2020-11-24 A Memorial Rite For Lowel
A Memorial Rite For Lowel
Participants: Vivian Addison Cedar Alexa Jeremy Bronwyn Ashlynn Lucas Snake
Location: Sept of the Smiling Angel
Date and Time: Late November, 2020
Summary: Remember the dancer, who died in the line of duty.
Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AOp9c5DRzc
In the midst of the Caern is a a casket- whether gathered from the Memorial hall or elsewhere is unknown- but it has been decorated lovingly by the Fian who is standing over the to-be-interred body of a fellow Garou. An iron axe is laid across the deceased's chest, strudy and with the relief of a unicorn set into the head. A wreath adorns his head, three roses cross the axe, and within the cask are stuffed many things to assist the deceased in his final journey into the Shadow- a flagon, dishes stolen from the mess hall, pinballs from the arcade, various other nicknacks - all set in pairs.
At the foot of the coffin, a table has been set with a variety of dishes for those attending, meats, sausages, wine, beer, mead, orange juice, a pizza, some larger bowls of mutton soup, varieties of prepared venison- apparently whatever the Ritemaster was able to find- all set and arranged, including a plate and cutlery set in front of the casket of the deceased, and at the other head of the table, a plate for Concrete Coyote.
The air of the cavern easy, light, and cheery, and the Galliard seems intent on creating an environment of contentment, with candles set about to brighten the mood.
Addison
As if there were no sights more shocking, Adi enters the Caern Heart today in the company of a certain Black Fury Ahroun. He's since changed into more funeral appropriate attire. Addison is dressed in a dark oak-brown suit paired with a sea-blue button down shirt. Along with his bottle-tab jewelry he's painted his face from the waterline up with blue-black grease paint. He looks up at the arrangements his pack's Galliard had set and smiles with quiet pride despite the solemness of the affair.
Snake
Snake makes his way into the Heart, wearing his leather jacket over a clean-but-colours-washed-into-faded black T-shirt. He finds somewhere out of the way to lean and look over the other attendees and the cause for the Rite, keeping his thoughts to himself.
Jeremy
Jeremy was preparing for a much more somber atmosphere; as usual, he manages to look completely out of place in his Sunday best, his garments all business and pressed, boots freshly polished.
Ashlynn
Side by side, the Fury and the Uktena. Ashlynn seems at ease, though a bit somber, given the circumstances. Her clothes are black, but informal - nice jeans and a sleeveless turtleneck, and ankle boots. Arms folded under her chest, she takes in the different set up for this funeral than the last she attended here. There's a nod towards the ritemaster as her steps slow to a stop.
Vivian
With the attendees beginning to make their appearance, Sings-Her-Heart turns, finishing some last preparations and decorations as she opens up her arms, speaking the High Tongue in officiating capacity. <<Thank you, all of you, for choosing to honor the last meal and celebration of this Child of Gaia.>>
Clawed hands gesture to the pillows set about the table- intended for Garou, but the table is set low, one of those folding tables with extending legs- and continues to speak, <<And for choosing to remember and bless this place, and give Gaia's warrior his final hurrah.>>
The Ritemaster herself does not sit, instead, remaining standing near the relatively empty end of the table, near the ritual fire, and looks across to the casket. <<Lowel was a bright ray in these dark times. One who showed kindness to Her-Wounds-Are-Fresh, the kind of wolf who carried salves for those who ailed, enjoyed life, and brought that enjoyment to those he associated with.>> A beat, and she picks up the plate set at the end of the table, holding it gingerly, <<So together we gather to celebrate those things. To be a light for others, and to remember that there is still hope in the bleakness that we fight, time to be kind to one another and heal those who hurt.>>
The Fian begins to sing, and she gathers up food on the first plate, gathers a cup- a lilting howl of raucous emotion, celebrating the spirits gathered, calling Lowel's own and Concrete Coyote to feast. With food piled on and cup filled for each, she speaks in closing, giving her own spirit to the chosen meals as she sets each down at their respective places. <<Come to us, Honored Lowel, and share with us in this last meal to your name. Come to us, Concrete Coyote, and share with us this last meal to honor the passing of this Garou.>>
Jeremy
Jeremy cannot yet understand the High Tongue; there are parts of it he cannot even sense, subtleties of pheremone and musk that a human cannot smell. So, wisely, he cheated: he read of this ritual before hand, and took a stab at memorizing it, if only so he would know the appropriate moments to bow his head, to lift it, to step forward and to eat.
