[Nijiru]

Cross-posting here. Well, since Halloween is now over, and I was finally able to find a place to get a poppy yesterday, I'll toss this short up. Reviews are welcomed.

Spoiler for In Remembrance:

A dusting of snow covered Cranagan as Johannes walked towards the Saint Church, his brown Ground Forces overcoat hanging loosely over his shoulders. The overcast sky kept the temperature just above freezing and a light wind blew through the small bouquet of red wildflowers in his hand. He turned off the sidewalk just before the church and made his way towards a well maintained memorial site, stopping under an archway on the path.

Looking around, Johannes took in simple layout of the site, and the obsidian and gold cenotaph at its center. 'I may have been coming here every year I haven't been able to go home, but this is still awe-inducing.' He walked up and placed the flowers at the base of the cenotaph before bowing his head and reciting a century-old poem from his homeland.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.”

Johannes stood still for a minute before taking a step back and saluting the cenotaph. Having finished his yearly ritual, he turned to leave, but slowed at the sight of a blindfolded man, apparently around his age, who was standing under the archway. As Johannes neared the archway, the man lifted his head and asked, “I apologize for bothering you, but I have never heard that poem before. Where is it from, if I may ask?”

“It was written by a countryman of mine during one of the bloodiest wars of my homeworld. It has been used there since in ceremonies of remembrance to those who have died in warfare.”

The man turned his head to face Johannes, though Johannes had no idea how someone could see through the wrappings the man had over his eyes. “Are you a follower of the Saint Kaiser, by chance?”

Johannes replied, “No, I follow teachings from my homeland, though I do see the good work that the Saint Church does.”

“Then I must thank you for paying respects to the dead here,” and he bowed his head in thanks.

Johannes waved off the thanks. “No point in thanking me for that. I simply pay respect to those who gave their lives fighting for what they believed in. 'In death all are equal.'” A smile cracked Johannes' face. “Nevertheless, thank you, sir...?”

“Noland Reiniger. And you are?”

“Johannes Ulrich. And as much as I would like to stay and chat, I must get back to work. Have a nice day.”

Noland smiled. “You as well.” Johannes turned and started to jog back towards the local TSAB base.

Thank you Tempest for your help.