The Funeral

Dark clouds hung over the cavernous ceiling, drawing a gloomy overcast for the day of Oleander’s funeral. Solemnity permeated the air, clinging to any bun that made their way to the Church of Sulfur to attend the service. Given the weather, many were advised to bring hats or umbrellas in the event of rain, only furthering the melancholy of everyone around. Buns trickled into the church, filling up rows and rows of pews until there was an overflow and the Church doors were kept open despite the chill that blew in.

From behind a curtained off area, Mercy peeked over the congregation, their gaze tired and forlorn. They turned to Eugenia, suppressing a small sniffle as the Lust bun reached a hoof out to pat their back.

“We will make it through, Mercy.” She murmured in a low, calm voice. “Once the service is over, we can rest together, hm?” Her attempt to reassure them was met with a weary smile and nod.

“Of course, Sister Eugenia. Now then, shall we?” Mercy beckoned Eugenia to make their way through the partition to greet the crowd before them.

The hushed whispers were all but silenced as Mercy made her way to the center of the altar and up onto the podium. There was a microphone placed before it as they cleared their throat, hoping the sound caught. They greeted the crowd before them, thanking each and every one who gathered today to honor Oleander’s memory. Their gaze turned to the close casket displayed before them, resting atop was a wreath of beautiful red and pink flowers. The casket itself was made of ebony wood, detailed in silver and ruby accents. Beneath the wreath was a silver Sulfuric symbol embedded on the top of the casket, highlighting the devotion Oleander had to his church.

Mercy’s voice caught in their throat, but they continued through the rest of the service, allowing other buns of the cloth to proceed with their funerary practices and readings before a few stood at the podium giving eulogies. It was here that the halls of the church filled with the sniffles and quiet sobs of its visitors, all held down by the weight of such public and immense loss. There was no doubt some held Oleander in high regards, missing his presence fully, while others cried over the loss of loved ones or the overall stress of these uncertain times. Here, everyone came to grieve in their own ways and leaned on one another while they navigated the disquiet of their once jovial Burrowgatory.

When the church services ended, Mercy waited as Oleander’s casket was carried down the aisle and into the hearse and crowds followed the procession to the local cemetery. They waved off fellow clergy members as Jackal and Dove appeared from the remaining crowds to check up on them. Dove approached first, concern written over their gentle expression. They reached out for Mercy’s hoof with their own while Jackal was close behind for support. The head nun smiled at the Cherubun before them and firmly held Dove’s hoof in theirs.

“It’s alright Dove,” They said, trying to sound reassuring. It wasn’t working as well as they thought, given the pair’s looks, but the Greed bun straightened themself. “I need to transform into my doll form first so please, you two can go on ahead while I get ready…” 

Dove turned from Mercy to Jackal, worried for their companion but knew that Mercy wasn’t one to go back on their word. The envy bun reached over to Dove and gave them a nod, giving the head nun the space to pull away from them both. 

“Yeah, we’ll see you over there Mercy.” Jackal agreed with Dove at their side. “C’mon angel, let’s go before it gets too crowded at the cemetery.” The two venture off, leaving the head nun behind with some other remaining clergy folks.

Once at the cemetery, the turnout seemed even larger with everyone standing. There were many in either doll or bun form, some buns held up by taller dolls just to get a better view of the sea of people around them. Jackal decided to duck somewhere private before transforming herself, insisting she did so that she could keep Dove safe through the bustling crowds. The rain was starting to trickle down now with some opting to hold open their umbrellas to still partake in the funeral service. 

“Good thing I was prepared.” Jackal said as she pulled out a simple black umbrella, holding it up with one hand and Dove held safely in the other. To this, Dove couldn’t help but cast a tiny smile at her only for Jackal to casually look anywhere else but the Cherubun. “Don’t give me that look, angel…they said there was a chance of rain today on TV and I didn’t want to get either of us sick. So.” 

Dove nodded. “Of course. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.” 

