|
Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 22, 2011 22:39:45 GMT -5
(This is set outside the Kameren estate in Stonehenge, about a week prior to Max's kidnapping. Alex is currently playing host and greeting guests as they enter the church. Anyone who is a friend of the Kameren family is welcome to attend.)
Despite everything, it was a simple affair. Alex had tried his best to keep it small, but to no avail. Purebloods, some who hadn’t even spoken to his family in years, all attended the funeral. He even spotted the occasional halfblood family member. Everyone, it seemed, had turned out to honor Cedric Kameren.
Something Alex found particularly ironic, as the man had long been an outcast in the community. Nothing, however, seemed to deter the pureblood elite from attending a funeral of one of their own-- even if they privately held that one in low regard. He was dressed all in formal black robes, a dark emerald tie emblazoned with an embroidered Kameren crest the only color. Despite his personal feelings for Cedric, the man was dead. He could afford a little decency towards the dead. He represented the Kameren line now.
Alex shook the hand of an older man with red hair that was going white. They murmured nothings, whether of condolence or congratulations, Alex wasn’t sure. The Weasleys were relatives, of a sort. They didn’t interact often, but the Kamerens and Blacks had often intermarried, and a few generations ago a Black had married a Weasley.
As the last of that large clan passed him by, Alex met another set of familiar eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 23, 2011 0:08:29 GMT -5
What was he doing here?
Curse sat around back of the church, fiddling with his unlit cigarette hesitantly. Cedric Kameren was dead. This was his funeral. But still, why was he present? Cedric hated him and everything his existence meant. He denied Curse's existence even until his death. Curse had only met the man once, and it was in Azkaban where they could hardly talk. Curse had been on the brink of death, though Cedric had been healthier he hardly would have wanted to meet face-to-face with his bastard son more than he had to. Curse had no relationship with the man besides blood. Then what was he doing here?
Black formal robes for the funeral were what Curse had worn, paying enough respect to the dead by at least dressing like a wizard. His tie was black, however; he wore no Kameren crest, such as Alex did. Curse was not a Kameren, not really. Maybe now he was, with Alex representing the bloodline they could form a new image of the Kameren line. But minds didn't change so easily, and though Curse felt close to his brother and knew they were family, there was still that separation. He was a Kameren, but he was distanced. It was a strange relationship, one even after all these years he sometimes had trouble calling family. He had a family. They were muggles, something the true Kameren line would never suffer.
Even Alex, though he didn't discriminate based on blood, didn't know muggles. He rarely visited the muggle world besides for Curse's or Max's sake, and many muggle things still avoided him. Even though they were brothers and they considered each other family, they were from different worlds. It caused an unspoken rift between them that, at times like these, was difficult to overlook.
Curse had come alone to the funeral, leaving Max at home with his mum. He knew what the purebloods said about him and his family. It was no place for his child. The boy didn't need to know about pureblood society quite yet, he'd gotten enough of that at Hogwarts. He could take the purebloods' talk on his own, but if they hurt his son he would be angry. He couldn't get into trouble today, he couldn't be part of a confrontation. For Alex's sake, he had to be civil with these people.
He sighed, replacing the unused cigarette in his pocket as he pushed himself up. He should be with Alex, pureblood or not. Regardless of whether Curse and Cedric knew each other, Cedric Kameren was still Curse's biological father. And, though he knew it would be wrong to speak of, he could tell Alex was struggling a bit with the loss. Neither of them mourned, but somehow it was still complicated to come to terms with. About as complicated as their relationship, he supposed.
Curse went the opposite way of the funeral procession around the church, coming up behind Alex's back. He nodded to his brother in acknowledgement, but he didn't speak. He stayed behind Alex's right shoulder, keeping his head down and his mouth shut. His eyes stayed on the ground, trying to spare himself from the numerous glares of the pureblooded elite present at the funeral. He was not welcome here, but for his family's sake he was present. He was fulfilling a Kameren duty just as much as Alex was by attending this funeral.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 23, 2011 18:01:18 GMT -5
As soon as he had washed the ash from his face, Alex had gone to work. There were all kinds of things that needed to be done, not the least of which included some research on what exactly went into a funeral. It wasn’t as if he’d had much practice with funerals. After all, his mother hadn’t had one. There was only an empty grave and a headstone he didn’t visit. He’d chosen to keep the ceremony short, and to not host the crowd afterwards. What was the point?
He exchanged nods with his brother, turning back to greet the last trickle of crowd. He’d never seen the church so crowded as a child, his mother had insisted on regular visits. Another tradition fallen by the wayside. He was aware of Curse at his back, a solidarity between them. Alex didn’t miss the man who had given them life, but he did grieve, in a way. Curse kept him solidly in the present. He matched glare for glare for anyone who would dare to challenge Curse’s right to be here.
