Veron's Vigil


Seirichi was finally what everyone wanted her to be.. even what she wanted to become. But -- at what cost? Was it really worth it..? Looking out at those crashing waves as she sat on those rocks. This place was nostalgic.. she could still see a figment of her past self climbing down the rocky ledge, and urging -- even taunting the young boy into following her.. This was their spot, their secret spot. Moist fingers curled into a soft fist as she gripped onto all that remained of him.. a small, burnt piece of his clothing. Something in her haste of need ripped away from him during their last moment together. Droplets of water rolled down her bangs as she tucked chin to neck and bit her bottom lip. So happy being away form the city, even if it was for her own selfish reasons. She didn't want to hear it.. none of it. She didn't want to be looked upon by those eyes.


High up, a handsomely suited man walked the cold grass to a cliff on the outskirts of what seemed to be a party back in the city judging by the various flames warming and lighting their windows, particularly an open tent just outside where many were gathered. It seemed so festive. How wrong one could be.
A gust of wind came and blasted his long bangs of black. A hand through it as he filled his lungs and exhaled just as it ended back up in his pocket. Overlooking the waves crashing upon the rock face down below with a depressed romanticism, he began descending the height of this city, on down its grassy written path onto a rock-laden unwritten one. A rock climber's grips on boulderous routes on down to where the waves crashed louder, and the mist reached out for you. He sighed exhaustively, impressing the sandy bottom with his fine dress shoes, and massaging his spark-starting cheek walking down the shore, his open black suit jacket blowing softly. "Everybody's looking for you. Your mom too. You know she sent me to find you? Like I'd know where you'd be..." coming up to the end of the rocks overlooking the water, which was a particularly inviting one to set upon.

Another sound broke through the constant crashing of the waves below her. " ..... I'm not going back," Let loose from her lips. She couldn't even face him, not now.. the waves had been all she wanted to look at. " .. you should stay away from me, Dark.. "

It was like a high. Even now, she felt so brimming with power.. and it was taking all her own self-will to keep it held back. She wanted to let loose so badly, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet -- she needed to learn to control this.. but at the same time, she wished she never got it in the first place.
" ...... Hnnk.. " Her throat cracked just then as her body began to hunch over. Shoulders rose and gave a small shake as she tried to hold herself back from tearing up again. Arm, which hadn't held the piece of cloth, found itself slowly curling so that she could hug that dufflebag close to herself. It should seem obvious.. she had no intention of going back.

Planning on going somewhere? You doing alright? How you holding up? All questions most people might ask. But not him. He had a much different relationship with her. She wasn't wearing that black dress he'd thought she'd be wearing. No, he thought she'd have at least 'intended' on going to the vigil back in Adenna. But this looked much more serious. But not him, he didn't look serious at all. He looked like what she'd always known him as: a person she could talk to. He hopped up on her rock with her, right beside her, and gazed out to the water sparkling with wishes of starlight underneath its surface. "I didn't come to take you back. Had to get away from that myself. Buncha people coming up, asking ya questions. Real procedural stuff. You pack everything you need?" he put a hand on that dufflebag and tried to look inside.


" .. I told you.. I'm not going ba-.. " Yes. Seirichi thought he'd say something in an attempt to bring her back to the city.. but, none came. She'd look his way with a bewildered expression upon her features.

" ....... " She found herself locked in silence for the moment as she looked down at the bag she had been hugging close to her. Her grip loosened, allowing it to rest easy within her lap. " ... Yeah. Enough to get me by.. I saved up a lot of money so.. " Her gaze slowly turning back to Dark as she looked his way. " ..... You're really not going to stop me? " Like he could. No, not physically.. but - he did have his ways. As for that black dress? It had been left behind, as well as a note, on her bed for her mothers to find. As of now Seirichi only wore a simple pair of jeans, a black tank top, and her jacket. It's all she needed.

"You're a big girl, Seiri... You're too old for me to tell you what to do now." taking his hand off that bag to brace his lean back on that rock. But it didn't stay long. "Nah I'm not going to stop you. As a matter of fact my memory's gotten so bad, I'm not sure I'll remember I saw you at all when I get back up the mountain." a joke of a promise as his arm came up to drape her shoulders and rock her comfortingly. Saying in those jarring rubs that it was their little secret.

Her head began to bow again. Eyes slowly closing themselves as she listened to his words -- along with the faint crashing of those waves. That arm providing some sort of comfort as they sat next to one another for the moment. " .. This might be the last time we see each other.. I.. don't know if I'll ever come back here.. I don't want to.. " Eyes reopening as she looked out to the sea yet again. "... Why'd it have to end up this way.. he.. he was strong.. I made sure of it.. " Body tensing up yet again as emotions got to her. " .. it's.. not fair.. "

He rubbed that shoulder the more she talked, and the more his eyes swan deeper and deeper into the water. Glistening themselves, emotional, infected by her pain. The more she spoke, the more he guided her against him. Her last words had him pressing her strongly against him. He couldn't cry. He had to stay strong. Sometimes you couldn't cry. "I know, Seiri... I know." holding her head at the back as he went over her shoulder. He looked up unforgiving at the night sky. "Damn all this. I don't know Seiri. Maybe your mom thought you could come out of this with someone you cared about like she did. I don't know. I don't know why she let you go through with it. I don't know why I did..."