Austen
Austen wanders into the Heart all quiet like instead of her usual loud self. She is coming in with someone else though as she looks for a spot to sit.
Alexa
Alexa has come dressed in a simple black T-shirt and jeans, along with the black denim vest she's taken to wearing lately. She glances to Giggle-Thief, then quietly nudges her, indicating they should perhaps move in Jeremy's direction. She glances over to the procession and quietly translates the High Tongue for the Ragabash.
Lucas
Lucas arrives quietly, its not that he knew Lowel, not really. But it doesnt matter. He died in a way that must and should be honored and he is happy to be here for it.
Snake
Snake takes a place at the table that Sings-Her-Heart has laid out, or at least tries to fold himself into some sort of approximation of taking a place. With his black leather jacket and its bright feathered rainbow serpent painting, and a T-shirt worn into illegibility by washing, he's doing high honour to the deceased... probably.
Austen
Austen nods to Alexa and just sits down next to Jeremy with a wink?
Ashlynn
Ashlynn is standing next to Addison, wearing black jeans and a sleeveless turtleneck, and ankle boots. She listens, nodding here and there as she listens. She didn't know Lowel, just in passing, but she's here to bear witness.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn walks in quietly, keeping to the side of the room and out of the way. Her gaze searches the people there but she doesn't make a peep as she finds a wall to hold up.
Addison
Addison takes a spot next to Jeremy. In a low hushed tone he describes and translates what the Galliard howls about the deceased. When the Fianna calls to Concrete Coyote Addison tilts his head. He takes out a conch shell horn from inside his suit. The Caller of the Wyld blows more softly than he would at moot.
Like with all appearances of the majestic spirit it's silence that echoes through the hallowed halls of the caern heart. The ceiling above cracks and crackles, sending tremors through the starfeild of fungus. A gentle rain of dust falls from the roof in patchy showers. Then a low growl like the gentle purr of an engine There is the sensation of something very large being in the room and yet mysteriously unseen. A presence felt before seen. Two beams of light cut through the cavern's darkness. The body those headlamp eyes were attached to.
Them through the haze of dust and darkness there are glimpses caught of concrete-grey fur. Steaks of yellow cut through the spirit's fur like highway markings caught in a hazy blur of fast cars and midnight hours. Body like desicated roadkill. Too-wide grin and teeth that do not at all seem playful. A scent of the wind on Wilshire Boulevard carries into the room, even in the dark depths of the underground. Hard and weathered, Concrete Coyote is a survivor. Alien and frightening, the spirit is much more Alien than is comfortable to some Garou. He was Their totem, however.
Concrete Coyote, the great totem of Smiling Angel, is there like a whisper. He was a city spirit, or some would call him a City Father, but he was still, in some small or large part, Coyote. Coyote was always hungry. A some angles Cocrete Coyote looks like Roadkill, that has gotten up again because he refuses to die. The plate offered to him banquet of food lay before the great spirit slowly begins to wither and would continue to wither until naught remained but dust.
Alexa
Alexa lifts her head as Bronwyn comes in too, and also makes an inviting gesture. It seems that Addison has had a similar idea about helping to translate for those without the High Tongue, and so she stands at the other side, continuing any necessary translations to Austen quietly as she takes a seat at Giggle-Thief's side.
When Concrete Coyote manifests, the Galliard sits up straight and pays their patron spirit a respectful attention. It's a strange being, exotic and alien, and yet it's also the patron of the Sept she has served for years now, and she greets him in kind; with familiarity and reverence.
Jeremy
Jeremy has a reputation for being hard to ruffle. The presence of the totem spirit is stretching that. There is a cold sweat dripping down the back of his neck, at the presence of something so ancient and potent... The terror of the divine shows faintly in his face, the tension in his wide eyes.
