tampered | Log; Ongoing

Log; Ongoing

When; Tuesday, March 13th, afternoon.
Rating; PG-13 for a dead body.
Characters;

dark_passenger, & anyone else who was friends with Vincent.
Summary; Alessa holds a wake for Vincent at the manor.
Log;

Silence. Murmurs of the mourning. Sunlight filtering through the windows to fall upon the dead's face. These were things Alessa barely registered as she stood next to Vincent's casket, a black coffin with Vincent's mark carved into it. She had made it herself, but it didn't matter so much as Vincent's dead body did.

She had been reading in the library, wondering when the priest would be coming home from a night out, when a door opened, and shut. She had gone out to chastise Vincent on his absence, but to her horror, found only an arm sitting in front of the door. It had looked as though it had been sawed off, and the blood near the incision was matted and a few hours old. Alessa did not have to think twice over whose it was.

Closing her blue eyes, she felt a wave of despair wash over her. She had carefully used her power to intricately construct the rest of his body, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not get the priest to wake up. She felt guilty, and wished that she had treated Vincent better. It was no secret that the two had more than one argument, but his presence was a comforting one, although a bit annoying at times. She had gotten used to him, and argued with him merely out of habit more than anything lately. She loved him like a brother....and they were, after all, a family.

But our family is broken now, she thought, trying to hold back tears. She wished she could have done more. She had given Vincent new eyes, a new heart even, when he needed one. She had healed him once before, why couldn't she do so now? Why could she make a beautiful coffin but not bring Vincent back to life?

Alessa shook the hand of a departing exotic dancer from the nightclub, feeling sick. It was never supposed to come to this. Never.

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Dexter put a hand on Alessa's shoulder. "How are you holding up?" he asked, with a worried look in his eyebrows. He promised her that he would help, and he promised Vincent that he'd make sure that he got a proper funeral.

During the funerals of his relatives or friends back home, Dexter would wear sunglasses, so that no one would see that he wasn't crying. For this funeral he left his sunglasses at home. He didn't have anyone here to hide from.

Alessa heaved a great sigh, massaging her temples. "I've been better," she admitted. "I'm just....not used to such great losses so close together." She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you for coming, Dexter; it's reassuring to be near someone I can trust."

Paranoia was slowly beginning to settle into her veins. She didn't want it to, but it was beginning to take its toll. They've killed Henry, and now Vincent. It's only a matter of time before they make an attempt on my life...

She shuddered, repressing those thoughts far back into her subconscious. She didn't want to think about it, not when she was supposed to be mourning.

Dexter smiled. Trust. A beautiful word. One that rarely came up in a conversation with him involved. "It'll be hard," Dexter said in response to her, "but I'm sure you'll be just fine."

Knowing it would be rude to leave her there to devour half of the snack table, Dexter started working on a delicious mental sandwich.

She didn't mean to pry, not really, but sometimes it was hard not to pick up people's thoughts, especially in the City. "Are you hungry, Dexter? You can go ahead and eat something; I'll be fine." Alessa gave him a reassuring smile. "Besides...we'll both need our strength for tomorrow," she murmured.

Oh, she couldn't wait for the next day to come. The day when Stan would be punished for what he had done. It would be sweet, almost as good as tearing Christabella limb from limb.

Dexter raised his eyebrows to Alessa's words. "Oh, yes, thank you..." he said, with a small smile of his own.

Yes. Tomorrow would be wonderful. The Need was strong. The Dark Passenger was restless. It would be perfect.

If only Brian was here...

Shadow was no friend of Vincent's. He never even spoken to the man. No, that wasn't the reason he came.

He had seen that girl... Alessa. She was alone now. The people she loved had been taken away from her. He could easily relate to that. Some of his friends had been in this city and were gone now. Back in his own world, it was Maria.. the Professor. Those GUN bastards had killed them, just because they were trying to defend Shadow. He felt like he was useless. Without a purpose.

The small hedgehog approached the manor feeling just a bit awkward. Would she laugh at him? Not take him seriously? He hated his apperrance sometimes, especially in this city.

Stop thinking and just do it.

Shadow took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was too late to turn back now.

Alessa was reluctant to leave Vincent's side when she heard the knocking, but with Dexter there, she knew that he wouldn't let anyone attempt to defile the corpse. She could trust him. She left the room that she had arranged for the wake and crossed the hall to open the front door.

