(2024-01-27) Jasper's Funeral

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Author:	Disknight
Summary:	Terrineth holds a funeral for her old friend from the Defias, Jasper. She is joined by Lena, Jenzelle, Nunuzac, and Sandy.
Rating:	M for Mature 17+

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Terrineth arrives in Lakeshire wearing a simple, but pretty black dress, "Heya everyone." she says a bit awkwardly, "Thank you all for coming. It really means a lot to me."

Averlena nods solemnly. She, also, is wearing a simple black dress. It does not look new - she is probably not a stranger to funerals.
[Averlena]: I think the five of us might be the group?

[Terrineth]: Yeah looks like it.

Nunuzac lifts her hand in greeting to the humans, taking a double take at unfamiliar face Jenzelle. "Hello, it is an honor to me to witness memory of your friend." She nods to Terrineth.

Terrineth smiles and nods to Nunuzac, "Yeah. Thanks for coming. You too Sandy." She nods at him.

Sandy is wearing a dark suit. He nods sadly to Terrineth. “Hi, I- I thought I’d join since…” he shrugs with a shoulder, not wanting to bring up his past right now. “I hope you don’t mind…” He smiles nervously at everyone around.

Terrineth smiles at Sandy, “Naw, I don’t mind at all. Thanks for coming out.”

Jenzelle looks over those gathered. "Did you have a place in mind, or is this where you'd like to hold it?"

Averlena nods at Sandy and Nunuzac.

[Terrineth]: I, uh, got a place at the graveyard here across the lake. *she points over to it*

Nunuzac peers across the lake and cups her hands. "It looks peaceful under trees."

[Averlena]: It'll be a nice place for him to rest. *Lena looks over towards the graveyard.*

Terrineth smiles with melancholy in her eyes, "Yeah, it really does."

Sandy nods.

[Jenzelle]: We will follow your lead.

[Terrineth]: Ok then… Well let's head over.

Nunuzac nods.

[Terrineth]: I already dug the hole out yesterday so all we gotta do is put his bones in and cover it up.

[Jenzelle]: You dug it yourself?

[Terrineth]: Well yeah, why not?

Terrineth looks around and appreciates the scenery.

[Averlena]: There's people you can hire for it, of course. But… if it was important for you to do it yourself…

[Jenzelle]: It's a nice gesture.

[Terrineth]: You think so? I don't know. I just figured I might as well. I can dig a hole as good as anybody right?

Jenzelle smiles a little. "That is one way to look at it."

[Terrineth]: Here we are. *she stops in front of an open grave with a simple coffin lying next to it*
Terrineth kneels down.

Nunuzac touches a curled hand to her chin at 'bones,' something troubled briefly flickering in her face before it settles back into calm, eyes soft.

Jenzelle approaches and rests a hand on top of the coffin, gazing at it as though she can see within.
Jenzelle kneels down.

Averlena folds her hands and watches respectfully.

Sandy nervously fidgets with the side of his pants. He looks at Terrineth for a moment, then looks at the ground, afraid he’d been rudely staring at her.

Terrineth reaches out and runs her hand along the face of the coffin, "Just gimme a minute, pal. I'll get you sorted soon." She pats it a few times, knocking on the wood.

Averlena blinks a little. There's something in her eye. Probably a tear.

[Jenzelle]: Do you have any stories you'd like to share? About him…his life?

Nunuzac glances among the other three, something questioning in her look, possibly watching for cues as to the customs here. She tilts her head with interest at the prospect of learning more of the person here.

Averlena looks back at Nunuzac and offers a little smile and a nod that seems to say 'you're doing it correctly so far'.

[Terrineth]: Oh, umm… Good question. *she thinks for a second* Well, umm… Back in the day we were good friends. Didn't get to hang around too many people my age so he was real special to me. Not that I ever would've said it like that to him. *she smirks a little*
[Terrineth]: He was a real pain in my ass sometimes. Always stickin his nose where it didn't belong while I was workin and stuff, but he kept things fun. I'm not sure what I would've done without him.

[Jenzelle]: It sounds like he was an invaluable friend.

