Party Post | Urquhart's Wake -- outside

[ikissdhimbck]

As patrons enter the bar today, they may notice something a little different. A little more color, a sweeter scent; flowers, beautifully arranged. Sitting unobtrusively to one end of the Bar near the message board is an easel-mounted wreath arrangement, at its center the name Angus Urquhart, with the dates of his life, his afterlife, and his ultimate passing from the bar.

Should you follow the arrow pointing to the back door, similar but smaller flower arrangements mark the path to the lakeside. There, a modest affair is underway; seats, sturdy refreshment tables at Miss Sunshine's behest, music, and the makings of a bonfire closer to the shore for when it gets dark. The occasion may be somber, but above all this is a celebration of life — of the ever-so-much-more-than-nine lives of Angus Urquhart.

Come have a drink in his honor, or share your stories of his many adventures.

Comments

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor sniffles before giggle-snorting at a particularly lewd bit from the Goliard's Confession. He can't stay--he can't yet think on Urquhart without hearing his whispered plea for help as a dead thing.

Instead, the boy leaves behind translations for the song in English, German, and French for those interested, just in case the spell doesn't render the original salacious lyrics. More Latin calls his carpet out, and he's off to the asparagus garden to weed out his own private grief.

But because this is Milliways, he finds there are four pairs of gloves nearby.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[cook_the_rude]

"Good to see his asparagus isn't going to go to waste," says a voice from the dark when it is almost too dark for gardening.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor, dressed in his track suit, doesn't glance behind his shoulder to see the source of the voice. "Provided I get this weeding done," he says softly, tipping his head towards the other pair gloves. "Are you above getting your hands dirty?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[cook_the_rude]

"Never," Dr. Lecter says. "I see gloves have been provided."

He picks up a pair.

"What would you like me to do, Autor?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

And now Autor looks up to him, his hands stilling. "Weed the garden," he says slowly, and then breaks from his trance with more careful gardening. "You're efficient enough and I trust you not to hurt these at the very least."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[cook_the_rude]

"Of course," Hannibal says. "I would never damage Angus' excellent asparagus. I hope to remember him by it for some years to come."

He start weeding among the feathery asparagus plants, very carefully.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Fingers already sore, Autor combs through the dirt. "Mm. That's the hope," he says. "How did you know to find me here?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[cook_the_rude]

"I just took a moment away from the good food and company, and heard you," Dr. Lecter says.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"You must have taken more than a moment," Autor says dryly. "Heard me what? Humming?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate made a promise to herself that she would keep an eye on him. She doesn't hover or force him into conversation, and happily lets him sneak away when he does. However, she keeps an eye on where he's headed, and later on in the day when guests are well in hand, drinking, eating, and mingling, she sneaks away.

... With a plate of sweets. A sizable piece of cake, some fruit and bread, and a wedge of good cheese, along with a cup of hot cider.

"S'chilly today, so I thought y'might want somethin' t'warm you up."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Well-aware of her impending, Autor flicks his gaze over her at her plate when she speaks.

"A kind thought," he says, and continues to work, carefully purging invasive weeds from the spargel garden with deft fingers and a hunched spine.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[ikissdhimbck]

Despite the drastic change in her attire from the last time he saw her, she isn't afraid to get a little dirty. She finds a level patch of earth where she can set the plate and cup, crouching down in upturned dirt. Her fine skirts pool around her.

"Thank you for all your hard work earlier. It was very kind."

She surveys his patch with a small, impressed smile.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"You've done a great deal more than I," he says neutrally, eyeing the plate. "From what I saw, it was a fine tribute."

The boy shifts, marginally, to a different section of the trenches.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[ikissdhimbck]

"Thank you. I can only hope it was."

If she was put off by cool humors she wouldn't have been a teacher for so many years, so she ignores the way he distances himself.

"You have a lovely garden patch. I miss growin' things; but you're very good."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"It's not mine," he says faintly. He tongues his palate, and tries to move his stilled fingers.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[ikissdhimbck]

She keeps her eyes on the neat rows, faint smile never leaving her face.





"Didja do much gardenin' before you inherited it?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"Only in this patch," he says softly, "taught by the person who never intended to give it to me."

He clicks his teeth together once, and jerks his hands into action again, careful not to damage the fern-like top growth.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

Night has fallen, the tongues of flame from the bonfire licking at the distant sky, when Sunshine wanders away. They will soon run out of glasses, and she should fetch more from the kitchen. But the way around the bar to the kitchen's outside door takes her close to the garden. And someone is there, someone familiar, looking sore and stiff but determined to continue. She had seen him steal away many hours earlier, of course, but had known not to follow. Rae hadn't expected him to still be out.

She picks her way slowly through the autumn garden, but makes sure to not sneak up on him or hurt any of the plants.

"Oh Autor," she says, crouching beside him. "Have you been out here this whole time?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

The boy squints at her, briefly. He'd known she was coming--and was grateful for the care she took with the plants--but he was pretty sure he could get a few more weeds out before she arrived.

"Yes," he says gruffly, and then stops. He draws his hands back to properly kneel in the dirt, shoulders slumping. "Yeah."

He drops his head, revealing fresh tear tracks; pale lines cutting through the dirt smudges on his face. "What are you doing here?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"It's cold," she says, resting a hand lightly on his slumped shoulder. She's been weeping, too, but a kind of tired easiness has replaced the fiercer, jagged-edged grief of earlier.

"I wanted to know if you'd like some tea, and maybe to come sit by the bonfire with me."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

He wrinkles his nose, but at the imaginary bonfire, not her. "I won't have to be sociable, will I?"

Then he sniffs, and begins gathering discarded weeds. "Let me get this straightened."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"No socializing necessary," she promises, squeezing his shoulder slightly before moving to help with the gathering of weeds.

"Though there's food, too, if you haven't eaten." Just in case. "You could try that spinach bread we talked about, if you want."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"Sounds good," he says dully, nodding.

Then he blinks, and turns to her. "How are you doing?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"Not well, but better," she replies, offering a slight smile as they gather the weedy fruits of Autor's labor. "How about you?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

He opens his mouth and shuts it again, not quite expecting her to ask him--though I should have, because this is Rae, he thinks, and she's always looking after my welfare even though I didn't think on hers.

"A little surprised," he admits, plunging on about himself anyway, and wondering why he's speaking at all. "I mean, I only met him three times, and yet here I am. His is one of the first deaths I've seen, though, so I wonder if that makes a difference."

He picks up the same weed and drops it a few times. "How was the wake?"