She blinked in surprise at the sight before her, but then, she knew not to judge based on appearances. After all, didn't she still bear the scars of her burnt and maimed body?

"Hello...are you here for the wake?" she asked, opening the door wider so the hedgehog could come in.

"Not entirely. Sorry. Are you Alessa, miss?" He fidgeted, feeling embarassed.

Alessa nodded, shutting the door behind him. "Yes, I'm Alessa..." She unconsciously put up her guard, waiting for an attack to come. "And who might you be?" she asked.

The hedgehog looked down for a moment, trying to think of how to word his thoughts. "Ah.. This is a rather selfish request.. but lately I've been feeling.. useless. Everyone from my world is gone. I don't feel comfortable around anyone. I understand you just lost a close friend.. and your God hasn't been around."

"What I'm trying to say is.. May I.. if you don't mind.." He crossed his arms. What was a good word?.. "I know you're already quite powerful but.. may I protect you?"

Alessa blinked, shocked by this sudden offer of protection. She had thought nearly the entire City was against her and the others, but here was a creature who was feeling some of the same things she herself had felt before, offering to protect her, just as Henry had done.

"...th-thank you," she stammered, still getting over her surprise. "I have to tell you the truth...I've been worried. First Henry, and now Vincent, and I was beginning to worry that they would try to strike at me next. I am afraid death is no longer something to think lightly of in my case."

She paused, considering his offer. It touched her, it really did. This selfless act of just wanting to do something good touched the part of Alessa that was still that happy young girl she used to be.

"All right," she told him.

"What they're doing is wrong. They just don't understand.. what it's like to be different." He looked up at Alessa, more relaxed than he was before. She didn't laugh, she didn't think he was silly.

"Thank you. My name is Shadow." The hedgehog paused, "Your God won't mind that I'm here, will he? The last thign I want to do is intrude."

"They've never understood," she said, and it came out more bitterly than she had wanted it to. It was hard to find prejudice no matter where she went, whether it was Silent Hill or the City, it was all the same. Burn the witch, burn the witch.

"No...Xulchibara won't mind," she said gently, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I think he would be most grateful to you for watching out for me. Xulchibara...he takes care of the ones that are misunderstood. At least, that's what he did in my case. Answered a tormented child's prayer when he didn't have to. The wake is in the other room...if you wouldn't mind following me?" She gestured for Shadow to follow her.

"I'll give you a tour of the place after all of this is over," she added.

"Heh.. sounds like a comforting home, despite what everyone says." Shadow had no problems with the Marked. The Pyramid Head punishments had angered him a bit but it was what they believed in. He couldn't argue with that.

He followed Alessa into the other room, taking in the different sights and examining things. He remained silent and would only talk if someone spoke to him first. Besides, now wasn't the time for social chatter. Even his movements were quiet, as not to disturb anyone or disrupt the wake.

...and then there was Death.

She lived below, having made a small cave in the Underground into a pretty little gypsy swirl of a bedroom.

Times were Vincent had crept there to see her, in spite of his master Xulchilbara's warnings against hobknobbing with those associated with The Dreaming.

There were wards of some potence, runes made from Xulchilbara's spinnings, perhaps, and Miss Alessa's own.

It was likely Dee could have passed them freely, for most realms were open to The Endless, but how rude that would be.

She knocked.

Alessa sensed Death's presence, and opened the door without hesitation. Granted, if the Red One knew of her admittance, he would be displeased, but Alessa had close ties to Morpheus and his sister, and wasn't entirely ready yet to severe ties with the Dreaming, as much as her god would like her to.

"Mistress Death," Alessa murmured, inclining her head in respect.

"Oh, that's so formal. You can just call me Dee, you know."

And so having monicked herself, she looked in a bit shyly.

"This is quite a setup you have here."

The mansion seemed impressive, if a bit quiet for one tenant.

"Is he-? I mean, you haven't put the remains to ground yet or anything, am I correct?"

Dee knew what she had known of Vincent was not in the flesh of his former body. She knew it, perhaps, better than anyone.

But what she had for Vincent could stay there, until such time as he chose to come and look for it.

It could pass through that clay and into his dreams, wherever he had gone.

Alessa stepped back to allow Death into the manor. "Dee it is, then," she said, closing the door behind her. "Xulchibara found it, and he fixed it up for us, catering to our individual tastes. He does take good care of us."

