Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
The fall always seems to be a somber time thanks to the transition of the cold. With less distractions from the chores required during the summer heat, you cannot help but think about those who are no longer there in your life. Maybe it was your mother and father, prominent figures in your life that you never imagined would be gone. Or maybe it was someone taken from your life too soon, like a friend or a sibling. Or maybe it was an animal, a familiar that you raised when you were a kid but passed away from old age.
How do you honor those you have lost? What goes through your mind this time as you celebrate their life and mourn for the loss? Take some time to reflect on the past, and how that impacted you and shaped you for the future. If you want, you can even roleplay with a friend to discuss each other's loss (but both character needs to speak of their own personal loss in order for it to count).
[ We are looking for reflection more so than the actions, but here are the funeral rituals in tendaji: The earthlings have funerals and bury their dead, leaving a stone marker in their place. They usually bury their deceased and pass their belongings down to kin during the ceremony. Each earthling tribe uses a specific burial blanket during their funerals. ]
Death happened all the time... but that didn't make a loss any easier. Oly, having spent his childhood in a sheltered and loving home, was having a difficult time with the concept. He stood outside of one of his favorite shops, staring at the sign on the door trying to comprehend what he was reading.
'Shop closed until further notice while a Harton family mourns the passing of their beloved Kevon. R.I.P.'
Multiple notes of condolences had been scribbled onto the sign, each one driving the point home further. Passing? Was.. Kevon really.. gone?
Sabra Knight
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:04 pm
Sabra Knight via Discord
Noelani found herself darting along, her hood pulled up tightly around her face as to avoid anyone's notice. Her family hated whenever she ventured too far away from home but the girl had wanted to buy some incense today since they were honoring their ancestors soon. It was something her Matori grandparents always did so that they would never forget the fight that so many of their relatives went through in order to achieve the freedom they enjoyed today. However, she found her steps slowing as she noticed a boy staring at a shop with a sign on it. Was there something that she missed today? A holiday perhaps that she had forgotten? Noelani pursed her lips thoughtfully before glancing about. It was just the boy so surely it would be okay if she got closer.
"Kevon?" She found herself murmuring as she leaned closer and read the sign alongside the youngling.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:04 pm
Olokun felt a thickness spreading through his chest as the realization sank in. He had always enjoyed his talks with the old man. So many stories...
He glanced up when he noticed someone else approach, and his eyes began to water. "Kevon is the owner. He's really nice- or.. was really nice." He sniffed and brushed at his eyes. "He was always willing to talk with me, and would give me candy and money for running errands for him." He crossed his arms tightly over his chest. He was a teen! He didn't want to get caught crying! "I don't know what 'rip' means... but I know what it means when someone passes."
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:06 pm
Sabra
"Oh...oh." Noelani read the sign once more as realization dawned on her. So Kevon had recently passed then. Her gaze softened as she glanced back towards the youngling, her hand awkwardly hovering in front of her before she slowly patted his back. She didn't know exactly what it was like to mourn anyone but her heart did hurt to see the boy crying like this. "It sounds like he lived a good life to leave such an impression." She responded quietly after a moment. Her grandparents always said it was best to leave people with good memories because that meant you had touched the lives of others enough to leave a memory despite the sorrow your passing brought. But how did one handle their loss? She knew that the locals typically sent bodies away to the ocean goddess while some buried their loved ones deep in the valley beyond the cliffs, but did they share the same services that her grandparents held for their departed?
"Why not burn incense and wish his soul a good journey then?" She found herself suggesting as she glanced towards the boy, her bright green gaze showing in the shadows of her hood. "I recently bought so and have a few extra if you'd like? We can walk along the beach and do a small memorial there." Maybe that would make the boy feel better about the shop keeper's passing?
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:06 pm
The sympathetic pat was a surprise, but welcome as well. It certainly had been a shock to find this out, but to be alone at the same time with no one to take comfort in... well, he wouldn't turn down a little extra support from a stranger. "He did a lot, and had so many stories to share. He traveled all over Tendaji before settling here! He and his husband have lots of kids and grandkids." As pleasing a fact as that was, it was equally saddening. "They must all be so sad."
He looked up with interest at the offer, his demeanor perking up slightly. "I've seen incense at the burials. I didn't know I could do it, too." He naturally wanted to peer closer under the stranger's hood... but that would have been rude. Instead, he gave her a hopeful smile. "That sounds really nice. I have some money if you want me to pay for them."
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:10 pm
Sabra
"He sounds like an amazing person." Replied Noelani with a small smile. "My grandmother always talked about her sister who lived in Oba. She may have not had a lot of children but she always had plenty of stories to share whenever she did visit us before passing away. I think it would be nice to live like them and travel the world so that I can share stories one day as well." Noelani had been so young that she didn't remember the older woman that much but she did recall a few of the stories. She would miss hearing them from the older Matori woman, especially since her adventures had inspired Noelani so much. All she could do now was remember her fondly while hoping that one day she too could do the same and leave a similar impression on others.
