To Er12eu

Benjamin, what is the nicest thing barok has ever done for you?

Dearest Anon,

I must admit, it's rather hard to figure out an answer to that question. Not only have we had a lot of happy memories together, I also often have trouble remembering what's happened in recent times. People have joked that I have the memory of an ant... Hah...

I suppose that may be the nicest thing he's ever done. I am a strange man. Everyone who meets me knows that I am rather eccentric. Barok does the simple task of not poking fun at me. He accepts me as I am, and he is my truest friend.

I also appreciate his generous offer to let me live with him, rather than having to pay for lodging now that I have chosen to return to London. I will always be grateful for such things he does for me.

(squints at the masked disciple) who do i know this man

Ribbonroad.

This man, this thing, is a husk of myself. I am no longer the masked disciple, a name I despise as it implies I had anything to learn from either Vortex or van Zieks. I despise the both of them, and this unwilling servant of the two of them is not someone I want to associate with.

Kazuma Asougi

souseki-san, if someone, say, a century from now, wanted to include you as a character who is a silly goofy little man in their fiction, would you want your hypothetical descendants to agree to such a depiction?

Ribbonroad-san,

I am rather fascinated by your question! The mere idea that someone would choose a man like myself in a story a full hundred years in the future is somewhat absurd. Does this mean that I will gain some sort of notoriety? Will my musings be popularized and recalled long after I am gone from this earth?

While I am not entirely certain that I would like to be remembered as a 'silly goofy man', as you said, I am honoured that they will remember me at all. So, I suppose I would have to say yes.

Signed, Natsume Souseki

To the aspiring scientists Albert Harebrayne, what are your thoughts on the phenomenon known as vampires?

Dear ace-chaser,

V-vampires?? A frightening concept indeed!

I've read the novel Dracula and have, of course, heard rumours about my close friend Barok, insinuating he may be one of them. I have had a close eye on his activities for a while--I have been visiting him since the Professor ordeal has finished--and can say that he has not done anything out of the ordinary.

How Romantic a concept, though. A creature who thrives upon death... I shudder to think of it.

Signed, Albert Harebrayne

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

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

Dear cousin Iris,

20, 5, 12, 12

5, 22, 18, 25, 15, 14, 5

20, 8, 1, 20

20, 9, 13, 5

9, 19

21, 16

6, 15, 18

13, 5

2, 12, 1, 13, 5

11, 1, 18, 13, 1

Henry

My dear cousin Henry,

I have solved your little puzzle and I must say, I fear for you. Truly, I do. I do not know what fate awaits you, but I can only plead for you to find some way to avert it. Holmesies and I will find some way to discover the truth about your circumstances if the need be, but I hope it does not have to come to that.

With great concern, Iris

Dear Enoch,

What is your stance on Mormonism.

-Joseph Smith

Dear Joseph Smith:

Respectfully, get buried.

Heather:To our dear fathers me and my brother hope you’re well. I’m here to ask you something. Originally it’s was me and Henry but he was afraid to ask this question. So here is my question Did you guys ever had a big argument like it was so big that it almost ended up you to going to yours merry ways and never seeing each other again.

(Henry appear out of nowhere) Henry: Or if you guys our uncomfortable with this question and possibly mad at us for asking such a personal question! So you don’t have to answer it.

Heather:Henry what are you doing?

Henry: oh I’m just telling our dads that if they feel uncomfortable that they shouldn’t answer the question.

Heather: ok but why did you threw the line “Possibly mad at us for asking such a personal question”

Henry:Hey you don’t know if they would be mad or not about this.

Heather:(sighs)

Dearest Heather and Henry,

You have no need to be so afraid to ask such a question. If ever there is a question that he, or I, or anyone does not want to answer, we would simply choose to not answer it. We are under no obligation to do so. That being said, such a question can be answered in a very simple and non-invasive way, and thus we (or, I suppose, I) will do so.

There is a short answer and a long answer to this. I will answer first in the shorter way. In terms of interpersonal relationships, I do believe it's impossible to never get in any arguments. The difference is in if these are disagreements, arguments, or full-on fights. I do try not to let it escalate to that final stage, as that makes it far more difficult to reconcile. The most important thing is ensuring that you have an honest communication with the people around you.

That being said, Albert and I haven't been in this new stage of our relationship long enough to have too many arguments in the vein of splitting apart like that. The closest we've gotten to such a thing would be when I told Albert to leave London as soon as the trial was over.

I feel quite ashamed for my actions towards him, especially at that time. I had gotten to the point where I no longer cared if I hurt him emotionally, nor how badly I would hurt him, so long as he survived the experience. And, while that may be something one can forgive oneself for, I am truly ashamed of my actions.

I did not care if he left forever. I did not care if he would never recover. When he sent me letters from Germany, both in the years leading up to his London trip and the months following, I never once responded until after I had managed to recover from the final trial.

I learned a lot of difficult things about my family. I had to rethink quite a bit about my life and my actions. I found what I had done to be unforgivable, and yet he forgave me anyways. He is an incredible man, better than I could ever be. No one deserves a love like him.

And so, I will always try my hardest to ensure he feels listened to, understood, cared for. It is the absolute least I can do to help him. Any argument can be overcome so long as the person is worth it. And for him... anything is worth it.

Lord Barok van Zieks

To 🥀Rosie🥀

If you were a dragon, what color(s) would you be? What dragon traits would you desire? I think you would make a splendid dragon!

To anon,

It is hard to decide what kind of dragon I would be! I think I would like to be a dragon with warm colours, some lively pinks, oranges, yellows, someone that would fit in with the flower fields. I know dragons tend to be hoarders of wealth, but I would like to be a hoarder of happiness!

Love, Rosie Dragon