[Open Post] Titus Langourous

[77th_earl]

Most days, when rehearsals for Cyrano's play aren't keeping him busy, Titus is out riding the trails in the garden or the more-traveled ones in the woods, but on especially warm days, he retreats to the coolness of the library where he's been curling up with the stack of books that the Doctor helped him to find, or with a few odd books of poetry he

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[ichbinzillah]

Zillah's stepping outside for some fresh air--she's been spending too much time in the library herself, reading books on politics.

She sees Titus there, and curious, heads towards him.

"What are you reading?" she asks.

[77th_earl]

He looks up, a bit surprised that someone is approaching him, and a rather pretty girl at that, and he quickly closes his book, turning up the cover toward her. "A book of poems by the title of 'Shapes and Sounds', by some man named Peake," he replies.

[ichbinzillah]

"Oh," she replies, still curious. "Never heard of him. What's he like?"

[77th_earl]

"He has a great command of words: his metaphors are very tight. It seems that he was a painter, and that could be why: he has an eye for imagery," he replies.

[ichbinzillah]

"That sounds neat," she replies. "I've never read a lot of poetry, to be honest."

[77th_earl]

He holds the book out to her. "I've just finished reading this one: you're welcome to read it, if you like," he offers.

[ichbinzillah]

"Oh, cool! Thanks." She grins and takes the book from him.

[77th_earl]

"It is my pleasure," he says, with a small smile. "I am Titus Groan."

[ichbinzillah]

"Zillah Katz," she replies easily.

[77th_earl]

"It is an honor to meet you, Mistress Katz," he replies. "Are you a scholar?"

[ichbinzillah]

She shrugs. "Sort of? I try, anyway."

[77th_earl]

"That is something: at least you are making the effort and it is something which brings you pleasure," he says. "But, dare I ask, what area do you study?"

[ichbinzillah]

"Politics, mainly. What do you study, besides poetry?"

[77th_earl]

"I suppose one might say that I am seeking to study politics: I came from a kingdom in dire need of change, though I hardly know where to start in order to find what I need to know," he admits.

[ichbinzillah]

"Really? What was it like there?"

[77th_earl]

"It was like a prison, to be precise: the life of the lord of the realm was hemmed in by rounds of ritual which once had some meaning but which, over time, had lost their meaning. Tradition is all well and good since it preserves a culture, but when it becomes something that the lord has to do because he is told to do it, then it becomes the walls and bars of a prison," he says.