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

[notaroundme]

[Elena's apparently being strong for everyone else now (will save 22) and has dry eyes, even if her heart feels like it's collapsing.

She sees Des up and walk out though (spot nat 20...), so she's going to go after him because someone should check on him, apologizing to those she's leaving in the process.]

Excuse me.

[And then she moves to the door and follows Des outside.]

[witchwoman]

[The moment Rafael walks up to speak, she knows that it's coming. And she can only imagine the effect his words will have on everyone she cares about, so she turns her gaze downward, focusing on her hand in Finnick's and she braces herself for it. It works, but she is definitely not looking up for awhile, for fear of breaking her safe little bubble (will 21).]

[slay]

[ buffy collapses into sobs as rafael finishes (will save 10), and she gets up to excuse her when des does, but realizes ... des is doing the same thing and stops, and stands there awkwardly because you don't really get crying privacy when you go with your bff. ummm. she glances back towards him and catches a glimpse of orlando bloom, though, which seems to clear up her tears (spot nat 20). she lowers her hand from her mouth, confusion setting in, and finds herself calmly staring back at him. ]

[graveflowers]

[With her will save of 25, Vi has turned into a cold hearted bastard -- or more accurately, she is just really used to crying by now that she can multitask. Including watching Buffy stand and Des go with worry. She is about to go after him but Elena beats her to it, so she stays seated, wondering how long they have to wait before the priest accepts silence and moves on to save them all from turning into emotional pits of despair or someone else speaks up. It's not like they were the only people who knew Jade.]

Buffy... are you okay?

[bigbad]

[Spike wonders if funerals feel this awkward to all vampires, or if he's just special. Not that most vampires attend that many funerals, most likely. It's just that he knows he's supposed to be dead, and would be, if all had gone right in the world. That burning itch of holiness is enough to remind him of that far too clearly. It all leads to him feeling antsy and uncomfortable during all the speeches. Not that it keeps them from hurting. But it certainly is distracting enough to keep him from crying (will 24). Like having to go to the bathroom during something important.

When Des passes him by, he turns his head to watch, something to focus on besides all the sadness, and sees... Orlando Bloom.]

What's he doing here?

[The words are murmured to Francesca, who... probably can't see him. Oh well.]

[socialgraces]

[ Francesca quickly turns her head towards where Spike is looking, already on high alert. But she sees... Des leaving and Elena following, and isn't quite sure what to make of his outburst. Maybe he's just being weirdly emotional or something. She whispers back: ] Who are you referring to?

[bigbad]

You can't see him.

[He stands up and starts moving towards Orlando Bloom, quietly but purposefully. Sorry, Francesca, he's an awful date. But he'll explain later. Probably.]

[slay]

It's Gray. One of them's here.

[ buffy shoots a look across the temple to spike, as if searching for some indication of action out of him. but what action? they'd been clear; anything they learn about the grays gives more power to the baddies. he's here, based on her assessment at the concert and the hospital, because he cared about jade - for whatever reason. her hands loosen from fists she hadn't realized she'd made, and she reaches up to wipe makeup from under her eyes. she looks at the others, then slowly draws herself back into her seat to stop making a disruption of the service. ]

[socialgraces]

[ well she doesn't know what that means spike, but she does think its very unwise to make a spectacle of yourself at such a public funeral that may or may still be being televised. So she's grabs for him before he can get too far, forgetting he can't be seen by the cameras (touch attack 28) and tries to pull him back just enough to get his attention, quietly hissing: ] This really isn't the time to pick a fight, Spike.

[romanticidal]

[ somehow rafael misses buffy's words just before he has a seat again, meeting her gaze, something in his eyes that's almost asking for her approval of what he had to say, and what it reflected about the words they'd shared on the bridge. but he doesn't say anything, and looks back up at the priest, who is still patiently giving them a minute to volunteer. ]

[divinehealer]

[ and as everyone quietly avoids eye contact or whatnot, orlando bloom actually just turns and walks out the doors calmly. into the lobby. where des does not see him emerge... ]

[romanticidal]

[ when no one approaches the stand, the priest gestures across to where a piano is situated, and rafael rises once more, crossing towards it with a look almost like dread, as if he's not sure he can do this. he seats himself on the bench and takes a long moment staring at the keys, and then squeezing his eyes closed, before he finally launches into the song. it's a moving melody that would actually be familiar to the couple members of failboat present who heard hi singing it late one night in his palazzo one year ago... but there's a renewed conviction in his words that's terribly striking, the emotion warm and resounding off the ceilings of the church.(piano 28, singing ... nat 20. for a total of 38.)

♬ To Where You Are - Rafael Giovanni ]

Who can say for certain?
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory's so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be
That you are mine
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream?
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
'Cause you are my
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

[witchwoman]

[Shortest lived safe bubble ever. Halfway through Rafael's song, tears start to form. They don't fall, but she is cracking. (will 15)]

[graveflowers]

[Well, someone crit failed. And dissolved into a messy pile of sobs. Surely it is very unexpected. Things that are currently not okay? Everything. She doesn't get up and flee though, mostly because she doesn't have the wherewithal to move at the moment, so she just sort of crumbles inward, stifling sobs behind her hand.]

[luthir]

[ luthir slips his hand out of hers so that he can slide his arm around her, since he is... completely atoic about all this SO SURPRISING. but he whispers something in elvish that she doesn't understand, but it's pretty clear that he's inviting her to cry into his shoulder all she needs. ]

[65]

[will save 7. he's out. TIME FOR BITCH TEARS. which he tries to hide by bowing his head. such a valiant effort.]

[nothingsodivine]

[Des returns, because his will save was a 19 and he's not bawling anymore and he's curious to see the end of the service. He was curious, but he ends up just standing in the back, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed, all... stoic and shit.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri doesn't notice Finnick's break down due to trying so hard to keep her own emotions in check. She just assumes he's bowing his head out of respect (spot 10).]

[slay]

[ buffy makes her will save with a 23, and it seems she'd let her tears slip earlier and it had left her more capable of controlling herself in the future. she keeps her gaze fixed on rafael, but doesn't let any of the heartache she feels show. she's able to just focus on him, and being attentive to his emotional state (sense motive 31??? if that should be a spot check then it's actually 35). ]

[romanticidal]

[ naw, sense motive works. It's ridiculously easy for her to read him, apparently: to see both the difference between the way he sang this song last time, and to register the alterations in him since the other day on the bridge. There's still a heavy burden of loss coloring his demeanor, but he doesn't come off as entirely stifled by it, and though he sings of leaving this world behind to join her, it's without the previous desperate edge that made him seem ready to abandon absolutely everything else in this world for that chance. There's that usual sense of reverence with which he always sings or speaks about jade, but there's something in his delivery that also reads as a hesitant, but real, goodbye.

When he finishes, there's a beat, and then the elvish music comes up again quietly, and the priest makes motions for Rafael and anyone else who is acting as pall bearer to come forward to loft the casket. ...which I forgot to figure out with y'all, so whoever wants to help is free to assume they've been asked and briefed on the score. ]

[notaroundme]

[Elena comes back in behind Des, and fortunately only catches the tail end of Rafael's song, so it's over before she can be too affected by it (will save 14).]