, the Professor case will once again surface. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing for Van Zieks, we don't know. I'm not sure he knows. But he did admit to having been pleasantly surprised by Ryu and he had a civil conversation with him just now, so the sentiment here is that Van Zieks is slowly letting go of some of his earlier grudges. He doesn't outright admit that he was wrong to be a scumbag to Ryu, nor does he apologize, but by admitting he was only attacking Ryu to make sense of something that happened in his past, he's basically admitting to his behavior being irrational. He's softened up a little, and with a second game on the way, it means at the very least the option of further character development is there.

The conversation ends and in the defendant lobby, Gina is reminded she's not in the clear yet. There's the curse, after all. Gina's not afraid, because he say she sees it, “the Reaper is a bit like Him upstairs.” Sort of funny to equate the Reaper to God, but what she's basically talking about is karmic retribution. Rotten coves like McGilded get what's coming to them, but she knows she's a good person deep down and so, she thinks she'll escape the curse just fine. Which doesn't say much about all those other victims who came before McGilded, mind. We can't say for certain they were all rotten too. Well, the second game will tell us whether she escapes with her life or not. And normally I would also take a look at the little 'bit' that characters have in the end credits, but Van Zieks didn't get his own bit for whatever reason. He's only briefly mentioned by Pat and Roly Beate, so that's it when it comes to his character in the first game.

Next up, we're moving on to case three of the second game, taking place six months after The Unspeakable Story!

[tiger-moran]

I think this is still partially why I can’t buy into the idea that Moriarty is this sort of supervillain, evil bogeyman type figure, the villain who must be defeated at all costs to maintain the status quo. Or why I cannot take to some of the versions of Moriarty which generally seem to be regarded as the best. And Moran too, though Moran doesn’t get used as a villain as much as Moriarty does.

Because characters like Sherlock Holmes, like Mycroft Holmes, like Watson, like the police inspectors, they represent and support things that are really just... so much more vast and so much worse than anything Moriarty or Moran could do, like the British empire, the royal family, the aristocracy, capitalism.

Sure Moriarty is referred to as being connected to “forgery cases, robberies, murders”. But then, who are forgery cases most likely to impact? Very wealthy people, people with more money than sense often. Robberies? No master criminal of Moriarty’s kind is going to rob from poor people (that would be largely pointless anyway since they are poor, and be akin to Holmes solving the ‘boring’ trivial cases like lost pets or whatever which he refuses to show any interest in), and besides, Holmes is perfectly prepared to steal things to solve his own cases (like the photograph in Irene Adler’s possession for instance) so how is Holmes actually any better? Murders? ‘Commonplace’ murders are not going to interest Moriarty, why would he give a shit about some jealous husband wanting to have his wife or his wife’s lover murdered for example? If he arranges for someone to be killed that person is probably not a very good person anyway. They will be criminals, or very likely they are exploitative people who get away with all sorts because of their wealth/status. Also, Holmes seems perfectly prepared to go off and kill Moriarty himself instead of assisting in bringing him to justice; he covers for the murderer of Milverton; he partially causes Roylott’s death and doesn’t seem to give two shits about that; Holmes himself does not seem to see any issue with killing certain people. And this is also in an era which still had the death penalty of course.

Moriarty also does not (which we can judge by Holmes’s reactions to both characters) seem to blackmail already very vulnerable people the way someone like Milverton does. He does not seem to behave with any kind of actual sexual impropriety or abuse vulnerable women (like Gruner for instance does). And he is also a good teacher, that part of him seems to be very genuine; the mathematics professor thing is not just a front it’s an aspect of him that is very sincere.

