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

[morphitudinous]

Billy knew that Punchy had been close to Ronnae too. They'd worked well together, they'd been...cute. He was really going to miss seeing her smile brought on by another silly joke.

So when he recognized Ronnae's presence, he lowered his hands. She wouldn't judge him for crying, he knew that much. Billy rose to his feet, reaching for her. Ronnae seized him at the same moment.

He held her for what felt like a long time, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. The same thoughts were in his mind: death was real. It struck closer and closer to them. What if it ran him straight through the heart next time?

"I miss him." It was a childish cry, but it came to mind so readily because it was a simple truth.

[shiest_sunbeam]

"I.. k-know... I do too..." came her equally small response as she held onto Billy.

Somehow, it felt as if she let go, she'd lose him right this moment. She tried her best not to crush him against her but she didn't want to let go. It was too much at the moment...

[morphitudinous]

Billy nodded, clutching her just as fiercely. Ronnae's grip did hurt him a little, it was true, but he didn't mind. When he was so close to her, held so tightly, there could be no doubt that they were alive.

Life was precious. They both needed to hold onto it. He shook with another sob, trying to muster up the wits to keep talking.

"He'd probably tell us we're being ridiculous. 'Red, Bossman, cheer up.' Huh?"

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae let out a strangled laugh and sniffed, "Y-yeah, something like that. Or be all a-awkward and s-silly..." Wow she was choking on her words trying not to cry.

"I g-guess we should h-honor that... at t-the very l-least...."

[morphitudinous]

"That was him, all right," Billy agreed, rubbing a circle on her back. He'd be urging them to be all right if he knew---always playing music, always smiling.

"We miss him, we always will, and this never should have happened." The last statement had a bitter edge to it. Billy should have been there, not working on who remembers what else in the lab. "I'll always wish I could've done something. But he fought for them. He always did."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"He fought for everyone, just like we all do. We all have our parts in this war and although we cannot be everywhere at once, we can come out victorious so that those who sacrificed themselves for the cause didn't die in vane."

[morphitudinous]

"He won't have. We'll do our best, ensure that at least one of us makes it to the end," Billy promised. "And---remember what I said, about what to do if something happens to me? It will all be there for you."

But he hoped it would never be needed.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae did her best to do a simple nod without making things too complicated. This wasn't the time or place to break down and would certainly not help anything.

She finally pulled back from Billy and looked at him, bright teal eyes still glossy from the tears.

"I... I think I'm gonna head home..." she said before looking out into the void once more. "What about you?"

[morphitudinous]

"Not leaving you,," Billy surrendered, reaching down and lacing their fingers together. "I can't keep working just yet. I know I should, but...I'll have to go back and help clear his possessions. That will hurt."

He spoke as if he wasn't already hurting. That was far from the truth, of course.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae nodded silently, leaning against him as she looped one arm around his and held onto him. It would be a slow and sorrowful walk, but that couldn't be helped with the current feelings that were circling around the area at the moment.

[morphitudinous]

Billy started the walk from the deck in sorrow, arm in arm. They would all bear the burden of grief together, but not so publicly at first.

"Do you think that was all right? I didn't know what he would have wanted in a funeral, but I tried to let them know. That the loss hurts for a reason."

[shiest_sunbeam]

"I think it was honorable. A sending of a soldier always should be as such." she replied somberly.

Ronnae then shook her head and laughed a little. "And yet, somehow knowing him, he probably would have wanted us to send him off in 'style'... with a party of sorts."

[morphitudinous]

"True, but he wasn't just a soldier. He was our friend."

He clenched his fist, feeling another shockwave of regret and sorrow. It was something he really should have said to Punchy more often.

"Maybe...in a few days. We can honor him in a more lively way when the pain starts to pass. What did he like? Rapping?"

Someone else would have to do this, of course, because Billy rapping would just be wrong.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae didn't comment on the prior mention since she knew it was already painful. However, she did squeeze Billy's arm comfortingly.

"Maybe, yeah. That would be fun, although with how things have been going, it might have to wait a bit longer..." she paused and smiled, "Yeah, rapping was definitely something he enjoyed."

[morphitudinous]

"Then we'll have a demonstration of it in time. For now, though...we're heading home. And I'll help you with anything you need me to."

He walked close to Ronnae, arm always around her, admitting to himself that he didn't want her too far at the moment.

[shiest_sunbeam]

Ronnae nodded, "I could use some help sleeping for sure... It's been... harder than usual to get a decent rest."

She relaxed against him and continued home, yearning for a nice rest after all of this.