Snake
Snake too greets the totem with respect and reverence, his head bowed with polite deference. But he's here to witness, and so he stays.
Ashlynn
Ashlynn bows her head, reaching to touch her forehead with a pair of fingers in salute of the caern's totem. Looking back up, she refolds her arms under her chest - her 'at ease' posture, relaxed and resting, if a little somber.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn sees the gestures to come over and she gives Alexa and Jeremy a greatful smile. She heads in that direction and steps up to Jeremy's free side but when the spirit makes it's appearance she takes in a quick breath and seems to shrink a little behind Jeremy instead of standing at his side though she bows her head low in respect. Its unnerving and she is not used to seeing such things but the look in her eyes but she remains silent.
Vivian
The Ritemaster tenses a bit at the eerie and intense presence beaming over her shoulders, hackles rising in a shiver as the food offered is consumed voraciously. It was always intense when the great spirits of Caerns moved, but she still had another Rite yet to perform.
<<And as the spirits we honor here have their fill, so too shall we! Eat, drink, and make merry. If you've a story of the deceased, stand up as we make ourselves festive!>> Vivian begins to gather a meal for herself- gathering some of the assortment of what she'd set out. <<And if you've no stories to tell, Dance! I've rumors that he was avid in that art, and I'm sure the well wishes of your movements would carry him easy on his final task that Gaia has given him!>>
With the initiation out of the way, the Fian begins to eat, herself, taking a seat upon the padded spot she'd made for herself, << I know that maybe none of us knew the Child in naught but passing, but he's still earned his three hurrahs! To Lowel, a Child of Gaia, Dancing-Moon and kind soul!>>
Jeremy
This is the part of the ritual that Jeremy most needed to study for - to know the moment to raise his voice with the others. He gives Bronwyn's hand a reassuring squeeze, and joins the garou and kin in cheering Lowels deeds and memory, thin-worn as they may be by circumstance.
Lucas
Lucas pauses for a moment, watching as Bronwyn arrives with a nod and then he is brought back to the moment of the rite. When the time is right, he too adds his voice, honoring the fallen.
Ashlynn
Ashlynn moves to the side before bursting up to her warform from her human, the shift incredibly smooth - lacking the sounds of crunching bone and tearing muscle. Hunkering down into a three point crouch, the Fury throws back her head and howls for the lost, adding her gravelly voice to the many.
Austen
When the hurrahs rang out, the No Moon wasn't sure what to do so she remained silent as she started to dig into the food. Hungry bellies never know when the next meal will come from after all.
Cedar
Suddenly, a voice rings from the back. It comes from a soft looking, innocuous Kinfolk who's been here the whole time, Cedar. His voice is scratchy, but he does his best to maintain composure as a torrent of tears stream down his face. Clearly the moment is getting to him.
Snake
Snake adds his own hurrahs to the mix, and then he too tucks in. In life, a celebration of the dead; in death, a celebration of life. And the giant Uktena is here for it.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn seems reassured by the pat on her hand from Jeremy and she gives him a greatful look. She looks around the room as the voices ring out and her gaze lands on Lucas. A look of relief washed over her face to see the man but then she tilts her head back and closes her eyes to listen to the cacophony of voices lifted up. She adds her own, timid and soft but still there.
Addison
Addison looks over his shoulder to Alexa and Bronwyn as the come to stand close to him and Jeremy and Ashlynn. He gives them both a nod and lifts his chin in reverence to Coyote. The Uktena closes his eyes, trying to coax up memories of Lowel. Memories. "People's memories are maybe to fuel they burn to stay alive," Aditsan Deschene speaks up. "I remember Lowel was always kind to Us. Kind my my Sister especially. He always tried to be Gentle, despite the great Rage in his heart. He put all his fury into his art. His dancing."
He then blows the conch shell horn again to add to howls. Long and droning, somehow somber. He then lowers it and bows his head.
It seemed appropriate that they dance to honor the dancer. Addison needed a dancing partner, however, his eyes glance to the lawyer first, asking a silent question.
