The Funeral

The last days felt like weeks…even months to Chester. He lost the sense of time completely since Oleander…was found in the Church of Sulfur. Luckily everyone around Chester was understanding of his situation and he even got time off from his job at Wonderland Casino. Miss Angora told him to take as much time as he needed, she was very kind. Of course Chester and Oleander both were poly and Oleander had many lovers but… Chester only had him at the moment. Oleander always could squeeze in time for Chester in his schedule when he needed it, sometimes even just for a talk. He was a really good listener. Chester was sure he wasn't as important to Oleander as the Head Priest was to him but that didn't matter to him. Chester loved him, even if he was just one of many lovers.

Chester rolled to his side and looked at the Oleander plushie a friend gifted him after Oleanders passing. He carefully pressed it to his chest and it actually helped him to calm down a bit. At least so much that he had energy to stand up, which was very important as today was Oleander's funeral. Chester really wanted to attend this, even though it would be hard for him.

First, he needed a shower though. Chester stood under his shower for longer than normal, staring at his hooves, thinking about everything he and Oleander experienced together. There was the Mochi Moon Celebration, where Oleander and Chester ate so much Mochi, they passed out. Or Matentines where Chester picked a special bouquet for Oleander and made handmade chocolates for him. Or- Chester was interrupted by the bells of the church of Sulfur. Was it so late already?? He quickly finished the shower and walked into his bedroom where he had already laid out his outfit for today.

Chester had bought a suit just for this occasion, he commissioned Peter for it. It was black with a few purple accents and elegant but also sexy and revealing in some aspects. Of course he was attending a funeral and normally something sexy would be completely off, but Oleander would have loved this suit. Chester looked at it and smiled bitterly, oh how much he would love to see Oleander's face when he saw Chester wear this. He shook those thoughts off, he needed to get ready now. Chester looked at himself in the mirror while fixing his tie and took a deep breath. He needed to keep himself together.

Chester walked out of his house and went to the local flower shop. He had ordered a bouquet for today, a bouquet he wanted to lay on or inside the grave, he didn't knew what the church would allow him to do. This bouquet…was the same he made for Oleander on Matentines. The Flower had special meanings and reflected his love towards Oleander. The cashier brought him his order and Chester smiled as well as he could while paying. The Bouquet looked fantastic, he was sure Oleander would have been very happy about it.

When Chester got closer to the Church, his steps became slower. It was so unreal to be here again. They didn't allow him inside to see Oleander one last time and sent him back home in the prior days. To the church, he was just public like anyone else. Even though Chester was sure Oleander would have allowed it, he didn't want to argue with the people at the church. They all were hurt too and Chester knew that.

Finally he took one last deep breath and walked up to the group of mourning Succubuns that had already gathered. He froze. There was Oleander's casket and his tombstone. A pit opened in his stomach and he couldn't help but started to shiver. What puzzled him beside everything else was the fact that the casket was closed though. He had hoped to finally see the head priest one last time. Then again…Maybe it was better this way….or was it? Chester slowly walked closer to the casket, there were many flowers lying around and he planned to place his bouquet next to those. Mercy observed Chester's movements but let him do this without interrupting. She knew that Chester was one of Oleander's lovers and that he probably needed that. Chester lay the bouquet next to the others flowers and stared at the casket. Oleander's body was in there… Chester wanted to see him..no he didn't… Or did he?

Chester's thoughts were spinning and he felt like he was about to throw up when suddenly he felt someone hugging him. He didn't even realize that someone had walk up to him.
“Oh Chester… “ those two softly spoken words by Dove were enough to let Chester's facade crumble completely. He started to cry, intensely, while clinging to Dove is If he would collapse otherwise. Chester tried to form words but only managed to get out a weak and shaky “I loved him”. Dove rubbed the bigger Buns back lightly.
“I know… I know… It will be okay “ the smaller Cherubun said.

Jackal also got closer to Chester and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Oleander would have wanted you to fight through this. “ she simply said and those words actually helped Chester. He took deep breaths.
“You are right, he would want me to deal with this and to live my life… “ he said, more to himself.
Dove smiled lightly.
“There you go ~ Come sit with us okay? “ they said and Chester nodded. He followed Dove and Jackal who sat in the first row. Dove patted on a seat next to them and Chester sat down.

Mercy held a speech and guided the whole ceremony. It all felt like a dream to Chester, or a nightmare. He couldn't really follow anything Mercy said even though he did his best to try. It all felt surreal, wrong and the closed casket… Something bothered Chester, something beside the fact that Oleander was dead. He couldn't put his finger on it though…

Chester was pulled out of his thoughts by Dove who stood up. Everyone stood up and Chester quickly did too. It was the moment of Oleander's casket being lowered into the ground and Chester could feel himself starting to shiver again. Done softly took his hand, which calmed him down a little.

Slowly, everyone started to walk up to the casket to say a few last words and throw a flower into the grave.
“Dove… Please I… Can't go alone “ Chester managed to say and Dove nodded.
“Don’t worry, I will come with you. “ they said and gave him a comforting smile. Chester looked at them very gratefully and even smiled a little.

They got in the row and when it was time that both stood in front of the grave, Chester teared up again. He took his bouquet and looked down.
“Oleander I love you… I will try to be strong and move on, I know that is what you would've wanted. I will live my life and indulge in my vice how you always have told me to do. “ Chester said quietly and shaky. He carefully threw the bouquet on the casket, it landed really nicely on top of it, which made Chester smile a little bit.

After Dove said a few words too, they went back to their seats. There was supposed to be food and drinks now but Chester didn't feel like he could get anything into his stomach now. He didn’t want to try. Before Chester could tell Dove that he wanted to leave, Mercy walked up to him.
“Chester…” she started and looked at him with a worried and hurt expression.
“I am really sorry we threw you out before there is just so much going on..” she explained but Chester shook his head.
“I understand that, don’t worry. I am not the only one who lost loved one with Oleander. I know that.” he said and Mercy looked grateful for his understanding.
“I want to give this to you, It isn’t the one Oleander always wore, but…one he had in his room.” Mercy said and handed Chester something. It was a small but pretty rosary. Chester held it close to his heart.
“Thank you so much Mercy, that means a lot to me.” He said with a light smile and Mercy nodded, hugged him and walked away to organize everything.

Chester turned to Dove and Jackal.
“Thank you Dove and you too Jackal, for being with me through this. I need to go home now though, I am sorry but this really…stirred me up. “ Chester said, apologizing.
“Of course, we understand that, but please let us know if you need anything. “ The Cherubun said with a little worry in their voice and hugged Chester again.
“I will, thank you” Chester said and walked back home. His steps were slow and the darkness that was setting in did not help his mood either. Of course it also got closer and Chester froze a little from the breeze.

He opened the door and… cried, all alone. Now that Oleander was buried, his loss suddenly was so real… Chester hoped that Oleander might still be there the past few days, that they wouldn't let anyone in the church so nobody found out he's still there. Chester had no idea why that would happen but the hope dies last.

Chester got out of the suit and lay down on his bed almost mechanically. He hugged the plushie close to his chest. He needed to heal but that sadly takes time.

Suddenly, Chester could feel something soft pressing against him. Multiple soft things. His Imps were all cuddling up to him and Chester couldn't help but smile a little, he wasn't alone after all.