I am still not saying that Moriarty is some kind of ‘champion of the poor and oppressed’ or he’s only into crime to help the poor or anything while Holmes and Watson et al support and stand for everything bad. It’s not that simple of course and I’m not saying that the individuals on the side of ‘good’ are all terrible, it’s something much broader than just individuals anyway, and Holmes for example is very unconventional in his attitudes towards various people. I’m certainly not saying that I dislike the ‘good’ characters either. And Moriarty’s motives also (essentially like Holmes’s) are mostly selfish but he does not represent everything that’s bad and wrong with the world. On the contrary he seems to stand in opposition to a lot of what is bad and wrong in the world - at least of Irish ancestry in a culture practically obsessed with ‘British superiority’; queer-coded in a culture that still at best pathologised queerness and at worst imprisoned queer men. And Moran is much the same. And whereas Watson basically got forced to leave the army because of injury/illness and he doesn’t really seem to see an issue with it and what it represents, Moran though got driven out of the army for reasons which are never really explained but it’s no stretch of the imagination to think he was driven out because he didn’t fit, because he came to hate it and everything it stood for. And they’re just... unconventional, and outsiders, and in some ways likely are themselves victims, and victims of a system which uses and exploits and harms people and at least to some extent have been pushed to act the way they do because they’re victims of that. Moriarty and Moran are both outside the norm, creating and playing by their own rules. They are not actually that dangerous as people. They are however a danger to the established order of things, and that is why it would suit a lot of people to portray them as these almost inhuman monstrous unrepentant villains with no depth, no other facet to them other than a capacity to kill and harm people.

And I’m not saying that the incarnations of Moriarty that I love necessarily get everything right. Jared Harris’s is of course my favourite but I still think there are significant flaws in his characterisation and things I do not see Moriarty actually ever doing, but they did get it right in showing him genuinely as a maths professor and a teacher and someone who is liked and admired as a professor/teacher. They got it right in making him actually just a pretty normal person, not some ‘grotesque’, not ‘inhuman’ but just a pretty normal guy and someone who is genuinely charming. They got it right in showing him having a side which appreciates opera/music, which loves pigeons (and I think the symbolism of pigeons is significant too - intelligent animals but widely regarded as pests or vermin which should be exterminated. Of course Moriarty has latched on to these creatures), which is close to Moran as well. Yes Moriarty is the ‘villain’ who has to be defeated by the end which obviously is something I don’t like but he is at least a far more believable character than many versions of him. Not this Evil Villain who sprang out of nowhere and is absolutely depraved, he’s just a man, someone with other likes and interests besides just crime, and a man who is really only exploiting what other human beings (mostly those with far more power and influence than him) have already done or will do with or without his influence.

[transsexualhamlet]

predictions for yuumori s2 (as a manga reader)

No matter what happens, this is probably gonna end up aging badly, but i’m hyperfixating and I’ve decided to make it everyone else’s problem so I’m going to predict where they’re gonna go with s2 of moriarty the patriot (keep in mind i’m writing this as of episode 2) and what I think would be the ideal scenario, in the likely situation that this is the last season.

So we can tell a lot about what they’re going to cut/include from the opening and ending, and the first two episodes. 

Observations/Conclusions:

-moneypenny and most likely von herder are gone, already evidenced by the first 2 episodes, which is :( but understandable bc there’s only so much space and they’re definitely cutting the arcs where they would be important

-so that means no moran backstory because duh, there’s a point in the backstory and i see value in it, moran slaps when he’s not being an ass lmao, but again, time constraints

-no matter what I can’t see them keeping in the like, child hunting thing 2 electric boogaloo, even tho it did further Fred’s and Louis’ characters, since they’ve previously cut out stuff considering them and. You know. That’s how it be.

-You can see they’re including jack the ripper arc (considering, jack is in the opening) and I have faith that they can downsize the arc without butchering it if they do it right. This is good that they’re keeping it in, considering it’s one of the... main arcs not involving milverton that advances the plot.

-Major thing we can tell is that, yeah, Milverton is nowhere to be seen. It seems like this would fuck things up bad since he’s like, the only kind of “main villain” we get here. But honestly? I agree with that. Fuck Milverton. He has no character or motivation and is like my one and only bone to pick with the manga. He’s just there to suck ass and create plot convenience?? I don’t like him and he never needed to be there if he wasn’t at least going to do something interesting. I support the anime cutting him.

-That DOES fuck over their ability to do the white knight arc, since, well, milverton is the cause of all of that. And this is the one thing I really don’t know what they’re going to do with that to connect jack the ripper directly to the final problem. I can’t predict that, but I do think there are ways it can be done that won’t be Awful.

-So considering that, Mary’s arc is definitely axed, which doesn’t bother me that much since by that point i so impatient for gay people and really didn’t care about watson’s fiance even tho she is a lovely lady. For anime effect, she does not need an arc, though I could see them having her show up a few times so watson doesn’t seem too gay either lmao.

