[Mingling Post] Open University (Cont'd)

[only_paul]

On the board in the common room, there's a list of open classes. Available classes
(schedules may be determined bona fide by the instructor and the student):

• History (Paul *****)
• Political science (Zillah Katz)
• Alchemy (Alphonse Elric)
• First Aid (Dr. Muraki)
• Vampirism in legend and popular culture (Dr. Muraki)

Comments

[not_snake_bite]

Steerpike can be found staring at the list and making notes of a few interesting facts... most of them pertaining to his mentor.

He's quite amused by what he's reading. Vampire Lore. That's an interesting way of putting it.

[not_snake_bite]

"I know not," Steerpike replies with calculated humility. "Certainly, you are better educated in such dissertations than I could ever dream to be. I am only a kitchen rat, after all."

There's a touch of animosity underlying it, but Steepike is good at pouring honey on his tongue.

[77th_earl]

"Do pretend ignorance in front of me: You have a glib tongue, glib enough that you used... Will use it to deceive and charm the inhabitants of the castle," he says, firmly. "You would fool everyone but my mother the Countess, who suspected something wrong, but she did not move until you started to make your moves."

[not_snake_bite]

"You wound me to suggest that Her Ladyship would take ill to me, for I've never even seen her, if only for a chance encounter with the lovely felines who keep her company so well."

[77th_earl]

"At least as I know how it will happen, you will be seeing her and often: you will be serving as an assistant to Master Barquentine, the Secretary of the Ritual, you'll even take his place after he dies in a mysterious fire, which you'll likely have a hand in, though you will tell Dr. Prunesquallor that you had tried to save the old man's life," Titus says, trying to keep calm. Telling all this is opening wounds old and new and he would rather not spill all this to his enemy.

[not_snake_bite]

Interesting.

"And yet I have done no such thing - as you see me, I am here and have been here for all winter and spring, and will likely be until death take me, my lord. Whatever fate befell Gormenghast - and it pains me to hear it - it was another by my name, and not I, I swear it by the stones."

[77th_earl]

A thought comes to his mind, and it occurs to him that it could wound this man worse than the short sword he drew on the older version of his enemy. He quails back from the notion, but he realizes, this is the only weapon he has. "You did not answer my question: was it a fair trade, destroying most of another man's family because of what happened to you at the hands of Swelter?"

[not_snake_bite]

"You wound me to think that I would do such a thing, when we've never even met, my lord," Steerpike replies. "For this deed you suggest is horrendous in every manner, and nothing that I would ever do."

Or would he? He's not thought of killing before... but now he has to ask himself this question. All this is hideen deep within - on the outside, Steerpike is outraged and absolutely horrified at the suggestion.

But he hates you, Titus. And now he wants you to die. Congratulations on making him the monster you thought he was - leaving the boy alone would have been a much wiser move. He might have even had a chance at redemption, but that's dwindling at light speed.

Which typist finds regrettable, alas, but we'll deal &hearts .

And wanted to ask, how would Titus know that?

And sorry for the multiple posts >.<