[Re-Introduction] Titus Awakened, or Search without End

[77th_earl]

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[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia has been in mourning. She's been worried almost sick about Titus, and she's certain that she'll never see him again.

So she's trying to tend to herself, to keep herself occupied. Iphigenia can be found in the kitchen, brewing some tea while working on some embroidery.

Anything to distract her. Anything to forget.

[77th_earl]

He's still roaming about, reacquainting himself with the rooms and feeling a bit hungry, he'll head for the kitchen.

On seeing Iphi, he'll pause on the threshold, eyeing her quizzically, trying to place her face.

[ohmaiden]

She'll eventually look up from her work and upon seeing him, gasps.

"You--!"

[77th_earl]

Iphi was one of his first lovers, and thus his is a hard face to forget. "Iphigenia...?" he asks, hopeful, a bit fearful just in case. He once mistook a mountain girl for his sister Fuschia, and he does not want to have another case of mistaken identity.

[ohmaiden]

She smiles widely, and gets up from her seat, coming over to him.

"Yes, it's me! And you're--here!" She reaches to hug him.

[77th_earl]

He'll reach out to return the hug, typist willing. "Yes... it has been some time, in my world, but I have returned," he says. "It has not been long since I left this place, so I have been told, but years have passed in my world and I have journeyed far across its face... But at the least, my path has brought me back among familiar faces."

[ohmaiden]

"Years?!" she exclaims, very surprised. "Oh, Titus..." She just holds onto him, fearful to let go.

[77th_earl]

He holds her close as well, with a pressure that promises he will not let her go, at least in spirit. "Yes... So much time has passed that my memory of this place and the folk within it has grown dim," he admits. "But now that I am here, those memories are starting to renew their colors."

[ohmaiden]

"Oh, good! I'm happy about that." She grins a little.

[77th_earl]

"But tell me, what has happened here, while I was away in my world, seeing more of it's strange sights?" he asks.

[ohmaiden]

"I--I've grieved for you, and people were looking for you as well!"

[77th_earl]

He takes this in thoughtfully, even with concern. "It is... touching that people would react so: I have met one of the folk who were seeking me," he says. "It is a strange honor to know that there was a search for me. I hope that no one is angered by my departure?" he asks. "There were times in Gormenghast when I ran from the castle and was shut up after I was returned."

[ohmaiden]

"I don't think anyone is angry, no. Don't worry about that," she replies gently.

[77th_earl]

He smiles, relieved. "That is good: I would not want to trouble people more than my death and departure already has," he says.

[ohmaiden]

"I was more worried than anything," she says, still hugging him.

[77th_earl]

"I am honored that you would keep me in your thoughts in such a way, but I hope that you did not make yourself ill with worry, on my account," he says, concerned.