Memorial Service

[plutoixcrew]

DATE: Day 83
CHARACTER(S): Anyone!
STATUS: Open to everyone.
SUMMARY: A memorial service is being held for those who've died on the ship.
LOCATION: The garden.

Comments

[notfromajedi]

Palpatine wasn't one to mourn in public, but he did believe in memorializing the dead. His attendance was more for others' comfort... in case any of them should seek solace from a pervy old man him. Anyone needing a bony shoulder to cry on? He'd gladly be there to offer his.

He took a seat near the back and watched people arrive, an appropriately solemn expression on his wrinkled face.

[ms_hellsing]

Well, there was a familiar face Integral hadn't seen in some time. She moved through the gathered people toward the back of the seating arrangements to give a nod of greeting to the man.

"Palpatine. I was concerned for your fate, you've been out of sight for sometime."

[notfromajedi]

Palpatine turned and smiled at the woman who'd owned Alucard's heart. "Sir Integral, how kind of you to worry. Between the lockdown and the zombies I suppose I haven't been out and about as much, no. How are you, dear? I heard your handling of the zombie situation was exemplary." He'd also heard something about Jan... being a vampire? Probably something to do with that silly "club" of sorts that he and Alucard belonged to.

[ms_hellsing]

Usually, such an endearment as 'dear' would have earned a verbal lashing from Integral. However, coming from a kindly old man like Palpatine (yes, she was so deceived by him) it was a forgivable offense. "I'm just glad to see you're well. So many seem to be vanishing or worse of late." She paused a moment, nudging her glasses up higher on her nose. "Exemplary? No, I think not. It was slow and sloppy. Lives were lost."

[notfromajedi]

The fact that the term suited his kindly old man persona is precisely why he used it. He nodded, half-smiling. "Ah, but that couldn't have been prevented. Casualties are a part of war." He looked at her searchingly. "You still miss him terribly, don't you."

He did too, more than he would admit.

It was a shame he had no memory of the enlightening conversation they'd had when he was kittenized.

[ms_hellsing]

For that small blessing Integral is thankful! She wasn't often so open about personal matters.

Integral bowed her head, the cracks in her strong façade showing more clearly. "I do," she admitted.

[notfromajedi]

Palpatine nodded at her in sympathy. "Would you care to sit with me for a little while?"

[ms_hellsing]

Oh, sympathy. She hated that. It was too similar to pity. Though, Integral gave a slow nod and sank into the seat beside him.

[notfromajedi]

Palpatine did have a tendency to sound patronizing as well, though he didn't usually intend to. He gave her a small smile. "You strike me as the type to throw herself into her work rather than wallow in sorrow. Force knows this ship has enough... incidents to occupy you."

[ms_hellsing]

"One must lead by example, Palpatine. If I do not come here to represent my men, what does it say of them? This is not the first time I have faced death and the sorrow it brings."

[notfromajedi]

"Of course. You should be here today. I just worry that you don't allow yourself any time to grieve, to feel it -- that you feel you must be strong all the time. Which is exhausting." Palpatine wondered if he had offended her. "Were you close to any of the very recently deceased?"

[ms_hellsing]

For a brief moment she was silent, thoughtful. Was she close to any of them? No, not really. Integral wasn't the sort to get close with anyone.

"No," she mused.

[notfromajedi]

"Good," muttered Palpatine with a snort. "It would seem that getting close to anyone on this Force-forsaken ship only leads to heartbreak."

It wasn't like him to sound so bitter while he was happy in his personal life -- except he'd had a vision that that happiness was to be short-lived.

[ms_hellsing]

"I do not get close to anyone," Integral stated. Though, whether it was to inform him or reaffirm it to herself, who could say?