-They’re definitely shooting to end with the final problem, considering without it there’s no big culminating event between moriarty and sherlock, which is obviously the big sell. And well. It’s. Um. The final problem. 

The season says it’s slated to be 13 episodes, since s1 didn’t have enough time for 12. I honestly think they can manage it all, if they play their cards right. 

Outlook:

This whole potential situation does sound familiar, I’ll point out that I just arrived here after the shit show of the promised neverland’s second season. But I don’t think it will get bad like tpn did. Because in Moriarty, they could afford to cut things because there are many stand alone and disposable arcs, whereas tpn really shouldn’t have, since they pretty much all contributed later to Major Main Character Plot Things. And the important points of the arcs that they’ll probably cut can actually be written into existing ones without looking like plot convenience, in my vision of it.

Honestly, I’m pretty optimistic for moriarty, it works better for this kind of adaption than in a lot of other manga that end up getting these most likely two season adaptions. I’d love to get those arcs for the servant’s and other character’s developments of course, but trying to stick that in when there’s really only time to focus on the main characters would suck up time better spent on really getting deep into the main storyline. Even if there are less characters, in a situation like this a streamlined and nuanced story will look elegant, whereas shoving as much content as possible into a few short episodes makes everyone cringe.

The situation does end up looking like the promised neverland, but it has a chance to be significantly less fucked considering,,, well,,, tpn is an insanely low bar, and they will hopefully not make the promised neverland’s same mistakes of Shove Seventeen Plotlines Into One Episode After Realizing Belatedly They Actually Needed Those Parts.

Obviously I don’t know what will happen, and this will be outdated by sunday lmao, but my projection looks something like this for 13 episodes to conclude the show.

Predictions:

(Episodes 1+2: A Scandal in the British Empire)

Episode 3: I’m very anxious for 3 considering this will probably make or break my opinion on the anime. Ideally, this episode would wrap up the scandal arc and go over the whole James Bond thing, it could be pretty baller and fit well into an episode. But though there’s plenty of Irene in the opening, there’s no sight of Bond, so considering anime as a whole is fucking transphobic, they might try to change it, twist around bond’s words or just, gloss over it altogether. If they cut it, they might have time to squeeze in another arc but I don’t think they honestly need to? With what they seem to be keeping in, they’ll have ample time to get to everything, and it would be shorter anyway considering the smaller amount of servants. 

Here, we do definitely need to cover Sherlock’s “receiving the name of the lord of crime and deciding to burn it and find it out himself because he’s extra”, no matter the status of irene/bond’s gender. If they do that right and possibly change a few things so it’s more important, this could play into them moving forward his whole discovery of their secrets.

Episodes 4-7: These will most likely cover jack the ripper arc. There’s a lot to go over here, and I’m confident they can cut it down, because tbh Moriarty is pretty long winded for a manga and cutting things is good to an extent. This covers most of the major expansions on William’s ideas and plans, and definitely has the holes to stuff in more of the points made in the arcs that will be cut out. Though I have my reservations, they could plausibly take most points in white knight and integrate them into here.

Episodes 8-10: These are the ones that are going to take the most work and probably be the most changed. They should finish up the ripper arc in 7, give or take a few episodes, and then here, If Sherlock has a little more figured out from episode 3, he can look deeper. I think it’s honestly a good idea for the one to discover the Incriminating Records to be him, as it again gives them more connection. There needs to be some other reason Moriarty’s secrets are in danger of getting leaked to the paper, but I’m sure they can put something together with scotland yard or something, or even like, Mycroft. I see that. But if that happens, then we can spend an episode or so on the merchant of london, aka little liam commits girlboss, which can be woven into the idea of everything Coming Out.

Episodes 11-13: Final problem. I see this going mostly unchanged, up until 55. Truth is they’ll probably end up cutting something but hmm. I don’t know. They should keep the fred stuff in, since they’ll cut his other development. They should keep the squad asking sherlock for help, since they cut the other parts that highlight the crime squad’s care for him. But I think they could montage most of the William Goes French Revolution On You Hoes, even the part where the kids come in front of one of them, if you see what’s going on right. But everything can proceed as in the manga pretty smoothly, I think, it all makes sense if they put it together in 7-10. You know, you got somehow, the worst case happens, and boom, scandal, final problem enacted. Killing spree. William reveals he’s been emo this whole time but it’s too late now. Everyone scrambling to catch up with his damn plans. Gay boy knocking on 221B with a fucking love letter. Shit gets found out. And then... well, yuh.