Finally the music started, a solemn tune. Alex turned, his back stiff, and moved into the sanctum. He grabbed Curse’s elbow when he tried to fade into the back. Alex was going to have to sit in the front-- Curse could do so as well. The casket was already settled in its place at the front as they found their pew and sat. The minister droned and performed rites, blessing the casket three times. Alex wondered if the man actually believed Cedric’s soul could be saved. His face was stony as he got up to speak.
He’d been told it was traditional, and he didn’t want to rile the elite any more than they were already. With the death of Cedric, they were looking for a new scandal, any kertuffle would be talked of for weeks. Alex stared out at the crowd, gripped the pulpit, and cleared his throat.
“Cedric Kristopher Kameren. He wasn’t always a bad man, but he was weak.” Alex’s eyes turned hard for a moment as his expression tightened. “He succumbed to the petty expectations of his elders and peers, and it broke him. He went mad.” His voice was flat as he continued. “He could have been great, but all he was is a shadow, a copy. He had potential. He squandered it.” It was hard to say, to bare his thoughts before all these people-- mostly stranger. Oh, he knew them, but mostly by name and face.
“The Kamerens are a proud line. So we have a right to be, but there are things that should never be sacrificed. Cedric was loved, briefly, for a time. But he threw it away to bow to other’s expectations, as weak men will.”
“Rest assured, the Kamerens are still strong. I will not repeat my forefathers' mistakes.” Alex was down the stairs and halfway down the aisle before the stunned congregation could react, and he was nearly out the door, his pace quick, before the hubbub truly started.
|
|
|
Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Aug 23, 2011 22:43:17 GMT -5
Arianna Blackthorn didn't really know the Cedric Kameren, oh she'd heard of him as a child but since her mother had married a muggle born contact with the pure side had been limited. That of course was due to the fact that her mother's family were dark art elitists the lot of them and the fools believed that a little torture would cure Amiee of her little muggle obsession. It didn't work, unless you counted mentally scaring the woman. Still, despite despising what Cedric Kameren stood for Arianna arrived at his funeral in the proper attire to support his sons.
Ari thought she was prepared to face her mother's attackers. Surely, she could sit in the same drafty building with them for a half hour. What she hadn't counted on was the flashbacks. While only being a toddler, she had witnessed the attack that had shattered her mother and drove her father to take solace in drink and drugs.
When Curse rose to stand by Alex, Ari remained behind froze as images and smells assaulted her. She tried to block out what she could remember. It was a child's memory reinforced by her mother's relived accounts throughout the years. Overwhelmed she abruptly stood and walked out of the church as late comers wandered inside. She could feel their eyes burning into her. Judging, watching, smiling gleefully. Bastards.
Outside Ari ran. She didn't care who was watching but she just had to get a way for a few minutes as she analyzed her feelings the way she knew best. By asking questions. She didn't go far, heels and grass did not mix. A few minutes passed before she slowly made her way back to the church. She was here for Curse and Alex of course, not herself. It shouldn't matter that they had showed up. Ari was a few feet from the doorway when Alex's words wafted through. A ghost of a grin appeared on her lips. Good for him. She hoped his words would be true and maybe Ari would have a hand in changing the Kameren image?
Ari paused as the words stopped. Was everything finished? She reached for the door to pull it more open when Alex Kameren burst out of it.
"Oh, sorry...great speech." Wow that was lame but she never knew what to say to Alex anymore. Nothing she could do to earn back his trust.
|
|
|
Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 24, 2011 1:04:01 GMT -5
Curse kept his eyes down, silently thankful for the Kameren brothers' mutual protective streak. This was a situation where he truly couldn't defend himself. No matter what he did, he lost today. He did look up just long enough to spot Arianna in the crowd. His expression lightened slightly as she stood by them for a moment, still staying quiet but taking her hand strongly in his. As the filed into the church, Curse moved to sit towards the back with Arianna, but Alex had a different idea as he pulled Curse to sit up front with him. He sent Alex a pleading look; he didn't want to sit up front, and Merlin knew the rest of the congregation didn't want him to either. His brother apparently didn't notice, however, seating his lanky form in his seat and forcing Curse to do so along with him.
The clicking of heels on the stone church floor caused Curse to turn his head, watching with regret as Arianna fled. He was shunted between two loved ones in need. Alex was doing his best to honor the murderous monster they called father, and for Curse to stand up and walk out of the ceremony would be disrespectful to both the deceased and his brother; Arianna was facing her pureblood family for the first time since her mother's torture, Curse wanted to support her, to endure the glares of their pureblooded family members together. They both shared the troubles half-bloodedness brought in a family such as this, and Curse was having trouble bearing it himself, he didn't want to think about how Arianna was dealing.
