Lulu and Yuna meet with Shelinda and Elma to go over the details of the coronation.
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italics = denotes thought or memory (for the most part)
Not Mine
Guardians - 3 Days Until the Coronation
Lulu sat next to Yuna in the large boardroom. Unlike their meeting before which had been in a dark room, buried inside the Capitol Building - this one took place on the third floor and light streamed in from the windows. A few of the doors that lead out onto large balconies were pushed open and a gentle breeze occasionally blew into the room. This was a good thing because the day was hot and the room they were in did not have air-conditioning. Despite this the breeze and light clothing did a good job of keeping them cool. Today it was just her, Yuna, and few of Yuna's aides. Nooj, Baralai, and Gippal had all already had this meeting but Lulu and Yuna had decided to postpone it for a day so they could go and enjoy other worldly pleasures after their meeting to "catch up on world events" yesterday had dragged on longer than was necessary. In front of them Shelinda shifted through paperwork, handing out sheets to everyone as she found the relevant documents that she was looking for. Finally having reached the bottom of the stack she looked up at the people in the room, "Ah. I think we can get started now."
"Do we really need all this paperwork?" Elma asked eyeing the large pile in front of her.
"Ah. Yes, but only for documentation purposes. Data on data pads gets lost so easily." As Shelinda said this she handed all of them data pads as well, each with with own look and feel to them so as to know which pad belonged to whom.
Glancing down at her pad Lulu found that it was a dark purple in color and seemed to be decorated with a black border. Somehow Shelinda had found a way for it to look pleasing despite the gaudiness of the two colors that Lulu loved, and often found herself dressed in. Yuna's was white with gold embellishments, and more tastefully done. Next to her Elma was scrolling through her red one with a black chocobo on the back, "Is this what I think it is?"
"It's a list of security people, yes. Of which you will be choosing ten. I sent a much longer list to Lucil a few days ago and she vetted it for me. While we don't doubt that Yuna's Guardians -" As she said this she looked at Lulu, "can't do their jobs, we want them to be part of the festivities as well. So having extra enforcement will be necessary to paint the picture that they are in fact part of the procession and not part of the protective detail."
Leaning over Elma's shoulder Yuna looked at the data pad, "These are some interesting choices."
"May I see?" Lulu asked.
"Absolutely." Elma answered.
Handing the pad over to Lulu, she looked down at the list and a few names stood out to her: Barthello, Maroda, Lucil, Clasko. She looked back up at Shelinda, "Some of these are people we know. And are you sure Lucil will want to do it? I feel like Nhadala would want her soon to be wife to be on her arm during the procession."
At that Shelinda laughed, "She added her name in. She wasn't originally on the list."
Hearing that put Lulu at ease. She knew, from letters that Lucil sent her of her adventures that she and Nhadala were still very much in the honeymoon stage - despite dating for over two years. She wouldn't have wanted Nhadala to feel alone. But if the woman was up for letting Lucil be part of Yuna's protective guard who was she to say no. The two of them would have plenty of time together at the private after party, where appearances would be less important. Thinking about lovers and ships however reminded her of what she had seen on the boat, what she had learned on the boat. About Paine and Baralai and the secret the three of them shared, "Are you okay Meyvn Lulu?" Elma asked.
"I'm fine." She answered.
"Good. Then we can continue on to…" Shelinda flipped forward on her pad until she found the correct page, "The Ceremony proper."
When she spoke Lulu could see Yuna visibly breath out. Despite being more than ready, and beloved by all she was clearly still very nervous. Or perhaps she had always been nervous, but now that the day was rapidly approaching she was getting worse at hiding it. Yuna had always been very good at hiding certain things, terrible with some - but that was true of everyone. Over the years though Yuna had gotten even better at it, hiding her fears and pushing on no matter the circumstances. She had to put on a smiling face for everyone, only a select few got to see her cry. But she never let that stop her and that was what Spira needed. Someone who loved without judgment and gave without thought, "Okay." Yuna said, "Tell me everything."
"We will start the procession by going to the Besaid temple. Here in front of a very select group of ticked people you will name Besaid Island as the new Capital of Spira and name the new successor of the Church." Shelinda paused, "Are you really okay with your choice?"
"I could think of no one better." Yuna smiled, "Are you okay with my choice?"
"Yes. Absolutely." Shelinda said with conviction, "They were the best person for the job."
"It's not like you have a long list." Lulu quipped.
"No. That's true. But I'm picky." Yuna told her.
"Righ. Back on track." Shelinda clapped her hands, "Once that's done you along with the new leader of the Church, Meyvn Lulu and Nooj, Preator Baralai, Your Guardians, and other such notables - will walk to the double warfs that lead to the inner city of New Zanarkand. From here you will enter boats and ride between the two warfs which will allow people to gather on the warfs and watch. At the end of the warf you will exit the boats, and carriages will be waiting for all of you. From there you will get into the carriages, and ride to the Capitol Building. At the Capitol Building you will walk into the main room where you will change outfits from your High Summoner Robes to your Ceremonial Dress and should you need it, be giving a short period to catch your breath. Is everyone still with me?" Shelinda asked.
