Telepathic IC 'Inbox' and Messenger Bird Reception

[greatestdefective]

[Catch-all post for one-on-one messages that need to be delivered directly to Sherlock, either through the amulets or with a messenger bird. Meeting in person is also an option!]

Comments

[greatestdefective]

I make it a habit of listening in on international telegrams. One never knows what sort of seedy messages may be exchanged between countries. This particular assassination assignment ran precisely that deep. So... I'm sorry, but you're a bit of a big deal, Mr. Exchange Student.

[And Holmes would never use his telegram eavesdropping skills for anything immoral.......]

[exchangeable]

[ Something . . . doesn't seem quite right. Asougi can't quite place his finger on it, but it's there, lingering in the back of his mind. The "Exchange Student" part makes him visibly wince, though. Exchange program indeed. ]

. . . Then there was some sort of message, between Japan and England?

[greatestdefective]

There was a message. Four names in all. Though, I'm afraid that... in my future, three of those names have perished, leaving you the last one standing.

[Ann Sasha, he assumes, is dead forever. No one would go 'missing' after appearing on a hitlist- not unless Sherlock were to interfere and make them missing, but he doesn't remember ever faking Sasha's death. He didn't even know this woman.]

[exchangeable]

— Three have?

[ He pales visibly at that, a chill setting in around him. If there were four names and three of them are dead and only he remains, that would mean— but he wouldn't. ]

[greatestdefective]

... I couldn't prevent it. Even with all my efforts, I couldn't make it in time... But then... I should've tried harder...

[OH NO the rain cloud is back. It looms over Sherlock, dark and heavy and full of cold, harsh droplets.]

[exchangeable]

[ His hand strays back to Karma's hilt, gripping it — not to pull it out or anything, but just as a small comfort. ]

How did— Detective, how did they die . . .

[ Rain or no, he has to know. ]

[greatestdefective]

Poison... For one of them. You would know this- you were there for the trial, alongside Mr. Naruhodou. Miss Brett's motive for murder is not at all a mystery when you factor in the names. But the most recent victim... I was about to investigate when I was taken here. Shot, said the young woman who came to us for help. Shot in a shady room on the outskirts of London, but I don't believe it. Not him. Not like that. There has to be more to it.

[He draws in a deep breath, though he's having some difficulty.]

And I cannot tell Mr. Naruhodou... To know that such a tragedy is awaiting him when he returns home... It's too much.

[exchangeable]

Poison— . . . Professor Watson.

[ He clenches a fist at that. Professor Watson had been the other name on the list? Then Naruhodou had been caught up in this from the start, albeit inadvertantly.

He's about to question the most recent victim — "him," surely that's him then — when it occurs to him. ]

You said that "three" of the four names were dead? But that's—

[ He unclenches a fist and draws a hand up, considering. Four names. Himself. Gregson. That was the pair he knew about, the order he'd been given back in Japan as a condition for the trip. If Watson was a name, then it would stand to reason that the other was . . .

Asougi pauses. If Holmes is truly that upset over the latest death — which he can only assume was his assigned target — then why hasn't he said anything to him directly? . . . What did that message say? ]

[greatestdefective]

[Siiigh...]

That's how it goes...

[What was it all for, in the end? To silence them? The only connection that Sherlock can see, at least between three of them, is the Professor case. The truth behind Genshin Asougi's conviction was being buried. Hell if he knows how Ann Sasha fit into that. Maybe she was Gregson's secretary or something.]

[exchangeable]

. . . Detective. What exactly did this message you intercepted say?

[ He's missing a piece to the puzzle — something isn't right here. ]

[greatestdefective]

It's as I said... Four names. Assassination.

[Please don't ask him to recite the whole thing, his memory is not that great. He has the four names and that's good enough.]

[exchangeable]

[ Asougi's shoulders slump at that. "Assassination" — does he believe them to be targets? . . . Maybe that's for the better for now. If that man had been shot, then someone or something else must be at play, which means they're all likely in a grave amount of danger. He expected no less for himself, particularly with his memories now restored, but to wrap up Naruhodou and even the infuriatingly well intentioned detective in this . . .

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. Air. He needed a lot of space himself at this point. ]

Thank you for your candor, Detective.

[ If only he could do the same. ]

[greatestdefective]

[Honestly, this was still not even half of some of the information Holmes is keeping a secret, but... Well, some of it could jeopardize Mikotoba, so he's not going to say a word about it. Nobody'd better ask him about Baskervilles, next time.]

Yes, sure... Candor...

[exchangeable]

If you'll excuse me.

[ But it's not an actual request or anything, because he's already turning to head out as well before the air inside gets any heavier. ]

[greatestdefective]

[He will indeed excuse Asougi, as he's got some packing to do. Naruhodou needs some time and space to think and, quite frankly, so does Holmes.]