Iris, What Are Your Thoughts On Dinosaurs? - 🌹

Can ghosts of dead characters interact with the living characters? 👻

Hello!

I think that ghost characters can interact with the living characters. I cannot say that the stuff within those conversations will remain canon, if that makes sense? For example, if Klimt tells Barok some information he didn't know before, he probably wouldn't be able to recall it, but I think if they've talked before he would be able to remember it again.

Maybe he'd remember it like a dream, or something? It's tough, because this is technically happening through letters, but I would like to see some interactions like that happen. The one thing is, if someone sends an ask from a character but it feels too out of character, I may not answer it.

I hope that makes sense! Signed, Mod of the Baskervilles

Dear cousin Iris and Papa and Daddy,

My brother Henry had been acting weird lately.

You see my brother is a prosecutor like papa and is known as the storyteller and lately his been depressed and I don’t know why ever since his last trial.

What do you think I should do?

With love your daughter and cousin Heather Kelly Van zikes

To Heather,

Sometimes things can be very taxing on people! I am not sure what exactly the context of this trial was, but what I do know is that you are always free to ask. Even if you don't come up with an answer, you will at least know that you have tried.

I've found that whenever Papa or my Uncle Barok are feeling down, when I just spend some time with them, they tend to feel much better.

I hope you can come up with a solution!

Iris

To a Mr Herlock Sholmes,

Whatdo you know about Moriarty?

Trace.

Dear Trace,

Ah, Moriarty. That is a name I haven't heard in quite some time! Quite a caper, that was. My partner and I were on his tail for months, trying to suss him out, and when I finally encountered him, it was in the most dramatic of locations.

We were near the top of a waterfall! The rocks were slippery, the two of us were tussling, it was life and death, and I was winning! When all of a sudden...

Mikotoba pulled me to the side! He forced me to step away! Many times he has tended my bruises, set me by the fire, forced me to eat and drink, but never had he stepped in like this!

He pulled me back as I slipped on the rocks, tearing my favorite pair of investigating trousers! I attempted to pull myself up, but the mud put me back on the stony ridge! I looked up and Moriarty was no longer there... I never saw another sign of him.

I do believe he fell off of that ledge. Please do not tell Iris I risked my life like this. I don't want her to follow my decisions. She should be more like Mikotoba.

Thank you for your question,

Great British Consulting Detective, Herlock Sholmes

*another letter was left in Strongharts cell along with a small carved unicorn*

Dear Mr. Stronghart,

I am glad that you like the carved bird so I left you another gift! As for your question though, yes I am Barok's half younger brother.

Sincerely,

T.V.Z

To T.V.Z.,

I am fascinated by everything you have provided me with. I am a fan of the mythical unicorn, one of the symbols of our empire. Elusive, powerful, untameable. Much like the late Lord van Zieks.

I refer, of course, not to Klimt, but of your presumed father. I understand he was perceived to be quite the tomcat by those in his social circles, but I find it hard to believe that he would be able to hide such horrific promiscuity, adultery, and stupidity from the public for so long. How could it be that we have taken so long to learn of your existence, young van Zieks? Does Barok know about you? Do you truly use the van Zieks last name? It is brazenly foolish of you, if you wish your family to remain within any sort of social standing.

Had I known then that it was so easy to blackmail a family like yours, I would have done it long before Humphrey died.

Signed, Mael Stronghart.

Inquiry towards the members of the van zeiks household

We are writing to you in regards to rumors of items contained within the van zeiks manor. We would like to know the validity of the claim that you are in possession of one “dragon skeleton”. If authentic, that would be one of the most monumental discoveries in the history of our great country. While many members have their doubts, it was not that long ago that we discovered that the once mythical okapi was indeed a a living breathing beast. We a truly living in an age of discovery. In addition, we have also been informed of the possible possession of many exotic specimens, both living and preserved. Access to such a collection would be instrumental in helping our organization in our scientific endeavors.

We are eagerly awaiting any further information you wish to provide.

-Zoological Society of London

With regards to the Zoological Society of London,

I understand that this may be quite disappointing, but it must be said that I cannot believe in the possibility of dragons. While I do not study science as much as some of my acquaintances, I believe I understand enough to know that such a creature would not be able to lift its body off of the ground. With that out of the way, I do know what specimen you are speaking of.

