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 Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:00 pm
Naomi sang softly an ancient prayer as she worked. Not many appreciated her station in life, but that mattered little to her. She took great pride in preserving the dignity of the deceased. It didn't matter what they were in life, how rich or how poor, how popular or alone they were, she gave them beauty and dignity as their final impressions on the world. Some might say her efforts were pointless. The bodies would be burned and all of the finery would be for nothing, but that did not matter to her. Everyone deserved to be remembered, one last time, as something beautiful.
With careful, tender hands, she cleaned the young man's hands. He had clearly been a laborer of some kind. His hands were filthy.
"Perhaps we should leave a little of the dirt behind?" she suggested to the still body. It seemed appropriate if that was something that had been a major part of his life.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:28 pm
Isidore wandered down the market street rather aimlessly. He had managed to escape the watchful eyes of his mother and was exploring with Scim. He didn't know what drew him to the shop either, perhaps it was the song. It was not audible to mortal ears, but his received it just fine. He couldn't understand the words really, but they resonated in him and drew him like a magnet.
"Let's go in here Scimmy." He said stepping up the concrete step and pushing the door open. They were stood inside the front room of a shop. There were items on shelves and a wooden counter. It smelled new, all of it, of new wood and paint. He looked at the bits on display. Urns, engravings, memorials, he could see why he had been drawn to it, though there did not seem to be anyone there.
"Hello?" He called out.
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:36 pm
Naomi looked away from her one sided conversation to the front of her shop. She really needed to get a set of bells for the door, she reminded herself for the hundredth time. Rising from her stool, she quickly removed the apron she used in the back, just in case if there was anything unsavory on it. Those things did not bother her much, but it bothered those of weaker constitutions. Slipping through the door that connected her haven to the shop and outside world, she blinked when she saw the young boy and his dog. True, his appearance was a bit startling, but she had come to understand that this place, this new and wonderful place she now called home, was a host to many exotic ways of life. Her surprise quickly subsided into a friendly smile and she nodded her head to him.
"Hello. Are you looking for someone?" she asked with mild concern. He did not look terribly young, but perhaps young enough to maybe not be roaming around by himself.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:40 pm
Isidore looked up as a woman appeared and smiled.
"No, or, well, not really." he looked to Scim who was also watching her intently. "Were you the one who was singing?" He imagined she was, she looked like the owner of such a pretty voice.
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:48 pm
Surprise again flitted quickly across her expression. She was fairly certain she had not been singing very loud. What was the point when your only audience was yourself and the gods? Perhaps the dead, depending on your beliefs about such things.
"Yes. I was singing," she smiled to cover her surprise. "I tend to when I am working. It makes the time pass quicker," she winked at him and looked down at his companion. "He's very sweet looking. What is his name?" Slowly she stepped out from around the counter and moved to carefully kneel in her traditional clothing. She wore a black yukata with subtle designs in shades of grey and black printed on it. It looked much like the rest of her wardrobe in her closet. One didn't have much need for pretty, bright clothes when you were in her profession.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 1:58 pm
Isidore returned her smile with one of his own. She seemed very nice and kind, he liked warm people with nice smiles like his sisters and his mother, and his father sometimes.
Scim moved towards her and sniffed at her a bit before nudging her hand, yet another seal of approval. Scim was a very good judge of character.
"His name is Scimitar. He's special, my dad and I found him when we were walking in the cemetery one day, he was hurt and so we took him home to look after him." He grinned and looked around the shop again. "What kind of shop is this?" He asked.
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:06 pm
"Scimitar," Nao repeated and lifted her hand as it was sniffed in greeting. He was a lovely beast, she mused as she began to pet him. Looking to the boy as he told her about him, she shook her head and looked back to the dog. "It looks like you are very lucky Mr. Scimitar," she told him as she cupped his face between her hands and looked into his eyes. His eyes caught her by surprise yet again. She wondered if she would ever get used to this unusual world.
Turning her attention back to the boy at his question, she lifted her blue eyes and looked around.
