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RESPITE WESTERN WALL - LATE AFTERNOON
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Xochi climbs up the steps towards the wall, it not yet late enough for the stars to be out, but she needs to get out of the house, having been crying for sometime now, Kira helping to comfort her. Now, Kira is sleeping before the night, and Xochi just needs to do something to stop thinking, intending to take a few circuits around the wall perhaps.
Nesseth has been walking along the wall on the tail end of his patrol, his mood somewhat lifted thanks to Vix. He's still looking a bit down, but he's definitely more attentive than before as he walks his route. He's promised Vix that he'd go and seek out Xochi at the first opportunity, but he had to finish his patrol first... he just hopes Xochi is awake when he's done.
Xochi ascends the stairs, giving a sigh. She looks out over the wall at the wilderness, her eyes usually pulled upwards to the stars, but only the Sun's harsh stare meets her today. She turns to begin her circuit, only to pause at the figure approaching. Her voice is rather low, cracking slightly. "Nesseth...?"
Nesseth responds much more readily, looking over at the source of the voice. He manages a soft smile and a wave as he adjusts his patrol a little to head towards Xochi. "Afternoon, Xochi..."
Xochi manages a sad smile, her voice weak from sobbing the past day, though she struggles to put on a brave face once again, "Afternoon, Nesseth. It is... is good to see you again..."
Nesseth nods as he comes to a stop and, without prompting, moves forward to give Xochi a hug, knowing that she's been having as hard a time about things as he has, if not more so. "I was... actually hoping to find you later today, but... I'm glad you decided to come out for some stargazing early."
Xochi blinks at the unexpected hug, hesitating a moment before slumping against Nesseth to give him a hug back, sniffling, "I... needed to get out. I am doing Kira no good, keeping her awake with my tears."
Nesseth nods as he holds the hug for a little bit, then steps back again. "I kind of felt the same. Louma gave me some time off, but I couldn't sit still at home. Too much on the mind, you know...?"
Xochi nods, bowing her head as she settles backwards out of the hug, wiping some tears from her eyes. "Much too much... yes. Pain and questions of faith which I am better off not asking... I needed air."
Nesseth hums softly, nodding along as he angles his gaze down for a moment. "Well... I was hoping to find you for something a little faith-based, I think."
Xochi tilts her head at Nesseth, laughing quietly. "Oh? I will offer what help I can, though I think if you desire to give a message to the ancestors, it is doubtful that I am in their favor right now."
Nesseth smiles a little, but shakes his head. "No, not a message for our ancestors... not this time. I was... wondering what Snake culture is like, with regards to... you know, honoring the fallen."
Xochi draws back slightly, looking down at the stone making up the wall. "...Ahh, I see. Heh. You may find this difficult to believe for one of my age, but... I have never participated in the rituals of the dead amongst my people." She swallows the lump in her throat. "I have read up on the traditions, but... I had not even considered such a thing."
Nesseth hums thoughtfully. "I'd have suggested something, myself, but... unfortunately, I don't know of any ways to honor someone whose body is gone..." He sighs a bit, "It's the only way I can think to stop this from getting to me so much."
Xochi takes a deep breath. "My Mother and Father were taken before I could remember them. I... pray to them, amongst the stars. ...I do not know if I would recognize their voices if they spoke to me, though." She looks back up at Nesseth. "My people do not worry about the body overly much. I have read that a small ceremony is held at night, with lights and fireworks designed to lead the spirit up into the sky, to be taken up by the Moon, and set amongst our ancestors. Perhaps... something like this can be done from the garden?"
Nesseth tilts his head, clearly not having expected 'fireworks' as part of a mourning ceremony. "Huh... you know... if we could gather the materials for it, the garden should be clear enough for it pretty soon."
Xochi sighs, managing a short laugh. "It will be a new experience for me... th-though not one I would have wished for... not like this... but perhaps her spirit..." She pauses suddenly, posture straightening up almost unnaturally, as her voice shifts in tone, almost sounding like another person's voice "Flower withered and grass rotted, flow remains and sight persists. The spirit will not be mourned, nor shall the stars be opened."
Nesseth startles as Xochi suddenly shifts position, only to take a step back as he listens to her voice changing in tone. He's about to say something, only to frown and listen a bit more closely to what she's saying.
Xochi slumps and suddenly falls forward, as if she were a puppet who's strings were cut.
Nesseth moves forward and tries to catch Xochi as she slumps over. He manages it, but staggers a little as he tries to get her attention. "H-hey, hey, Xochi...!"
