So, it's been forever. Sorry about that. And, I need to tell you something... When I first imagined this story, the reason Yuna was "such a good candidate for Priestess-hood" was because she's half Al Bhed and was to unite the races like Jyscal and his wife. I totally forgot that when I was writing it. I knew I was forgetting something then, but couldn't think of it... I thought that was really compelling too. But, maybe it's better this way. Definitely longer. I have one idea of how to introduce that later, but it's really... intense. I've just watched all of GoT as well so that doesn't help. Actually in my day to day life I'm just like, whatever I watched someone kill their brother last night what's today got for me, yknow? Anyone else have that? :p Desensitizes you a little. Like I think I intended this to be kinda light, like maybe stay PG even, but now my brain is just like... I could do this evil thing.
Anyway, sorry for the long intro. What's this rated? G or something? Oh, T. I don't own FFX. This is a Seymour x Yuna. Spoilers. Ummmm is that all of them?
There's a few more classes in my day, lots of history, like Seymour was telling me.
We studied the history of Sin's attacks, a little. It seems to have never attacked Bevelle, which is interesting.
As I exit my last class for the day, a Guado hands me a parcel. It reads, 8 o'clock, my manor. That's the time of our date, I suppose… I must get to Lulu and Rikku!
"I have a date," I blurt out.
"Wi-" Rikku starts to say something, but Lulu jabs her in the ribs quickly. "What are you wearing?" She finishes.
"I don't know! What do I wear?"
"This is a good question that shopping can solve!" Rikku says excitedly. We both sort of turn to Lulu, unofficially asking for permission. She smiles slowly in return.
"A shopping trip is in order. It's been a while since Yuna has had new clothes," she says, almost like I'm her five year old daughter. No matter, Rikku and I are squealing and grabbing odds and ends and scrambling out the door. Shopping in Bevelle, it must be so amazing!
That answers one question (sort of,) but what about all the others? How will I address him? What will we talk about? How do I conduct myself?
"Have I ever been on a date before? I need advice!" I say sisterly to them.
They're holding different dresses in front of me,
"Stand up straight,"
Green dress, puke face reaction,
"Mind your manners,"
Purple dress, perplexed face,
"Hold your chest out, and keep your head up, or tilt it down, like this…" Rikku demonstrated a plethora of different poses, none of which I'll remember, I'm sure…
A blue top with white pants, heads shaking.
"No, be more classy, be alluring, like this," Lulu then demonstrated some more poses, seemingly more sexy despite what she had said…
"Well now that's worse than what I did!"
"Well we have religion over here, we gotta do things more inconspicuously-"
"Guys? I don't think I'll be trying to seduce him…" They stopped and looked at me, and then at each other. Apparently, this inspired some great idea, and they both ran off in the same direction. They came back with a dress, one hand on it each. It was… short, to the middle of my thighs maybe, and light blue, decorated with soft pink flowers. It cinched my waist, creating a flattering effect.
From that point on, they were both in heavy concentration toward makeup and shoes and hair and nails. They were at least on two different body parts at any given time. Rikku even found a bra that… enhanced… very well… but Lulu pulled my dress to cover me up. I thought that ironic.
By the time I was ready to look in a mirror, I was so exhausted I was ready for bed… but then, I saw myself.
I never saw myself so… pretty. The look was simple, not overboard. Strappy sandals, painted blue nails, light blue dress with pink flowers, simple gold necklace, hair pulled into a thatch, pink cheeks…
I began to worry about how to compose myself on the date again.
"You'll do fine, just be yourself!"
"Don't bring up Sin." Rikku and I kind of shot a glance at Lulu. "What? It's ruined dates for me before. I'm not kidding."
"Be confident! You're great!"
"You truly are, you are a wonderful woman." Hearing that from my big sister warmed my heart in a way I can never describe… but it did make me think.
How much do I really want to impress Seymour? And how much do I want to simply appease him?
"Enjoy yourself." Rikku added as they finally pushed me away, (bags on their arms.)
I walked away from the shopping mall then, but there was still a few hours before 8… So I wandered around until I found the guys training with the warrior monks.
The sun was still bright, still shining through the breaks in the buildings. Their toned muscles were highlighted and defined in the setting sunlight. All four of them were going through sword practices, making Wakka and Kimahri look a little goofy. Auron and Tidus however were powering through with expert precision.
"Too quick on the draw! You'll lose momentum!" Someone chanted from above. Tidus seemed to grunt a bit. Auron swung heavily, like he normally does. I suppose this is his forte.
They looked at me here and there, but only for moments. Kimahri finally came up to me and explained that they were hilt-deep in training and wouldn't be able to stop for a while.
I suppose, that makes me happy. I was worried that it would be boring to wait around for me to study. And I suppose there's no one here to object, to anything…
I hear swords clash as I turn to go to the manor.
I'm ready anyway, so I study until Seymour arrives.