Alexa
"I remember sharing dinner with him, in the wake of the Great Hunt. It was a time of celebration and feasting." Alexa looks up. "I agree with you Addison, for I too found him to be a gentle soul."
The Talesinger, for her part, gets up and walks over to the back of the room, where an equipment case is laid out. She gets out a set of fire poi, clearly intent on contributing to the dance and celebration of Lowel's life in her own way. She glances back to the center to look for an open area of the Heart to do her honorary dancing in, then gets to preparing the poi.
Jeremy
Jeremy sighs, rising to his feet. This might as well happen. He rises to his feet, and heads to Addison. The answer to the silent question is implicit, as he offers Addison his hand. "For Lowel," he says, a word of recognition.
Ashlynn
Dancing? Ashlynn bows her heavy head, sliding back to her human shape and moving to collect a token bite of each of the varied foods laid out, moving to the side to let those that can dance, do the dancing. Alexa is given a small wave - the usual exuberant greeting left aside for the more serious gathering.
Lucas
For a moment the Child of Gaia warrior takes the it hard, Lucas' brow furrows and he speaks, "I cant speak of Lowel. Not really. Only of how he died. His death will be honored not just in this moment, but what it means for all of us who live on. Thank you Lowel." The garou shudders it off and looks around again with a nod.
Cedar
Cedar looks up, his eyes red and cracked with anguish. He takes a moment to try and wipe the tears away, but they simply begin once more. From behind a thick veil of water his eyes settle on Jeremy and Addison beginning their dance, before they begin to dart between the Garou he's been introduced to so far. And then off to the strangers. There are none rushing to dance with the emotional Kin, and suddenly it's Eighth Grade Homecoming all over again.
The stream of tears grows stronger.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn watches Jeremy step away to go dance with Addison. She steps back and away herself but then her gaze falls on one she doesn't know. The emotional Cedar seems to gain her attention and she begins to gravitiate towards him. " Hello." She says in a soft, almost musical sound. " I am Bronwyn Fleet. Would you like a partner to dance with to honor your fallen friend? " Her tiny hand extends out towards him and she clearly wishes to offer some form of comfort to the upset man.
Austen
Without a word, Giggles seems to slip out.
Lucas
Lucas glances around again and moves to not dance, but to be about. Checking out some of the food provided as he does. Brow furrowed as he considers some things, weighed perhaps from the rite.
Alexa
Alexa catches Ashlynn's gaze and she gives the Ahroun a knowing nod, grateful to still be up and about here with her after their dangerous brush with the Nexus Crawler down below. She fishes a zippo lighter out of the denim pocket of her vest, then focuses for a moment, reverently watching as the flame springs into existence. She moves it to one of the poi, which soon catches flame as well, and then uses the first to light the second, soon carrying two flaming balls dangling from cords.
Alexa approaches the dance area, finding a space a bit more distanced from other dancers - she would be swinging her tools around after all - and then begins to move, spinning the poi in patterns as her body moves. Sometimes symmetrical patterns; sometimes, the flames chase each other, or circle one another, flowing from high to low, doing a pendulum swing, switching hands once and then again, the cords all but disappearing behind the fiery, dancing lights!
Ashlynn
Ashlynn returns Alexa's nod, gaze tugged towards the heartbroken kin and his great big tears. Her expression softens a little, but with someone else moving in, she turns to watch her cousin's familiar dance with flames.
Addison
Addison sets aside his shell horn, taking a scrap of food like it was a communion wafer and taking a bite to honor the ceremony. He nods in agreement with Alexa. Lowel was kind, passionate, and maybe a little mysterious. He and Jeremy moved to a space where dancing. He pauses, lifting a brow towards the crying kinfolk, breathing a sigh of relief when Smiling Angel's own Southern Belle goes on over to Cedar.
"You know," Addison says, in the light of Forged-in-Flames poi, "dancing holds a particular significance to my people. When my Sister was honored before the sept she danced until she couldn't stand anymore." He waits for music, gazing upon Alexa's firedance as it lights to room with streaks of red.