The praise only seemed to make Jackal blush as she navigated through the crowds to get as close to the front as possible. There were many members of the Church sitting underneath a dark tarp with Mercy, now in her doll form, at the front row. She wore her attire but with boots appropriate for the weather, perhaps not wanting to dirty her socks. Beside her was Eugenia still in her bun form and beside her, a tallish figure covered head to toe in black and most notably a veil that sat from the tip of their horn to just below their chest. Eugenia tapped Mercy’s arm, pointing the pair out. Mercy nodded as Jackal crossed over the crowd to sit beside Mercy and their companions, placing Dove in their own seat beside the head nun and Jackal taking the chair directly behind them.

“Dove, Jackal, this is Sister Eugenia, a nun at the Church of Sulfur. She ensured there was enough assistance for the service and outreach to ensure other clergy from nearby churches to assist. Beside her is her littermate, Artemisia. She is a professional mourner.” Mercy explained in a low whisper as more people filed in behind them, taking their designated seats under the tarp.

Jackal raised a brow at the explanation, peeking a sideways glance at the veiled Lust bun. 

“Professional…mourner?” She echoed. 

“Mm. It is not a common profession, even to the first Succubuns, but sometimes when Succubuns would mysteriously disappear before their time or there were cases of needing to have funeral services, there were instances of a handful of mourners who provided their services… especially for those who otherwise would not have anyone to mourn them.” Mercy added, casting an appreciative glance to the Lust bun pair beside them. 

Dove and Jackal nodded at this and gave them an acknowledging nod that the pair returned. Once it seemed everyone had arrived at the cemetery, Mercy braced themself to stand before the masses, standing before the closed casket before them. Without a microphone or speakers, it felt as though it would be difficult to hear them over the downpour of rain, but everyone waited in sorrowful pause at the beloved Succubun they would be burying. Their voice trembled but their words never faltered as they spoke their feelings of the head priest. It was kept cordial for the public’s sake but as they continued, Jackal knew there was more to it. Every playful memory that garnered some laughter to gentle, tender ones that brought tears among the congregation, the envy bun could tell there were kernels of truth to Mercy’s feelings. Dove looked back at her as if sensing her thoughts but Jackal only seemed to offer the barest of reassuring smiles. Eased by the sight, Dove turned back to listen to Mercy’s words, waiting as they finished. 

There was a brief moment of silence before Mercy turned to her fellow clergy folk and nodded. They took a step back as Artemisia remained where she stood, tears flowing freely from her eyes. The wailing was in full force now as many formed queues to offer up flowers to his casket. It seemed to go on and on as people continued to pay their respects for the head priest, some saying their goodbyes while others looked on with swollen eyes. Once the flowers were distributed and every visitor said their goodbyes, it was Eugenia who stood before the crowd, her expression softened yet resolved.

“With the service officially over, we ask that you give us clergy folk our privacy to mourn Oleander. We will provide services first thing tomorrow to our mourning and our devout but for the rest of the day, we too need time in sorrow and prayers. May the blessing of Lord Murmur go with you, children.“ She said to the crowds and watched as they began to disperse back into Burrowgatory, a sea of black and umbrellas trailing off in all sorts of directions. The clergy folk also took their time praying and crying before all was left was the Lust littermates, Dove, Jackal, and Mercy. 

Dove and Jackal both approached the casket, silent in their remembrance. Neither knew the comforts of Murmur, the demon caretaker that the Church of Sulfur modeled their beliefs after, but they knew Oleander and Mercy. They were lost in their own thoughts, each worried about something different and of one another. They turned at the same time but Jackal was caught off guard and embarrassed at Dove’s eerie perception. After a few moments, they stepped back and turned to the trio.

“You know you can always reach out to us if you ever need anything Mercy.” Dove said quietly. “Anything at all.”

Mercy nodded, turning to the Lust buns beside her then to the pair before her. “I know, thank you Dove. Thank you, Jackal. We’ll take everything from here so please get home safely. You’ll catch a cold if you stay out here too long.” 

The pair gave one last goodbye to the trio before waving them off, heading back home after an eventful morning. The trio stayed behind, observing Oleander’s casket before Artemisia placed a delicate hand on Mercy’s shoulder, her veiled gaze thoughtful and serene. A moment passed before Mercy gave the casket one last touch before pulling away, heart and head heavy with guilt and unfathomable sadness.