(Open) Pyre Party
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54
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31 - 40
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Valkyrie carefully extends her hand to Avis.
Hiiiii.......... she draws out the two letter word for a whole few seconds.
She then proceeded to look around uncomfortably as Miach gave the speech, since she had no idea who the people referred to were, and thus could not look appropriately sad.
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If only.
Lips opened. The hamster wheel churned, spinning up like Millenium Falcon's hyperdrive preparing to do the Kessel Run.
"Ahhhhh...."
Words trailed off as Miach began to speak. Burn, baby, burn. Long fingers twined outward, sifting though the fire. Some might picture it like a lux tapestry; others, it was a fountain of cascading gemstones. Citrines and emeralds fell though fingers, the rest; grasped and hidden.
The fire itself became a conflagration of gold and green, Paths of the fallen.
"Maybe you should, ummm, say something? Share something?"
Eyes made golden-green by the reflecting flames flickered over to Avis .
Because Knew Them Both.
2 successes to Influence Light
Avis. Again.
Whatever Miach was speaking was lost in a sudden burst of anger. Oh... and someone someone forgot to include the Libertine Fool in the roll call of the recent dead.
Eyes, a little touch manic, stared across the pyre.
"Fuck you, Avis." Maybe that was a little too loud. Crowley didn't seem to care. "And we're here for Falstaff, who died to give me a shot at escape from some... cult. Animus laid down his life to stop that same group... at least... thats what I think happened." His voice faltered and broke off.
He needed another drink.
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Emrys nodded with what Truce had to say. A smile formed as his retired Anthropologist was satiated. Then the service began, and Miach gave what Emrys thought was a tactful and just send off to those who died in service to the Concilium.
But Avis, and then Crowley, and if the Councilor of Acanthi knew anything it was incendiary dialogue and it's potential to explode.
"Both of you stop, now." Emrys said, leveling his most baleful glare against the both of them. "If you have a problem bury it inside and sort it out later. Now isn't the time or place."
And then he paused, realizing how totally not his place it was to say that at the wake. Eyes skimmed from face to face as Emrys tried to think of something to say. "So, um, does anyone who knew the deceased have anything to say about them? Last words, a story, send off? Anything?"
Please. Now. Before the awkward draws out anymore.
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Avis accepted Valkyries handshake with something that seemed more "unimpressed fish" instead of a limp one, and then she went back to munching and listening as the service got underway. Sable brows rose like cresting waves as Crowley began cussing at her, and stayed up as Emrys butted his self into the ceremony, but something like a smile appeared on her lips.
Actually...it was definitely a smirk.
So, with that, and a snort, she handed her plate to Star and then walked over to stand in front of the blaze which shone like sunlight on leaves. The heat against her back melted the smirk away, but her eyes still found out Crowley, then Emrys, before the gravity of the moment dragged her gaze towards the Consilium as a whole. It was to them she wished to speak. A slow, deep breath drew in the fire stained air, and with that breath she began to match her intention with her action, and the words of Crowley and Emry's were forgotten.
"First of all," she began, a bit too quietly, then paused, cleared her throat, and raised her voice. "First of all, I wanted to say that the reason why we are standing here today is not a new one. It's just one more in a long history of conflict. A long history of struggle by those that see the injustice, the evil of the Lie and choose to try and combat it. Leo Lockheart and Animus were both Ungula Draconis, Talons of the Dragon, soldiers of this Consilium, and I fought with both, trained with both, and learned from both. Someday, I will die like both, violently and at the hands of our enemies. And I say this not to aggrandize myself," she continued, voice rising in pitch, "but to point out that what they struggled for is now what we struggle for, and what those after us will struggle for. Even if we were to drive out all of the Banishers, Sears, Scelesti, and all else who would do us violence from this city, the struggle would not be won. In fact, it might not even be begun. What we fight is a war of ideas, a war of being, and that means that we cannot be as our enemies are. We must protect ourselves, we must not give in or try to walk into death, but we also cannot become like those that we fight.
"So, I suggest that as you stand here today, before this fire, to imagine your own death. A death of violence, and while you imagine this think of how you wish to be while you still exist in life, and how you wish to be in that moment of death. Imagine that, like Lockheart, Animus, and Falstaff, violence is coming to shatter you, to smash your teeth down your throat, free the blood from the limp sacks of your organs, and to grind your nerves against your bones, and think of what you want to have accomplished by then, and what you want to accomplish then. Let that thought be like the fire against the wood, let it burn away the hold the Lie has on you and learn the Truth that you'll need to know to die not as a casualty of the struggle, but as another stone in the bulwark of the Awakened nation. As a step in the ladder that those after us will tread on as they strive to free the Truth."
There. Now her piece, and her peace, was said. Without another word she walked back over to Star, kissed him, and took back her plate.
