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

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.]

[pairtner]

[Uf, poor Forrest]

Perhaps that you don't hate him is the most meaningful part.

[Still can feel some sympathy for Hodaka, in other words. Aiba does feel glad there are people who aren't treating him like some coldhearted killer. She has seen a lot of criminals and killers, and Hodaka does seem like the sort that was pushed to the brink instead of inherently being someone who would resort to murder right away]

[visiblepattern]

I don't know why I would hate him, what he did was horrible but...

[God, give him a moment.]

I understand. Why he did it. The only reason I didn't consider trying was because Midori would have never forgiven me.

[pairtner]

I believe that reason may have been what held back most here...

[So she hopes there's some understanding towards Hodaka. She won't go around poking beehives, though, so all she can do is hope that]

[visiblepattern]

...I hope the ones that were brought here are all right.

[For a few reasons, really.]