Sandy nods at Jenzelle’s comment.

Averlena smiles gently. "I've known friends like that. They're a rare kind."

Nunuzac gives a faint smile tinged by sadness as Terrineth begins her recollections. The smile quickly becomes less muddied, easily pulled into the moment of recall, when things were good between them.

Terrineth nods and sniffs, "Yeah. He was somethin special all right. When we… got a bit older he started actin different though. Got all serious round me sometimes and I didn't know what to make of it. Sayin all these promises bout leavin Westfall for good and comin to make new lives out here."

[Averlena]: Sounds like he had a lot of dreams, and you were part of 'em.

[Terrineth]: Yeah… *she wipes her eyes with her sleeve and sniffs again* He was a lot of firsts for me. First best friend, first dance, first kiss… He got in a lot of trouble tryin to keep me safe. I didn't deserve all that, but he thought I did.
Terrineth sits silent for a moment, trying her best to keep it together, "I'm real sorry I took so long returnin the favor.."

Sandy sniffles once. He wipes his face with his sleeve - he didn’t know that man, it doesn’t feel right to be the one crying when others who did are trying not to.

Averlena steps forward to rest a hand on Terri's shoulder.

Jenzelle smiles sadly, continuing to gaze at the coffin. "It's…always difficult losing people who still had so much ahead of them. It sounds like he helped shape who you are today, and that means he will continue to be a part of your life, even going forward."

Nunuzac rests her palms near her collar. "Someone who wanted you to be safe and go far."

[Averlena]: And you are. And you have. He would be happy, if he knew.

Terrineth finally fails to hold back the tears and a few roll down her cheeks. She nods at Jenzelle, "He should still be here. Should've been me, not him." Terri reaches down and gives the coffin an awkward sort of hug, "I just want you to know though that I fuckin got him in the end. I fuckin killed him for you and for me and for all of us…"

Averlena looks faintly alarmed at that, and glances at Jenzelle, then Nunuzac. Lena murmurs, mostly to Terri, "Which we're not gonna say who that is because incriminating."

Sandy doesn’t seem to notice the incriminating talk, he just spotted Terrineth’s tears and struggles even more to keep his in. He lets out a small, quiet sob.

Nunuzac makes a few blinks of surprise as she makes some efforts to piece together these parts. She makes a brief mouth covering gesture at Lena's look.

Jenzelle nods, some sort of resolve in her expression. She doesn't notice her own tears on her cheeks.
[Jenzelle]: Would anyone else like to say a few words? If not about Jasper, then to him?

Terrineth sniffs and wipes her face with her sleeve again and turns to look at the rest of the group.

[Nunuzac]: I will say something small.

Jenzelle nods to Nunuzac.

Averlena turns to look at Nunuzac, her hand still on Terri's shoulder. Her eyes are misty, but no tears fall.

Nunuzac nods gently as she collects her emotions a bit, looking moved by Terrineth's sentiments. "I may not know yet a great many things about these places or people. I did not meet Jasper, for which I am sad."

Terrineth smiles faintly and nods, "He was a good guy. I'm really gonna miss him."

[Nunuzac]: But hearing how he means to Terrineth, it makes me think, this person is maybe part of why I can meet her, and have chances to know her more, as we go ahead."

Sandy nods vehemently, smiling slightly through his saddened face.

Averlena smiles at Nunuzac

[Nunuzac]: So I am thankful to you Jasper, and wish you to rest under the kind trees and in good memories, and with the Light's peace.

Jenzelle smiles. "That is very sweet."

Nunuzac nods a bit low to show she is finished with her short words, the sign of the naaru brightening briefly.

[Averlena]: I can maybe say something too, though I didn't know him. *Lena draws in a breath.*

Jenzelle nods to Lena.

Terrineth seems to lighten up a little at Nunuzac's words. She turns back to the coffin, "Yeah. We may not have built that cabin up in the mountains like you wanted, but… at least you can sleep here by the lake now." She pats the coffin again and offers a teary smile, "We made it, dumbass." She chuckles awkwardly, "We're here."

Sandy chuckles sadly.