Disclaimer I still don’t know everything about this, bc I cannot find a translation of 54, only the raw with no context, and I know there’s content after 55 but I can’t find that either. But I’m sure as hell an english major and can understand where things are probably going. I don’t know what’s involved at that point, and if there’s some plan detailed to save him or something. That’s the main thing I don’t know, and if there is one detailed of course that kind of changes everything, but for now I’m going on the assumption that 54 is “sherlock runs to the bridge and yells at liam to stop being a dramatic whore while london burns around them and the murder squad watches anxiously with mysterious intent, until it is chapter 55″. (IF Y’ALL HAVE THE ENGLISH PLEASE HMU) They better not TOUCH anything in 55 or so help me god.

But as to after 55, things are going to be different. Besties, I’m an optimist, but there’s no way they’ll make a season after this. It does appear that they’ve mostly wrapped up, and they’ve gotten through what Big Revals they plan on doing. The shit hinted from the beginning has happened, and there probably won’t be enough to create another, unless the author plans on fucking shit up again, which I don’t approve of. There are a few things still left unsaid, like, Liam’s real name and everything, but if it’s supposed to be important, things that small can 100 percent be written into this.

And as something that’s intending to finish up a story, depending on what manga canon really is (BESTIE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS) they might change it. There’s two options, a bittersweet/hopeful and a tragic one, but either one will end up open ended, because of my extensive knowledge of 2 season animes with significantly longer mangas. (done badly: tokyo ghoul and tpn, done well: owari no seraph and mob psycho) Either we have it like well, oh damn, everything was destined to be Sad but well you’re with him now you’re probably dead, but you know there’s something hinted at and you don’t know for sure so that’s the catch. So you get a vague and bittersweet but possibly hopeful ending. OR something that takes,,, whatever ends up happening in the manga or whatever the plan is and turning it into an epilogue infodump.

I can see either going well depending on how they handle the messages of the story. But yeah, as far as to my extent of the understanding of the show, that’s how it’ll probably go, and what my opinion of how it should is.

To What Extent Will The Gay:

You know, this is my ideal scenario within these time limits, but you know they could always go The Wrong Direction if the anime team took a look at some of the later chapters and went “holy shit this is a bit too gay” and try to axe some of the sherliam content, which I wouldn’t put past any corporation.

In the case that they do, I see lot of good shit going. They’re clearly trying to do the final problem, so they obviously can’t cut out 55, which is good :). But though 55 is clearly, uh, really fucking homosexual, the most romantic shit goes down in 53, as far as I can tell? (keeping in mind i still haven’t found 54′s english version, if anyone would like to direct me to a translation, that would be LOVELY.) I unfortunately can see them cutting Liam’s letter almost entirely, and that kind of scares me.

You know, even if i’d hate and slander them for it, cutting out james bond would be something i would understand. But messing with sherliam would fuck them over, not just cause that would be awful, but like, because it’s like... kind of the main point.

So I’m not really too worried about them messing with it, mostly because the content itself is holding them at gunpoint, sherliam holds the whole plot structure in place, especially if you’re shooting for final problem. And even in the manga they never, like, actually say they’re in love with each other even tho historically gay lovers would probably call each other “friends” lmao so it’s not like they have to greenlight gay sex or anything lmao it’s just Very Romantic (No Homo)

And apart from that, yuumori has actually been pretty decent to the gays so far?? Damn shawty, they certainly haven’t toned down the gay yet and it’s clearly their main source of fans, and what they’ve decided to emphasize in both openings and a significant portion of the s2 ending. We’re all here for it, and they’re catering to it, so I can at least give you that.

[oneawkwardcookie]

11 Questions

Tagged by @milverton 😊

Rules: Answer the following 11 questions and then ask 11 of your own and tag people.

1. What is the worst character death you've seen/read? As in it did not make sense for the plot, was clearly just done for the shock value, or because they didn’t know what to do with the character etc.

