thebastion | Day 165 - Night's Funeral

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Day 165 - Night's Funeral

Who: Anyone who wants to attend the funeral
Open: Open
When: Day 165
Where: Dragonfield (And other places)
What: It's time to say goodbye to the dead, and move on with the living. It's the Bastion's first funeral.
Format: Any
Warnings: Things normally associated with funerals: a (cleaned up but still) dead body, emotional reactions, potentially other things. Will be updated as needed.

Throughout the day, various residents of the Bastion will find themselves being approached by either Zulf or Serena. It's the latter who will offer more explanation, but Zulf will just take a deep breath and finally speak one word very quietly.

"Night."

That's right. It's time for the funeral.

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One of the more peaceful and out of the way areas has been used today. Dragonfield has a large unlit pyre set in the middle of it, a few pale flowers the size of people's heads set about it. There are also a few of them with Night's body, which as been laid down carefully on a covered table brought out. The blood has been cleaned off of her, the more grievous wounds have been tastefully hidden, and there's a sweet smell pervading the air. Anyone paying attention will notice that the source of such a scent would be a few large pale petals burning here and there in small torches. To hide the smell of death, you see.

There's been great care to ensure that Night looks almost peaceful, hair brushed and hands laid down at her sides. She's been placed into a long gray dress, the pattern of a chain stitched into the front that goes from the hem to her collar. Anyone who takes a close look might notice ash has been very carefully and subtly applied to her lower eyelids, and similar for her feet.

If you want to pay your respects or simply see her one last time... Now is that time.

Once everyone has said their goodbyes and let the corpse be, Night is carefully laid just so in the pyre after being covered. The pyre is lit, flames taking over it in an instant and reaching achingly towards the sky. The sweet scent that has been apparent since the beginning only gets stronger as the flowers shrivel and burn in the fire.

The pyre burns for a long time, making sure nothing is left. If you stay behind to watch or if you take your leave immediately... It's up to you.

[Georges is nearby, the normally cheerful man seeming quiet and somber. He's known Rin and Night for a while now, and it's obvious that he's taking the loss of the latter hard. He stays for a little while, cheeks wet, before he takes in a deep breath and speaks up.]

If anyone needs a drink or just someone to talk to, I'll be at the Distillery, alright?

[He's worked long enough behind the bar to know that sometimes, a good drink is what people need just to numb their hearts for a little while.]

[True enough, when folks go to the Distillery, there he is as usual. Anyone coming in will be greeted with a nod. What's your poison?]

[Zulf is standing near to Night, dressed quite different than his usual dress. It's something you'd find more in the Terminals than in Caelondia, really- that of a priest of Micia although few here will know that. Red is apparent in the outfit, from his shoes to his shirt. Hanging from around his neck on a thin leather cord? A tiny little charm like the ones from the Festival, only this one is a gear.]

[Something in his tired eyes hints this isn't the first funeral he's had to attend, or the first he's had to deal with so personally. Still, he seems a bit calm. No outpouring of grief. He's gotten all of his out already, thanks to Zia. But anyone near enough might hear him humming a certain tune.]

[Rin had never worn a kimono in her life. Despite growing up in Japan, she had only gone so far as wearing summer yukata to the few festivals she'd willingly attended. During her father's funeral, both her and Yuki had worn more traditional Western clothing for it, but that just didn't feel right to her for Night. She had loved kimono and other traditional clothing because of Monaka and her family, and it was what pushed Rin to spend what she had of her shards on an all black one for herself, as well as proper monks attire for Bon.

Getting in to the kimono had been a challenge, and she needed Bon's help in the end to do it, resulting in her being just a little bit late and missing Zulf as he went around to announce it.

Soon enough, though, the Ura would feel a small hand on his upper arm as Rin came to stand next to him, tail hidden beneath the layers of black and white, normally messy hair done up neatly. On her obi, attached to the cord, a familiar red, blue and silver pin rested, glinting in contrast to the somber black.]

Thank you...

[He's been expecting her. After everything, it wouldn't make sense for her not to come. Normally, he'd give a shake of his head at something like this, but instead he just glances to her after a pause. He seems to consider something before he cups her face again in that gentle way that's probably becoming familiar. There's a kiss laid to her forehead again, carefully.]

[A piece of Ura culture, too, something the dedicates of Micia back home would have done during a funeral. This is the role he's taken upon himself... So he'll properly act it.]

[Of course she was going to be there, even if she was a little late. Tearfully, she accepted the show of affection with a sad smile.