Xochi blinks, taking a moment to gather herself, "Nesseth...? I... tripped?"
Nesseth shakes his head a bit as he helps Xochi get herself upright again. "I don't know about that... remember what happened that time we first ran across each other on the wall, some months ago?"
Xochi accepts Nesseth's help gratefully, nodding, "You mean when I asked... Y-yes, I recall."
Nesseth keeps a hand on Xochi's arm, just in case, once she's upright again. "Something like that just happened again, but this time... I dunno, you went all stiff and started saying like... a riddle, or something."
Xochi 's eyes go wide at Nesseth, clearly a bit shaken by that thought, "I... was speaking? Or... N-no. Not I. Who... doesn't matter I suppose. What did I... they? Say?"
Nesseth tries to think of what he heard, considering he was caught off-guard by the sudden change. "Er... something about... rotted and withered grass and sight persisting..." He shakes his head a bit, "I didn't really catch the first part, but the second part was something like the 'spirit won't be mourned, and the stars shall not be opened'."
Xochi frowns. "The ancestors will not accept them? Won't be mourned? This... makes no sense."
Nesseth shakes his head. "I don't know... what about that bit about sight persisting, though? I mean... if both of our ancestors are up among the stars, why would they block anyone else from joining them?"
Xochi sighs, raising a hand to her chin, "I... do not know. It is some comfort that they have spoken to you, or to us, I suppose? But why now? Does... this change anything for you? Do you still wish to honor her somehow? I do not find my desire diminished, Nesseth."
Nesseth hums quietly. "No, we should still do something... I don't know why they decided to speak now, but... we should still do something for the elemental."
Xochi smiles once more, finally seeming back to herself after the strange interlude. "I agree." She chuckles softly, "I already have the spirits disapproval, it seems, though as I told you, I was already outside their grace, I feel."
Nesseth chuckles a bit, offering a soft smile. "I mean... they can disapprove if they want, but I think they might just be shaking their heads in amusement at what we do most of the time."
Xochi grins back, lowering her arms to fold her hands in front of her again, "Of that, you are most likely correct."
Nesseth shrugs. "Of course, that might just be me being irreverent, but nothing all too bad has happened to us for... you know, associating, considering what our ancestors thought of each other back then."
Xochi nods sagely, "You... did hug me, Nesseth. Surely a condemnation of some kind shall come of this for us both." She manages a weak smile. "If peace and friendship oppose the will of my ancestors... it is probably best I never knew them."
Nesseth hums and nods in turn. "Yeah... if my ancestors disapprove of us being friends, well... won't stop me. Still, I do hope they don't disapprove, and are just... indifferent to it. It'd be nice if their disputes stayed in the past."
Xochi: "I had always read that we are to learn from them, ask their guidance, respect them, but their will does not dictate our lives."
Nesseth nods. "That's what I would figure, too. Whatever their troubles, they're there to help us, not continue whatever happened in the past." He falls silent at that for a moment, realizing the irony in his statement from his earlier attitude, "...Continuing the past is more out of our own stupidity."
Xochi stares at Nesseth, listening to his words. She is quiet for a moment afterwards, then slowly nods, "Nesseth... I think... when this is settled, and we have time, I wish to share something with you. Something perhaps overdue in explanation, but delayed out of fear. But with all we have been through, it is perhaps something I can show you to prove our bond."
Nesseth tilts his head, looking at Xochi curiously. "Something to show me? Uh... okay. Like... once we settle things in the garden, or with both elementals?"
Xochi bows her head, "Either... both? Simply... when our minds are less burdened, perhaps."
Nesseth nods. "Whenever you think the time's right, then. I think I'll be okay, once we do that ceremony for the elemental in the garden."
Xochi smiles, spirits slightly lifted by this plan of Nesseth's, "Then let me know whatever you need, and I shall aid you. It is very much the least which the elemental deserves from us."
Nesseth chuckles. "I think... I'd have to know what we need in the first place. You're the more learned of the two of us with regards to the ceremony."
Xochi nods, giving him a grin, "Then I shall recite what I know... though it may not be everything. Still... I hope it shall be enough."
Nesseth nods as he pulls out a pamphlet and a pencil, so he can start to jot down the materials and such that is required for the ceremony as Xochi recites the list, as well as the methods. It's not a full list, but more than enough to work for an impromptu thing to honor the fallen elemental, and maybe give the two of them some closure on the matter.