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

[dullshooter]

Alright, let’s see what we’ve got.

[Misfire doesn’t waste any time between taking the menu and punching in the order. He’s not picking things entirely at random, but there’s not much thought in it; everything ordered had a French-sounding name, and is mostly desserts.]

There, now I’ve saved you from starving from indecision. You can thank me later. …Or now. I don’t think it takes very long.

[inaclearing]

[lol, Brett's gonna be sick]

Thanks, Misfire.

[A moment of silence. He's always sort of withdrawn when...bad things happen. Brett knows this about himself. He also knows it isn't the healthiest thing in the world. Luca'd worry.]

I'm not...I'm bad at funerals. [That's the least of it, but it's something.]

[dullshooter]

[Misfire decides to take a seat in that blip of silence, and relaxes into it as much someone of his build can.]

Never been to one, or been to too many?

cw: parent death

[inaclearing]

Too many.

[He stares at the tablecloth, fingers drumming idly.]

I lost both of my parents when I was thirteen. I'd never been to a funeral before that, and then - [He shakes his head.] To be honest, I barely remember them. The funerals. I know I went, I remember being there, but I'm not sure I could tell you a single thing that happened.

[If he's zoned out now, imagine how it was then.]

[dullshooter]

[There’s such a whole world of difference between them that Misfire can’t even begin to imagine what Brett’s situation would be like; not only having parents, but losing them too, and having a brain that’s still developing enough to be shaped like that.]

…That’s rough, buddy.

[Is about all he can say, with a sympathetic frown.]

The good news is, you don’t have to be good at them. As in, you don’t have to do funerals. Sure, there’s social pressure and obligation and the worry that everybody’s gonna think you didn’t give a scrap if you don’t show up, but…

[He shrugs.]

Once you get past all that, then you’re free to pay whatever respects in your own way.

[inaclearing]

...I guess so.

[Brett sighs gustily, scrubbing a hand over his face. This is the first funeral he's been at in years. Howl never really had one. All they did was plant those trees, which was entirely different.]

I just don't want to look cold. Especially since...especially now.

[Especially since he's always had issues with showing emotion in front of other people. Any tears he's shed today have been strictly in private, but maybe that makes him look like he didn't feel anything much.

Especially since he sort of pushed Hodaka to that breakdown in the first place.]

[dullshooter]

After what you did for the little loser today, anyone who thinks you're just looking cold needs their head checked out. Preferably with my fist.

[The way Brett helped Hodaka calm himself in the trial came from nothing but compassion, and even an idiot like Misfire can recognise that.]

But I'm willing to be flexible.

[inaclearing]

[Brett lets out a shuddery breath and shakes his head.]

I'm the one who -

[He's the one who pushed them all to find the solution. He's the one who went on digging. Maybe he didn't exactly drag that awful confession out of Hodaka, but it feels that way.]

[dullshooter]

Unless you're about to follow that up with 'brought us all here' - which, no offense Brett, I'm not sure you're capable of - then whatever you're saying, whatever you're thinking is all self blame and complete bull.

[And going in that direction sure as hell won't change a single thing.]

You helped him. You calmed him down so he didn't go to his death in some asbent-minded haze. Showed him someone cared enough to bother.

[inaclearing]

I didn't even notice anything was wrong with him until I started that investigation - whatever I thought I was doing with that.

[The wound checking isn't even what brought it all to light, really. What was he doing, playing detective?]

I'm not - I'm not saying I wish he'd gotten away with it. I think that would've been worse for everyone. [Hodaka included, that is.] But Jonathan was right about where it would all end up, and I just ignored him.

[dullshooter]

Hey, nobody can fault you for ignoring Jonathan.

[Said jokingly enough.]

Look, point is - that's all done now. Pick it apart all you like, it's not gonna change anything. Pretty sure there's always a way we could do something differently, but unless you're versed in time travel, there's not much you can do about it but move on.

[inaclearing]

I know, you're right.

[He does know. It doesn't do any good to live forever brooding over the past.]

I guess I've never been very good at not picking things apart.

[dullshooter]

Can't relate. Unless we're talking in the physical sense, then I'm really good at it.

But - that means you're in the presence of an expert in not unpacking things. And you've got time to learn.

[inaclearing]

I'm not sure that's too healthy, either.

[Not that he's holding himself up as a current paragon of mental health either, but...you know.]

[dullshooter]

Maybe - but I’ll never examine it enough to know.

[inaclearing]

...well, if you ever do want to talk about it, I'll be around. You can't just keep everything bottled up forever.

[dullshooter]

'Preciate it, Brent.

[He gets up before they fly dangerously closer to emotional vulnerability.]

Now you're neither gonna faint or fall into a pit of despair, I'm pretty confident nothing terrible will happen if I bounce. But if you want any more of my esteemed wisdom, you know where to find me. Same place as you.

[inaclearing]

[Brett smiles and waves a hand - like, go on.]

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Thanks, though.

[dullshooter]

[A grin, and some fingerguns on the way out.]

Later, loser!