Benjamin, What Is The Nicest Thing Barok Has Ever Done For You?

To barok,

What do you think about your new niece? Any thoughts about how she is the only child of your beloved brother… Your brother who was also the professor?

Ace-chaser,

I fear that my feelings on Iris being my niece are too complicated to sum up through one single correspondence. She is a brilliant child, and she reminds me quite a bit of him... Or, at least, the side of him that I knew.

There is a lot I must reconsider about my brother. The kind of person he was, how it would have ended had he stayed alive... though, perhaps it is best that he died when he did. He caused a significant amount of misery in his time.

I truly hope his better side lives on in his daughter.

Signed, Lord Barok van Zieks

To Enoch

What is the best Creature?

To anon.

I actually did quite a bit of work under a veterinarian when I was still living with my parents. I wanted to apprentice under him but my parents did not want this, so it was a bit of a secret apprenticeship. It was quite a bit of fun, and absolutely fascinating, but those years are long past.

Tat being said, my favorite animal is the humble pig. They are ferocious creatures with a strong personality and a penchant for eating anything. Quite literally anything, aside from metal. And that is certainly not for lack of trying, I simply believe they cannot process such a food. In fact, I know of only one animal brave enough to eat metal, that being the goat, though that is neither here nor there.

Pigs are intelligent creatures and I admire their tenacity. When I was younger, I would pretend an old ear of corn or an undesirable wooden crate was an effigy of whatever had been frustrating me lately. I learned later that there is a similar process in the South called voodoo. Fascinating stuff.

I hope this satisfies you. Enoch Drebber

Dear Mr Stronghart,

I do not care much for my parents since I was abandoned to an orphanage at a young age, and I don't normally use that surname but it is the only one I know of, as for if Mr Van zieks know about me....I don't think he does...

Signed,

T.V.Z.

To T.V.Z.,

Ah, such a sad fate he has bestowed upon you. I apologize for his foul treatment of you in this way, and I am not surprised that a woman who had a child by this married man would not want such a source of shame hanging over her head. It is impressive that you have managed to hone such skills in knifework despite your poor upbringing. You are clearly stronger than I had expected.

Signed, Mael Stronghart.

To Klimt van Zieks: What made you first decide to become a prosecutor all those years ago?

- De

Dear De,

I decided to become a prosecutor mostly to spite my parents, if I am to be entirely honest. They did not get along with me, and they looked down on a man like me having an actual, proper job.

They approved of me getting an education, which allowed me to find a way out. I studied the law, in a desire to be able to help people who have been in situations such as mine. Some people deserve justice. Some people deserve punishment.

Essentially, I wanted to make a difference. And, as a non-member of the House of Lords at the time, that was the option I had.

Thank you for your question, Klimt van Zieks

Hey, Hosonaga. Have you ever considered getting that cough checked out?

Dear Uniquartz,

What do you mean? I am perfectly, fine, it hardly bothers--

Ahem. Excuse me. I have not visited a doctor, though when Dr. Watson was dining with us, I did happen to cough while around him. He stated that it was something that would most certainly kill me. But, he is not a doctor for the living! He was a doctor for the dead.

Though, now that I think of it, perhaps he's seen some people who have died to my condition.... I really should go see someone about this...

Signed, Detective Satoru Hosonaga

As soon as Barok responds to the first letter, red handwritten writing begins to appear on a blank page. It’s as if the letter is being written right in front of him. Though he can’t see anyone writing the letter. “I’m surprised you aren’t panicking over my letter, or scrambling to find a logical solution for a letter written in your deceased brother’s handwriting.” The letter says. 👻

Dear brother,

I have spent quite some time wrestling with my relationship to the truth. It was my unwillingness to see what was in front of me that led me down this ten year long path. Had I only been more open to the knowledge that was so clear, so plain, so far under my nose, our legal system could have been investigated far earlier.

So, as I see handwriting from my brother, written by no one visible to my eyes, I can only believe that it is you writing it. If you wish to prove who you are, you could always do something to help me believe further. I see no other way this could be happening.

Signed, Barok.

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,

Have you ever made Victoria sandwiches? If so are they good?

Dearest Anon,

I adore Victoria sandwiches! They're quite the delight, and Papa always asks me when I'll be making them next. We eat them to celebrate cases, birthdays, experiments, friendships... all sorts of milestones!

Ginebean doesn't know exactly when her birthday is, so we have celebrations regarding her birthday whenever she seems down. At this rate, she's going to be older than the judge any day now!

I have been getting quite interested in the process of preserves lately, whether they be pickles, jams, candied fruits, salted meats... anything that keeps food better longer! My uncle sometimes talks of the ice box he has which can keep foods frozen for quite some time, though I do prefer this method. It's cheaper, more reliable, and frankly, more fun!

All my love, Iris

To Klimt, Did you have any hobbies? Something relaxing to help take the edge off of your more strenuous duties? Signed, Ivy

Dear Ivy,

Appropriate to your name, in life I deeply enjoyed gardening. I took over Rosie's garden after she passed, and it was rather important to me. Our favorite thing to do together was dig in the dirt, finding worms and roots and rocks. Covered in earth and mud, with the smell of peat rising... that was what we got in trouble for most.

In my adult life, I enjoyed venturing to a neighbouring town, to watch how the people there grew plants, milled flour, raised livestock, and created things out of the items they grew. I wanted nothing more than to join them.

I am now working on sowing seeds to grow.

Best, Klimt van Zieks

To er12eu

Hi Rosie 🥀

You might be dead but do you KNOW that I love you???

Hi ace-chaser!

I may be dead, this is true, but I am so glad to know that you love me!

I am confused how you know me, though...

Love, Rosie!