[Mini Event] through the clouds a path is torn

REMI

Remi had been all but silent about his plans for Vai's funeral, asking only for a few odds and ends from Ronin and Felix but doing most of the work himself. Protective (read: selfish) of Vai even now (perhaps all the moreso, now), all that might be gleaned of the alchemist's plans was that this funeral was not going to be a large affair.

When finally Flowerbirth had settled and stretched enough that Remi was optimistic of the weather, he sent word to the witch's immediate family: Felix, Mateo, Enzo, Flora, and of course Ronin. A letter was sent in a vain attempt to reach Ashetta as well, though Remi knew the raven carrying it would never find its target.

Nestled behind Vai's cottage in one of the wilder portions of her garden, Remi had (with some assistance from the fae), created an altar out of ironwood upon which sat an elegantly crafted box. Will-o-wisps bobbed and danced in the dappled sunlight, as any number of vulpine eyes peered out from beneath the underbrush, wondering where the witch had gone who so often fed them scraps.

---

Remi intends for this to be family only, so anyone else enter at your own risk xD

honest feelings and bad timing
make the most painful combination.

Code taken from Sky who is utter perfection

arms give away your need

Remi doesn't have a shadow any more these days, so Ronin takes its place instead. Especially now that the day is upon them, the Huntsman is only ever a step or two behind his husband, a silent presence offering reassurance in the form of a soft touch or a whispered word. He had helped in whatever ways he was permitted, knowing better than to take work away from the alchemist when it came to something like this.

Indeed, his aid now comes in the form of dealing with the other people who might arrive. Because even if they are family - even if it's the twins - Ronin doesn't actually know whether Remi will be able to conduct himself appropriately. And so, casting a small smile to two of the vulpine figures he can see skulking in the foliage (of course Ianto and Fiadh are present, even if they don't dare come closer), Ronin glances back to wait for the others.

tie them up and around me

and play me as you please

RONIN

My spores been growing by the day; my days been shining bright

A boy with his heart on his sleeve, Mateo has spent his time so far sequestered away from his parents where he can work through the raw and tangled emotions as they come up. Indeed, even now that they are out in the witch's garden, the boy can be found crouched in the undergrowth, tending to any of the plants that need a little extra attention.

He has taken whatever seeds or specimens he can get his hands on, naturally, and it's with a streak of dirt on his face and dandelion seeds in his curls that he finally rises to his feet, swiping at his eyes. Picking his way back through the garden towards where Ronin and Remi stand, Mateo can't help but look at the cabin and the porch his nonna would usually be leaning against.

If he imagines it hard enough, maybe her door will open and she'll walk right out.

mateo!

Flora

Flora, dressed in an extravagant gown, is loudly crying against Enzo 's shoulder. The witch had raised she and her twin, providing stability and love in a world which felt foreign and uncaring. "B-b-b-ut she c-c-an't be—" Flora sobs, tears streaking down her face. She's so upset that it hardly occurs to her at all that her mascara is probably a streaky mess.

"Why." She wants to know, looking first towards the stiff silhouette of her father, then to her older/younger brother, then back to Enzo. Flora doesn't dare consider asking Ronin, but instead clutches her twin's arm all the more tightly.

Enzo

Enzo stands supporting Flora, a rigid facade of stone. Only his arm is moved for her to cling to, the rest of his bones creaking with a strain that only his bone-white knuckles of each hand display visually. Eyes deeply red above tear stained cheeks, he cries silently. He is furious - with the world, of course, but with the callous nature of the way the news was delivered. By the lack of explanation. Flora says it well enough in his stead, so instead of asking it more pointedly - with a poison Enzo has always housed but never tasted on his tongue - Enzo merely lifts his other hand to lay against hers where they clutch his arm. Determined to keep his loved ones closer now that it’s apparent even their father’s might cannot truly keep them all safe.

we swore we'd change, and we'll change again
like it's a game, like it's pretend

FELIX

Perhaps he has a bit more of Devrum in him than anyone would like to admit. Because when the news comes, Felix is gone — disappeared yet again into the woods, bear shift, trying to feel through his feelings the best he can. It’s easier this way, given that nobody would think about approaching a wrathful bear, but if he walked around as himself?

Well, then comes the condolences, the approach from strangers and familiar people alike. The I’ll miss her too paired with the she’s always going to be in your heart. They’re the last things he wants to hear, only around enough to help Remi with whatever he needs to put the funeral together. And the rest of the time is spent pulling himself together enough to attend.

