[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

[in_summer_leaf]

After he finishes tacking up the notice, Hisoka sits down on a couch near the notice board. He is looking a little tired and rumpled after the events of the last two days -- Aramat's death and Jacquel's inquest, and now an exhausting, ongoing search for Titus (or, most likely, his dead body).

He primarily wants to get a picture of who Titus's friends and enemies were. Also, who has he been seen with recently? (Going on the theory that most murders are not anonymous -- the murderer either knows or has approached the victim not too long before the murder.)

[pinkduelist]

Here is someone with definite concerns. After all, Utena was to protect Titus. (But then again, fourteen year olds don't make promises like that and they shouldn't for a reason.) She feels like she's failed horribly, and he very well could be deac.

“It's my fault... he's missing because I couldn't protect him...” Utena utters miserably.

Things may get worse...

[in_summer_leaf]

"Hello, Utena!" responds Hisoka. "You took on the responsibility of protecting Titus?" He takes this ambition seriously; he regards her as a samurai like himself -- and her youth doesn't change that.

[pinkduelist]

“I did...” She says painfully. “I failed... he could be dead and I failed.” Promises like that are talior-made to break hearts, especially when one was being targeted by the mansion creeper himself.

[whutobjection]

Phoenix may be sitting near the doorway of the the common room nursing a cup of coffee, this has been rather crazy couple of days lately. What with finding out someone died in a horrible manner and that someone was kinda with your not!girlfriend.

He really doesn't how to feel about that. But whatever, he needs to focus on Titus.

[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?"

[surfaceshine]

Dean will take a shift, alternating being still with trying to help search the grounds. He's taken to carrying a hip flask again, not even caring about how many steps back it puts him, and his temper is a little short, but he's still Dean.

He still wants to find Titus and talk to anyone who can help them accomplish that or who needs or wants reassuring.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Say, can I have a snort of that?" says Hisoka, appearing at Dean's elbow.

[Are you up for an extremely short thread? XD]

[surfaceshine]

Dean's eyes flick up, though he doesn't raise his head from where it's bent over his hands passing the flask harmlessly back and forth. He quirks an eyebrow, but stops tossing it and holds it out instead.

"Careful," he cautions, deadpan but joking. "It bites back."

It's Dean's usual - whiskey, and rough whiskey at that - and it's half full.

[in_summer_leaf]

"Thanks, dude," says Hisoka, taking the flask. He upends it and takes a big gulp. His eyes suddenly become twice their usual size. "Aaughh! It bit me."

[ohmaiden]

Iphigenia walks into the common room and sees the poster. She stares at it a moment before turning very pale, and looking very worried.

"Titus is missing?" she says aloud to no one in particular.

[death_dawg]

There might be a tall, dark-skinned gent in a black suit, sitting nearby, poring over what looks like a leather-bound ledger, but he'll set it aside and approach her. "He went missing a few nights ago, from what we gather," he says.

She might sense an odd, comforting darkness about the man.

[ohmaiden]

She turns to face him. "And you don't know where he is?"

[death_dawg]

"I'm afraid to admit that we don't," he says, apologetically. "We're looking for anyone who might have any idea where he might be, to help with the search." But from the look in his eyes, they haven't had many leads yet.