Still, duty called, and Curse stayed in his seat, flashing Alex an uncertain look just before the minister began speaking. The tension in the room made Curse's ears ring. He zoned out, disregarding the speech as he stared at the open casket. Cedric Kameren was dead. It was strange, seeing the other half responsible for his existence lying in a casket. It brought him back to years ago, when he had buried his mother. They would continue the fight all over again in Hell, if they fancied it. His mother's killer was finally dead. Strangely, he got no relief from it. Cedric's death didn't make him feel better, or worse. It was just empty. Nothing.
Alex stood for his speech. Curse clapped him on the shoulder quietly, silently wishing him good luck with the words. He didn't know what Alex was going to say, but he hoped he said it well. Now would be a terrible time for his speech to get stuck again. Not in front of all these judging eyes.
“Cedric Kristopher Kameren. He wasn’t always a bad man, but he was weak.”
Curse cringed. It only got worse from there; he found himself silently hoping that Alex's speech would catch, anything to lighten the dagger-like eyes now zeroing in on him and his brother. He couldn't blame Alex for giving Cedric Kameren the eulogy only a murderous wretch deserved. But, as Alex made his quick exit, something occurred to him: he was the last living Kameren in the room. They stunned eyes of the congregation, in Alex's absence, turned to him. What the bloody hell was he supposed to do?
For some reason, running felt cowardly. Arianna had left, Alex had, but he couldn't. He stayed frozen in his seat, his eyes still watching the door, hoping Alex would make another appearance. No such luck. He stiffened as a hand fell on his shoulder.
ooc: I wasn't sure what to do, so if either of you would like to NPC an angry funeral-goer or something, I'd be grateful. Maybe a Weasley helps him out of there? Haha.
|
|
|
Post by Emmi Douglas on Aug 27, 2011 16:58:29 GMT -5
Death.
It was the unconquerable foe that completed the circle of life for everyone in the end, whether they be young, old, just or unjust. It was the phantom ghost that came for you no matter where you were or what you were doing and had no care for whether you were ready or not. It would drag you from this life in whatever shape and form it desired and took some to soon and some not soon enough.
Such was the case of Cedric Kameren. The only regret that one Emmi Douglas felt at his passing was that the insufferable jerk had remained alive to long to torture her friends. She was not a vengeful person but she knew well the hell Curse and Alex had lived in and could only hope whatever pit the elder resided in now that it would be a hundred times worse.
Then again, the fool would probably enjoy it. He was more than a bit sadistic after all.
Standing in the back shadows of the room, the former auror watched the crowd and heard the whispers that rattled around. A spiteful curl turned up one side of her ruby red lips and it was as she could do not to shout at the idiots that they had no clue what the deceased had done to the two men who, even now, tried to do the right thing. They had no right to cast aspirations on two of the most decent men she'd ever known and it sickened her to realize that this would never end.
There was no fixing stupid, after all. And stupid was exactly what these little sheep were. Happily lead around and treated like mushrooms. Kept in the dark about the truth and feed a bunch of crap. The worst was... It was a conscious choice for most of the throng.
And people wondered why their world was falling apart?
Shaking her head at her own thoughts, Emmi brought herself back to the present and took a deep breath. The hate filled glances cast towards the front pew made the normally mild mannered blond want to smack a few skulls together but she merely settled more firmly in her spot as Alex stood up and moved to the pulpit. Her attention didn't miss Ari's presentence and then departure but her focus wasn't for her at the moment. Alex soon followed in her wake and Curse was shifting restlessly in the front pew. A quick observation of the crowd showed their hyena like actions as they seemed to gather their forces to pounce on a wounded animal.
"Not today." she drawled out in a low whisper before pushing away from her spot and walking quickly but quietly up the left side of the pews. She felt eyes dart to her and heard quick intakes of breath but she ignored them as she made her way to where Curse sat. She wasn't about to make him face this alone and she'd be damned if anyone would stop her from being there for him. "Let them try." she thought with almost malicious glee as she reached the aisle and started down it .
Finally reaching Curse's side, Emmi reached out and laid a soft hand upon his shoulder. Hoping not to startle him to badly, she waited until she felt him start and then leaned down to whisper.
"Long time, no see, old friend. Figures that you would have a party and forget to invite me. We are really going to have to talk about the error of your ways and leaving me to be the last to know." she drawled out softly in a tone only for his ears, ignoring the eyes upon them. " Seems to me... We should ditch this joint and do some catching up."
|
|
|
Post by Curse Kameren on Aug 27, 2011 18:48:15 GMT -5
Curse's chin turned up at the standing woman who put a hand on his shoulder. Sharp green eyes flashed both with recognition and a bit of surprise. "Emmi." It had been years. Had Alex invited her? How had she known? She was of pureblood descent, of course she knew.