There wasn't much she could say to that. "Thank you" covered it all - from being there for her, to helping with Night's funeral and everything in between.

She couldn't have imagined going through all of this without his help.]

[He'll be here as long as she needs him. Eventually, he clears his throat and very quietly, very hoarsely, murmurs something.]

Alright?

[It's a considerable improvement from just a few days ago.]

[The funeral, having been arranged mostly by Zulf, was of course more Ura in tradition. But Night, of course, was not. Night wasn't even human, but she had spent the last parts of her demon life amongst them, and even before that as a "pet" to a young Japanese girl who had given her a name.

Because of this, she went with more traditional Japanese funerary wear, hair done up and pulled back, and the red, blue and silver pin attached to her obi. That was where that particular bit of cultural tradition ended, though.

Rin was raised Catholic, and as exorcists they were more attached to the Catholic church than any other tradition of Japan. She had walked away from the church (even if the Order more or less dragged her back) a long time ago, but she still remembered things from growing up in that environment.

After the fire was lit, Rin could be found quietly singing a hymn near by, voice carrying over the crackle of the flames, but wavering and unsteady as tears fell down her cheeks. There was a hopefulness in the song, though - a wish that even if Night truly was gone for good, and there was no Gehenna for her return to, she might still find peace somewhere out there.

Maybe even with that young girl she loved so much...]

a - distillery

[The death of a friend was never an easy thing to deal with, but for some one like Frederic who's life growing up had been a long list of those who perished from illness, war, or other such things it was just another reminder that even in this home away from long-gone home, certain things were unavoidable.

Try as they might to survive, to rescue one another, to keep pushing through the hard times, death could still catch up with any one of them at any given time.

He had just never expected it to happen to some one like Night.

They weren't close. Not like she had the other so called "demon" girl had been. But they had met, and talked, and shared laughs and food and drink together. The festival had been their first true meeting, and while Night had been awkward and somewhat uneasy around the horses the day of Hense, she had engaged him in chipper conversation anyway. He often found her working in her garden, and she would sometimes stop by his piano going from one place to another to listen to him play.

To think that a face already so familiar would no longer be seen... it brought back painful memories of his sister, Emilia. Memories he didn't want to dwell on, yet coming back to.

Frederic had become even quieter since her passing. He hadn't watched the horrible scene of Rin returning with the limp body in her arms, but he didn't have to in order to have vivid, imagined images of what had taken place.

He kept to himself during the funeral, even in the presence of his friends, and when Georges had offered drinks, Frederic followed in rare form to that place. He wasn't one to drown his sorrows often... but tonight, he made an exception.

Should anyone care to bother him, they would likely find the composer in a corner alone, dressed in his usual finery with a single black sash tied about one arm and a hefty drink in his hand.]

b - the gazebo

[Later, quite inebriated but still capable of stumbling about well enough to get to the gazebo on his own, Frederic would leave the Distillery and make his way to his piano.

After some fumbling to sit properly upright, his fingers would eventually find the keys of the instrument, touching them gently before taking once more to song. Even in his current state, he played deftly, with little mistakes.

Nocturne... the night, like the strange name of a strange yet wonderful woman who had lived more lives than Frederic could have even imagined.

Hopefully wherever she was now, she would hear him playing for her and smile that sad, sweet smile of hers.]

[Colin's here, but he's making no effort to be social. He's got a case of equipment with him, the projector that Anna requested of him the other day, and he's just waiting for Anna to tell him where she wants it.]

[Remember, this boy's filter is permanently malfunctioning. Dare you approach him at a funeral?]

Thanks to Colin, Anna has a projector. The clouds don't make it quite dark enough that it is perfect, although Tris probably did her best to make the cover thick without actual rain.

But she remembers how to work this part, and so maybe an hour or two after Zulf and Serena went about letting people know, Anna has set up a video feed. Its not terribly organized, because her camera is old enough that it would be a bit tricky. And because she didn't ask. However, this all can be found, sound and all -

A few scattered videos of what sounds like Rin and Night chasing each other around the kitchen. It sounds like Night's "help" isn't something that Rin appreciates that much...

A video or two of Night gardening. She's really focused, doesn't notice dirt getting everywhere. In one, Briar stops by and helps. Night and he seem to be chatting, and Briar seems to take time to point at things and talk. Explaining something, maybe?

This one starts with movement, like they trimmed a longer video to just this part. The view moves to focus on Night, settled on the bank of the river to clean a sword.