I become more and more anxious as 8 gets closer… I mean, I've been on dates with him before, right? Technically… there was that breakfast, the first day after my guardians' wrongful imprisonment… and the dinner, where he told me some of Spira's history. Well, he kind of surprised me with the breakfast, and it was kind of inspired by his desperation to spend time with me before we all rushed to Zanarkand. And, the dinner, well I had to go back to the manor one way or another, so it made sense to have dinner together… Anyway, this is our first date-date, no ulterior reasoning behind it…
I flatten my skirt, it's already flat… it's 7:45… A Guado enters the room.
"Maester Seymour arrives soon, come into the lobby?" I nod and follow him.
This is starting to feel like… I don't know, a dentist appointment, or an interview. Maybe that's just the escort.
To my relief Seymour is there shortly, dressed in especially normal (but still formal) clothes. Dark gray slacks, with black boots that I can only barely see when he walks, a white button up shirt with a black jacket, which keeps the cowl from his Maester status. It reminds me of his wedding attire, a little. He walks toward me, an ombre figure, guarded by two long blue spikes at either side.
"Shall we go?" He extends a long-fingered hand to me, and I take it, feeling the warmth between our hands.
"Two glasses of wine, please," he orders for drinks after we are at the restaurant.
"What if I didn't want wine?" I whisper harshly after the waitress leaves.
"Give it a try," he says in a smooth alto voice, and I concede. I can always change my mind. "So how was the rest of your classes? Less eventful, I hope?"
I chuckle a little. "Yes, thankfully." I suppose it's not too early to laugh about it.
Two glasses arrive, and the waitress pours wine into them in front of us. I can't help but notice Seymour's eyes flicker to her black skirt as she walks away behind me.
"So… what about you? How were the meetings?"
"Boring, Yuna. We attend and monitor them as a formality. Many of the are the same; you'll soon find out."
"Really? There are so many interesting things I'm studying… I feel as though I shall never run out!"
"What did you study today?"
"Some of the history of Sin's attacks," I reply. He is silent for a moment. It looks as though he's calculating something in his head.
"Yes, you're in cycle 4, version A."
"Cycle? Version?"
"Yes, there are different cycles of information, to accommodate varying skill levels. There are different versions as well, and these are all repeated, so that hopefully no one goes through the same lessons twice.
"However, Sin's attacks, that's not a topic I can summarize for you."
"I don't need you to summarize anything for me."
"Oh, Yuna. I didn't mean it condescendingly. You have a great study tool, in me. I've basically got every cycle and every version memorized. You would be a fool not to make use of that."
I thought on that for a moment. He drew a sip of wine. I decided it was a good idea to do the same, see how it tastes.
It's delightful. I mean, I've had wine before, I'm not an infant. But no, it's not a lot, and what I've had was… well to be honest, backyard distilleries. This wine is exquisite. Alcoholic, of course, strongly, but still very tasty. I must have betrayed something on my face, because Seymour is looking at me, one corner of his lips quirking up in interest.
"So, how did you come to memorize all of that? That's so much information."
"Like I said, mandatory meetings. Yuna, I've been doing this since I was a child. I became a Priest at twelve, younger than any other Priest ever."
"How did you do that?"
"Knack for education, I guess. That's really all there is to it. There's only so much to learn." Something smelled… peculiar when he said that. I also noticed that my glass was half empty, not in the way that they're supposed to be.
Seymour ordered for us, fish being the special tonight. I guess Bevelle has a great selection of fish, being mostly on the water and in the middle of the world.
Sometimes I feel like I know so little, like my little island knowledge is so irrelevant compared to all the food and war and religion history there is in this city. But Seymour, he's fascinated by everything I tell him, about the fiends, the culture, the trades, of my little island.
"We're actually skilled seamstresses and designers on Besaid, we get a lot of commerce that way." I feel like I sound like him or one of my teachers, and yet I'm repeating the things I've heard my whole life. Still he sits there as interested as a child.
We actually have a lot more to talk about than I thought. I didn't need to be so nervous after all. Granted, a lot of it is about… well, school. But it's interesting. I mean, this isn't just some school subject, this is our lives. This is what I've dedicated my life to, learning and living the way of Yevon, to rid the world of Sin…
"Speaking of which, what about the machina in the temple?"
"What of it?"
"Well, why is it there? It's against the teachings."
"It saves time, and energy. All Summoners must come through Bevelle, and it's the largest city in Spira. Not to mention… when you exit the Cloister, the puzzle is still set up… but then what? Who do you think resets everything?" I guess… I don't know, I thought, it reset itself? "We do, the Priest of the temple does. Maybe with magic, perhaps not, exhausting either way." Except here, in Bevelle, the machina does it, I guess.
"Saving time… that's part of why machina was banned, because humans relied on it too much, isn't that right?"
"The Church decides. In this case, it could save lives."
"Seems like a rather large gray area…"
Seymour looked at me, with those eyes that I've decided are some shade of purple. I could tell he wanted to say more on the topic, but was waiting for something more from me about it. This is our first date, technically… I don't want to get in a debate.
"Maester Seymour and Lady Yuna! Oh my Yevon I can't believe I'm seeing you, in person, at this restaurant! Can I get a photo? An autograph? This is so adorable!" Two girls walking by invited themselves to gush over us.