"Long time, no see, old friend. Figures that you would have a party and forget to invite me. We are really going to have to talk about the error of your ways and leaving me to be the last to know." A wry smile lightened the ex-auror's harsh features, but he didn't reply. Suddenly the stares of the funeral-goers didn't feel so sharp. " Seems to me... We should ditch this joint and do some catching up."
Curse pushed himself up from the pew, nodding curtly. All he needed was that nudge to go. He could still feel the eyes boring into his lanky frame as he and Emmi headed towards the same exit Alex used.
The duo nearly ran over Alex and Arianna as they stepped through the door. "Sorry," He sidestepped them before he could run into them, leaving Emmi's side and taking his place next to Arianna. His hand slipped naturally into hers, looking down and shooting her a concerned look. He knew this would be stressful on her, but he wasn't sure how he could help. He would start by being there.
Curse looked up, eyes darting between Alex and Emmi. This was surreal, his two Juniors. Years later. It was odd, looking at them and seeing how much had changed. "So, Emmi. Come to pay your respects I see." Curse's tone accidentally took his authoritative tone, the one he always used as an auror. He couldn't help it, they were both here. Merlin, this was weird. His green eyes shot to Alex, though, when he heard the shuffling of the attendants inside. "Thanks for the warning on that speech by the way, Alex. Because they weren't pissed enough without you mocking him in his own eulogy..." Curse rolled his eyes. He wasn't actually angry at Alex, just chiding him.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Kameren on Aug 28, 2011 13:45:44 GMT -5
Alex hadn't intended to leave Curse alone, but the culmination of his unplanned speech had sent him walking swiftly for the door. He also hadn't intended on nearly running Ari Blackthorn over, but like with his speech, it just happened. He stopped suddenly, staring down at the slight woman.
"Oh, sorry...great speech."
He blinked, then nodded, moving out of the way of the door. "It must b..bee tough for yo--ou." He observed, looking back at the church. He didn't want too look her in the eye. Alex wondered how long it would take for Curse to come barreling out the door as well. "You're family's in there t-too, right?" He finally looked back at her. "Thank you."
The door opened and Emmi and Curse came out. He was surprised to see the young woman, she'd been tending to her father and running her own business for the last few years. He hadn't invited her, but of course the funeral had been all over the news. The great Cedric Kameren was dead. The terrible Cedric Kameren was dead. The hero. The monster. Depending on what publication and who you listened to.
"Thanks for the warning on that speech by the way, Alex. Because they weren't pissed enough without you mocking him in his own eulogy..."
Alex met Curse's chiding with a wry smirk of his own. He shook his head at his brother, who still let Cedric under his skin. "Apparently you don't... know me well, Curse. You kneel--know, that I would not l-let his crimes lie." He grimaced at his own words, coming back to mock him. His speech had gotten better, but still it would devolve at inconvenient times.
"I realized something when I went to Azkaban." He ignored Curse's reaction, he hadn't been told of the visit. "I-I'm tired of condemnimg myself and my family for what he's done. We are strong.
"It is time I live up to that. The Kameren's image will change."
|
|
|
Post by Emmi Douglas on Sept 2, 2011 16:14:43 GMT -5
Emmi couldn't help the cold little smile that played over her lips as Curse stood up and headed for the door. His demeanor was so familiar it was somewhat comforting and it told her that he hadn't completely fallen off the rocker with everything that had happened. The poor man had been through hell and back already and now this. It made a person wonder about the fates, that was for sure.
Following in her former mentor's wake, she met more than one disgusted look with a disdainful one of her own . Before she knew it they were stepping outside and her gaze immediately shot around in a cautious manner. As Curse took his place next to Ari and Emmi fell to the side, she gave Alex a half nod in greeting. No words were really necessary, she felt, because she was nothing if not loyal to those she cared about. Even if she had been away due to her fathers health and then death.
Letting her gaze travel to Ari, Emmi gave her a small nod too and let her expression soften just a bit as she met the other woman's eyes. It was obvious she too was having a hard time with everything so the former auror patted her shoulder a bit before moving away a few feet so that the family could talk. Taking up a stance that was familiar if unused, she stood silent, content to watch over her friends for the moment and think about how much things never seemed to change no matter how much time had passed.
Maybe it was time for her to reclaim her own place among the happenings. Maybe it was time for old scores to be settled and old alliances to be renewed. The good lord knew, she had nothing more to lose and everything to fight for.
|
|