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Post by "Unfettered" on Nov 16, 2013 7:23:06 GMT -8
The Ceremony It was two weeks later from October 19, 2012 to November 2, 2012.
The Crows were (or should have been) in their new uniforms or at the very least their finest clothes. Not everyone could arrive, as Crows had to be kept at their respective bases to keep up defenses, especially in light of Barker's recent defeat. At least, this was at "Teal's" demands. It was right to mourn, but it was never a time to be foolish, either.
Due to the state of the body, the casket could not be kept open with such a glaringly large hole in its head. It was presented in slick black, with a metal carving of Kiyoshi's tattoo on the top, with many of Kiyoshi's possessions laid on a thin, white blanket atop it. For the funeral procession, the downstairs cafeteria was retrofitted for seating and food for all those who had come to pay their respects for the 11:00 AM ceremony.
The decorations were white with what cloths that could be found and scavenged. Flowers were put to the brown, wooden base that the coffin was made to rest on for the ceremony's entirety. Next to Kiyoshi's coffin were the caskets of all who had met an unfortunate end in the defensive battle, though all caskets were kept closed in respect of their fallen leader.
Security was particularly tight. No desecration of the dead was to occur this day.
Some people would make up the choir.
Some would read their final eulogies and even outsiders were allowed.
"Teal" merely sat off in the corner brooding, casting Kiyoshi's coffin a dark, sorrowful glare.
The coffins were carried outside by 1:00 PM, right after the break for bathroom and lunch. For this, "Teal" stood up and helped to carry one of the coffins outside along with another Crow, to the burial sites. The ones that wished to be cast off to the sea were placed into boats filled with kerosene soaked hay and wood chips and let to sail a good thirty feet before diligently drilled (personally, by "Teal") Crows launched flaming missiles of burning logs, arrows, slings, or whichever was specified for the ready dead.
Those that were to be buried were carried far and followed by the procession to a plot of dirt south of the 710, a little ways south where the battle itself had been conducted.
As Kiyoshi had left no instruction, it had fallen on Delilah and what she chose for counsel on what to do with the body. "Teal" suggested to make a symbol of him. So Kiyoshi could not be sent away at sea.
The land was prepared for those that were to be buried, with simple tombstones with names and inscriptions on them. As the sun was high and the ceremony conducted, all that was left was for the local priest to go by each and every coffin with blessings. A prayer for all of them, wishing them well on their way to the next life.
And only then would Kiyoshi Akechi and his faithful fallen be returned to the earth.
"Teal" would be at the forefront of the surrounding crowd, tipping his hat down with the coffins' descent.
OOC: This thread is open to everyone (save Barker and his compatriots, as per the guard in Crow's territory). You may be one who helps carry a casket to its destination, you may say your final words or speak your final words to Kiyoshi in private and be left alone without fear of being eavesdropped if you so wish, and you may speak your eulogy of Kiyoshi if you have one. Only Crows may be part of the accompanying choir or guard, but if your character would join in on the singing, no one would stop him/her. One post only, please. |
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Nov 16, 2013 21:52:57 GMT -8
Delilah stood stiffly across from Kiyoshi's casket before the ceremony was to begin. She was not yet dressed appropriately for the somber occasion of a funeral, but there was more of a purpose to her being here hours before anyone else, disheveled and with her son in tow.
The small lad clutched at his mother's hand, staring at the behemoth of wood, laid with the metal decoration of the tell-tale tattoo that belonged to the man within. Oliver glanced up at Delilah, uncertainty clear in his mismatched eyes.
"Mama?" He questioned up at her. They had been standing there for a while, in uncomfortable silence with the dead man in the box.
"Do you remember what I said before the bombs fell?"
Oliver's quizzical stare turned worried. He couldn't quite make out his mother's face, not with her black hair obstructing his view. He shook his head solemnly, thinking that maybe he should voice this as well, but Delilah seemed to see it.