[Averlena]: I hope wherever you are now, Jasper, you can look on and know that it made a difference. Who you were, what you tried to do. How you protected your friend. Your life mattered, and even if I've never met you, I'll remember you.
A tear makes a trail down Lena's cheek, but she doesn't seem to notice.

Terrineth reaches up and puts a hand on top of the one Lena placed on her shoulder. She grabs hold of it and gives it a squeeze.

Jenzelle turns back to the coffin and clasps her hands. "And I would like to say, that she has found a place in Cobalt Company. We will have her back just as you did, Jasper, so you can rest easy, knowing we're with her."

Sandy nods again, wiping more tears on his sleeve.

Nunuzac nods along with Lena and Jenzelle's words in agreement, her brows and mouth doing some funny things on the verge of tearing up.

[Terrineth]: Thanks everybody…
[Terrineth]: But uh… *she stands up a little shakily* Time to put him in here, right?

Averlena nods at Jenzelle's words, and then looks to Terri. "Do we… should we all help?"

[Jenzelle]: It might be heavy for just one person, or…at least awkward."

[Terrineth]: Yeah, I think we should. *she moves to one corner of the coffin and gets a firm grip on it*

Jenzelle moves to the top end to help.

Averlena goes to grab another corner, and raises it with a little grunt.

Nunuzac steps forward and briefly touches Terrineth's shoulder as well in attempt to comfort first, it really looks like she wants to hug her, but she helpfully finds a corner to help. She is gangly but tall enough for good leverage.

The coffin really isn't terribly heavy being filled with just old bones. They rattle around a bit inside while they move it.

Sandy startles at the noise. He moves to help, but realize they’ve all claimed a corner, and his teary-eyes make his vision blurry. He just moves closer and puts a hand on the coffin - that’s his way of helping.

Jenzelle tries not to wince at the rattling.

[Terrineth]: Alright, now we just lower it in. *she tries to lead them all in placing it down in the hole.*

Jenzelle follows Terrineth's lead.

Nunuzac makes a good effort at not reacting too strongly to the surprise of loose bones, managing to hold a stoic-ish face while they exert some collective strength to lower the coffin gently.

Averlena tries to follow. It might not be terribly heavy, but she's also not extremely strong.

Seeing Averlena struggle, Sandy tries to help with her corner of the coffin. He sniffles.

Eventually through their combined efforts, they manage to place the coffin gently into the grave.

Averlena steps back, rubbing her hands together. "I'm sure he'll find the rest more peaceful here."

Terrineth looks to everyone and smiles, "Thanks again for coming here everyone. I think I'm gonna stick around and cover this up on my own if that's ok."

[Jenzelle]: Of course.

Terrineth smiles and nods at Lena, "I hope so, Lena."

Nunuzac lets the stoic-ish-ness waver while looking at the container lying down below in its final location. "You wish to be alone?" She looks questioning to Terrineth for sure confirmation, seemingly willing to help complete the matter.

[Averlena]: If you decide you need anything, I'll be in Lakeshire today. Just, you know, in case.

[Terrineth]: I… yeah, I think so. I… got a lot of secrets, I guess. *she says awkwardly* Things that I should probably keep between me and him.
[Terrineth]: I'll be with you soon, Lena. I just need a minute here I think.

Jenzelle murmurs a small prayer over the grave. "Light keep you, Jasper. And you too,
Terrineth. I hope this will give some closure."

Averlena touches her shoulder again briefly, and then steps back with the others.
[Averlena]: Yes, Light keep you both.

Nunuzac nods as her understanding solidifies. "I give you room to be here then. My heart is with you."

Sandy sniffles, his breath a little shaky. He awkwardly, silently puts a hand on Terrineth’s shoulder, then takes a few steps back.

[Terrineth]: Thanks everyone. This really means a lot to me.

Averlena smiles at Terri, and turns to head back to Lakeshire with Jenzelle, Nunuzac and Sandy.

Nunuzac mentions to Lena as they turn, "If I can be of further use or company, I trust you to say. You take care of her yes?"

[Averlena]: I try to, yes. And I'll let you know. *She smiles up at the tall draenei*