Alice steps back from the box of lanterns and moves instead to the unknown grave, bowing her head in front of it and saying a silent prayer. Eventually, she retreats to Stelle’s side, wiping at her eyes with a palm and seeking one of the French woman’s hands for comfort, sniffling as she goes.

Ella walks past headstones towards the gathering, seemingly deliberately avoiding the gravel paths and choosing to walk on the lawn, perhaps owed to her being barefoot. A few paces before she reaches the crowd she stops, hands in her jeans pockets, watching the ceremony with the awkward nonchalance of someone who is lost and tries not to show it.

Alice speaks up once she’s gotten her composure back, intoning, “I really want to thank everyone for coming. I know it’s somber, but… I hope that by releasing these lanterns to the wind, you can also release those feelings. Feel the grief. Don’t fight it. Let it wash over you… and then let it go. Always remember that death is just a natural part of life. Don’t lose sight of its importance.” A pause. “Remember those who’ve gone ahead of you… and leave behind enough kindness that those who come after you will want to remember you, too.”

Dovie/i/span/b nods solemnly at Alice. and then snags herself another fried sesame ball.

Nemi nods solemnly in agreement with Alice, a sad look on her face, despite her usual soft smile being gone, it’s genuine.

Patience gives a wan smile to those gathered here with Alice. With a quiet sigh, she reaches up to run her fingers through her hair, then turns and slips away.

Speaking up a little hesitantly, Sofia asks, “Does anyone uh… wanna share some happy memories about the people they’ve lost?” She gives a little sheepish grin. “I could use some happy memories. And please, snack away people, enjoy.”

Lifting her fingers in greeting towards Seraphina, Eloa makes her way over to the woman who released a lantern without a name. She gives Seraphina a gentle smile, “Ola Miss Hawke.”

Dovie looks a little sad at Sofia’s ask, as positive as it is and slowly fades off into the background.

Seraphina clears her throat when Eloa appraches, the distance in her gaze, from memory, perhaps, ceasing, and her mind returning to the present. “Oh, hello, Eloa. How are you?” She beckons to Sofia with her fingers. “Come here.”

“Eloa-I am okay.. How are you? Is sad but… Eloa did want light lantern for Elpis before. So is glad can do it now.” Eloa admits softly, her emerald flecked hazel eyes glancing over at Seraphina.

Sofia comes to Seraphina as bidden and without question, slumping into her with a big, squeezing hug and hiding her face in her shoulder for a while.

Seraphina wraps Sofia up in an embrace, letting her bury her face into the softness of her hug for as long as she needs, giving squeezes and caresses as long as she needs, too. She smiles a small thing at Eloa. “I am a little upset at myself for getting her so late.” She glances aside to Alice. “Time got away from me, though. But I am glad to have lit one, myself.” She adds, to Eloa, “I like to think that all the thoughts will return to your mama, and she smiles down at you.” She leans her head on the top of Sofia’s head a moment. “Maybe you can share something happy like Sof’s suggestion.”

Alice looks away from Stelle for a moment to give Seraphina a weak smile, waving her hand as if to dismiss the notion. “It’s not late. People come and go as they need. And we’re just about done, so I don’t want to hold anyone up. I don’t have any more big announcements,” she says softly.

Sofia is comforted by Seraphina, eyes sliding shut for a time as she rests, breathes, sniffling lightly as she calms down. She squeezes her comforter back for a moment, then gently disentangles, looking over to Alice with a faint smile and slightly puffy eyes. “It was… really beautiful to hear everyone else’s struggles, the things on their minds. Just really… personalized it so much, showed people’s values, their love, their cares. I… find it weirdly comforting, positive, that people love so much.”

Nemi nods softly as she looks around and listens to others.

Ella keeps lingering near the headstone she has chosen to keep company a few paces away from the fringe of the gathering. She hunches her shoulders pensively and licks the left corner of her mouth intently for a moment, as if cleaning something off it.

Stelle pauses a bit, exhaling deeply at Alice and falls into a moment of silence. She takes her time, cycling through something within before she finally pipes up, head turning towards Ella. “Ella euh.. When we were young I used to sneak up behind her and tickle her whenever she was drinking something. She would get so mad. My maman too, furious really, because there was always a mess.”

Alice smiles when she finally gets her eyes, giving Stelle’s hand a squeeze as the woman speaks. Her eyes track King as he enters, too, and she waves with her free hand, telling him in a low voice, “King, if you want to send off a lantern, please feel free. You just write the name of who you want to remember, light it, and let it go. You don’t have to say anything about it, if you don’t want.”

King sneaks his way into the gathering, better late than never perhaps. When he gets spotted, he freezes, like he was trying to get away with not being noticed. He’s about as stealthy as an explosion though, so it stands to reason he is terrible for that particular mission. He clears his throat and then tells Alice, “I don’t … know her name.” He gulps down a swallow of backed up saliva then, but he crosses over to look at the lanterns as if to see if he can figure out a way to make this work.

“Just light a candle and send it off,” Seraphina says to King, gently. “I’m sure any of us can sympathize with you…” She nods to Stelle. “That’s great, actually. A fun, joyous memory. Because I am sure that it would only bring more laughter.”

“Except perhaps from your mother.” Seraphina considers.

Ella turns her head towards Stelle as she hears her speak, otherwise standing perfectly still like a statue, keeping her sunglasses turned towards her even long after she has finished talking, showing no other reaction.

King gathers a lantern, a candle, and a match. He writes something on the memorial sheet. Anyone that happens to be close enough might be able to make it out: I’m so sorry. He crosses over to the unmarked grave and crouches down before it. He bows his head and closes his eyes. He is there, silent, for a long while. When he does finally look up, he sniffles a little and brushes the back of his hand across the bridge of his nose. Then he sets the little lantern down with the paper. He lights the candle, and lets it take off before blowing out the match. He remains there, closing his eyes again as little twitches ripple across his form.

King uses a box of lanterns: 89The83 wi89nd 83cat77che76s t75he 76lan75ter11n a10s t11he 10can04dle98 li04fts98 it62 ge26ntl62y i26nto62 th26e a26ir, 62a n26ame62 an26d a62 so98ul 04rid98ing04 al10ong11 fo10r a11 tr75ip 76to 75a p76eac77efu83l e89ver83 af89ter.