chicago ♔ weep not for the memories

[romanticidal]

♬ Back on Earth - Ozzy Osbourne

WHO || Buffy, Spike, Finnick, Myri, Dawn, Archer, Elena, Kat, Gar, Mark, Burt, Des, Rafael, Violet, Francesca, Luthir. [closed]
WHAT || Eterna Jade's funeral service
WHERE || Temple of Corellon, Chicago
WHEN || July 8th, 2013
HOW || Actionspam

[ While there is no temple to Sehanine located in the city limits, there is a large church erected to the elven god Corellon, and it's there that the funeral service itself is to be held, before Jade's body is taken to be laid to rest. The temple itself is a magnificent sight, made to appear as if it's been carved out of a large tree. High above them, the ceiling is made to replicate the night sky in vivid, magically reproduced detail, even in the middle of the day: not a painting, but a maintained illusory spell. A full moon hangs there, surrounded by the stars, an appropriate setting for remembering the life of the daughter of the sacred elven moon goddess.

Violet, using Burt's funds, has taken care of everything, arranging for the priest here to conduct an authentic elven funeral service, and also taking the liberty of being in charge of all decorations of the temple for the occasion. The temple is literally swimming in flowers: jasmine, lilies, white violas and moonflowers - absolutely all of them pristine and white, with the exception of some sunflowers set for accent.

Jade's body is laid among more of these flowers, in a casket on a raised dais, also clothed in white silk. Even in death, she possesses an uncanny beauty that's difficult to look away from. Quiet, ethereal, mournful music fills the room, creating a very otherwordly, sanctified atmosphere.

Except, of course, as the guests arrive and begin to seat themselves in the carved wooden pews, it's impossible to miss Burt buzzing around, helping a camera crew set up in the back of the church. This tends to detract a little from the overall effect, just a bit. ]

Comments

[nothingsodivine]

[There is no rhyme or reason for the outfit Des shows up in, except for maybe pissing Burt off and living up to Jade's nickname for him. And for once in his life, he gets to be a badass longcoat instead of "that guy in the leather jacket over there."

He's clearly uncomfortable by the entire affair. Funerals have never been a good place for him- they're a cruel reminder of what's perpetually out of his reach and an even bigger reminder that he'll see every person he knows buried before he'll ever be the one in the box. But he's here and he promised Violet he'd speak. So there's no backing out now.

As soon as he gets to the door, he removes the hat out of respect and goes straight to his seat without saying a word or passing more than a cursory glance at Jade's body. Instead, he does spend a good deal of time glowering at Burt and the camera crews before he finally sits down.

It's only then he notices the flowers- sunflowers. Somehow it's their seemingly innocuous inclusion that makes him sink lower into his chair and start rubbing at his face with his hands.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri has felt ill since this morning. It feels strange, since she hardly knew Jade when she was alive, but it's more to do with how she worries for the people still alive. She stays close to Finnick, which would be surprising to approximately no one, but there's no telling what Burt might ask of the boys today- and no telling how they might react if he did. She reaches down and takes his hand in hers, squeezing softly and offering him a small smile before they make their way to their seats.]

[rationalizes]

[ gar follows the dress in white memo, as well, even if her date kat walks in beside her wearing... her usual leather jacket and combat boots + jeans ensemble. what did you expect, really. the two of them take up the seats behind myri and finnick, as kat looks skeptically around at the decorations in here and gar tries to keep her from saying anything embarrassing. ]

[nosdacariad]

[ mark comes in behind them, wearing a black suit anyway, because that whole white thing makes him look like an ice cream man.

he looks sort of massively uncomfortable here, and takes a seat a few spots down from gar, sitting with his hands clasped between his knees, his foot tapping anxiously. ]

[romanticidal]

[ mark shouldn't feel bad because even half-elf rafael wore black, probably because he has this whole thematic thing going on and it'd be a shame to ruin that. also maybe because he's massively depressed. choose your own adventure.

either way, he walks up the aisle slowly, eyes riveted on the casket up ahead, to the exclusion of the rest of the scenery. when he reaches the front row, he takes a seat near des, with one space in between them, with barely an acknowledgement. ]

[starfucker]

[ it's a dark suit and tie for burt too, but ostensibly because he is entirely insensitive to other culture's traditions. he struts up the aisle and plops down in the seat between raf and des, drawing his smartphone out of his pocket and looking at it ] When's this show supposed to get on the road already?

[graveflowers]

[Violet's sort of in white. She's never been much for funereal colors though, but... whatever.]

If that phone isn't on silent I swear to god this will be a double funeral... [She snaps the answer walking in the opposite direction, a handful of little corsages gathered in her hands for... well these three guys in particular, thanks for sitting so close guys.] Take these, please.

[She makes floral arrangements as stress relief...]

[bigbad]

[Spike is sort of in white. More of a light grey, really, because his date is all in white and she chose his outfit. Seriously, Francesca, if he'd realized being your date would involve so much shopping and wearing colors other than black he would have made Mark do it. But he's here. He looks damn fine, again, thanks to Francesca. And he's trying to find two open seats for them.]

