[Back-Dated, Open] Titus A-muddled, or Natural Brother

[77th_emo_earl]

He may have a natural brother...

For a long time, Titus often dreamed of having a brother, dreamed of having an older brother to bear the title and the crown and the inheritance, but not like this, not in this place, not in this place, where titles and bloodlines barely mean anything. In their world, if he had known this sooner, he would gave handed over his crown gladly. Now more than ever, the words that the Steerpike he had known had snarled with his last breath haunt Titus: "You were lucky..."

But now that his suspicions have been all but confirmed, he is not sure what to think nor what to feel, much less what to make of the situation, and these thoughts leave him restless on his bed. His discreet encounter with Robin kept his mind off these things -- it was easy to forget with Robin's mouth working it's magic on his inexperienced flesh -- but now that he is alone, his mind returns to the notions that left him troubled.

His worst enemy and he may share the same blood, the same father, though clearly not the same mother. If this was Gormenghast, his enemy might be the rightful heir, and he, Titus, might be the usurper.

These ideas crawl through his mind like creepers, pushing aside all other thoughts like the roots breaking apart the stones they climb upon. No longer able to sleep, he pushes back the covers, letting them slide to the floor, before rising and pulling on his trousers and a dressing gown, shoving his feet into his shoes. He heads down to the kitchen, in search of some warm milk and a biscuit -- a childish way to settle one's whirling thoughts, but it seems as good as any at this point. Though he might also be hiding from himself the fact that he's hoping to find someone to talk to and to help him make sense of everything that is whirling in his head right now.

Backdated to a day or two after he made some unsettling discoveries. Looking specifically for Helen (M2), but he's open to other people offering an open ear and a concerned heart.

Comments

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

She blushes a little at that. "You're very kind, Titus. It's one of the reasons why I like you."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

Compliments are something relatively foreign to him, and so he looks away, blushing, but a smile crosses his face and his eyes beam with pleasure.

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

"And I like it when you blush like that, too," she says, grinning.

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

"You're so kind to me, that I can't help but blush at your compliments," he replies. "I'm rather accustomed to people finding fault with everything that I do, but all that is in the past, fortunately."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

"But how could anyone find fault with you?" she asks, surprised. "You're wonderful."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

"I am the earl in my domain, and as such, it is my duty to perform to perform the Rituals that are the life of the castle," he says. "Except that I am, of course, an imperfect young man, always making mistakes and fumbling things, something which drove the senior Master of the Ritual, one Mr. Barquentine, to distraction. I had no interest in something which was laid upon my shoulders when I was too young to understand it."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

"But anyone in your position would act the same way that you did," she insists. "I can't blame you at all."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

He smiles, glad to find someone who thinks as he did about his world. "You put my heart at ease, Iphigenia."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

Now it's her turn to blush. "I'm glad I have."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

He leans across the corner of the table and kisses her cheek, gently, but trying not to be too forward. "You've helped me more than you'll know."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

She might turn a little in the kiss, reaching to kiss him on the lips, very softly.

"I hope so," she whispers against him.

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

He pulls away a little, still not sure if he should go further after having had a moment with Robin. "Thank you, for your friendship, for listening to me."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

She nods, biting her lip a little. "Of course, Titus. I wouldn't have it any other way." She might reach for his hands, then.

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

He lets her take his hands: he can give her this much at least. "My life in Gormenghast was not completely without consolation. One of my schoolmasters, Professor Bellgrove, was like a father to me. He would listen to me or offer me counsel, but I suppose even a teacher can only do so much."

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

She nods. "That's good that you had that comfort, then. I had my mother, although as queen, she could not always be around me."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

"It would seem that we had more support than it seemed, but even still, our lives were not as they should be until we came to this place," he says, thoughtfully.

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

"Indeed," she replies. "I'm glad I'm here."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

"And I am glad that you are here as well," he says.

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

She smiles. "I'm glad to have you as a friend, truly."

[77th-earl.livejournal.com]

"As I am, too," he says.

Shall we leave them there?

[ohmaiden.livejournal.com]

sure!