Cedar
Cedar sniffles softly as Bronwyn approaches. "Y-yeah." He says softly. "T-that'd be nice." Before he takes Bronwyn's hand, he stops to take a moment to watch Alexa dance. His jaw drops. The dancing flames reflect off his wet face like red stars, utterly entrancing the Kin. For just a moment, the heaFinally, he turns his attention back to Bronwyn, taking the offered hand. "Y-you lead. I'm not good at this..." He continues, his words tinged with a deep sorrow.
Jeremy
Jeremy watches Alexa twist the fire in to a mantle around her. When he thinks of her, he thinks of fire. Risen from the ashes, again and again. When will she run out of phoenix feathers?
"I'm not going to be able to do that," warns Jeremy gently. "I am not a natural dancer. I'll follow your lead, but, be gentle. I don't want to over-reach, and dishonor Lowel by bumbling."
Vivian
<<To giving the bastard that slew you a gutting! We'll make sure he dies a painful death!>> The Ritemaster offers her own cheer, up towards the empty seat in front of the casket, <<You rest easy now, Lowel. Manann?n bear you safely to your homeland.>>
As the assembled begin to dance, make merry, eat, and drink, Sings-Her-Heart does the same. Her food finished, Vivian licks clean her muzzle and resumes her homid shape- ill-covered by her ritual attire, one breast left bare and her hips only covered with the other half of the Greatkilt, a massive coat of a thing. She steps off to the side to pick up the case she'd brought with her, her own instrument of fancy, and shoulders it as she gives a kick of her heel to hit the power switch, "Ay, lets have some music shall we?"
And then, thanks to a long chord she'd managed to find, the amplifier roars to life, and the Galliard does for once what she does best, starting into a light-hearted, bouncing melody.
♪ If I ever leave this world alive,
♪ I'll thank for all the things you did in my life
♪ If I ever leave this world alive
♪ I'll come back down and sit beside your feet tonight
Alexa
The firedancer's rhythm shifts, adjusting itself to the shape of Vivian's song. Alexa flows from one movement into the next in time with the beat, the fire taking on a life of its own around and inside her; adding color and dance and primal elements to the fallen Galliard's gathering!
Up and down, around and around, the fire spins and plays, illuminating the faces of the dancers! Alexa herself has completely sunk into her dance routine, her focus intensely on the next movement, her spacing, the motions. It's not just a set routine anymore, it's taking on improvisation, a life of its own! As though the flames themselves were leading the dance, and Alexa were merely a conduit to their playful performance.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn nods her head to Cedar, all her attention on the hurting man. She offers him a radiant smile and nods her head saying " No problem fella. I gotcha." She will give his hand a reassuring squeeze before leading him over to where folks are dancing. She is a natrual dancer or maybe a professional one. She moves with grace and ease as she begins to lead Cedar in a dance to honor the fallen. She seems to have no problem leading and even does her best to make it look like Cedar is leading her even when he is not.
Addison
"You can't dishonor him if you put your soul into it," Addison says encouragingly to the kinfolk when he... gets back from whatever existence Jeremy just traveled to.
Cedar
Cedar barely manages to keep up with Bronwyn, but somehow he manages. It's clear he's out of practice to anyone who glances his way, and the wavering stream of tears on his face certainly doesn't help the image, but at least he's managing to stay standing. The Elegance of her movements combined with the jerky, unpracticed movements of Cedar make for quite an out of place image, but it could probably be considered a dance, by a gracious viewer.
Jeremy
Jeremy takes that to heart. The song is light, bouncy, up-tempo, and he's not all too sure how to dance to it. But Addison knows this score. He follows Addison's lead, and remembers: we will one day die. But for now, it is our responsibility to live. So he lets the song's rhythm move him in to a light, skipping traipse, a little soft-shoe, a little foot-work, but mostly just putting his heart in to it.
Vivian
Vivian starts to walk around with her instrument, playing as she goes, singing while she does to the gathered Garou and Gallain. Her voice starts to belt out more eagerly, louder as she starts into the next verses, fingers bouncing up and down the fretboards as she urges works to evoke emotion and impassion those present.
♪ Wherever I am, you'll always be,
♪ More than- just a memory.