She began leading Death down the hallway towards the room where Vincent's body lay. "No, I haven't. I had to...reconstruct the body. The parts his killer sent to others I will claim later to give to the Red One. He deserves to have them. But I will bury his body later on, with my own two hands. I don't trust anyone else to do it."

"That seems the most sensible. I just hope in spite of it all none of this makes you bitter." Dee gave a sympathetic smile.

Death happened, after all. Death happened, and most often when you least expected it.

Dee knew that better than anyone.

Surprisingly, most of those she took took it with grace.
Disappointment at times, certainly but.. acceptance.

Some said that was the final stage after all.

"I still want to spend a little time with you when I can, if Xulchilbara allows.

As I said, Vincent liked to sneak out and see me. We had a few talks." It was pleasant remembering him.

In time it would be for Alessa as well.

"But I cannot stay too long this evening. There's a few other places to go.

I have something for him though. A little something, really, although to him it seemed quite important. If I'd not be amiss to get close?

I shall be most repectful, I promise you." Dee winked.

She made her way to where Vincent lay in state.
It was true the arm was the only true piece, but the reconstruction was well crafted.

It would certainly do.

Dee leaned forward, her hair and her ankh dangling as she bent over the dead man.

She smoothed back a lock of his hair and whispered in his ear.

Vincent had in all his life, he had told her, never known his own last name. And so Dee gave him one to take with him.

Lilly Rush had heard about Vincent's death, and even though she didn't know Vincent that well she figured she could at least still pay her respects for the dead and the living.

She knocked on the door.

"I'll get it," Dexter said, passing Alessa, who was busy talking with the other guests.

"Oh, hello," he greeted an unfamiliar face, "You must be here for Vincent's wake, please, come in."

"Yes. Thankyou Mr." Lilly said, but paused unsure of the man's name.

"How's Alessa doing?" Lilly asked, concerned.

"Dexter," he said, holding out his hand. "She's right over there, talking with the other guests.

"I'm Lilly" she told him, shaking his hand.

She noticed the young woman talking to what appeared to be another girl, and some sort of strange creature. She turned to Dexter, and asked him, "The killer. Do you know if he'll be seeing justice?"

Black-eyed Susans again.

Jan sighed, shifting the bright yellow flowers to cradle into his left arm so the right could swing free. Same kind of flowers he got for Henry's service.

They were never friends, shit he hadn't even really like the guy. But things kind of changed since Henry's permanent death. Vincent left Xguy's house and the cult, wanted to start over. Just couldn't help feelin different about the guy he use to call 'The dipshit'.

The black-clad vampire strood-up the steps of the mansion. Wonder how many people are gonna show-up? Was only five for Henry - Me, Vincent, Dexter, Alizer and Stan.

Only five for Henry -

"Hi Jan. I almost missed you there.

I don't want to spoil the party by coming and going but I thought I'd go see how the cave climbing girl was doing.

I'm sure all in all this isn't a good place to mention her boyfriend though. All the feuding back then.

But he's passed on also, and I think she's not handling it all that well. Can you do me a favour?"

Dee put on her best perky, hopeful look. "Will you see after her? I'm not even all that sure anyone knew her, knew she'd been there with Agent Mulder at all. He was a pretty discreet guy."

Jan flashed a fanged smile at Death. White teeth and gold rings catching the light of a nearby candle. "I can try but Juno doesn't seem to like mixin with other people too much. Mulder and Hawkeye were the only ones she ever really hung around with."

"There's a fine and funny line between antisocial and shy.
I think a lot of people miss it.
But you...you've a good set of eyes. I think you'll manage.

Well. I think I'm going to stop by the other funeral for a little while.

Give my regards to anyone I might have missed."

“Sorry for showing up last minute. I come to pay respects to Vincent. He did not have to help Mulder but he did.

Slight tears but still numb. The tears come later they always do. In truth most would for Mulder however some would be for Vincent as well.

Anita slipped silently into the manor. It was an unfamiliar place, and she suspected it would be full of unfamiliar people. She felt somewhat misplaced, almost as if she were intruding.

And perhaps she was. Anita had known of Vincent for some time, but had only learned his name shortly before his death. Regardless, he had been kind to her, and it was only fitting that she visit his wake. She shifted the small bouquet she had brought, wondering which of the few people present--far fewer than she had expected--she ought to give it to.

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Log; Ongoing

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