[Open Post - Titus Groan] Titus Arranging

[77th_earl]

The recent sudden departures of people for whom he cared has weighed on Titus's mind. These vanishings feel worse than experiencing the death of a loved one: at least when one can stand by the graveside of a loved one laid to rest, one has some sense of closure. But in these cases, one cannot know where this friend or lover has gone, and what took

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[drownedfuchsia]

If Fuchsia was more capable of the energy to run, she would do so now. Sadly, she's still without it, but her speed is a little quicker than usual, and when she finds her brother at the lake, she will all but throw herself at his feet.

"Don't leave me."

[77th_earl]

He'll have one of the boats up on the shingle, likely the one that had brought him here the first time he arrived here -- and which Muraki once stole for a midnight ride with Aramat. He was in the act of examining it, when Fuschia rushes up to him.

"Fuschia... As I told you, I would not leave this place, unless I brought you with me," he says, reassuringly. "This boat brought me here to this place, I hope that it shall take us away from it."

[drownedfuchsia]

She looks up, a mess of a red face and eyes. "But you could change your mind. I would leave me, if I could."

So much sad truth there.

[77th_earl]

The distance he's experienced between himself and Fuschia, due to his travels and his departure and return, has made him learn to value her, despite how it tries his patience. He might breathe a quiet, patient sigh, but he'll look on her reassuringly. "No, not after what this place has caused us to endure. I am ready to quit this place and I want to bring you with me, that you might see more of the world that I saw when I went travelling," he replies.

[daddyissuesjnr]

Melou goes marching down to the lake after he sees the notice. He is not pleased.

"Titus," he calls out, when he spots his friend. He sounds very annoyed about something.

[77th_earl]

He'll find Titus on the shore, sleeves rolled up, kneeling over a up-turned rowboat, examining the bottom. He'll look up as Melou approaches and he rises to his feet. "Melou," he says, bowing his head. "You have seen the notice which I posted?" he asks.

[daddyissuesjnr]

"Yes," Melou says, tightly. "You're leaving."

[77th_earl]

"I have not left yet," he replies, glancing to the boat. "Though I do hope to open a way out of this place, for anyone who has grown tired of feeling confined to the four walls of the house and the edges of the grounds."

[skepticalmagic]

Morgana has not read the note, given that she's moved into a small cabin outside of the mansion with her partner in unholy matrimony, but she does enjoy walks in the nice weather down by the lake.

She has no desire to leave either, given what could be awaiting her at home, versus what she's found here.

[77th_earl]

At the lakeshore, she might come upon that young man who once, some time ago, had stumbled upon her and her partner in unholy matrimony ...canoodling in a hallway. He's currently at work on a wooden boat, upturned on the shingle, sleeves rolled up, sanding off the peeling white paint, a can of more white paint and a brush at his side.

He hasn't seen her just yet, he's so absorbed in his work...

[skepticalmagic]

Oh, canoodling. Titus got off easy. He should talk to Lady Stark.

Still, the activity draws her curiosity. It's rare to see genuine work here. People do what they want, but this, this is something different.

"Surely there is something more fitting if you wish to row about the lake."

[77th_earl]

He doesn't look up right away, since he's finishing up a particularly sticky bit of rough paint, and he speaks just before he does. "I thought of that, but I must confess to your ladyship, that I have some fondness for this one, as it brought me to this place," he admits, before setting aside the bit of sandpaper in his hand and straightening up.

Which is when he'll look her in the face, and he might blink a bit, trying to hide his surprise and embarrassment.

[trolololdamsel]

We've decided that Titus should meet Maledisant. She's standing somewhere not too far away, watching him with a look of mild and haughty amusement on her face, like he's something that exists solely for her entertainment. We're not sure what he's doing, exactly, but Maledisant finds it hilarious and mockable. Somehow.

[77th_earl]

He might be painting the upturned bottom of the boat, refreshing its coat of paint as it rests on top of a couple of rocks. And he's likely not yet aware that company has approached. Even still, he's gotten paint on his arms and his hands, though he seems to be paying no heed to it.

[trolololdamsel]

Maledisant watches him for a moment before she speaks. "I hope you realise there are other boats."

She doesn't understand why he'd put so much effort into mending this crappy little boat when there are others in perfectly good working order.

[77th_earl]

He'll look up on hearing her voice, then glances back at the boat. "I suppose there are, though I admit, I am rather attached to this one," he admits, simply and straight forward. "I first came to this place, paddling in this boat, emerging onto the lake; I intend to use it to find a way out."

[loves_mama]

He needs out more, and we don't think these two have ever met? So here's Billy. He's heading down to the lake just because he likes it. Titus' work repairing the old boat has put new scents on the air, and he follows them, curious about where they're coming from.

[77th_earl]

There's a first time for every meeting, and this is that time! He'll find a young man in his shirt sleeves, working on hammering what looks like shredded rope into the cracks between the boards at the bottom of the boat, using a wooden mallet and a slip of wood to push the stuff into the gaps. He's rather intent on his work, and he might not notice that he has company right away.

[loves_mama]

Billy keeps on following the strange new scent, until he reaches Titus and sees where it's coming from.

"It's a boat," he says.

[77th_earl]

Hearing the voice, he lowers the hammer and looks up. Seeing the youngster, he smiles a bit. "Indeed, it is," he says, with a small smile. "A rather battered one, but I think that I can put it to rights again."