[open] I ignored the raging currents, right against the tide I swam

[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia is currently in the common room, reading a history book. She yawns and turns the page, making a face. She's getting a little bored of it--surprise, surprise--and would enjoy any sort of company. Perhaps she might like a certain Earl (or a certain ~kitchen rat~; might as well include him, considering >.>) to come by, but she's not

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[77th_earl]

At some point, Titus enters, his face pale, but his violet eyes flushed with anger, his arms folded stiffly behind his back which is ramrod straight as he paces the floor, pausing by her chair and kneading his forehead with both hands as if he has a massive headache.

He looks like he's having the day from hell and in a sense, he is, since he swears his worst enemy has been released from that place and sent here specifically to torment him.

[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia will notice him and his behavior soon enough, and she'll put the book down then, looking concerned.

"--Master Titus?"

[77th_earl]

He almost jumps at the sound of her voice, then manages a harassed sigh. "Forgive me for not greeting you sooner, Iphigenia, I've not had a very pleasant afternoon, I regret to admit," he says, haggardly. But at least he finds a chair close to her to plunk himself into, yet his face still looks like a mile of bad road.

[ohmaiden]

"What's wrong?"

[77th_earl]

He kneads his brow with the heels of both hands, as if if his head is killing him. "I've just had the misfortune to run into a younger version of my worst enemy from my world," he says.

[ohmaiden]

Her eyes widen. "Oh no! That's awful!"

[77th_earl]

He shakes his head wearily. "He seems to have lost half his years and he is no older than I am, but it is still the same man who would go on to bring devastation to my family and terror to our castle."

[ohmaiden]

"--Oh, that's...I'm so sorry. Is he still dangerous, do you think?"

[77th_earl]

He shakes his head wearily. "He does not seem like a threat, but that was how he seemed as I knew him: a servant with a sense of superiority, as if he thought himself a lord. Small wonder that he tried to usurp my crown: he'd been planning his rebellion all along, only no one suspected him of plotting anything."

[ohmaiden]

"--A rebellion?" This is concerning.

[77th_earl]

"For some reason, he wanted my title, he wanted to rule my domain. And he is... Was.. Will be the sort who will stop at nothing to take what he wants," he says. "He found ways to put me at risk, to make my death look although it were an accident. He hurt my sister Fuschia, he killed an old servant who was one if my few friends. He tried to kill my mother the Countess. I would have let him have it, if he wanted it, and I would surrender my title to him, if only he had not caused so much harm to my family." He sighs heavily, as if relieved to speak about this, but at the same time, as if it still weighs on his mind.

[ohmaiden]

She reaches to take his hands in hers.

"I'm sure you'll be safe here. Just--be careful? Be watchful. But don't live in fear."

[77th_earl]

He sighs. "It is difficult not, not when I know what he is capable of doing, what he is willing to do, in order to obtain what he desires. Who can tell, but he might be plotting to make himself lord of this realm, even as we speak?"

[ohmaiden]

"You can't will him to do differently, Titus. All you can do is be brave--not foolish, but brave."

[77th_earl]

"It should not be hard: I have killed the man once, already, and if I find that he has harmed another man, another woman, that he has brought death to another person, I hope that I can bring myself to do so again," he says, trying to sound brave, but a boyish squeak breaks in on the last few words, and he looks away, mortified.

[ohmaiden]

She smiles at that--she thinks it's cute.

"You are brave, then," she replies, nodding. "But as I said, be careful."