[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190805/655551606b1b1d693f3306380c961aa3.png[/img]
[sub]Mentions: [color=steelblue]Elizabeth[/color] [@The Muse], [color=F08080]Elliot[/color] [@Allycat], & [color=B1AAEE]Vanessa[/color] [@Aviaire][/sub][hr]

So much activity, in such a short amount of time. Arm in arm with Elizabeth, walking down the aisle to the front row, only for her to dash away and mistake someone else for Lillian. He could see the embarrassment, the anxiety, the general lack of concern from surrounding eyewitnesses as they stared and murmured. Ollivander’s heart felt like it was in a vice grip as he watched his pupil… his friend; she didn’t need to go through this, not again.

He watched Elizabeth as she made her way to a seat next to a young man, one who Ollivander easily recognized as the third of the trio of Elizabeth’s friend group. Elliot might not have been as tied to the hip as Ellizabeth and Lillian, but he was certainly around for a large majority of their childhood. Feeling somewhat more at ease knowing Elizabeth had a close friend nearby, Ollivander made his way towards the front as well just as her father and brothers made it to their seats. He stopped by their seats to greet them, the boys first, who greeted Ollivander back in kind, then there was, [color=gray]“Hello John,”[/color] the older man smiled softly, greeting the Senior Baker. Despite how disheveled the young man looked, he certainly looked better than...on that day…

Johnathan Baker stood up to greet the older gentleman, [color=#D3D3D3]“Hello Ollie,”[/color] his smile was almost as weak as he extended his hand out. Ollivander closed his eyes briefly before reaching his own hand out to firmly shake his friend’s, [color=#D3D3D3]“Thank you for coming, our family really appreciates it.”[/color] He briefly examined John’s face, light stubble had begun to form, whereas on most days the man was clean shaven, and his eyes were puffy and red, tears shed from the tragedy that struck the Baker family. [color=gray]“Of course John, it was the least I could do, after all we’ve known each other for how many years now?”[/color] Ollivander was trying to make light of the situation as he gripped his friend’s hand, but given the circumstances now really wasn’t the time. Reaffirming himself, Ollivander took his other hand and placed it on top of John’s, [color=gray]“I am truly sorry for your loss my friend… she was a good woman.”[/color] John nodded in affirmation, unable to speak lest he choke up again.

Ollivander’s eyes wandered over to the rest of her family, distraught faces weary with exhaustion from all the emotional turmoil they had endured. Even though he was familiar with the deaths of friends and family, given the circumstances, he couldn’t even begin to fathom what everyone was going through. His eyes finally rest on the closed casket, due to the collision, everyone thought it best to keep it shut, best so that they remembered who for what she was and not how she looked now. Ollie excused himself from John so that he might pay his respects. Making his way over, he leaned his cane up against the bench and shakily knelt down in front of the casket, staring at the picture of Mary Baker, ever so carefully placed atop it. Ollie had known the Baker family for a long time and Mary almost as long as he had attended their wedding, the birth of their children, family and neighborhood gatherings and now...her funeral… To say that this moment was surreal would be an understatement. Now that he was here, what was he to say? Ollie knew of many gods, and while this was a Christian funeral he wanted to allow Mary the safest passage he could...so he prayed to all of them.[/center]

[indent][sub][color=gray][i]“The harvest has ended, and the fields are bare. 
The earth has grown cold, and the land is empty.
The gods of death are lingering over us,
keeping a watchful eye upon the living.
They wait, patiently, for eternity is theirs.”[/i][/color][/sub][/indent]

[center]The cold air whipped around them as the priest gave his last rites of passage for Mary, a prayer to the Lord above. It was April, overcast, a bitter chill in the air as winter had barely given way to spring, the bite of the air only more pronounced because of the occasion. The sky had barely opened to give way to rain, and though it was a light drizzle it only added to the rawness that surrounded them all. As the priest spoke, Mary’s casket was carried by a handful of men, one of them being Johnathan himself, barely able to keep his own composure as he carried his dead wife to her final resting place.[/center]

[indent][sub][color=gray][i]“Hail to you, Anubis! O jackal headed one,
guardian of the realm of the dead.
As her time has come, I hope
you may deem her worthy.

Hail to you, Demeter! O mother of darkness,
May your grief be abated
when your daughter returns once more.”[/i][/color][/sub][/indent]

[center]As the men set the casket down unto the device that would lower her down, Ollie felt a grip tightening around his arm. He looked down to find the form of Elizabeth clinging to him, tears flowing freely as she and many others cried openly at the loss of this wonderful woman. Even Ollie had a hard time keeping his composure as tears silently streamed down his face, but he remained in his resolve to finish his prayer.[/center]

[indent][sub][color=gray][i]“Hail to you, Hecate! O keeper of the gate,
between this world and the underworld.
I ask that when she crosses over,
you may guide her with wisdom.