He’s late, because of course he is. Half feral and wild upon his approach, hair finger combed back and bi-toned eyes looking at those that attend despite not quite seeing. He hears Flora’s words, shuts them out the best he can before he snaps with a but she is.

All he can do is approach the altar, red rimmed eyes following the lines of craftsmanship, before retreating back toward Remi, Ronin, and the others to stare at the grass.

She’d have liked this, he thinks. Even if the iron grip on his throat ensures he can’t say it.

old man, i'm done always abidin' by the plan
and oh boy, we knew you never really had a choice

REMI

Stern and unyielding, it's because of obligation rather than want that Remi turns to those gathered. Were he alone here, the alchemist might have pulled at the earth with his claws and unrooted each and every tree within the vicinity of the little cottage. However, constrained by the presence of those who loved Vai, Remi merely sighs and nods wearily at the altar.

"Vai gave enough of herself to her garden and these woods that I saw no reason to bury her. Instead, there are pieces of her there for any who wish to keep a part of her with them." The bones of her fingers, meticulously cleaned and bleached that they might not have to go without the witch's touch. A lock of her curls that still smelled of her, one of her ribs, and small satchels of her ashes. What if anything Remi might have kept for himself was not something he was planning on sharing.

"I am not sure if there is anything to say..." Glancing towards Flora who was still noisily crying, Remi rubbed at the back of his neck. "..other than that there was no question that she will be missed, and was very loved."

honest feelings and bad timing
make the most painful combination.

Code taken from Sky who is utter perfection

arms give away your need

Giving a gentle nod to Felix as he arrives - Flora and Enzo already being present and preoccupied, of course - Ronin inhales deeply and turns as his husband does, letting his hands rest in the pockets of his jacket. He gives a sad smile to Remi as he starts to speak, proud of him in ways he can't put into words, especially right now. To open himself up even this much when grief is a temptation to shut everyone out is something to be admired.

"And she won't be forgotten," he adds softly. "For as long as this garden grows, and longer still." Of that he has no doubt. Needing no piece of the witch to covet as his own - and knowing that Remi has already collected what he considers important to him - the Huntsman falls silent once more, stepping back to allow the others to move forward, if that's what they want to do.

tie them up and around me

and play me as you please

RONIN

My spores been growing by the day; my days been shining bright

It's more difficult to be around other people being sad than just feeling it himself, Mateo realises, and he finds his eyes going blurry and a sob trying to clog the back of his throat before he swallows it forcefully down. Sniffing and turning back away from the porch as his father speaks, he glances to the altar with a wide blue gaze, barely able to comprehend that there are parts of Vai still there.

His feet take him forward before he can give them permission, and although his fingers stray towards a few of the delicately bleached bones, a sense of trepidation stops him. "Can I?" he asks softly, looking at both Remi and Felix as if for permission.

mateo!

FELIX

The hand only tightens around his throat, keeping him from saying anything. His hands form fists, shoved deep into his pockets, staring and perhaps glaring unintentionally at the altar. He scans over the options given, the bags of ash, the fingerbones. His stomach churns with discomfort as he tries to remind himself to take deep breaths, one hand rising to brush along his cheeks to wipe away the tears that have so freely fallen.

That bi-toned gaze lifts immediately to Mateo as he steps forward, the question offered to both himself and Remi and Felix only dips his chin. An answer, not emitted into the air. He swallows hard, watching as the item is plucked for the young boy. And for himself? He takes a moment to step up and take one of the bags of ash, feeling its weight in his fingers before he steps back, cradling it in his hand before his red rimmed gaze seeks out Remi and he finally gets the hold on his throat from clenching just as hard. “Thank you.” Comes the hoarse whisper.

old man, i'm done always abidin' by the plan
and oh boy, we knew you never really had a choice

REMI

There are no closing words given or even asked for. Doing so would feel far too final, and though Vai was gone, Remi was not willing to even entertain the idea that she was gone. With a nod toward his children and Felix, it was with an expression as blank and unreadable as a LongHeat sky that Remi simply turns and begins to walk back towards his houseboat. What the others chose to do was, just now, not any of his concern.

If they hated him for the way he had set up this funeral, so be it.
If they hated him for the way he laid out parts of the witch for them to take as if she were trinkets from some carnival, so be it.
If they hated him for not being able to save her, well...gods, he agreed.

~FIN

honest feelings and bad timing
make the most painful combination.

Code taken from Sky who is utter perfection