Can I saw Castiel despite not watching the show? Honestly though, I don’t really tend to watch shows that kill off their characters for drama! Probably Liv’s boyfriends in iZombie - I can’t decide whether Drake or Lowell’s deaths were worse... maybe Lowell because I like Bradley James.

2.  What is the worst character death you've seen/read? As in it was done well and really made you feel something.

Hmmmm ... the only good character death I can think of is Doug from 911,

3. Who is your favourite character from the last show you watched?

The last show I was watching was Decoupled, and Arya is my favourite so far. He’s hilariously misanthropic and I love to see him fuck up.

4. What is your favourite food associated with a holiday?

Haleem, which I associate with Eid-ul-Adha.

5. Do you have any paintings on your wall?

I have the painting photographs that my landlord has put up around the flat, but I’ve also got some of my own little watercolours up as well 😊

6. Have you learnt anything new during the pandemic?

I learnt to knit, and how to make tapioca pearls so that I could make my own bubble tea.

7. Is there a skill you really wanted to learn as a child, but for whatever reason didn’t and it feels like it’s too late now or you aren’t interested anymore?

I wish I’d learnt Arabic, but I feel too old for that now.

8. Pick a ship that you really like. Apart from each other, who would you ship them with? You can’t say no one.

Oooh I’m gonna challenge myself and say Buddie. Buck and Ali were cute together and introducing her realisation in 2x18 was kinda out of left-field so if they just didn’t do that!

Eddie has chemistry everyone, but the show really doesn’t help me on this front, cos they don’t really give Eddie *anyone*. Eddie with a single mum would be interesting. Since Charlie’s mum is a no from me, I’ll pick the single mum from 2x04. She was cute. Otherwise, I was just talking to Zee the other day about how Eddie and Ali might have been interesting (if she hadn’t dated Buck!) cos he *was* the one rescuing her from the hotel window.

9. In no particular order, who are three of your favourite non-mutual followers?

I don’t really do favourites, though know that I recognise people in my notes!

10. What was the reason you followed the last blog you followed?

I wanted to follow a Buddie blog that also posted some other stuff, and I’m sure this person posted something funny to make me find their blog! 

11. What show or film would you currently like to recommend to your followers?

Decoupled - I haven’t even finished two episodes but I’m already hooked.

Tagging: @breannacasey, @novemberhush, @madamewriterofwrongs, @zeethebooknerd, @lovelessmotel, @fireinyourkiss, @mybelovededdiediaz, @theladyyavilee, @leightonmurrayz, @diazchristopher, @alltoowelltmv.

What’s your favourite fruit?

If you could only listen to songs from one album for the rest of your life, which album would you pick?

What’s the best holiday you’ve been on, and why?

What TV show would you bring back, either as a reboot or continuing where it was cancelled?

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you during the pandemic?

What’s your favourite mode of public transport?

What three movies would someone need to watch to understand you?

Share something you’ve learnt or seen today

What’s your favourite thing about Tumblr?

What’s a thing your family does that is definitely something pretty unique to you all?

Who’s your most interesting relative and why?

[yespleasemary]

!!! about the "repressed cap likes sherlock holmes" post, i really do think he'd like sherlock's particular brand of justice. i do kinda get the vibe that cap is such a stickler for the rules bc that's basically his manual for interacting; the rules are constant and definite.

sherlock holmes, though. sherlock is willing to take justice into his own hands and show mercy to those he believes has proper motives. stuff like in the Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, where he breaks into the house of and witnesses the murder of a notoriously cruel blackmailer but chooses not to report the lady who did it. another example is in the Adventure of the Abbey Grange, and there are def more that i wont need to name rn.

Honestly thank you for this ask.

I have to agree with you about The Captain taking a liking to Sherlock Holmes’ style. I’d personally say that Sherlock Holmes aligns as ‘Chaotic Good’. This can change depending on the adaptation, but the original presents as such in my opinion. He might edge towards another but ultimately I’d say this one.

The definition of ‘Chaotic Good’ is “a character who acts as his conscience directs him, with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations.”  

This doesn’t really sound like the Captain on the surface level (from our immediate introduction to him). He’s been brought up to abide by the law, to respect his superiors, to be prim and proper. It’s how WWII society shaped their civilians, then double that for the soldiers. Follow the rules, keep your chin up and do absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. With this description, I’d say that The Captain tries to present as a Lawful Good / Neutral throughout his life.