"I told you that everyone has a time. Some come sooner than others, right?" Her blue eyed gaze, weary but strong, shifted down to his. "And when that time comes, we all must face it in our own way."
The white haired boy began to slowly nod, "I remember; some fight to save themselves, some fight to save others, some accept it's their time and some try and run or cheat it. Right?"
"That's right." She turned her gaze away and back towards the coffin. Slowly, she began to walk towards it, Oliver following in her wake, clinging to her hand. "Do you know who this is?"
He thought he did, but Oliver thought it best to shake his head.
"This is Akechi-sama. You met him, once or twice. Do you remember?"
"Sorta..."
"He wanted you to be the next leader of the Crows," she told him with a small smile.
Oliver looked up at her, alarmed and intrigued; "REALLY?"
"Yes," she scooped him up into her arms as they stood before the coffin. "He said one day-- when you're old enough-- you would be a good choice to take his place. Because the people you're around have been good people."
"Even General Sunshine?"
Delilah barked a short laugh. "'Teal' and I don't always get along, but he's a good, smart man." Delilah moved her free hand to lightly lay it on top of the casket. "...I think I also told you that one day, I wasn't going to be around any more."
Oliver was silent; he didn't like thinking about that possibility. His mama was the scariest and bravest and strongest woman he knew; she couldn't possibly die.
"Well. He died the way I would like to, if I had a choice: he died protecting everything he loved. Including you."
Again, the small boy turned to look at his mother with wide eyes. "...Why?"
"Because he was a good man. He died so that Barker wouldn't wipe out me and..." she had been about to say 'your father' and 'Herr Patchy', both of whom were still missing. "--everyone else we care about, like you."
Oliver turned away from his mother for a moment, for the first time in his short life, overwhelmed by the full meaning of her words. People were dying to keep him alive. "...I don't want that."
"I know you don't, sweet heart. Neither do I. That's why me and everyone else got so strong; so no one would have to protect us. And until you're strong enough to protect yourself, I'm going to protect you, too. Maybe even after that." she offered him a small smile, which he mirrored timidly.
"But we're here to say 'thank you' to Akechi Sama for giving his life. That's what tomorrow is all about; saying thank you, and goodbye."
"So why are we here now?"
"I wanted the chance to explain everything before hand. Tomorrow's going to be busy. You can say your goodbye now, if you like, when there isn't a hundred people watching."
Oliver's eyes widened at the thought, now understanding the logic behind their being there when no one else was. He looked down at the casket with something of a frown before nodding once, and bending forward out of his mother's arms to lay his small hand against the wood.
"um...'bye, Akechi-Sama. Thank you for fighting for us."
Delilah smiled at the little light of her life, and nodded at him once, in gratitude. She closed her eyes as her fingers splayed against the wood of the coffin, feeling sorrow on more levels than just her grief for Kiyoshi's passing.
"Makoto ni moushiwake gozaimasen. I'll find him, and bring him back, Akechi-sama. I promise."
After a moment more of silence, Delilah turned away, Oliver in her grip.
The next day was a blur. Most of the Crows were present for the ceremony, thanks to David's generous offer of guarding their land in their stead, to allow proper time to mourn. Some would no doubt insist on staying at their posts; some in denial, others wanting to do the job Kiyoshi had given to them. Many were dressed in the official uniform of the Crows, for the men and women and officers as painstakingly created by Talon and a hardworking group of ten men and women who did not rest to get the uniforms ready. But there were others here, besides the Crows...which was heartening. Whether they were here for the survivors, or for the deceased, there was nothing like tragedy to bring people together.