"Of course you can!" The girl nodded encouragingly. "You don't have to worry about paying me either." She waved off the offer before glancing around once more. It should be alright to linger a bit longer....Noelani nodded before glancing back to the youngling. "Would you be okay walking to the cove with me? It'll be easier to do a memorial there and if you find something like flowers or a shell you could always leave them at the storefront to show your condolences as well."
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:12 pm
"The best people to be around are the ones with stories. I wanna be one of them, too." He loved socializing and was drawn to tales of adventure. If only he might be able to do the same some day, and watch someone enjoy his tales. "That's really nice of you, thank you!" Must remember manners, of course. One look at the storefront had the cloud hovering over his heart again. His mentor was really gone.
Sighing, he reached out to offer his hand for holding. "I bet he would like a shell or something."
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:14 pm
Sabra
"You're welcome." Replied Noelani quietly before his next action had her freezing. The girl glanced down towards the offered hand and bit the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. Should she? Suddenly the teen felt shy even though it was just a youngling and was almost fearful. What if he noticed that her hands were a bit different? Then again he looked like a hybrid himself so maybe he wouldn't question it. Noelani braced herself before awkwardly taking his hand, her fingers lightly curled around his own. "We'll find a really pretty shell then." She agreed as she started to guide them along the left path of the village and away from wandering eyes. Eventually the stone path would disappear into sand and there was a nearby cove that was out of sight of town.
It was then that Noelani found her steps slowing and she glanced about. "There's a smooth rock over there by the water's edge. Do you think that would be a nice spot to burn some incense for him?" There were a few other rocks dotting the beach, but most of them were sharper or smaller and other than that there were just a few tide pools and of course a lot of sand.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:16 pm
Despite his downtrodden feelings, Oly noticed the girl's hesitation and attempted an encouraging smile when his hand was taken. The difference was noted, but it wasn't enough to make him question her. Not yet, anyway. Instead, he let himself calm down during the peaceful walk to the cove. "That'd been good. It looks dry enough." He walked over to sweep the rock clear of any sand with his hand and pursed his lips. "Can we put some shells and rocks on it before we burn the incense? Then I can take those back to the shop and they'll be extra special."
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:20 pm
Sabra
"Sure." Agreed Noelani with a nod. "I can set up the incense while you pick what shells and rocks you like." Already she had spotted a nice curved shell with little spines but Noelani wasn't certain it was her place to pick the shells. After all this was the boy's memorial service for the shopkeeper. Surely this would do. Usually her family even made a meal for their ancestors and dear ones but they didn't have enough time nor did Noelani know what the shopkeeper would have enjoyed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:21 pm
With another smile, Oly released the girl's hand to go hunt down a few treasures for the memorial. He walked slowly, sifting lightly through the sand with his toes. In the end, he returned to the stone with three shells, two shimmering rocks, and some small lily pads. He placed them along the outer rim of the large stone and stepped back with satisfaction. "That should work." Then he looked over to the girl for her approval as well. "Should I add anything else?"
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:23 pm
Sabra
"Nope that's perfect." Noelani had worked on getting the incense ready while the youngling gathered everything. The dark sticks were propped up by three small rocks and she had her flint ready so that she could spark them. It was easier when she was home since her family handled lighting everything but thankfully she knew what to do. Soon enough she had a spark and the incense caught fire, scented smoke slowly curling from the edges.
"They say the rising smoke carries our wishes to the heavens. Feel free to say whatever you'd like to him." Commented Noelani before taking a step back to give the boy some space.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:24 pm
Olokun was silent for a long moment, watching the delicate, fragrant smoke twirl up into the air. He thought over the past years of his shop visits. Kevon had always been there; practically every day. It was going to be so weird... "I'm gonna miss you. Thanks for being so nice to me." A lump thickened in his throat and he stepped back. Was there really anything else to say? Besides.. if he did try to say anything else, he might start crying again... That would have to wait for some more privacy.
He glanced over to the girl and smiled again. "Thanks.. that helped. Will you walk back to the shop with me?" He was eager to place the gifts and say his final farewell.
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 3:25 pm
Sabra
Noelani felt her gaze water as she watched the boy speaking to the sky. She bowed her head respectfully before thinking of her own good wishes to the departed. May their souls rest in peace. She prayed before opening her eyes again.
"I..." She was surely going to get in trouble for being gone so long but Noelani didn't want to abandon the boy either. "Sure." Noelani made up her mind as she agreed to go with him. It would surely be a simple walk back and then she would say her farewells once he delivered his gifts.