[slay]

[ buffy's donned a white dress for the occasion, as well, though the rest of her appearance isn't nearly so clean and uplifting.

it's hard to tell if the dark circles around her eyes are smoky eye make-up or just lack of sleep, and she doesn't appear to have tried to do much of anything with her hair outside of brushing it, so it's frizzed into half-curls at the bottom. she takes a corsage from vi, though she can't manage to drum up a smile as she nods to her, slipping it onto her wrist. she moves past, finding a seat near des. ]

Ceremony

[romanticidal]

[ as vi heads backstage, she runs into the attendant priest of Corellon, who stops to ask her if everyone has arrived and they may begin. ]

[graveflowers]

I think so? [Look, all her people are there. She doesn't know who else she should be expecting since she doesn't imagine Isabella is actually going to make an appearence -- maybe she'll throw Vi a bone and toss herself over the casket weeping at the graveside service for funsies...] Yes, probably.

[romanticidal]

[ he nods solemnly and gestures for her to go back out and take a seat, and then walks out very slowly onto the dais, to the side of jade. conversations slow to a hush, and he waits for the silence before nodding to another elf stationed near the entrance, who closes the doors.

the lights dim, allowing the interior of the church to be illuminated entirely by the moon and starlight above. the music changes, and he begins intoning the opening of the service... entirely in elvish. you wanted authentic, ok. ]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des keeps shooting dark looks at the camera crew behind him, because it keeps him from looking at Jade's body.]

[graveflowers]

[So in hindsight, she probably should have asked for an English translation since... she has no idea what the guy is saying. Which is plain enough on her expression as she sits down. Whoops?]

Oh. I did not learn enough elvish for this...

[luthir]

[ luthir leans over just the slightest bit, saying very quietly: ] He's speaking a prayer to Corellon, to ask him to watch over these funeral rites, and also expounding on the nature of Sehanine. [ and he translates: ] "Life is series of mysteries whose secrets are veiled by the Luminous Cloud. As the spirit transcends its mortal bounds and new mysteries are uncovered, a higher form is achieved and the cycle of life continues."

[graveflowers]

[She nods a little, it's close enough to Roman rites that she can imagine the rest.] Thanks

[luthir]

[ he gives a small nod, and then actually reaches over to take her hand in his. this is a pda, someone take pictures.

the priest goes on for a short, before finally moving into english.

"We ask now that you join us in taking the time to celebrate the life of this Child of the Moon. To share your memories of her, and to remember her for what she brought to this world while she inhabited it." and he nods to burt to come on up there, since he's first on the docket. unfortunately.

there's a little time for quiet talking while burt gets up and ascends the steps. ]

MEANWHILE OUTSIDE [Elena]

[nothingsodivine]

[The problem with being a temperamental fuck who doesn't cry often is breaking down in furious crying fits in PUBLIC tends to make you... well, angry.

So when Des bursts through the doors into the entrance hall, he finds the first thing to take his anger out on and proceeds to flip it over and kick it.

Basically that poor kitschy chair with the idyllic elvish carvings is firewood now. His listen check is really high (20 total), so he hears Elena coming, but doesn't turn around. Just keeps focusing on trying to reign in his emotions.]

Give me a minute, Myri. [His voice is hoarse... and yeah, he totally assumes it's Myri. Myri does these things.] I'll be right back in.

[notaroundme]

[She exits out into the hallway just as he's flipping that shit over like it doesn't weigh anything, and she can't help but flinch. Poor chair.

Still, she's not surprised that his first assumption is that she's Myri. Myri does things like this, has done it for her before.]

Myri's still inside.

[She says matter of factly, waiting to see if he's calm enough that she's not going to be pushing the wrong buttons by showing up out here.]

I thought I would get some fresh air.

[Bluff 19. She doesn't want to make him feel like she's trying to baby him or something by keeping him company.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Oh. He turns and there's a moment where even through bloodshot eyes and a tear-streaked face, one can just tell he's struggling to remember her name.

Then he just says FUCK IT and shakes his head.]

You came to make sure I was all right. I know how you kids are. [(sense motive 26) You can't bullshit a bullshitter, Elena.] I'm fine.

[notaroundme]

[Yeah, she figured that part out (wisdom 17), and she shouldn't take it personally, but she kind of does. She's only been living in the same close quarters as him for awhile now, and it isn't as if their group is new, geez.

She's also not a kid, wow.]

Yeah, I did. [He caught her, might as well fess up.] But I'd say it's pretty obvious that you're not.

[She's not harsh about it, it's just true.]

And my name is Elena. You know, Myri's squire?

[At least she's not just trying to up and cheer him up, because that doesn't work. Distraction works pretty well, sometimes, though.]

[nothingsodivine]

That would explain a lot. [Like you filling in for her. Doing her good Samaritan work. That sort of thing.]

Look, it's a funeral. People at funerals are generally not okay by definition. We get out feelings out, we go home. I personally just don't like feeling that much in front of so many people.

[notaroundme]

She didn't put me up to it or anything. [And she would have done the same thing before she even met Myri. She worries about people. Always has.]

I know. [She's been to a lot of them, even if she doesn't remember. But she's not naive and she understands death in a way no one her age should.] But it also sucks to be alone when you're hurting.

[nothingsodivine]

[IT DOES. But he's not admitting that, because highlander vibe and all that.]

I'm used to it by now. [Awkward pause] But thanks.

[But the dulcet tones of Rafael's nat 20 come from the door and Des wanders back over to it, curious, more than save. (19 will save AW YEAH)] All right. Come on. You don't wanna miss the rest of it. [He ushers her over, already planning to go back in, himself.]

[notaroundme]

[He doesn't need to. It's cool. She just gives him a nod at his thanks.

Her head turns toward the noise as well, giving him a small smile and follows him back inside. At least he seems better, even if she didn't have anything to do with it.]