OOM: A Discworld funeral

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart lounges by the door to the inn, sipping a last cup of tea while waiting for 'Mr. Astaire' to turn up so he could follow him to the funeral.

He's got no idea what a funeral on the Disc would be like, what with polytheism and very real gods. So, after a pleasant and relaxing night (and brief jump from window to window, back and forth), now is probably the right time for business.

Comments

[morethanprops]

Moist is wearing a different suit today, its black and well made without being showy.

Inside he has some coffee and finds out just how many other people will be attending the funeral. Its one of the biggest things to happen in this town.

[scots_wolf]

When Moist turned up, Urquhart had given him the polite bow afforded a prospective employer, then left him to his business, apparently ignoring him in favour of following Harriet around the room with his eyes.

[morethanprops]

He is constantly checking his watch and finally leave the inn, giving Urquhart a nod on his way out.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart puts down his tea and quietly follows him.

[morethanprops]

The funeral isn't hard to find as there's only a small street of the gods. Everything is concentrated around the temple of Errata as Mrs. Marple was a firm believer and contributor.

Moist finds the brothers and pays his respects before finding a seat.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart bows to the sons of the dead woman as well and then modestly stands in the back, shoulders up against the wall, not being of a seat-taking class of people.

Also, a much better place to watch from and see who comes and goes.

[morethanprops]

In terms of ritual, its not terribly complex but there's a good feeling of things mattering.

There are detailed explanations of what's happening and that no misunderstandings are happening to satisfy the goddess.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart follows along. He doesn't mind religion one way or another; and as this is the Disc, the goddess is even real.

[morethanprops]

The congregation is a mix of people, many of them more curious about what the family's going to do.

Moist is sitting attentively, Errata is a good goddess to have on your side.

[scots_wolf]

Hopefully, she will make your adversaries err and play tricks on them, not you.

There are two priests, a short pudgy young one and a tall stringy old one, and they maintain a careful disharmony in their chanting and movements, which must be pleasing to a trickster goddess of chaos and messed-up things.

[morethanprops]

As the ceremony starts to draw to an end, the tall one kills a goat and praises the Marples.

Then everyone gets up and starts saying nice things and heading back to the inn where the funeral reception is being held. Moist ends up close to the brothers as he's clearly gained their trust.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart drifts with the main part of the crowd; and when he finds Harriet at the inn run off her feet and almost dropping a platter of cucumber sandwiches, he reaches over and starts helping with the serving instead of acting like an uninvited guest.

Moist seems to have the brothers well in hand.

[morethanprops]

He does, they're reassuring him that they'll still invest with him and he finds a seat to watch the crowd.

His nervousness is less than its been and he gives Harriet a smile and squeezes her hand when she brings his food.

She blushes and is giggling by the time she finds Urquhart again.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart is calmly drawing beer for people, working the tap like an expert.

"Little pipsqueak banker getting uppity?" he smirks.

[morethanprops]

"No, just being nice. He's got good manners and is rather handsome when he doesn't look so pinched. Seems like he's got his money."

[scots_wolf]

"Money?" Urquhart asks, as if he knew nothing about any money.

[morethanprops]

"Mrs. Marple was thinking about investing with him and her sons are going to. They don't like having loose ends and he's been put through so much,"

She smiles at Urquhart and says, "Sure he's not half the man you are."

[scots_wolf]

"Well," Urquhart grins, "I can't tell -- I haven't had a chance to measure him intimately, have I?"

So Moist was going to get his 'investment' after all, and once they had been and fetched the money, they could get away separately, maybe creating a nice diversion, to meet up and return to the bar.

[morethanprops]

"Neither have I. Silly man's so shy, you'd think he'd never seen a woman before. Oh, I have to go,"

The inn is incredibly busy and she dashes off once more as the brothers enter and look content.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart smiles at them, and offers them beer.

Being at the tap is nice.

[morethanprops]

"Did you get hired on here too,"

Henry asks with a smile as he takes his beer.

[scots_wolf]

"No, I'm helping out a pretty girl," Urquhart says.

[morethanprops]

"Harriet's able to get everyone to do what she wants. Mother kept trying to hire her for the shop."

[scots_wolf]

"She is very good at what she does," Urquhart says.

[morethanprops]

Henry smiles and says,

"Yes, she'll soon fill mother's place in her own way as we hope to. Now we must get back to our guests."