♪ If I ever! Leave this world- aliiive!
♪ If I ever leave this world alive,
♪ I'll take on all the sadness that I left behind-
♪ If I ever leave this world alive,
♪ The madness that you feel will soon subside-
And her voice grows ever more urgent as she sings, soaking up the mood and forcing out with her lungs those well-wished intentions.
♪ So in a word, don't shed a tear,
♪ I'll be here when it all gets weird.
♪ If I ever! Leave this world- aliiive!
Bronwyn
Bronwyn may have been awkward when she first got here but dancing seems to be what she knows. She lets herself enjoy it as she takes Cedar for a few turns around the dancefloor. She grins brightly at him and says " See, Yee doin great mister!" her voice smooth as silk but holding a thick southern drawl.
Addison
The Uktena's dance is filled with little bursts of spontaneity. He was too much spirit. Though Addison would follow in time with the mood and theme with the music. This was not a war dance after all. It was not a peace dance either. It was a joy dance. He puts his heart and and his soul into it. Wherever Lowel was now perhaps he'd look back upon them here, right now, and smile.
Ashlynn
Ashlynn is a contented wallflower, the sampling of food long since eaten, then plate help loosely in hand. Thoughts turned elsewhere as she watches the celebration of the fallen' life.
Cedar
"Y-yeah." Cedar replies in a soft whimper, taking a moment to wipe away more tears. "...For Lowel, right?" He says more confidently as he throws himself into the dance, his steps growing more impassioned and controlled as he slowly remembers how to dance, emboldened by the whirling flames dancing at the edge of his vision.
Alexa
A howl of passion erupts from the firedancer's throat as she continues to flow to the music. Her movement is passionate and animated, at times fast, at times slow - always for the purpose of getting the next flame where it needs to be, constant flow, a river of movement and passion and celebration!
Bronwyn
Bronwyn nods at Cedar's words and says " yes, for Lowel. I never got the chance to meet him unfortunately but he was of my tribe. Im really sorry for your loss it looks like you two were super close." such sympathy in her tone as the two of them dance. She does a little twirl with him, keeping it slow enough so he can keep up and not be surprised.
Cedar
"N-no." Cedar replies, the tears finally ceasing, but his eyes are still redder than Alexa's fires. "I-I never actually met him. But it's...it's not right that something like this should happen." He continues as they move across the floor. "The Garou give, and give, and GIVE. So much. T-they deserve so much better than..." He trails off sadly. "At...at least we can honor his memory, right?" Cedar looks like he's going to start crying again, any moment.
Ciara
Ciara stands off to the side in a black dress, watching as the music is played and the dancing is down. Her eyes shift to the others for a few moments before she looks back to the casket, her silence paying her respects.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn is dancing with Cedar and dancing seems to come as easy to her as breathing. She is elegant out ther amoung the dancing bodies but at Cedar's words of not even knowing the dead they are celebrating tonight a look of confusion crosses her face for just a second as he speaks. Its only there for a moment though before thst look melts away once more into a sweet smile. She nods to him and says " I understand the pain it brings but do not let it pull you down into sadness, sir. He will be back to serve gaia once more and we must be strong for those who remain, Yeah?"
Vivian
Those upbeat, boisterous, ebullient tones continue as the Ritemaster continues to exuberantly play her piece, strumming along as she wanders through- making and effort to pass by Ciara, all marked up in woad and tribal garb lending her a wild appearance.
♪ So when in doubt, just call my name-
♪ Just before you go insane.
♪ If I ever- leave this world, hey, I may never- leave this world,
♪ But if I ever- leave this world- aliiive!
♪ She says I'm okay! I'm alright!
♪ Though you have gone- from my life,
♪ You said that it would-
♪ Now everything should- be all right!
Then once again Sings-Her-Heart refrains that melody, singing the last lines yet again for emphasis. Even after death, they'd fight on. Truly- it was ok. Her strumming begins to slow to a close on that tune and she looks fondly at the setup, then eases towards the casket, placing a hand on the lid to gently close it, then looks at those gathered. She'd wait till they all had their fun- that was important, after all.