BUT as we start to chip away at the Cap in his death, we can already see that that’s not the case at all. He gets excited when a bit of chaos reigns, and we see more of that as he develops. He definitely has ‘Chaotic Good’ burning inside, which is now melting that outer layer away.

First off, War isn’t always about following the rules to a tee anyway. But then we’re shown that the Captain can lie for the goodness of others, like his little coup with the basement grave site. We’re shown that he will jump at the chance to take control of what he has an interest in, or what he wants to put right (again, keeping Alison and Mike at the house, but also ensuring that a gay wedding meets perfection by his standards). These are direct stances against his society’s ‘norm’. These are good, these are right, but the latter especially is against any laws he lived with.

In short, we’re shown that the Cap isn’t what he was conditioned to be at all. So, I think, as he starts to pull further away from the strictness of the past, we’ll start to see more of this Sherlock Holmes approach.

Coming back to him reading Sherlock Holmes, yeah, he might have just enjoyed the stories, but I do think he’d get a bit more from it than that. Mr Holmes’ approach to cases and people might make him question his own approach to life. Then add the whole gay vibe to the Holmes stories, you’ve got yourself the perfect literature series for the Captain.

Sorry if my ramblings don’t make sense or are BS. Also sorry if the formatting is weird for this, I’m on my phone and the app is pure garbage.

[hanafubukki]

Just Desserts

Summary: Sherlock Holmes and William James Moriarty might have been forced into a corner by Milverton, but no one was expecting you.

Characters: William James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, and (Female) Reader.

Note: I really despise Milverton and believe he deserved a worse death than what he got. So this is the result of that basically, I have taken a few liberties with the situations and characters. Have not read the manga yet, so any extra details in there will not reflect here.

------------------------------------------------------------

·      Sherlock Holmes and William James Moriarty were facing off against Milverton.

·      Both of their guns were pointing at him, while he was trying not to panic in the face of death.

·      “Now boys, no need to give him the satisfaction of falling for his tricks though he will be dead already.”

·      The three men in the room swerved to look at you. Having two guns pointed at you was daunting, but you ignored it as much as you can as you bowed your head slightly to William and Sherlock.

·      “You wouldn’t kill someone in front of a lady! You wouldn’t make her an accomplice-”

·      “Oh, shut up Milverton.” You sharply cut in. “I would gladly allow these two men to kill you. You deserve it a hundred times over that’s for sure.”

·      You turned towards him and smirked.

·      “I didn’t come here to be your scapegoat.” Your eyes narrowed, “I came here for you to taste the full sense of defeat before your death.”

·      You could feel the burning stares of William and Sherlock as they tried to solve the puzzle that was you.

·      “You mentioned that you had made that if you were to die, it would be released to the world that Lord Moriarty was the Lord of Crime.” You pulled out a piece of paper from your pocket. “As of today, Milverton, the newspaper company that you run is hereby owned by me.”

·      Milverton looked like he was about to rip into you, “What the hell-“

·      Your laughter cut him off, “It seems you were not informed. Bit by bit, I have bought your company and wheeled out your lackeys. Maybe you should have paid more attention to your work rather than play with people’s lives.”

·      You folded your arms, “Now, without your company, you will not be able to publish that story. As for your informant with that info, I have people in place that will capture him and hand him over to Lord Moriarty.” You smiled in William’s direction. He still had that calculating gaze, but it did not matter. Let him come to his own conclusions.

·       “I believe your other plan dealt with Ms. Mary. If your house were to be burned down, I am sure that will deal with whatever blackmail you had on her.”

·      “Liam, is she one of yours?”

·      Sherlock was astounded. Who was this woman, and where did she come from?

·      Why was she helping them, and from the slight head shake from Liam, he had no idea who you were either.

·      “As for your death, it will not be caused by either Mr. Holmes, Lord Moriarty, or me.”

·      “I doubt either one of them would want blood on their hands, let alone yours.” You turned towards the door, “No, your death shall be brought by her. The one who suffered the most from your damning play with people’s lives.”  

·      You gestured to the side, and a woman came in; a gun in her grasp.

·      Milverton’s eyes widened as he recognized the face.