"Where do you want security?" Elma asked.
"That's up to you." Shelinda said, "I'll send you a more in depth plan tonight so you can go over it yourself and then go over it with Lucil, when the two of you have a chance. I'm sure she'd be more than willing to help you figure out the best places to put people."
"Thank you - I think I can agree with that. We won't really have time to do a dry run, which isn't all that fun but you gotta work with what you have." Elma wrote a few notes down on her pad, "Continue."
"Thanks! Once everyone is ready to go we will walk out onto the main balcony that overlooks the city. There will be many speeches, one from The Youth Leauge, one from New Yevon, another from the Al Bhed, and a few other items. There should be a program of events on your pads under one of the tabs. Read it over a few times to get comfortable with your place on it, and no the placings are not up for debate."
Lulu tabbed over to study the schedule, "It looks good, you'll get no complaints from me."
As she said this Shelinda smiled, "That's a relief. Gippal was rather cross about the placing so I didn't want another argument."
"Thank Spira that I am not Gippal." Lulu said with no hint of sarcasm.
"That's not very nice Meyvn Lulu." Shelinda admonished.
"Not all of us can have his… enthusiasm." Lulu said sighing, "Please continue?"
"Ah yes, sorry. Once the speeches are over Emissary Yuna will finally go. She too will give her speech and then be sworn it. Waving and pictures for papers, magazines, and other articles will take place. We will return to the room, and go out the back. From there the cars will take us to the new Emissary house overlooking the sea. Here cameras will capture us entering, but beyond that will be not allowed. This will be a private celebration party, and we will - party." As she wound down speaking Shelinda let out a long breath and held her hand to her chest clearly overcome with all of it, "And that's the long and short of it."
"I can't believe you did all of this yourself." Elma said a little in awe.
"Oh no no, there was no way I could do all this by myself. I ended up calling Tobli and we talked it through together. He's a bit odd I'll give him that, but he knows what he's talking about when it comes to event planning. We have had many long sessions together about how to go about doing what we are doing. This will be the first time after all, so I wanted to get it right."
"It's beautiful." Yuna told her warmth in her voice, jitters from before shaken off.
"Thank you." Shelinda said for the umpteenth time that day, but what Yuna had said really had gotten to the woman and Lulu noted that her face was flushed just a little in happiness.
"Anything else?" Lulu asked.
"Other than the fact that her Lady Emissary has not yet picked out her outfit for the ceremony, no." At this Shelinda glanced at Yuna her eyes a little prickly.
"I'll figure something out. Honest." Yuna told her, "Isn't that how it always works anyway? We worry a lot but everything turns out for the best. Faith in Spira, in each other, that's important."
Hearing that gave Lulu pause and she smiled slightly. Perhaps she would have to put faith in what Baralai and Paine were doing, that they loved each other just as deeply as she and Nooj did. Yuna didn't know it but she had once again perhaps saved Lulu from making a fool of herself. She knew that pride and it's many trappings, righteousness being the biggest - was where she was weakest emotionally. Her life was a continuous struggle against her own prejudice and judgement of others. She was more harsh and fair than kind and fair, and for some personal and non-personal matters that worked but in others it was a constant uphill battle. In the end she had gotten caught up in her own desire for people to know everything, to be educated and enlightened. People had a habit of figuring things out themselves, and if they didn't - well that was what Yuna was for, "Once again you solve my issues without knowing what they were." She spoke aloud.
"Lulu?" Yuna looked at her friend.
"I was questioning something, or someone. I shouldn't have."
"Is this something I should know about?" Elma inquired vigilant as always, ready to protect Yuna from any threats she perceived could be coming.
"No, not at all. Yuna is safe, sequester your weapons away Elma." Lulu told the woman.
"Then what is it?" Yuna asked.
"The answer to a question, that's all. You said to have faith in each other right, so have faith in me. Don't worry about it."
At that Yuna laughed, "You have always had a way of turning words spoken at you against the speaker, sometimes I don't like it much at all. But ok. I will trust you." Yuna said.
"Thank you."
From there the meeting ran smoothly, there was not much more to discuss other than picking the people who would act as security. Compared to the rest that was easy, most of them Yuna knew and trusted. Once that was settled they dispersed but Lulu stayed behind in the Capitol building. Walking down to the office she knew that Baralai was currently using as his own she knocked once softly. A muffled come in told her that it was all clear and as she went to open the door Lulu prepared her heart to apologize, and to open her heart to understanding.
A/N: Once again, it takes some time but Lulu always does the right thing in the end.