William Shamspeare,

Updated my very long dgs story.

mr holmes, im sure you corresponded with dr mikotoba during your separation, so how did you hide that correspondence from iris? i cant imagine it was easy

My dear Ribbonroad,

It was indeed rather difficult to hide such a thing from such a precocious young lady. Fortunately for me, she is quite good at understanding my need for privacy! I did not lie to her per se, but she took to thinking that such things were secrets that could affect the outcome of various cases I was on. I simply indulged that belief of hers.

She did sometimes try to sneak a glance at our letters, but she knew better than to take them from my hands. She understood the need for my own privacy, as I gave her hers in turn. I know that Iris was intrigued by the contents of the letters mainly because she recognized the handwriting of my most dear partner.

Perhaps someday I shall share some snippets of our correspondences with her. Some, however, are a dearly private matter between the two of us.

Signed, World's Greatest Detective, Sherlock Holmes

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

Dear Kazuma

You will never get it if you don’t ask Barok van zieks

Dear anon,

Assuming that this is in relation to the mysterious note I was given the other day, I asked Barok. He assumed it was about adoption as well, something that seems rather ridiculous, as I cannot be given up in that way anymore. I already have been adopted into a family and even so, I am at the age where I am now considered my own family of one.

Signed, Asougi Kazuma

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.

Hey Enoch… how do you feel about vinegar?

Anon.

I have a wealth of feelings about vinegar, particularly a fine, distilled version of it... the beauty of a chemical that can be found in many a kitchen and has the power to cause such chaos... near nothing can match.

I find it particularly useful when it comes to keeping my hand free of rust and grime, something that is quite necessary when you depend on such things to be able to do somewhat basic tasks.

As for the taste, well. I eat whatever is given to me. When I was feeding myself, most items I created were rather bland or even burnt. Vinegar, however strong the taste, surely cannot be worse than that.

Signed, Enoch Drebber

P. S. - I have heard from Dobinbough that quite a few barrels of wine in the van Zieks cellar have turned into vinegar. We both find the situation to be quite comical.

mr holmes if professor mikotoba were a worm would you still love him

Ah, my dear Ribbon! That is a rather silly question, one that did puzzle me quite a bit. Mikotoba did inform me that he was asked much the same question, so I would only hope that he would still love me as a worm.

In terms of him being a worm versus a man, I know I would most certainly miss the sound of his dancing. While worms can dance, they do not make a sound while they do it, and I would be unable to see the joy in his face. That would be quite a loss.

But, there is no way I would ever stop loving him, even if he were a worm.

With love, Sherlock Holmes

Enoch have you talkled to Benjamin??

Anon.

I... am quite pleased to say that he has visited me in my confinement. I was quite surprised to find that I missed him. He initially came to me for some advice on what to do about a particular predicament in his own personal matters, which I will not share.

I was shocked to find that Benjamin is an incredibly forgiving man. Despite the fact that I betrayed him, destroying his life of science, something that I could not forgive someone else for... he forgave me. Near immediately. He did not want to talk about science, which was an incredibly reasonable request.

But he did want to reminisce on the good times we had together. He shared news on his friends and various animals. He even showed me a few drawings he'd done. It was all quite... quaint. Fun, even.

Signed, Enoch Drebber

*a letter was left in Strongharts cell this time with a pencil and paper*

Dear Mr. Stronghart,

How are you feeling? I know it must not be the best but it is a formal thing to ask. I was the one who had given you the carved wooden bird and I was wondering if you liked it. I'm by no means an expert on wood carving, but I like to do it when my older brother is busy so I'd like to think I've gotten good at it!

Sincerely,

-T.V.Z.

To T. V. Z.,

I have been living in the dark for quite some time. I long for unbiased news from the aboveground as I rot in this pit of Hades. I am surrounded by the deranged people whom I had the misfortune of knowing in my first life, though I have been blissfully separated from them, as I am at a high risk for being attacked. I spend my time writing. There is quite a lack of things I am allowed to do.

I did quite enjoy the bird you gave me. I am not allowed to have violent instruments such as whittling tools or knives with which to cut my food (if the food were better than the bland slop they feed me). It was nice to see the work that went into it. I ran my fingers down every crevasse, feeling the mistakes, the details, the knots within the wood.

It has given me something to do, and I have noticed that my fingers are so often on the bird that the natural oils produced by man have begun to naturally weather the wood into a smoother texture, far more pleasing to the touch.

Signed, Mael Stronghart.

P. S. - I notice your unusual initials. Would you, perchance, be related to the van Zieks family?

Dearest Yujin

When will you be returning? The mysteries have lost their allure as of late. I yearn for our adventures. With you at my side there was no case too great. Nothing we couldn’t solve through our dance of deduction. Do you remember the late nights we spent together? All the long hours we put in to find the missing piece of the puzzle. Our long conversations as we slowly but surely figured out how it all slotted into place. It must have been difficult on you, I realize that now. But I believe deep down you loved the thrill just as much as I. You wouldn’t wan it any other way. I know you were only here for the briefest time but England is lesser from your absence. I hope to hear from you soon.

I miss you

-your partner

Ps, tell your daughter that I said hello and that I wish her well. She’s just like you in uncountable ways.

Beloved Partner,

I fear I am not entirely sure when it would be possible for me to return to England. You know as well as I do how I long to be there, to continue our investigations of old, to live together once more and never having to leave... My life is lonelier, quieter, sadder without you here at my side. Even now, as I get excited, I find myself starting to tap my feet... I think of you constantly. In the many years we were apart, I thought of you often, but eventually got over the strength of my emotions about having left. Now, I am not so sure when I will be able to become calm once again.

Naruhodou and Susato have been working together to improve the law, and while I trust them fully... I fear that their work is not yet done. I wish to help them, and yet it seems the right decision may be to let her go. Pardon me, let them go. Having left her behind as an infant... I do not know that I can leave once more. While I long for your company, I don't know that I can find a way to give mine.

Though, with that in mind, I know that Naruhodou has been exchanging letters with Kazuma, and it is clear that he longs for a visit with his friend once more. Perhaps it could be possible. Or perhaps you could visit me on holiday.

I miss you dearly. I wish to be with you.

Signed, Dr. Yuujin Mikotoba

P.S. - I could not be prouder of the children we have raised, both together and separate. They are all incredible. Our family is perfect.