the eighth - we don't have to be lonely

[fragileprophet]

Characters: open to all
Setting: backdated to April 4th, all day, at the Graveyard (Floor 48).
Format: mingle, do as you like! Include a time of day if you feel so inclined.
Summary: After his network post on April 3rd, Ion's spending the day at Rick's grave to honor his memory. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join him in mourning or hang around by themselves to grieve privately.
Warnings: general sadness, possible descriptions of gore or other unpleasant things.

Comments

[fragileprophet]

[Ion can be found throughout the day close to the tombstone that reads Patrick Dawn. From the early morning until close to noon he can be seen kneeling next to the grave and slowly, carefully, arranging flowers he carried up from the meadow.

For the most part, though he doesn't leave, he remains silent. He'll speak if spoken too, and is more than happy to say a few words concerning Rick, but apart from giving a gentle--]

Thank you for coming. [--or--] I'm glad to see you came. [--and--] I'm sure he would be happy, as well.

[--the boy keeps mostly to himself, fiddling with the tuning fork that hangs around his neck and looking both sad and troubled. It's apparent that, despite the reassuring words he was given on the network the previous day, Ion still feels terribly guilty for being unable to save his friend.]

[thepowerful]

[What approaches Ion is a large winged man with blue skin and glowing eyes - if Ion's seen Phaeris around before, he may have noticed that the dragon-man is usually frowning. Today, though, it is a fair bit more melancholy than usual.]

Phaeris would be terrible to not come.

[He turns his eyes to the grave, then folds his arms.]

He offered Phaeris food when Phaeris was new here. A favor that Phaeris regrets he had no chance to repay.

[fragileprophet]

[Regarldess of Phaeris' somewhat frightening appearance, Ion only smiles gently up at him. He offers a small nod of consideration at the words.]

Yes, that does sound like something he would have done. And I'm sure that he was happy just to know that he was able to help.

[Ion turns his smile down toward the flowers he'd brought, carefully rubbing a white petal between his fingers. Rick wouldn't have wanted his kindness to be repaid. He had always been so terribly thoughtful.]

Your name is Phaeris, then? Mine is Ion.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

[It's early in the day that someone arrives at the grave. She's probably one of the first to arrive, which should show how much this person meant to her.

Veronica doesn't say a word, but it's clear from her expression that she was incredibly distraught by all this. She might break down if she had to speak.

Wordlessly she approached the grave, her footsteps barely making any noise. She kneels and inspects the grave for a moment, laying down some flowers of her own. Then, she stands back and simply... hangs around, not getting in anyone's way and constantly gazing at the gravestone.]

[fragileprophet]

[When Ion sees Veronica approach the grave to pay her respects, he leaves her be, wishing to respect her privacy. But after a while, when he notices she's doing much the same as him: hanging back, alone, he decides to approach her.]

I'm sorry to bother you--I just remembered you from the network.

[He bows his head as he gets close, expression soft but sullen.]

If you'd rather be alone, I'd understand.

[stitchedupbodyguard]

Hmm?

[She looks up at him quizzically. She probably would have asked to be left alone, but after spending so long in the tower, she'd learned that being with others helped fight the inherent loneliness, especially now that someone has been really lost for good.

So, she shook her head, giving Ion a plain look.]

No, it's okay. You can stay.