Hail to you, Freya! O mistress of Folkvangr,
guardian of those who fall in battle.
Keep the souls of her ancestors with you.”[/i][/color][/sub][/indent]

[center]Opening his eyes as he tried to look beyond his own tears, he saw the casket sinking below the earth as the priest finished his prayer as asked the flock before him to ‘Go in peace, in the arms of the Lord’. Some stayed behind as others began to walk away towards their waiting vehicles, Ollivander was one who stayed, his prayer not yet done. The church bell tolled in the distance, a fitting finalization to this event and the epoch of Mary’s life.[/center]

[indent][sub][color=gray][i]“Hail to you, O gods and goddesses,
those of you who guard the underworld
and guide the dead on their final journey.
At this time of cold and dark,
I honor you, and ask that you watch over Mary,
and protect her as her day has arrived
As she now takes her final journey.”[/i][/color][/sub][/indent]

[center]Closing his eyes one last time, Ollivander suddenly snapped to attention as a small commotion broke out. Gazing around it seemed that the mayor was in a panic as the police chief moved him towards the back. In the background of the commotion he heard someone shout that the mayor’s mansion was on fire; how much time had actually passed? In reality it must have only been a ten to fifteen minutes at most, but to Ollivander, it might as well have been a lifetime as he relived that moment in time not so long ago. Turning towards Elizabeth he tried to gauge her reaction, not really having heard what went on during the meeting, that was the plan until he felt a slight buzzing in his pocket. Reaching in his coat pocket, he pulled out a phone, something the school had given him to keep in contact and inform him of any updates. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a simple flip phone with texting capabilities, anything beyond that was far too advanced and he was fine with that; let him live in the past and the youth could live in their future. Opening the device he put on his spectacles to read the message he received.[/center]

[sub][i]“All Faculty and Staff are to return to the University at the end of the press conference to discuss changes in this year’s curriculum in light of recent events.”
Office of the Dean, Silas Nugent[/i][/sub]

[center]Ollivander’s eyebrows furrowed as he read the message, [color=gray]“Damn you Silas, did you even bother to attend the press conference?”[/color] A rhetorical question at best, Silas was more concerned about keeping the school open with hundreds of students, willing to spend thousands of dollars than actual community politics. That being said, with the disappearance of Lillian Turner, he had been acting more nervous than usual and micromanaging every aspect of all professors curriculum. Initially he had even opposed letting Elizabeth skip classes just because “her little friend ran away”, fortunately the other professors weren’t idiots and backed Ollivander up, leaving Silas to begrudgingly allow this decision.

Sighing in frustration Ollie stood up and put his phone back in his pocket giving a glance over to Elizabeth. At least she was with someone she could, at the very least subconsciously communicate on a more personal level, but he didn’t want to leave without letting her know he was. Making his way over he stood in front of the two students, [color=gray]“I’m sorry to be leaving on such short notice Elizabeth, I’m needed back at the university to attend to some business.”[/color] He looked slightly somber, though he perked up when his eyes fell over to Elliot, [color=gray]“Though I trust Mr. Herring is more than willing to keep you company in the meantime,”[/color] He gave a lighthearted wink to the young man before returning to Elizabeth, [color=gray]“We’ll get through this my dear,”[/color] he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, [color=gray]“A day at a time.”[/color] He gave a small comforting smile before releasing his grip, [color=gray]“You know where to find me if you need me, take care now.”[/color] Without another word he began walking off towards the entrance, a lot on his mind as he tried to recount just what had happened during that meeting, but failing to gain any ground, his mind truly having wandered away.

As he approached the entrance he noticed the young woman that Elizabeth had ran towards and… at first he understood why she had run towards her, but now that he was close as he was, the similarities between her and Lillian were coming further into focus. If she was sitting at the back though then perhaps she didn’t want to either see Elizabeth or let Elizabeth see her. Ollivander wasn’t one to pry into other people’s business when it didn't concern him, however in the case of Elizabeth, he might be able to help the two of them at the same time. [color=gray]“Excuse me, miss?”[/color] Ollivander began to approach her, keeping a respectful distance away. He didn’t recognize her, but she seemed old enough to be a student, perhaps she was new to the town and university? [color=gray]“I don’t suppose you’re one of the students at the university? I’m one of the professors there and was just on my way back if you were as well.”[/color] Looking over his shoulder, he was relieved that Elizabeth and Elliot hadn’t left their seating yet, [color=gray]“If nothing else, it may give you a reason to blend into the crowd while there’s still a crowd left.”[/color] He nodded politely and began walking towards the door again, he wasn’t sure if the young woman would follow or not, if she did then she was welcome in his company and hopefully would help her avoid any other awkward confrontations.[/center]