#esp if it's this sanitized version of dhurkes life that tries to minimize all the crimes he definitely was doingNLKNDFGLKNDF

[ritzcuit]

ive talked abt this before, i know, but dhurke funeral is sooo fun to think abt. bc i know he got a state sponsored Public Funeral. and i know that it's a fucking disgrace

realistically, i also know that amara, nahyuta, and rayfa are family, and nahyuta would be Involved, and amara was married to him...but it's like,it's the framing of dhurke as a hero, a national official hero, when the last 23 yrs were spent vilifying him. it's almost like a whitewashing, almost, a clearing of his name, but it's got to be some form of disrespectful, yes?

realistically, i ALSO know that datz, in line with canon, would be more happy about this. he'd be like dhurke's name is cleared wahoo!!! everyone loves him now!!! ^_^.... but i always like to think of a more pessimistic datz, not an overly pessimistic one, but like, it's there. i think of a grumpy datz. i think of a datz who hates this. kind of. And he feels monstrous for hating it, as always, but he can't. help it. bc this isn't who dhurke was! the people mourning him hated him not a few weeks prior! they give amara and nahyuta their condolences, maybe sometimes a nod to rayfa, and walk past datz and apollo (who probably aren't standing with the group, anyway, bc why would they be? that's royalty. they're nobodies.)

and i imagine a datz, arms crossed, brow furrowed, leaning against a wall, watching this all happen, and slowly getting more and more irritated until he truly can't bear it. because he. that's not. this isn't dhurke! dhurke was a rebel, a freedom fighter! royalty in name only! and now they've got their- grubby hands all over his legacy!! the guards on either side of the tomb had guns pointed at his family! (well maybe not those specific guards but the uniform is there- it's about the imagery-)

and he just gets so itchy thinking about it. and apollo just feels awkward. and nahyuta, seperated by a sea of people... i think he can at least see the moment datz can't take it, snatching apollo's wrist and dragging him out of there, and datz catches his eye and he feels genuinely horrible for leaving him behind but like, in the interest of not making a Huge Scene... he'll leave quietly. apollo doesnt get a chance lol but i can't imagine he's too heartbroken.

he doesn't know where tf datz is taking him- maybe he asks, like, datz where are we going 😭and datz is just like i'm takin' ya somewhere else. away from this farce of a funeral. >:(

it's national mourning. everywhere is closed. the streets are just about empty, too. but there's one place. one dusty raggedy old tavern that's always been sympathetic to the rebels. datz didn't know if they'd be open, but thank the holy mother, they are. not only are they open but it's *occupied*- dragons all over the place, and datz brightens up instantly. 'cause he knew he wasn't the only one fed up with what was going on.

so instead of sitting in awkward, miserable stuffy silence, mourning the image of a man no one actually knew, datz and apollo get to reminisce and cheer and celebrate the man they all know *deeply*- the real dhurke, (more or less) charismatic leader of the defiant dragons, the man they spent years of their lives fighting alongside... :) sharing stories. apollo gets his fair share of condolences. even a few "i havent seen you since you were a wee little apple!!" and he's like ohh... <- does not recognize them at all

like just cute stuff :) it's just apollo getting to hear old stories of dhurke again, and there's laughter and it feels so warm. it's a proper celebration. dhurke wouldn't have tolerated a cold sadness... he'd want this.

even better if nahyuta can, actually, make his way out there. if nahyuta saw his uncle and brother leave and knew exactly where datz was taking him, and why he was leaving. he gets crushed in a bearhug when datz sees him again 'cause really datz felt AWFUL !! for leavin' him behind...

*also i don't know how to get into theorizing abt the funeral traditions of khura'in so bear with me lol