Funeral Service for Adaman and Hodaka Morishima

[giddyundertaker]

[ An hour or two after the first trial's end, Hild and the Undertaker set out to invite as many people as possible to the Restaurant for the funerals of our dearly departed friends.

Why the restaurant of all places? Because there aren't enough chairs and tables elsewhere.

Indeed, some of the tables have been moved against the wall to make room for the seats. The chairs have been set up in four rows of six, like an improvised theater or a church. To the side, a small buffet has been set up courtesy of Obi, Mafuyu, and Hild. As for the main event? Two tables have been set up and decorated in black fabric and white flowers. In lieu of a live viewing, two drawings referenced from the profiles have been set up in the center of funeral wreaths... They're not the best, due to the artist's handicaps, but it does look like Adaman and Hodaka at least.]

Comments

[visiblepattern]

[Forrest goes to the garden.

That isn't entirely accurate, granted; the first thing he does is return to his room - to stuff his blood-soaked dress down the tube to be returned tomorrow, and to take a shower because there's blood on him too and in the end he emerges from his room dressed in that black suit and tie that he's been provided. …He takes a moment to write a letter back to Jonathan. And then - only then - does he go to the garden.

He doesn't attend the memorial service proper; he's used to being alone for important moments. Why would it be any different now?

He gathers some flowers in his hands and makes his way over to that small pond, kneeling in front of it and setting to making a pair of wreaths, his hands light and his touch gentle. And then he sets them afloat on the water, and he brings his hands together over his chest.

He remains that way for an unnaturally long time; anyone approaching him for whatever reason might be able to hear what he's doing.]

And so, Almighty Sinnoh, I offer this prayer unto you
Seeking comfort and peace for your loyal servant, Adaman
And even though his time with us may now be over
I ask that you assist us in making the most of the time we have left
That those of us who were left behind may carry with us his memory
As well as the lessons taught to us by his unyielding spirit
May you watch over us, as you watched over him
And may all things happen as you will it, at the time you deem it necessary
As such I deliver him unto you
Surely with sorrow,
But also with the knowledge that he has found solace in you.

[He's... He's doing his best. The most he can really hope for is that Almighty Sinnoh accepts it.

He'll slip back into the restaurant after the eulogies have been said and done; he wouldn't have known what to say, anyway. So he can be found there, noticeably not eating anything, just sort of...off in his head for now.]

restaurant

[buriedstar]

[ Seo Dawon attended the eulogies, though he seems to have hung around as the crown starts to thin. ]

I'd ask how you're doing, but I think the first question I should be asking is 'have you eaten?'

[visiblepattern]

[Oh... Oh, goodness, hello. ]

I haven't, no. I suppose I wasn't feeling up to it.

[buriedstar]

[ Thinks for a moment. ]

In that case...up for tea?

[visiblepattern]

...I don't see why not, actually. Thank you.

[buriedstar]

[ He nods and walks off to grab some tea (green) and is back in relatively short order. ]

It's not quite the same, but you could say I'm used to this. Failing dungeons doesn't usually include death but... there's still a post mortem phase where everyone picks apart what they did wrong and why. And how to fix it, of course.

[visiblepattern]

[He'll accept it with a quiet thanks included.]

I'm...fairly used to death; I serve in the army, where I'm from. But this situation changes things quite a bit.

[...]

So is that what you'd like to do, then? Sort out what was done wrong and how to fix it?

[buriedstar]

[ That is plenty different, which just goes to speak about how sideways this whole situation is. Seo Dawon nods, closing his eyes briefly. ]

Part of it, at least. Figuring out the cause doesn't do much if there's no will to fix it, or strength to. No one would call me kind, but listening to others talk is a service for the both of us.

[visiblepattern]

I believe it, yes.

[...]

I...tried to speak to the others as much as possible after that horrid incentive was revealed, in hopes that I could at least deter them slightly by being willing to listen to them; I suppose it wasn't enough.

garden

[onemillion]

[Rossiu has a letter to Forrest. He hasn't stumbled on Forrest in any of the places he wants to go, which leaves... well, the garden. So Rossiu arrives, determined to avoid the pond... except that's where Forrest is, and oh, he's in the middle of a prayer...

Rossiu hesitates, standing back and watching in silence until Forrest is done. For a brief moment he considers leaving - this is a private moment and one he shouldn't intrude on, after all - but eventually his errand drives him forward, speaking up as he approaches.]

