[restricted mingler] The investigators interview anybody who knows anything whatsoever about Titus

[in_summer_leaf]

A sign is posted in the common room on the notice board:

Information wanted:For anyone who does not know this, Titus Groan is missing, and it is feared that this is not the usual Mansion disappearance. If you believe you have any information that might help us find him, or simply have questions or concerns, please speak to a member of the Shadow

Comments

[cute_shinigami]

Tsuzuki has only met Titus through passing by him in the hallway, but the fact that the young man has disappeared is cause for concern. And the fact that it happened about the same time as Aramat's death is worrisome.

He's sitting in an armchair, not far from the notice, nursing a cup of tea -- and likely noshing on a donut from a box procured from the kitchen.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Hey, can I have one of those?" Hisoka is standing beside the armchair.

[cute_shinigami]

He looks up, the pensive look leaving his face. "Sure thing! what's detective work without donuts," he says, pushing the box closer to Hisoka.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Thanks." Hisoka picks one of the maple-glazed ones, and takes a bite. "Tsuzuki, I was thinking. I don't believe Muraki did it -- as I was saying when we talked in Aramat's room -- but I wonder if he knew Titus?"

[cute_shinigami]

"I wouldn't be surprised if he did: we know Muraki is fond of younger males and people with violet eyes, and Titus was both of those things," he says, taking another sip of tea, as if clearing a bad taste from his mouth.

[in_summer_leaf]

"True," says Hisoka, considering. "So, then, I guess the answer is yes, he did know him. And Muraki's very observant. I'm thinking we should ask him for his ideas. Have you seen him lately?"

That sip of tea is eloguent of Tsuzuki's feelings concerning the pale doctor, and of years of unpleasent encounters with him. Hisoka is aware that he's asking for something Tsuzuki might not be particularly pleased to do.

[cute_shinigami]

"I haven't seen him lately, but...well, I've kinda been staying out of his way," he admits, hanging his head a bit. He's ducked out of the kitchen when he's spotted Muraki there, and he's moved to a different part of the library when he realized Muraki had walked in.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Yeah. Well, we can find him. He seems to be sort of nocturnal; I always run into him at night." Hisoka glances out of a window and verifies it's late morning by the pale winter sun's position. "Let's try his room, and if he's not there, the lab."

[cute_shinigami]

"I'll bet he is: that pale son probably keeps him out of the bright sunlight, and there's that whole energy vampirism thing," he says, setting down his cup before getting up. He adjusts the skirts of his coat, then reaches into his breast pocket, taking out those purple sunglasses. "Well, let's go find him in his lair," he says, slipping on his shades, ala Horatio Caine.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Uh-oh, the yakuza shades again!" says Hisoka, with a small grin. But he thinks they may be part of Tsuzuki's gearing-up-for-action routine, and he approves.

When they arrive at the doctor's door, Hisoka taps on it lightly. He waits a second and then calls softly, "Muraki? Are you awake?"

Will be switching accounts as needed.

[silvereyedphage]

The latch rattles, then the door opens and Muraki peers out in his shirtsleeves. This time, he's clad entirely in black, even his shirt is the same matte shade, throwing his pale features into stark contrast. His face has a drawn look to it, as if he hasn't been eating or sleeping well for the past few days and his good eye is red-rimmed. But a shadow of his usual smirk might start to quirk the corners of his mouth. "Can I help you with something?" he asks, his gaze going from to Tsuzuki.

"Yes, ah, we were wondering if you'd seen a young man named Titus Groan lately?" Tsuzuki replies. And from the pucker of concern that's crossed his face, he's clearly been struck by his otherwise enemy's appearance.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Titus has gone missing, too," says Hisoka. "And we could use your help if you knew him."

[silvereyedphage]

"Aside from having seen him in that theatrical that was performed and...observing him afterwards, I'm afraid that I didn't know him as well as I wish," he says, simply. There's a note of dismay in his good eye, but that quickly masks itself with his usual professional calm.

"And what is *that* supposed to mean, or do I want to know that answer?" Tsuzuki retorts, already getting warm under the collar.

[in_summer_leaf]

[Moved left to avoid post crush.^^]

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka puts a hand out to touch Tsuzuki's shoulder, while keeping his eyes on Muraki's swiftly-masked face. The touch is comforting and reassuring, and at the same time, it telegraphs, Please keep your temper, or he'll react by goading you into a cat-and-mouse game and we won't learn anything. "Titus was an inspired actor -- obviously he was drawing on depths of imagination and experience that we had little knowledge of. But anything at all could be helpful! Did you have any sense of who else might have been interested in him?"

[cute_shinigami]

Tsuzuki relaxes a bit under Hisoka's touch, the irritation fading a bit, but only a bit. He's still regarding Muraki dubiously.

Something which Muraki notes, since a smirk crosses his face, but he does not act on it for now. "He was my sister Aramat's lover, and if I'm not mistaken, she might have been the one to claim his virginity," he says. "I won't deny, I was a bit jealous, and I was hoping she'd be willing to let me have a moment with me. Siblings should share their toys, don't you think?" he adds, with a vicious smirk, but the look in his good eye isn't quite matching it.