·       “This is the wife of Mr. Sturidge. The wife of the man who was forced to kill a family to save his wife and child because of your superiority complex.”

·      Everyone in the room could feel the murderous intent the woman gave off.

·      You turned to Lord Moriarty and Sherlock. “I hope neither of you will deny her?”

·      Sherlock and William lowered their weapons but were at the ready in case Milverton tried anything.

·      You nodded and turned back to face Milverton. The man looked ready to pass out.

·      Good.

·      “Milverton, your body will be conveniently thrown over the balcony, and with no witness or evidence, everything is hearsay. Wouldn’t you say?”  

·      “Why? Why are you doing this? What have I done to you?” Milverton shouted.

·       “You made me angry. You hurt people close to me and that is all I will say. Mrs. Sturidge, if you will?”

·       Milverton could only run towards the balcony as Mrs. Sturidge shot him several times in the back causing him to fall over the railing.

·      The Lord of Crime and the Great Detective could only watch as you comforted Mrs. Sturidge and took the gun away from her. You threw it over the balcony. 

·      “My sister is waiting outside for you, go wait with her. I’ll be there in a moment after I have a talk with these gentlemen.”

·      You could tell she was nervous to leave you with these two men, but you reassured her you would be fine.

·      After she left, you went looking through the nearby desk for a box of matches.

·      “Who are you?” Lord Moriarty had finally chosen this moment to speak.

·      “Can I answer this question another day?” You turned towards them with a tired smile. “It’s been a long week and night for me. I’ll answer all your questions another day, preferably after sleeping for a while.”

·      You leaned against the desk, taking a deep breath and examining them as they did you. They were still tensed; you could tell. “Mr. Holmes, I hope you will attend your best friend’s wedding.”

·      Sherlock tensed as you predicted.

·      “Ms. Mary is a friend of mine, so please do not make either of them sad by not attending.” You walked to Sherlock and flicked him on the forehead.

·       “Ack!”

·      “Stop smoking! It’s bad for you and your lungs! As I am sure you know, and Lord Moriarty can back me up.”

·      You then turned toward William James Moriarty and pointed at him, causing him to tense up. “You! You need sleep! Go home and get some sleep.”

·      You chose that moment to strike a match until the flame burned brightly and threw it in the corner.

·      You sighed, “I really am sorry for the abrupt introduction, but I really think all of this was for the best, don’t you?”

·      You turned and bowed once more to the two men. You introduced your full name.

·      You could tell they did not fully recognize your name.

·      That’s good. That’s what I want.

·      “Mr. Holmes, I will be seeing you in a few days. Lord Moriarty, please expect a invitation from me soon as well, so I can return whatever Milverton had on you. Though I’m sure you both will have checked into my background by then, but you're more than welcome to do so.”

·      Then, you left.

·      You had left the Lord of Crime and the Great Detective speechless.    

------------------------------------------------------------

As always, hope you enjoyed 🌸

I really wanted Milverton to suffer more; I thought his death was way to quick. I wanted his empire brought down before he died. So, this is the result of that.

These men think they have taken account of everything, but they have not taken you into account 🧐😁

This is the longest fic I have posted to Tumblr as of the date. Also, the wordiest and with the most dialogue. Gah, I am nervous. How do you do dialogue??? I definitely don’t know and that is why most of my works only have bits and pieces of it. 😂😂😂😅😅

[japaneseadventures]

[Summary] YnM Volume 10, Chapter 39: The Dark Night of London

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(This chapter is a breath of fresh air after the previous arc, thank God)

Milverton is absolutely thrilled upon hearing the news that the Lord of Crime killed Whiteley. It is certainly a development that exceeded his expectations.

He sees right through the reason why the Lord of Crime had to kill Whiteley-- because the Lord of Crime had no choice but to cover up the crime Whiteley had committed due to Milverton's manipulations.

Unfortunately, Milverton doesn't care at all what happens in Britain. It doesn't matter at all to him whether or not the citizens had equal rights because it has no bearing on his hobby of manipulating a good person into becoming a bad one.

He then surmises that the Lord of Crime must be trying to look for him, the mastermind, and expose him to the public.

Based on Moriarty's actions during this incident and the Jack the Ripper incident, Milverton has no more doubts about Moriarty being the Lord of Crime.

