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

[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?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"I can imagine it would definitely make a difference," she says, musing. "Death is not kind, no matter how it happens, and violent death..."

Though she does not consciously remember it, Rae had been affected much in the same way, the first time she had seen the effects of violent death.

She hadn't even been able to tell how many bodies there were.

"It affects us all," she says, bumping his shoulder with hers very lightly. "The wake was... difficult." Rae had hidden behind a nearby tree when people got up to speak, trying to keep her weeping quiet through the poems and songs. "But it was good, too. It helped... settle things, I think. Wish you could've come."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"I'm not very good at settling," Autor says quietly, bumping back. "I tend to unearth things instead."

He sheds his gloves and rolls his shoulders. "But I'm... I'm sorry. For your loss. For not being there," he says, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Bonfire, right?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"I'm sorry, too." Quite.

"Tea first," she reminds him. "Then bonfire. It won't take long to fetch some tea, and it'll give you a chance to wash up."

His hands are going to be sore, tomorrow..

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

They already are. He doesn't mind.

"He... teased me once, here, about you," Autor muses. "Said you had a 'way of making you grow into her expectations'. At the time I was just dumb enough to protest."

He shakes his head. "I'm sure other people have told you this already, but he was devilish and lively and solid, and he enjoyed being your friend."

The boy gathers his tools before standing. "Thank you for coming to get me," he says. He'll put them away and lead the way back to the bar if she doesn't object--though he'll be watching closely to see if his words were a comfort or not.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae ducks her head with a very slight, sad smile, touched by the words but not knowing what to say. They reach the kitchen in relative silence.

As they enter the warm room, her hand touches Autor's shoulder, lightly offering a squeeze. "What kind of tea, do you think?"

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor sighs, relieved; he thought she'd cry, and he'd be the source one way or another.

"I know it's not your usual for a situation like this, but I've always liked the ginger and lime," he says, patting her hand. "When I first had it, I found it really soothing for some reason. Familiar."

He washes his hands and pulls out the kettle.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"I know what you mean," she replies, busying herself with fetching cups, fresh ginger, and a lime. "It's re... refreshing."

Her voice caught on the word. She had almost said reviving.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor fills the kettle, setting it to boil before removing his glasses. He carefully sets them aside, wets two rags, and scrubs the tear dust off of his face.

"Would you like one of these?" he asks, holding out the clean rag.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

She had... almost forgotten the dry tracks of tears that mark her own face. "Thank you, yes," she replies, accepting the rag and wiping at her cheeks and temples.

Her hands already smell of fresh ginger.

"I hate that squashy-headed, exhausted feeling after crying hard."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"Mm," Autor says, non-committal. "Sorry to hear that. Sounds rough."

Shoulders slumped, he turns to the sink again and holds his hands under the water, to recapture some of the heat that seeped out of his bones.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"It has been," she nods, coming over to lean her shoulder against his. " I expect you'd know, though."

She saw those salt tracks on his face, and how long he'd been weeding that garden.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

He bumps her shoulder and collects the kettle. "I shouldn't," he says, traces of hoarseness threading through his voice.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"Whyever not?" Rae says, tucking the fresh ginger into the tea infuser and readying the teapot for Autor to pour. "There's no shame in it. Much the opposite."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

"But I only knew him for three days," Autor says, pouring the tea unceremoniously. "I wouldn't have been so shaken up a year ago. I wouldn't have six months ago. Or even nine month--something changed."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh, I can tell you for a fact you've changed, Autor," Rae replies. "But not for the worse."

"I think you're more connected to people than you were. And that's a good thing. Death is something everyone has in common - it's only natural for it to affect us, even if we barely knew the person. Even if we don't know the person at all."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor opens his mouth to protest, but stares at his shoes instead, clenching and opening his fists. "I don't... It's all so messy, isn't it."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

"Oh gods, Autor," Rae breathes gently, enfolding him in a hug. "Life is messy. But we're all part of it."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor thunks his head against her shoulder once and clasps her fiercely back.

Re: Music & Bonfire

[sunbaked_baker]

Rae rests her chin on his shoulder and rubs his back, quietly reciting:

"No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee."

Re: Music & Bonfire

[herr_bookman]

Autor laughs softly, breathless and surprised. "Thank you, Rae," he says. "That's perfect."