Alexa
Eventually, the firedancing comes to a stop. Alexa now has a healthy sheen of sweat emphasizing the toned muscles in her arms and an endorphin-based grin on her face. One at a time, she thanks the fires burning on her poi and extinguishes them in a water bucket, kicking up a small cloud of steam each time. They are set down, and the Galliard makes her way over to the wall, leaning next to her wallflower cousin and giving her a little smile, then turning her attention to the front, where Vivian seems to be preparing for the final part.
Ciara
Ciara gives her a soft smile as she plays, the music making her body sway, her head nodding softly to the beat. The music moves her to the point that a tear slides down her cheek
Ikal
Ikal loses himself alone in the music. A dance of grief and release. A sheen of sweat glows on his brow as he moves with far more passion than skill. Or perhaps it is simply a style of dance that would best work around a fire rather than in a dance hall.
Cedar
Cedar gives a nod of affirmation to Bronwyn. "Y-yeah..." He agrees hesitantly. Finally the song winds down, and he lets go of Bronwyns hand with a smile, to turn his attention back towards the ceremony. His eyes lock onto the Great Concrete Coyote looming over the ceremony, and he tunes into the last lines of the song. He takes a moment to look at the body, it's face frozen in death. His lip begins to quiver softly as he watches the Casket Close. But this time, he does not cry. ...As much as he looks like he would like to.
Alexa
Alexa takes the bear hug and headbonk with an affectionate grin, matching the back-slapping and firm hugs, and then listening intently when Ashlynn whispers something to her. She nods enthusiastically, and then moves back to whisper something to Ashlynn.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn ends the dance with Cedar and she turns to watch the casket close. She nods her head at that finality but seeing Cedar's lip quivering ahe gives his back a little reassuring pat before she she points to a spot by the wall not far away. " I'll be just over there if ya need anything." She says quietly to him before stepping away.
Addison
As the song builds so does the energy Addison puts into the motion of dance. The music possessed him, like being ridden by a spirit. He barely has enough of himself to make sure the kinfolk he's dancing with keeps up. Soul mattered more than beauty and precision at this point. By the time the song concludes even he's panting. He holds on to Jeremy, preventing them from both falling down into the dust. "You know... I quite like this. I hope... you know. When I die I hope everyone that attends my Gathering does so many drugs they forget their own Names." The somberness of the affair was undercut with the joy of a real party.
Jeremy
Jeremy sighs. "I suppose for you I can consider it, Addison," says Jeremy, breathing heavily in the wake of the exertion, sweat dripping down the back of his neck - though no longer so cold. "Though let's hope it doesn't come up for some time..."
Ikal
Ikal glances up as Addison sets out hopes for his own funeral. The Kinfolk watches him for a time, and then without a word, he walks right up to the Ragabash and wraps his arms around him from the side. A tight hug. He peeks over at Jeremy. And then he's turning to head back off.
Cedar
"Y-yeah. Thank you. For the dance." Cedar replies to Bronwyn. As Addison makes his big announcement, Cedar can't help but lock onto the unknown Garou with deeply pained eyes, tinged with a hint of confusion, like he does not understand or approve of that statement. He simply stands there, stunned for a moment...
And then the waterworks begin anew.
Vivian
The guitar is set aside, back in it's case, and the amplifier switched off with a loud 'thock'. Then comes the typical sound of transformation as Vivian takes back to her warform to continue officiating in High Tongue. Her large hand rests on the top of the closed wooden box, then she reaches down to lift it- surprisingly gentle hands resting underneath as she carries the fallen.
<<Let us carry our honored fallen to his place of final rest, in the Memorial Hall.>> Sings-Her-Heart looks amongst the gathered, then to the path that least up and out of the heart of the Caern. It would be a ways to walk, but it's where the dead should rest, if there's room- under that peaceful child of methuselah.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn goes bsck to being seen and not heard. She leans against the wall and watches in silence, her eyes shifting back and forth between those gathered.
Ciara
Ciara watches on as Vivian changes and then lifts the casket. She does not understand this tongue but she watches on quietly, ready to follow
Meg
Meg is here.