The late Lord and Lady van Zieks, my mother and father, were braggarts, to put it bluntly. I do not know precisely where they sourced their bones, though I do believe it was from Africa. I do not know if they themselves put this skeleton together in such a state or if they were tricked into buying it, but, that being said... It's not a dragon skeleton. My best guess would be a large animal such as a giraffe, a hippopotamus, or an elephant.

There are many things that my late parents decorated our homes with, things that I am not very attached to. That being said, I highly doubt any of these things would be of much interest to such a group of scientists. They had owned an exotic snake, cheetah, baboon, and possibly even more animals, though as such animals led to the death of my father, we did not keep these animals.

I am willing to answer any further inquiries on this subject.

Lord Barok van Zieks

Iris, I've heard that Kazuma is very fond of you. Did you know that? - 🌹

Dearest 🌹,

He is? That brings me such joy! I know that I find him to be quite an excellent older brother to myself, a good friend and a role model.

He seems to be quite down on himself a lot of the time, and in those moments I do try to find some way to cheer him up. I bring him tea, I give him a hug, I ask if he wants to participate in one of my experiments, and I talk his ear off about what I'm working on.

Sometimes when I am writing stories, I ask for his help in trying to figure out what the best word to use would be. He takes quite a bit of pride in his literacy, and I do like to try and give him that boost in self confidence. He is also teaching me to write in the Japanese script, and I hope to exchange letters with my family in Japan soon!

Thank you for letting me know!!! Iris

Mod Update: brief hiatus!

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to take a brief hiatus from answering questions. You're absolutely still free to send them in, in fact, I encourage that! But I probably won't get around to answering them for another week or so. Sorry for the trouble!

Signed, Mod of the Baskervilles

How did Naruhodo and the Mikotobas' boat ride home go? How have things been back in Japan?

Hullo, dear friend.

The trip back to our home country was certainly a bittersweet one. It was not my first time having to say goodbye to my second home, but it could be argued that this time was even more difficult. The three of us managed well enough on the boat, with plenty to do to keep our minds occupied, but as I lay awake in an empty bed, I longed to be with my partner.

I feel immense pride for those two fine young adults. They have been getting along better and better as of late, sharing an experience that few could possibly hope to understand. I long for such camaraderie myself.

Things have been successful in Japan. The three of us have worked hard to implement new ideas within our legal system, adding some contingencies in the hopes of stopping any situations like that of The Professor to happen in our country.

I would like to say I do not regret the choice to leave immediately, but I cannot say that in full confidence. I go back and forth on whether or not I made the right idea.

In short, the situation is complex but progressing smoothly. Signed, Dr. Yuujin Mikotoba

Dear Gina, losing your boss must've been really hard on you. How are you coping?

Uniquartz,

........

Losin 'im was... the hardest thing I ever been through. He was so important to me. He was my Da... the only one I ever had. Even if he was keepin things from me, I still... I cared for 'im. He took me in. He made me feel welcome.

........

I've been sat here since I got this letter, thinkin. Asougi and I were stayin in a hotel together, but he moved in with Iris and Holmes. Maybe I should go ahead and move in, too. What do you think?

Inspector Gina Lestrade

P.S. - Iris is helpin me write now. I'm much better at it.

Mr. Sholmes, Dr. Iris, what were your first ever encounters with Lord Stronghart like? What did you make of that man back then?

((yes I've sent this exact question to another askblog once. I'd like to hear your take <3))

Hello, anon!

Papa and I had very different first encounters with Lord Stronghart. When I first met him, he was old, and considered himself to be infallible. He carried himself with a gravitas of importance, and acted as though I were the least important person in the world. I know that's false! I am, in fact, rather delightful. He pretended I was a waste of time.

As for Papa, he told me all about it. Stronghart, rather than just ignoring people, was actively scornful and malicious back then. He regarded anyone who was quite obviously intelligent, or possibly even more intelligent than he, with active distaste. Scoffing at his every statement, not even looking at him...

Either way, he was very annoying!

Love, Dr. Iris