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Truce listens as Miach begins to lead the ceremony. Animus. That was a name he had heard before. It must have been recent death. How strange that he only now hears about it, when such news might well be a highlight of Consilium debate concerning their collective security. If their shades lingered, Truce decides to open his eyes to Twilight just in case.
But already there is strife manifesting among the congregation. Crowley's frustration is palpable but it is one forged from grief, and perhaps guilt.
Avis speech receives a slow nod of understanding from Truce. Once she steps away from the fire, Truce takes the opportunity to walk forward and stand in front of the rest of them.
"We all grieve in our own way. We all honor Life and Death in our own way. Life is a new beginning and Death is the inevitable end. Every moment counts down to that end, whether it be by violence or the slow progression of time. These men were once part of our community, but I am certain we have all lost loved ones in other circumstances. The wheel turns ceaselessly. That while others fall we still live to speak on their behalf, to carry their burdens to a final resolution, and to remember their deeds while learning from their sacrifice. Remember them, but also remember that we will follow them."
He looks to Avis and then to Crowley before stepping away from the fire.
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Striking Looks
Presence
Fame
Gnosis
She really didn't have anything to say, having not known Leo, and she had barely known Animus.
Eyes move from Avis to Crowley and back to Avis, and she takes a deep breath. Thankfully Emrys spoke up, so she didn't feel the need to add anything. Not that it would have helped, it would just be adding fuel to the fire so to speak. And now they shared a Cabal, so hopefully this could be put aside and everyone could work together.
July didn't know any of the fallen but he always respected the dead, because he could be next. He removed his hat when Miach started and nodded silently as he spoke. Crowley spoke, at least as July knew of him so far, completely out of character in response to Avis' sarcasm. And of course Emrys had to find some way into that conversation. He always had to find some chance to chastise someone, even though he had his own problems with speaking without thinking. He didn't exactly have the high ground to tell anyone when the right 'time and place' was for spiteful words.
Avis' eulogy brought him back to focus though. Her words spoke truth about what July wanted and what others should strive for. He knew one day he'd die but he wanted to take every Banisher, Scelesti, and Seer along with him. He knew that if he was going to go down, it would be fighting for what was right and her words inspired him. With a, "Here, here," he raised his hat, nodding to show his support for her words. Hopefully her words got through to others, many who hid behind procedure and councils hoping they'd solve all their problems. Avis had only gained his respect more by showing that she understood what mattered in this world.
Stepping forward, Aquinas takes command of the room with arms outstretched and palms facing downward. Patience sits on his shoulders like a shroud before he speaks. “Thank you to those who have organized this and for those who've taken a moment to speak on behalf of the dead.”
Dropping his eyes for a moment, the Hierarch continues, “When I first made my intentions known to challenge Avalon to the seat of Hierarch, it was Leo Lockheart who took charge. He asked the prescient questions in an attempt to protect this Consilium's sovereignty. He cared not about who would be Hierarch and his actions spoke volumes. No matter what,” Aquinas concludes, “he would protect this Consilium and those who choose to live here. He would go on to be an excellent Sentinel.”
Stepping to the left, the steely eyes of the Mastigos search out the eyes of the rest.
“Animus, a former Hierarch of this Consilium in his own right,” Aquinas begins again, “earned the respect and admiration of his juniors. He gave everything to the protection of this Consilium,” remembering the sadness in the Thrysus. “Even to the detriment of himself. Finally, he gave his life for all of us – no matter Order Affiliation. I hope he has attained the solace that escaped him in life.”
“Finally,” looking to Crowley, “there's Falstaff. Who, while I did not know as well as the other two, I thank for his sacrifice.”
The opening finished, Aquinas states, “We mourn the loss of potential. The loss of our fellows. The loss of family. Awakening is a precious gift and it speaks of our character in how we use that gift. However, we must not wallow in it, neither man would wish us to. We, a Consilium, have jobs to do. We have Truth to find and understand. We have people would enforce someone else's truth upon us, a Lie. We will do what we must not just for those we have lost; but for those who have yet to come.” A pause, “That will be our memorial.”
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Light and Sound.
Light isn't the only thing an Angel can filter out. Some things, you don't even need magic for. Charlie Brown earmuffs. wah-wah-wah-wah. Rabid Revolutionaries and Talking Heads. Remember: Wherever You Go, There You Are. It happens. Emotions? They run hot and deep. Stages of Grief and all of that.
Guilt, too. Pointing fingers to defend.
Pop Quiz: Where were you when so-and-so died? More importantly, what were you doing? Or not doing? Pretty tough cross to carry, getting saved by Vizzini. Stop. That's not funny. Show me the bunny. Eyes drifted as people spoke. Honestly? It was nice. Because honesty. Speaker for the Dead, don't white-wash it, and if you can't Go There, Go Elsewhere. Listen. It's a war out there, and that's why there was a fourth. Most people are here for three, but there are four.
Eyes widened and an eyebrow arched. Surprise. Because PDA.
Then the Good Words came. The nice words.
Aunt Polly's awful particular.
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