Meanwhile, Fred is out on the streets when the latest newspaper has been published. It features Whiteley being killed by the Lord of Crime. All the citizens now consider him as the enemy.

At Baker Street, Ms. Hudson was about to inform Sherlock about the news but then discovers what a mess Sherlock's apartment has become. John is not around so no one has been cleaning up and it makes Ms. Hudson furious at Sherlock.

She leaves the newspaper on Sherlock's desk as Sherlock is too busy experimenting to listen to her. Curious as to why Ms. Hudson was so insistent that he read the news, he glances at the newspaper and is utterly shocked to read that the Lord of Crime turned up. He is entertained by the unexpected event, only to become shocked again when  he discovers that the Lord of Crime killed Whiteley.

Based on the his previous actions, Sherlock finds it hard to believe that the Lord of Crime would murder an innocent man like Whiteley. Reaching a certain conclusion, he excitedly calls out for John, only to remember that John won't be back until nighttime.

Sherlock then sees the time and realizes it's almost time for him to meet with his brother. They are to meet up in Diogenes Club in Central London, a club founded by Mycroft.

Sherlock heads on inside the building and talks to the receptionist, who was very troubled about it all. Club rules state that there must absolutely be no talking unless in the Stranger's Room, no taking notice of another person, and 3 offences gets you kicked out from the club.

Realizing there was no point trying to talk with the man, he heads further in the building, only to find a room with people sitting in comfortable chairs with newspaper in hand and each minding their own business.

Sherlock then decides to mess with them, yelling, "Is there anyone in danger of being booted in the club because they already violated the rules twice?"

Everyone turns to him in shock. He glances at them all and singles out a person he believes to be one. To get a rise out of the other person and get him kicked out of the club, he uses his powers of deduction to expose the other man's extramarital affair. It causes the other man to cough in shock,  which fortunately for him doesn't violate the rules and get him kicked out.

On his way out, Sherlock then kindly reminds him to get the smell of perfume out of his clothes and wear his wedding ring before going back home.

Sherlock finally gets to the Stranger's Room and meets his brother. Mycroft asks him what he thinks of the club and tells him he can join if he wants, much to Sherlock's revulsion.

Mycroft explains that he created the club for the unsociable Sherlock, to which Sherlock replies that though he is unsociable, he does want to talk.

Mycroft then goes on to challenge Sherlock to a deduction game on the men they can see outside the window. Sherlock does well, but Mycroft is more observant than him. The latter is very smug that he won the game (again!), much to Sherlock's annoyance.

Finally, Mycroft gets to the point and asks Sherlock what he has deduced about the Lord of Crime. Sherlock explains that Whiteley must have committed a crime because the Lord of Crime would never kill an innocent man.

Moreover, that crime must have been murder, remembering the massacre in Whiteley's residence lately. Based on Whiteley's character, he could never be threatened to kill his own family, which meant one of the policemen must have done it. And Whiteley killed that man in revenge.

When asked why the Lord of Crime would take credit for Whiteley's crime, Sherlock replies that he had no choice but to, if he wanted everyone to have equal rights.

Mycroft is very impressed by Sherlock's deduction. He then informs Sherlock that the Lord of Crime is now in danger of being assassinated by the government now that he's an enemy of the whole country. If Sherlock wants to catch the Lord of Crime, he must hurry because there is not much time left. 

Sherlock replies that he will definitely catch him, and Mycroft asks if he has an educated guess on the identity of the Lord of Crime and the person who manipulated Whiteley.

Sherlock answers that he has an idea of who is responsible of manipulating Whiteley. As for the Lord of Crime, he specifically names William.

Mycroft didn't react at all to Sherlock's guess, causing Sherlock to wonder if he got it right or not.

When Sherlock gets home, he is ambushed by Ms. Hudson who badgers him for not cleaning up his room. She exclaims that this is the reason he won't ever get married, among other things. She then goes on to say that John won't be around forever to clean up for him because he might get sick of Sherlock, or even find a wife.

Both Sherlock and Ms. Hudson pause on that last thought and laugh, because they think that would be impossible. It is at that point that John arrives and proves them wrong. With him was a girl named Mary Morstan, and John reveals that he and Mary are getting married.

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