77th_emo_earl: (Not!brothers)
Titus Groan ([personal profile] 77th_emo_earl) wrote2012-01-30 10:06 pm

[For Steerpike] Till the least of the last is dust...

It's been some days since the poster went up in the main room, asking for any information on the whereabouts of Titus Groan, and some might think the trail is going cold. But the only thing going cold is the weather.

At some distance from the house, well into the woods, well past the Stone Table, Steerpike might find something disturbing: a lump with longish brown hair, protruding from the deep snow. There might be a foot sticking from the drift several feet away.

It's as disturbing as it sounds, and it's likely going to take a while to find the rest...

Title taken from the Schoolmasters' verse, aka the lyrics for the main title theme for the BBC miniseries. Primarily for Steerpike, but given the condition that the body is going to be in, it's likely to turn into a limited mingler...

[identity profile] eyeofjustice.livejournal.com 2012-02-06 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Misa shakes her head. “...Well, not really. A nice but kinda rugged man named Malcolm found me and guided me back to the Mansion.”

[identity profile] in-summer-leaf.livejournal.com 2012-02-07 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
"That would be Malcolm Reynolds? I've met him. I'm glad he was there for you."

Hisoka looks around and sighs. He picks a direction that seems likely, looks at Misa with quizzical uplifted eyebrows, and starts walking that way. He has an idea that if Titus isn't here, the next most likely area is anywhere in the region of the stone table, or perhaps some distance beyond. That whole area's got restless and sometimes violent energy, and murderers other than Muraki could have an affinity for it.

A couple of miles farther on, they are now walking on relatively flat ground, between pine trees with their cold turpentine scent. They have passed the stone table. Hisoka thinks to say aloud, "So, are you sure you want to keep looking with me? You know what we might find." If she says yes, Hisoka won't try to dissuade her. He thinks people have a right to decide these things for themselves.

Hisoka's eyes are sweeping the snowy ground as they go...

[Can has Dead Titus now, pleeze? XD]
Edited 2012-02-08 05:08 (UTC)

[identity profile] 77th-earl.livejournal.com 2012-02-08 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Off to the right, he might spy something long and narrow sticking up from the snow. Approaching to inspect it, he'll discover it's a human thigh bone, stripped of most of the flesh and heavily gnawed, clearly by something with large, sharp teeth.

[identity profile] eyeofjustice.livejournal.com 2012-02-11 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll be fine..." Misa assures him. But after walking for some miles, Misa may suddenly find that bone.

"Oh my god..." She turns away, holding back tears.
Edited 2012-02-11 23:57 (UTC)

[identity profile] in-summer-leaf.livejournal.com 2012-02-12 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
Hisoka walks to stand by Misa's side, looking down at this pitiful remnant of a human being. He has no doubt whatever that the bone belongs to Titus.

He sighs heavily, drops his satchel, kneels down and opens it. It has the tools and materials they need for this grisly task. He pulls out a plastic trashbag, pulls on rubber gloves, and bags the bone carefully. "Misa?" he says, "I'd like to...leave this here for the moment, and come back for it a little later." He stands up, sheds the gloves, goes to a tree and cuts a narrow branch, sharpens one end to a point, and plunges it into the snow beside the bag. He ties a broad strip of bright orange plastic tape to the top of the pole, so that he or any other searcher can spot it easily.

Then he goes to Misa, and if she allows, lays a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I want to keep searching. But you don't have to do this. I'll walk you back home if you want."

[identity profile] eyeofjustice.livejournal.com 2012-02-13 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
Misa looks at the bone in the bag, or the better word could be, 'can barely stand to look at it'. If only he'd listen... this would have never happened. Then Hisoka gives her the option to leave, she asks:

"Have I done enough to help, Hisoka?"

[identity profile] in-summer-leaf.livejournal.com 2012-02-13 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, Misa. You've done a great deal. I owe you, and we all owe you. Come on, let's go back."

He has to return to the barn anyway, and get a cart or a wagon or something. The rest of Titus is probably around here somewhere, and Hisoka thinks it would be a good idea for the searchers to have a vehicle in which to haul all of him back in one trip, if possible.

And he doesn't have time right now to remember combing through that tangled heap of broken and blasted metal that had been the bridge of the Mary Rose, his first ship in his second life, for his dead crewmates. Or, for that matter...the cargo hold of the Queen Camilla, in his first life. There is too much work to be done.

He gives the forest a quick glance all around...keeping in mind those toothmarks, which his is pretty sure are wolf. His shotgun is already unslung and loaded, and carrying it in one hand, he takes Misa's other hand (again, if she allows), and turns for the shortest route back to the house.

[Nice thread, both of you! @_@ FTB after your next posts?--if either of you wants to post again.]

[identity profile] eyeofjustice.livejournal.com 2012-02-14 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
On the way back, Misa may start to cry.

Titus didn't have to suffer for that... monster. He didn't.

FTB. I wonder how is the agency going to break the news out with everyone in the mansion...

[identity profile] in-summer-leaf.livejournal.com 2012-02-15 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Good question!]