I apologize for eavesdropping, but that was... beautiful, Forrest. I sincerely hope Almighty Sinnoh has heard you.

[visiblepattern]

...I hope so as well. I tried to do things the way I think Adaman did - always with some sort of offering, and with respect, but... Well, no one really taught me to pray in any specific way, so I just try to do things in a way that would be pleasing to the gods.

[He really does hope Almighty Sinnoh accepts it.]

Did you need my assistance with something...? I know I wasn't at the service, I'm sorry.

[onemillion]

Oh, no, you don't need to apologize. I can understand why some people didn't want to be there.

[It was A Lot. He gets it.]

No, I have something for you. From Adaman.

[Here, have your horribly depressing letter!]

[visiblepattern]

From...?

[He seems a little confused when he accepts it, and he opens it slowly; his eyes go a little wide as he reads, and he doesn't say anything for a long moment after.]

That was...very kind of him.

[onemillion]

[...]

Yes, I... think so. He left several, just in case something happened to him.

[He knew death was a possibility, after all.]

[visiblepattern]

That's sad, though, isn't it? To have something like this prepared?

[onemillion]

Of course it is. That such a thing was something he felt necessary to begin with is... horribly upsetting.

But it... is also nice to know he was thinking of us and that he wanted to leave some final words behind.

[visiblepattern]

...I suppose so.

[He doesn't seem to know what to do with himself once that's out there, though.]

How is Leafeon doing?

Garden

[pairtner]

...do you believe in gods, Forrest?

[She asks that once Forrest finishes the plea. Aiba respectfully stayed silent during all that time, waiting for him to finish]

[visiblepattern]

[He's aware of someone else with him, but he finishes his prayer to Almighty Sinnoh anyway; it's like checking Adaman's body, he has due diligence to perform and he's going to do it regardless of what happens.

He pauses a moment before he answers her.]

I do, yes. [It's earnest, straightforward.] My family is descended from the divine dragons that shaped our world; I suppose it's easier to believe in gods when they're a part of your lineage.

What about you, Aiba?

[pairtner]

I don't. I know exactly where I came from, who created me, what my purpose in existence is, and everything about myself. It's hard to believe in something higher when you know the exact answers to all that.

[AIs are a simple existence, when you think about it. As human as Aiba's behavior and thoughts can be, it doesn't change she's an artificial creation]

At times like these I wish I knew more about faith, though. It's what the deceased deserve.

[Something insincere won't do. Aiba is more than capable of praying alongside someone, but until now it's not like she had felt particularly faithful. When it's about the two who died today, an insincere prayer feels like an insult]

[visiblepattern]

[He considers all of that for a moment. He can imagine this must be difficult for Aiba; he can't really relate well to what she's going to, but he does know he wants to try to help her feel better. So maybe...]

...Adaman told me a little bit about his god. His god wants us to live our lives to the fullest, because the time we have in this world is limited. We should spend what time we do have in the best way we know how, and we should do what we can for others and to make the world a better place. Be mindful, but not so much that it consumes everything you do. Learn from your mistakes, and make the best of your life moving forward.

I think that's something you can do, whether you believe in Almighty Sinnoh or not.

[pairtner]

That's...a very gentle way of looking at life.

[Gentle and probably the right way]

Adaman seemed like the kind of person who would follow such beliefs and act accordingly. Perhaps I will...give thanks for the kind of person he was.

[Having said that, Aiba joins her hands and comes up with a prayer of gratitude for Adaman's existence. Even though she knew him for a short while, he seemed like a pretty kind person]

[visiblepattern]

[Oh, that's precious, and he definitely does appreciate that she's doing it despite not adhering to faith.]

...I'm sure Adaman would have appreciated that.

[pairtner]

I hope so.

[Aiba drops her hands]

Forrest, do you think Hodaka deserves forgiveness for his actions?

[visiblepattern]

[Oh.]

...I think that's a difficult question to answer. Everyone's going to feel differently about it.

[But she asked what he thinks, so...]

I'm...upset about what he did. Adaman was a friend of mine, even if I didn't know him very long. Hodaka was also a friend of mine, and I meant what I said when I told him I didn't hate him.

I think I've already decided to forgive him for it. I don't know whether he deserves it or not, but that's what I'm going to do anyway. I just... I wish he hadn't done it?

[His voice cracks a little at the end of that; he's trying very hard to not let himself cry or get emotional right now, and it shows.]