In the front of the mess hall, after the choir had finished their song, Delilah stood, prepared to give her Eulogy. She brushed a gloved hand over Oliver's hair, adjusted her uniform and strode to the front. Standing at the make shift pulpit, the mechanic glanced down at her paper, finding the long-practiced words that were missing from her mind all of a sudden, right there.When she finished, head bent slightly for her cap to shield her eyes from view, before walking back to her seat. Later, she would be present as a pall-bearer for one of the caskets, seeing them to their final destinations, whether that be in the ground or out at sea. Later, she and Oliver would throw a clump of dirt on the casket of Kiyoshi Akechi.
But right now, she would sit at her place as First, between 'Teal' and Oliver, head bowed, distracted by her thoughts...not just of the deceased Zero, but the one who was missing.
I'm going to find you, Winters.
I swear I'm going to find you and bring you home. Even if it kills me.
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Post by David B. on Jan 13, 2014 11:47:30 GMT -8
The place was empty, when David walked in. He wore his Elder uniform, with a black sash over the Dragon emblem to indicate mourning and loss of a comrade. It was similar to what they did before the bombs fell, and was the highest honor one could give without words. He stepped into the room, the soft footfalls pattering against the walls as he approached the coffin and body of a Zero- one of the leaders of the free, known world. He knew, under that hood, was a broken body. But he also knew that the soul and the body were different, and he was sure this leader of a righteous rebellion had a spirit of fire and outspoken bravery. Once in front of the coffin, David would kneel, bringing up one hand, palm open and facing to the side (as though his other palm were pressed against it and he were praying). He would speak softly. “ I didn’t know you well, but you can tell more about a man by the company he keeps and the enemies he chooses than by living with him for a lifetime. I am sorry you are gone, before our people could truly come together as allies. You would be proud, I think, to see my men shaking hands with yours, offering their sympathy…perhaps you see them now, and approve. Who could really say?” He cleared his throat. “ I am not a…great writer, or speaker, in times like this. Things regarding Eulogies or speeches should be done by better men and women, like Delilah or Mathew. But I did my best.” He turned and glanced about, making sure nobody was around, before he went ahead with his Lament. “ Drnuikr vena yht taydr dra knayd Lnuf fymgat
Yh ahkeha uv bycceuh, y mekrd eh dra tyng
Uh rec pylg ra lynneat y hydeuh
Saadehk dra cfunt uv dra ubbnaccun
fedr dra bufan uv y gehk
Y sekrdo fynneun ryc vymmah
pavuna dra kydac uv dra pmylgfehkat
Dnaylrano yht lufyntela lmyesc dra ehhulahd yht vnaa
Pid druikr drec sekrdo lrysbeuh ryc vymmah
Rec fynneunc lynno rec secceuh
Du ouin meva E keja Knydedita
Du ouin Cdnahkdr E keja Bnyeca
Du ouin Secceuh E keja Tido
Du ouin luinyka- syo E tea fedr dra cysa.
Oui femm pa seccat, Pycdeuh uv mekrd.
Cmaab, yht mad ic cruimtan ouin pintahc. ” He bowed his head, once, after he was done and stood. Clasping a fist to his heart, he bowed deep, as though to a superior, and spoke a final line. “ Nacbald yht ruhun du dra jelduneuic kuha. Kuutpoa, Wanu Geoucre Ygalre.” He would stand, turn, and walk from the room. ***************************************************** David sat in the audience as Delilah spoke, watched the proceedings. He was never a good speaker, so he did the only thing he could. As it was his turn to approach, if he so chose, he walked up to the front and, stood there with his back to the Audience. He reached up and took from around his bicep the mark of the Elders, and laid it on the coffin as a sign of respect. He was giving Kiyoshi the highest honor he could- notifying all those present that he saw Kiyoshi as an Ally of great importance, and respected him as a warrior and a Crow. He clapped a fist to his heart and bowed, deeply. All Dragons present did the same, as was the ritual. He stood back up after about ten or fifteen seconds, turned, and left the stage. He retook his seat and waited for it to be over, before he would follow the procession with the coffin to wherever it went- whether within their territory, or to the Sea. OOC: Bout time I posted this. |
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