your headstrong ways [open]

[gritted]

Mattie has settled in at the Mansion--well, as best as she thinks she can. She's mostly content, even though Tom Chaney is still nagging at her in the back of her head. She can't help but think about him, really, and a part of her still wishes to pursue him

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[77th_earl]

She might hear a quiet footstep behind her, and if she looks up, she might spot a young man just a few years older than her, eying the weapon in her hands quizzically.

[gritted]

Mattie looks up. "Good day," she says, a bit stiffly.

[77th_earl]

"Good day," the young man replies, eying the weapon. "I don't mean to intrude, but might I ask what is that...object?" There were no firearms in Gormenghast, so he's not sure what she has there.

[gritted]

"It is a gun," she replies simply. "You have never seen one before?"

[77th_earl]

"No, I've not seen anything like it before: we had nothing like them in Gormenghast, in the realm where I was born," he admits. "I am Master Titus Groan."

[gritted]

"And I am Mattie Ross. I have never heard of your--realm."

[77th_earl]

He smiles a little, somewhat sadly. "No one seems to have heard of it," he says. "The world seems to have forgotten Gormenghast as much as Gormenghast has forgotten the world around it."

[gritted]

"That is unfortunate," she replies evenly. "Do you miss it?"

[77th_earl]

This is a weighted question. He wags his head slowly. "I have my moments when I would not mind gong back. But it was a terrible oppressive place, no room for a young man to find his own dreams or to live the life that he wants to live."

[gritted]

She nods. "I see. So you feel better here?"

[77th_earl]

"I feel more at ease, more free than I did in Gormenghast," he says. "It is peaceful here and there is no one to order every moment of my life."

[gritted]

"I must confess I am somewhat restless here, but I believe that comes down more to my own personal reasons than anything else."

[77th_earl]

"You have every right to refuse to answer this question, but might I ask, what might those personal reasons be?" he asks, curious, yet cautious.

[gritted]

"I am in pursuit of my father's murderer."

[77th_earl]

"You have my empathy: my own father died under strange circumstances precipitated by the actions of one man," he says. "A man whom I would later slay." He doesn't sound too proud of it. But then again, finding out that man may well be your half-brother will do it to you.

[gritted]

"I am very sorry for your loss. It must have been difficult."