"It is a memorial shop. I sell things that people need to help them feel secure in the passing of their loved ones," she replied. "I also host funeral services in the back. What is your name?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:16 pm
"Oh?"
Now that got his attention. Funeral services. He looked to Scimitar again and watched the soppy dog flop to the floor and roll onto his back to be petted.
"My name's Isidore, God of Funeral." He wasn't sure whether she would believe that or not but the fact he had been drawn to her and her shop made him take the risk that she might. And if she didn't? Well, what was the worst that could happen."
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:41 pm
Nao smirked at the silly pup and obliged him by reaching out to pet his tummy. The boy's next words drew her eyes up sharply at him. A god? Of funeral? But he was so small and young. How could he possibly be what he said? And had she ever heard of such a thing? No. Not that she could recall. She had never heard of a god of funeral. She had heard of gods of death, but never funeral. Though why shouldn't there be? Funerals were important. Had she not had those thoughts often enough as she worked with her silent clientele? Even when she had worked with the living ones as well. Why shouldn't there be a being to oversee the comfort of the living as the dead were remembered and passed on?
"You are so young for such a... solemn dominion," she smiled as she studied him. Though perhaps he wasn't all that young. Gods could change their appearances, right? She was certain she had read that somewhere.
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:36 am
Isidore watched her reaction, that was pretty usual. People seemed to find the thought of Funeral being such a young god shocking, though he supposed he could understand. Who wanted to think of children being associated with death?
He smiled at her words and shrugged.
"Doesn't have to be solemn." He replied. "People can use death to celebrate life. It's what I am, my dad is The Spirit Guide, he guides souls to the Underworld. Underworld is my Uncle." Maybe it would make sense if he explained it like that.
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:50 am
In her experience within her culture, death had always been a solemn occasion full of rituals and expression of grief. Though in her own opinion, she did not view death to be such a terrible thing. It was part of life. Raising her brows as he went on to explain who his father and uncle were, she took in a deep breath and her eyes cut away quickly to her shop door as if they might enter any moment.
"I think that death should be used to celebrate life as well," she declared and turned her eyes back to him with a smile on her lips. "Remembrance is a powerful thing."
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:57 am
Isidore nodded.
"I think so too. It's very important to people." He had learned this through his wanderings and exploring. People needed to remember those who had left the mortal world. It made them feel good to keep a connection to them.
"Everyone is different. I have seen different kinds of funerals, some are sad, some are happy but they're all about the same thing. Remembering and honouring."
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:03 am
Nao smiled warmly and nodded in agreement before she pushed herself up to her feet.
"It is not very often that I come across someone who understands such things. Not many people understand my work. And even when they do, they only understand that it is necessary, not what it actually all means. I feel very honored to have met you today Isidore," she smiled and bowed respectfully to him. "Would you like anything? Any tea or anything to eat?" she offered with a gesture towards the back rooms of her shop.
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:09 am
Isidore gave a nod of agreement.
"My dad says that people are afraid of things they don't understand properly." He shrugged, death was something they would likely never fully understand. Mainly because they didn't want to. "I'd like some tea please."
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midnight_medea Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:33 am
Nao smiled and nodded once more. That was entirely true.
"Please, have a seat here," she smiled and gestured to a plush seat near a low desk. She used both often when making arrangements with family members. It was a small thing but she always felt it was just as important to take care of the living as it was the dead. "I will return quickly," she smiled and turned to head back into the back. Quickly she made some tea and put some cookies she found in a cupboard on a small, ornate plate. Pausing as she waited for the tea to brew, she took a moment to look at herself in the mirror. He may be a young god, but he was a god none the less and he deserved her best. Smoothing her hair and making sure her robes were not a mess, she nodded in satisfaction and turned to pour out the tea. Carrying it all in on a tray, she gave him another smile.
"What brought you out amongst us today Young Isidore?" she asked as she set the tray down and lifted one of the cups to hold out to him. "Would you like sugar in your tea?"
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