October Prompts

Milo sighs woefully. Oh to be alone as he is. The dusk settled around and darkness swaddled the graveyard around him. The normal sounds of bugs and frogs were oddly silent, though the chill crisp in the air is probably the culprit of that. He sighs again and sits on a bench near a random headstone. He reads the name and inscription:

Maverick Josephson
May 12 2XXX - November 2 2XXX
Dearest Son and Best of Friends.
Taken too soon from this world. 
Your Memory lives on in our hearts.

He was only sixteen when he died. Milo feels tears prick at the corners of his eyes. Young graves always seemed to get him more. It looks like this Maverick would have been his age if he had stayed alive. He looks at the other headstone that bore the same last name as this boy’s, it looks like whatever happened took his father as well. An accident then, and not an illness or something more natural. 

Milo can’t help himself and begins to weep. He weeps for this life yet to live and for the family this tragedy left alone. This is why he comes to the graveyard after all. It shows him that things could be worse. This probably isn’t the most healthy of habits but it's one he has nonetheless. The cool autumn breeze leaves him shivering somewhat but he stays. It was fate that brought him here this day: The date that ended this poor boy’s life, so many years ago. He was sure any remaining family had come earlier to pay their respects, fresh flowers adorned both sites, but still something drew him to sit here and give company to this unknown boy, Maverick. He wraps his tail around himself as the cold steeps to his bones. 

The moon slowly rises over the trees and highlights the photo of the boy that was embedded on the headstone. He was a good looking boy, messy shoulder length hair and what looked like an anglerfish-styled antenna looped in front of his face. Milo wonders what kind of boy he was, what kind of man he may have grown up to be. 

The wind picks up and he feels a blanket drape across his shoulders. He looks up with a start and sees a scruffy face gently smiling back at him. 

“You’ll catch cold, you know, sitting out here dressed like that with no jacket.” The man says with a bit of a smirk.

Milo gapes for a second stunned mainly that someone else was there so late and then embarrassed to be caught as he was. “Ah, it wasn’t er, it wasn’t this chilled when I got here.” Was all that stumbled out of his lips.

The other man chuckled, “Well no worries, I always keep an extra blanket on me, just in case. Feel free to use it while we are both here.” He rolls further up to be level with Milo and the bench. “You knew him?” He says and nods toward the headstone. 

Milo fumbles, now even more embarrassed, and shakes his head. “Ah, no, I didn’t but… I just felt somewhat connected to come uh…” He clears his throat and buries his face into the crook of his tail, “Sorry that probably sounds crazy.”

The other man, an Auratail as Milo could see now, chuckles. “Not crazy at all. Don’t worry, I have heard crazy and honestly this is pretty tame, kinda sweet too. Coming and sitting with a stranger as they rest in the ground.” 

Milo looks up sharply, it really did sound crazy after all! 

The man laughs, “Damn, sorry, I meant that sincere. Ended up coming out probably sounding a touch sarcastic, but I promise that's just my normal tone. Honest! I really do think it's nice. I am sure he appreciates it too.” 

Milo looks toward the headstone and back at this man. “Ah, did you know him?” He asks, trying to steer the conversation away from himself. 

The other man nods, “Yea, you could say we were really close. I’m Mauve, by the way, figured we should know each other’s names if we are going to be talking history.” He holds out a webbed hand. 

Milo looks at it then back at the man, Mauve’s face, it was highlighted by the bight full moon and his loose hairs framed his face drawing attention to sharp cheekbones and a firm jaw. He was beautiful. Milo gasps gently then blushes and takes the man’s outstretched hand. “Ah sorry! I’m Milo. Its uh.. A pleasure?”