Later, dawg [Open!]

[meat_mooks]

|| Attention, crew. Those who wish to attend the funeral of Matthew O'Connor, please report to the Observation Deck. ||

Another death announcement so soon after the last. It's a sad day.

Once again, the Observation Deck is arranged for the launch. The departed crew member, better known as Punchy in his lifetime, is encased in a central pod. The deck is lit by the starlight pouring in from the open window, a blazing blue star that will soon be Punchy's final resting place.

Another life lost. Time to say farewell once more.

Comments

[expendable_mind]

The orange glow from Splicer's cigarette burned brightly in the dark corner where he watched the pod leave to join the void. The loud music coming from his headphones drowned everyone else out of his thoughts. Instead he was simply watching, the dark shades covering his eyes making it hard to read his features.

Those who had attended the Space Prom can recognize the tracks muffled through the headphones as the songs he and Punchy put together for the occasion. Their join work making others have fun that night... His bro, his partner, his friend and more...

"Must be weird seeing yourself be tossed into space huh." he said to no one in particular... that was until you moved closer and saw a much smaller figure perched atop his right shoulder. A doll much like his others except this one was donning an outfit similar to Punchy's.

"Yeah no kiddin' dawg. Feels wack." came the voice exactly like Punchy's yet much lower and smaller.

Splicer narrowed his brows and took a deep puff from his cigarette and let out a harsh cloud of smoke that swirled violently.

"It's never easy is it... Getting close to someone..."

"You'll be alright bro?"

Splicer didn't respond at first, watching the pod disappear finally. "War will never end..."

[starbolts]

Starfire gravitated toward him, as she tended to at times like this. It was a sad occasion, and she'd nibbled her lip and reached for Splicer's hand---

---but the small doll stopped her in her tracks. She hovered in front of Splicer, clearly upset but uncertain.

"...Shadow, where did you obtain that small doll?"

[expendable_mind]

He hadn't noticed at first, too into his thought before that familiar voice and figure came into view.

Splicer even managed to force a smile. "Hey there beautiful." he began in his usual way before looking over his shoulder. "Punchy? He just sorta hopped up there." Ok, so there was more to it, but it seemed like he was completely convinced of this.

[starbolts]

"Then it is a likeness of him!"

Starfire was happy to hear their departed friend's voice once more, but she worried. Her past experiences with enchanted dolls had been...a little less than positive.

"How did you create him? Are there more?"

[expendable_mind]

He blinked a few times and cocked his head. "Truthfully? I don't know. Like I said, he just jumped up there." Amnesia perhaps?

"Hey don't worry! It's just me man."

Splicer let out a small puff of smoke away from Star and had it dissipate immediately.

"How you holdin' up Star?"

[starbolts]

"I miss our dear friend," Starfire started, wiping a tear. Her other hand reached for the miniature Punchy, offering him a finger.

"We did not know each other well, but he was affectionate and very kind. We have lost a wonderful person."

[expendable_mind]

Splicer smiled at her, "He was... Probably the coolest partner I ever met, next to me of course."

"Yo dawg I'm still here. We're still gonna shoot some hoops later right?"

Splicer raised his hand and caressed Star's face affectionately.

[starbolts]

"He was very...cool," Starfire agreed. She sounded tentative, though, as if she was still learning to use that particular word in that context and not as a reference to temperature.

She smiled weakly, curling up against Splicer. He was always so kind to her as well.

"You would require a very small hoop, my friend," she whispered to the doll.

[expendable_mind]

"Big or small I can totally bounce with the best of them! Just give me a phat beat to check in with!"

Splicer chuckled and shook his head.

[starbolts]

"We will, Punchy. I promise you that you will be free."

Starfire shared one last small smile with the doll, then turned back to her much bigger friend.

"Part of him will always be with us."

[expendable_mind]

Splicer nodded and smiled.

"Aye, and we gotta keep moving on so that part of him never ceases to exist."

[starbolts]

"Yes."

Starfire stayed close to the two of them for a few quiet moments. Curiosity bit again. "Does that...always happen when someone close to you dies?"

[expendable_mind]

"Hm? I... I'm not sure..." Splicer replied looking a bit confused.

He didn't pay it much mind however, it seemed he didn't think too much on that subject at the moment.

[starbolts]

"Then we will not find out unless it happens again, and I hope it does not," Starfire decided, hugging Splicer one more time. "Thank you. It is a comfort to us."

[expendable_mind]

Splicer smiled, not saying anything at first but simply holding onto the hug as long as he could. Star might have to pry herself from him.

"I should be thanking you. It felt really great seeing you at this moment."

[starbolts]

Starfire leaned up to kiss his cheek before letting him go. It was all right, she tried to signal to him.

"Please call me if you require anything else. Remember that you are not alone in mourning."

[expendable_mind]

Splicer returned the kiss and nodded.

"I'll keep that in mind sweetheart. Thanks."