There's quite a bit of Night in the shrine. Sometimes she's cleaning by herself, but most of the time there's someone else. Zulf, Zahi, Serena, and Zayna show up the most, but there's one that seems to be a fairly cheerful cleaning frenzy of all them, Bon, and Ryu at once. There is even a glimpse of both Anna's, helping with what they can reach.

Rin and Night chatting as Night braids Rin's hair back, it looks like they're ready to do some sort of activity – which turns out to be sparring. Bon is there too, helping and sparring with them.

It’s the onsen. Before anyone covers their eyes in attempt to block whatever might show up on the video, or stands to go find who thought this was a good idea to play, note that the steam is very opaque. But the shapes are identifiable enough still - or their voices.

I forgot to ask.

[ Tris waits until there's a stop in that song, not wanting to interrupt Rin.

The weather mage isn't dressed that differently - her dress is tasteful dark shade already. Although she did take up the red - her hair is covered by a red cloth, and there's a red band on one arm. Its familiar, even if it reminds her of Daja, who isn't there. ]

Would you like it to rain? Either to put out any coals, or after that?

[It is, but she's not going to say anything about it.]

Mhm.

[Just a quiet noise and a grateful nod. This isn't easy for her at all, but unlike with Shiro's funeral where she simply bottled everything up until Mephisto came along, she's letting her emotions be freer. This time around, there's no goal she can make, no bold statement about being neither human nor demon. No flamboyant, eccentric head master of a school to bark demands at.

It's just her, and her friends, and the loss of some one she was very close to.]

Oh...

[Rin hadn't even thought about that, but Tris bringing it up does pull her attention to the pyre.]

I... uhm. Y-yeah. After... if that's okay...

[Malfunctioning filter or not, it's still Colin, and he's still a friend. Rin had made that much clear in the hospital a few days before.

Once the pyre has been set, she shuffles up behind him, trying to not walk as awkward as she felt in clothing she wasn't used to at all.

It's almost sad that it takes something like a funeral for her to look so nice and put together, but of course the outward appearance only counts for so much when it's clear how badly she's still grieving.

Quietly, she reaches up and tugs on his sleeve to get his attention.]

Quietly, Rin watches, body still save for the fingers fidgeting at the pin attached to her obi - the only bit of red amongst the black and white on her.

Shiro had never been one for recordings. Pictures had always suited him just fine. So memories for her had always been books upon books of photos, tucked away in boxes when they got too full and a new one was brought out. Watching things on a screen like this, bits of her life mixed with Night's... it was different, but not in an all together bad way.

But it was a reminder, just like those photo albums, that this was all there was left. There wouldn't be anything new on these videos of Night - just the same scenes repeating over and over again...

[Colin glances at Rin, and he smiles. He keeps his voice lowered, so as not to disturb everyone else. He at least knows that much.]

Hey, Rin-Rin. A little surprised you're coming to see me today.

Edited 2014-03-11 22:22 (UTC)

[As far as Zulf is concerned, that's for the best. Better out than in, where it can rot a person from the inside out. That might be a bit hypocritical considering it's coming from him... but still.]

[There's no cure for the feeling of loss, for mourning. All he can do is stand here with her and let her know she's not alone.]

I'm glad you're here... even if you didn't know her that well.

[An honest answer from her.]

[Ippo had been there through the entire service; he hadn't spoken a word since coming back, he just looked all around tired and drained. He had paid his final respects and now was just standing silently as he watched the pyre burn; it's flickering glow reflecting in his eyes. Who knew if he would talk to anyone, he seemed almost transfixed at the moment, but it couldn't hurt to try at least.]

It would be pretty crass if I didn't show up.

[His smile is gentle and reassuring.]

And Anna asked me to make her something for the event.

She did... ?

[She wasn't going to try talking, because really Rin was being just as unusually quiet as the rest of them. She did join Ippo where he stood, though, hands folded in front of her kimono in a rare show of grace of reservation.

If he did take note of her, though, she would talk. She wasn't being like Zulf and resigning herself to silence in light of recent failures.]

[Floette didn't need any more red. She had enough already. But she did know a bit about funerals. Not this tradition, but she could play along.]

[That's why Floette approaches Rin, holding a small bracelet in her free hand. It's not very complicated, just some grass with a red flower woven into it, but it's about as big as she is, but she holds on just the same. When she gets close enough, she holds it out to Rin, voice soft as she speaks.]

Flo...

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Day 165 - Night's Funeral

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