"My my my, look at those clothes… Seymour, you're looking particularly handsome tonight. Oh Yuna- Lady Yuna- you're so lucky. He's a 10 in every way," the other girl chimed to me.
"Thank you ladies. If you don't mind, let us resume our date in peace."
"Enjoy!"
"Ta-ta!"
I blushed a little. Seymour looked completely unaffected.
"You're used to that, aren't you?"
"You're used to people asking if you'll bring the Calm?" A moment of understood confirmation from us both followed.
"Any dessert for you tonight? More wine?" The waitress asks. Seymour looks to me.
We left after sharing one more glass of wine. I was beginning to really feel it… I mean, I wasn't stumbling… but it was nicer to hold onto Seymour's arm as we walked than not. I was comfortable, happy. My cheeks felt flushed.
We decided to walk back to his manor, taking the long way, to see the stars. They're quite brilliant in Bevelle, being so elevated. I think they might be better in Besaid though; not so many lights.
"In that building there," he points a long, spindly finger toward one of the buildings, "My group that was running for Priesthood, we got so drunk, and tried to walk a straight line that was painted on the floor. We had a bet that whoever did it best would get the most testimonies of honor the next day."
"Was it hard to do?"
He let go of me. "Try to walk a straight line, like a tightrope, right now."
I tried. By the time I got to him, I fell into his arms, the both of us laughing.
"Imagine being five times as drunk." My goodness.
A little ways down the bridge, I stopped to look over the city.
"This is where… Kimahri found me, after my father defeated Sin. I was seven." I lean on the wall there, and Seymour leans on it next to me after a moment. "I had already celebrated a little, and I stopped here, and watched everyone else celebrate. I realized my father was gone, and everybody was happy about it… except for me." I stare out for a moment, like I did that day, and then… "Why am I telling you this… I was happy about it, I am happy about it…"
"Yuna, you don't have to hide your feelings with me. I know you try not to show any sadness or anger, to inspire people, and that's a strong trait… but you can open up to me. Show these things to me, so that you can show a fresh face to Spira." He looks in my eyes when he says this, and it's so tempting too.
"Well… I was a little angry. I was angry that everyone was so happy that my father was dead… No, I know they weren't happy that my father was dead…"
"But in a way, they were. And you were seven."
I could feel the alcohol lending to my emotions. I don't want to break down about this, not right now.
"Thank you, Seymour, for understanding. Let's go back to the manor."
We walked back, talking about the stars or the buildings we passed, until we got to the manor.
We stood awkwardly in the 'lobby' for a minute. I know that I'm not in love with him, and this marriage wasn't founded on love, and I don't have to play like I am in love. I have complete freedom to be separate from him when not in public, but, well, right now it just feels like we should be going to the same room.
"Seymour, would you… come sit with me… for a little bit?" I don't know what to say. This reminds me of when I asked Tidus to be a guardian in Kilika. I'm not good at these things, okay? What am I supposed to ask, for him to tuck me in?
He follows me to the guest bedroom wordlessly. We sit on the bed.
"Are you feeling alright?" Genuine concern is in his voice.
"Yes, a little… tipsy, I suppose, but yes I'm feeling alright." I don't think I've ever been drunk or even tipsy before, really. He puts his hand on mine.
"You know, this room is usually used for… much less beautiful company. I'm not sure if it's up to par."
"Up to par?"
"Well, a lady such as yourself should have a more beautiful room, equipped with soaps and sheets and pleasures of the finest quality. This room is usually used for Priests from out of town or family members. Actually, I stayed in this room a few times when my father used this manor."
He looked at the walls as if recollecting. One long blue tail rested on his shoulder nearest me, and suddenly I noticed how beautiful a shade of blue his hair really is. My hand wandered up to touch it, a little rough, like Guado hair is. He looks at me, the strong jawline angling to face me now…
And I kiss him, this time. I lean towards him, planting my lips on his, pulling my hand up to his face, giving in to my feelings. He returns the kiss, tenderly cupping my face as well.
"Tell me you love me again," I think out loud.
"I do, I love you," and my lips are on his again, my hands grasping his cowl, his collar, and kissing him faster…
"Yuna, you've been drinking,"
So what? I'm not drunk, I just… I want…
"I want to be happy," I pause, because that's not exactly a response to what he said, "it's got nothing to do with drinking. Well, maybe, but it's just because, I want to be happy. I want to, well…" I think for a second, but, it's better to just show…
I kiss him again, and he kisses me back, coming closer to me, falling into it more, and more, and with his arms around my back he lays me down and kisses me more and I'm on fire, I'm happy and eager and at peace all at once. He kisses my lips, my cheek, and traces a line down my neck, my collar bones, and a little moan escapes me. He looks up at me and smiles a devilish smile.
It's at that moment that it occurs to me, I've never done this. Never done anything like this.
Apparently, this occurs to him as well. Maybe a second too early.
He kisses me on the lips again. "You really need your sleep." He smiles a wry smile, but he's right. If he didn't say it, I would be saying it a second later.
I still wanted to be the one to say it, though.
With the aid of alcohol, I fall asleep rather quickly.