She always was, right? Kind of. Like any good emo kid in a dark hoodie, she's easily overlooked. In this case, that's the point, probably: no point on drawing attention to herself, seeing as how this wasn't really for her to begin with. Which is good, otherwise there'd be a zombie wolf amongst them.
Consider her dark, broody, and silent.
Addison
Addison would grab Ikal and pull him back before he escapes!
Jeremy
Jeremy smiles, takes a step back and lets Addison give Ikal a bit of affection. He's worn out from dancing anyhow - and it's time for the procession.
Addison Addison grabs Jeremy, too. There's no escape.
Alexa
Alexa is currently beside her cousin, Ashlynn, against the wall. She's covered in a thin sheen of sweat from her recent bout of firedancing, and as Vivian begins the procession, she peels off the wall, bowing her head in reverence and patiently waiting for them to start filing out.
Ashlynn
Ashlynn finishes that quick, whispered chat with Alexa, smiling to her cousin. Giving Lexie-bear's shoulder a squeeze, some accord reached. The call to escort Lowel's body to the Memorial Hall given, she pulls away from the wall to fall in behind Vivian's lead.
Lucas
As the movment to bring Lowel to the memorial begins, Lucas rises and begins to follow, falling into the lead of the ritemaster. He doesn't say a word. He has a quiet demeanor, quieter than his usual happy self, but there are hints of the usual Lucas. A soft smile here and there but he is solmen.
Addison
"Oof--" Addison says. That tackle hug hits him out if nowhere. With a hand on either of the kin the Uktena grins a wild coyote smile. "You two," he mutters underbreath. "Ikal. Have you met Mr. Yoon?" He looks back to Jeremy with a softer expression. "This is Ikal. Kinfolk ward of the Blackcoil pack. He's attending UCLA will accomplish great things on behalf of his people." Yes. We were meeting!
A bit distractedly Adi looks out over the Gathering, noticing the tearstained Kin in the corner. "My people believe these ceremonies shape the umbra forever. Sometimes in unknowable ways. If it's a party, maybe Lowel will go on dancing forever." He smiles. "Just be sure to find my bones so I don't become a Hungry Ghost."
Ikal
Ikal gives a muffled sound of surpise as Addison snags him back in. But closing his eyes, he doesn't attempt to pull away again. He holds tight to the Garou and peeks back over at the other Kinfolk that Addison has pulled back in. He offers a small nod. "We've seen each other. But... It's good to meet you." As the procession begins, he quiets and gazes off as others begin their pilgrimage to the Memorial Hall.
Jeremy
Jeremy extends his hand to Ikal, shakes it professionally. "It's good to meet you too, Ikal. I've heard only good things." He turns to the procession. "Let's mark the Umbra, then, with his dance."
Meg
Eventually, Meg's wandering takes her within the proximity of Ashlynn and Alexa. To them, she gives a nod of acknowledgment. Otherwise, she's staying quiet and eavesdropping. Why? Because this is the Theurge Way.
Cedar
Cedar wipes away a tear as Addison makes his explanation. "I'd still rather have them here. People shape this world forever too, you know. Just by staying here with us." With that, he turns and begins to follow the procession out. Hesitantly, and at a distance, as if he's not even sure he belongs there.
Ikal
Ikal manages a faint smile as he shakes Jeremy's hand. And he nods. But then Cedar's words make him still. He'd been holding it together pretty well until that. Tears brim in his own eyes that he struggles to blink back. He swallows, trying to clear the knot in his throat. His embrace tightens around Addison.
Bronwyn
Bronwyn just purses her lips and watches the folks together. She nods her head then takes the time to just silently slip away.
Alexa
Alexa's head turns as Meg takes up spot beside her and her cousin. The tall woman flashes Megara a bright grin. "Hey you!" she says. "We're getting ready for the procession. A good send-off for an Auspice-brother. How are you doing?"
Addison
Addison looks sort of baffled at all the hugs and all the tears. For him? Really? The Uktena looks over to Ashlynn, just looking a bit baffled.
Jeremy
Jeremy gives Addison a shrug. Addison's kin like him - who'd have guessed?
