Ceres Uppsala: The Shield Maiden. (maidenofshields) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-03-27 20:53:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, ceres uppsala, peony min |
On the ground, familiar shadows, Pointing to a new dug grave....
Who: Ceres & Peony
What: Meeting at Siana’s memorial
Where: The Banes estate
When: Backdated to 3/16
Rating: Tame, mentions of death but nothing graphic
Status: Complete
Ceres had never cared for things like this. She had never wanted to see good people fall. Especially, those as dedicated to the protection of the city, and upholding honor as she considered herself to be. Ultimately, in the end, that was why the speed knight had brought herself to - what really could only be called - the funeral that day. While she was not a practicing Pharist, did not care for their loyalties or beliefs, for an honorable comrade, Ceres would always show face. There were members of the Fighters’ Guild much more deserving of death, of a fate that surely had befallen Siana at this point but… They unfortunately were not the ones that would be honored with this day. Mouth drawn into a firm line, Ceres broken away from Lutheria after giving the other a firm look - surely she could stay out of trouble for a few minutes - and made her way towards Peony. Coming to a stop to stand beside the other woman, a nod was offered with a reserved. “Councilor Min.” As the speed knight took up position to remain for at least a bit. Ceres wasn’t sure how close the two women had been, but her interactions with them had made it seem as though they were inseparable. Somewhere deep down in the pits of herself Ceres desperately hoped that feeling was wrong. Peony had attempted to help with the logistics of the reception as best she could, but now, with things quiet and going smoothly, she had retreated to a wall, taking a few moments for her own quiet reflection. Siana’s family was still greeting the mourners who had come to pay their respects. It would have been easier for them, Peony thought, if they had known what had happened. That Siana was unlikely to be among the living was something she agreed with -- her friend’s sense of duty had been her driving force, and she never would have abandoned her duties. But the not knowing would wear on those who had loved her forever. She was among those people, too, although she would never presume to think that this loss had hit her as hard as it had Siana’s relations. Still, it was with a quiet sadness that she observed the proceedings. The voice had her turning her head and offering a miniscule smile to the woman who had approached her. “Sir Uppsala.” They had interacted on only one or two occasions, but Peony remembered that Siana had known this woman, and Peony herself had witnessed her competence. “I am glad to see you here.” The words were simple, meant at face value -- Siana deserved recognition, even if her fate would likely remain a mystery forever. A slight nod was the only initial response to the expression of gladness. Words, and emotions, had never been a strong suit, and the fact that she wasn’t here out of emotion - she’d say at least - but instead a sense of duty, a sort of honor to be paid to the fallen, would only add to the difficulty in this time. Silence would fall, an allowance made for it to stretch out for a bit longer than most others may really be comfortable with, as the stance she took was standard military at ease. “My condolences.” The words were a bit on the brief side, but not harsh. There was really little else that could be said on a day like this when gathered to mourn the - in theory (most likely from her experience with the criminal system) - dead. Peony didn’t mind the quiet. There was much to reflect on in this circumstance and little that could be said -- nothing at all that might serve to improve the situation. This was not a circumstance where platitudes did any good. Still, there were certain norms about these things, so she nodded her head and said, quietly, “Thank you. It is an unfortunate loss to all of us here, and to the city that she served.” Because she did not doubt that Siana had touched dozens of lives in her career, lives of people who may never know she was gone. She had invested nearly all of her time and energy in her service -- and this was a quality to be greatly respected. “You were comrades?” she asked. The woman was not EKP, that much she was fairly certain of, but she did not know anything past that, except that she was handy with a gunblade and with a spell. “Right.” The word used in actual agreement than the normal shrugging off of stupidity or annoyance. The parade rest did not shift, and her stance would remain solid the entire time until Peony spoke once more. “Guild.” A pause as Ceres mulled over the answer a bit more. “Banes served and protected the city. She gave her life to her duty. There is nothing more anyone could have asked of her.” Because for the speed knight. That was the ultimate upholding of honor, and service that any member of Emillion could ever possibly do. “No,” Peony agreed, “there isn’t.” Faram willing, she would go with honor too, when her time came. In her profession, an untimely end, while less likely than in a case like Siana’s, was still a plausible possibility. A death in the line of duty -- early, unfortunate, wasteful as it was -- was not a bad death. And so, for a few moments, the two of them, near strangers as they were, could stand in silence that was almost companionable, and with their thoughts pay tribute to the fallen. |