The Adenna girl found herself brought in closer, and closer.. and soon enough she couldn't help but wrap her arms around the man and hug him as tightly as she could. Her face burying into his shoulder, using it to hide that emotional expression that wrote itself over her features. She didn't want it to be shown. She didn't want others to see it, see their reaction to it.. Seirichi didn't even want to see it herself. So she kept herself hidden in that shoulder. Moisture mixing with her own tears as she began to quietly sob against him. " .. It's not fair.. why couldn't we be like them..! " Muffled almost as she yelled into his clothing. " .. Nnk.. why couldn't I have died instead..! "

"Don't you say that, Seiri!" ready to bawl with her, some of his resolve shattering. "Don't you ever say that, again." he stroked her hair time and again, the final time combing both hands down to her cheeks where he guided her to look at him, and his green eyes welled with tears. "None of this was your fault. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. And you remember it, okay?" he thumb-wiped at her tears, but it was just a temporary fix. He reached into his jacket pocket and flipped out his pocket square, offering it to her. "It's okay. It's okay." he rocked with her, chin on her head while he looked out seeking advice. It wasn't coming. But then it did, in the form of more silence and holding.

" Nn... " Gritting her teeth as Dark rose his voice. `` Don't you say that! `` -- why.. why not? Why not wish that her life was taken instead of someone who had no chance..? She gave him no chance to escape.. no chance to do anything but submit to her. And.. he did so, without even a second thought.. but she still could see the look of pain, of fear in his face as he tried his best to hide it before.. before. Her body gripped onto Dark's form even more as she held tightly against him. She shook and chin found her neck once more as she dug her forehead into him. " ........ I just.. wanted to make everyone happy.. A new siovauni.. for Adenna.. "

"Do not criminalize yourself. And do not take that away from Veron. Leave him his honor. He knew what he was doing, or it would not have been him." He swayed with her for half a minute, and then a full minute, and then another full minute. He was contented to stay as long as he was needed. Even after he was needed, so he asked. ".....You going to be okay out there by yourself?"

" ........... " Seirichi sat there in silence. His honor.. They were in this together.. but in the end, it was just her alone. She swallowed back hard as she closed her eyes and just kept herself still in Dark's arms. Letting him sway and comfort her. But then, he'd ask his question.. another silent minute passed before she parted those lips to respond in a soft, quiet voice. " .. I can't stay here.. so.. I'm going to have to be okay.. I'm going to have to. " Repeating herself after a short pause. Her head dipped once more and gaze adverted itself. " ... I'll find a nice.. quiet place.. "

He smiles, his chin on her head again. "Quiet...that sounds like you." a bigger smile. He whispers, "You're a good girl, Seiri. Just promise me you won't stay gone too long. Who's going to save me from one of your mom's crazy attacks?" and one final sniff. He rubbed her back and patted her on it. "You ready?"

" .. You'll just have to be extra careful.. " It was small. That smile that appeared on her lips. She could almost see it.. her mother yelling, chasing after Dark after some misunderstanding. But.. she couldn't smile for long. A serious, yet heartbroken look overwrote it once more as she gave a soft nod of her head. " ........ Yeah.. " it's all she could say. She broke away from his grasp and slowly brought herself up to stand on those two feet. A look to her clenched fist.. and at the cloth that she held.

" ...... You be good to Nima.. alright..? Tell her.. I'm going to be okay.." Spoken to Dark as fingers uncurled. Allowing the cloth the freedom it needed to escape from her open palm. She'd watch it as it danced within the wind, making its slow descent down to the water below. " ...... This is it. "

He watched her, so engulfed in this life-changing moment of hers that he forgot something. He began working each arm out of his jacket, one white sleeve at a time. "Here. You know it's getting colder out." he draped the jacket over her shoulders and then fixed it for her hands to pull it around her if she liked. He put his hands on his hips, observing her. This was his way of sneaking along with her. Along for the ride, even the coldest parts of it. Around her shoulders, hugging her, keeping her warm; a scent of him. He smiled. "Don't worry. I'll look after these ladies."

?Thank you. " Giving a soft nod of her head as she felt at that jacket for the moment. To be honest -- it was the best gift Dark could have given to her. During those lonely nights now she had something to sleep with.. a scent she could find comfort in. She turned to look at him just then. A look.. nothing said, just a look. It's all they really needed between one another before she bent over and took hold of her bag. ".. Goodbye, Dark. " Stepping past him, only to stop a few feet behind. " ..... I'm glad I met you." And that would be it. Strong legs took her from rock to rock as she made her way.. Goodbye.. her family, her friends, her city.. and Veron.

He looked down when she said goodbye to him, and then out to sea when she said what he had always known, but never thought she'd say. In a mild fit of aggravation, he loosened his tie and undid his top button, ventilating his neck. He waited for her to leave before he pulled out a cigar. Rolling the smoke between his fingers, thinking of how Corea often shot these from his lips if he tried to pick the habit back up, so he's had to quit. But not tonight. He bit the tip off and spit it to the sand before replacing it. Fishing out a matchbook and striking a tiny light in the cold night of the beach. He would remain here a while, looking out as far as the water went before it turned into the sky. His eyes sharpened and his voice flew with a cold smoke. ".....I'll see you later."