NationStates Jolt Archive

Thousands were gathered in St. Peter's Square outside of St. Peter's Basilica where inside they knew the body of their Emperor was being prepared for the funeral procession. Not far from the steps was a long stage and a podium on it with half a dozen chairs behind it. Behind the stage itself was a large wooden bleacher.

Many proudly waved flags of Roma V within the massive crowd held back metal barricades that were constantly patrolled by Corazzieri.

The procession would proceed soon, and after that they would allow visitors to see the Emperor's body inside of the Basilica, and after that the body would be placed within a coffin live and then brought to the chosen burial site that will remain a mystery for now as requested by Helen Quaeus.

All 322 members of the Senate and members of the Emperor's administrative staff were given seats within the bleachers. The empty seats were reserved for foreign delegations which had cushions on them.

Helen Quaeus and Primus Quaeus were seated on the stage along with three of the wisest Senators were seated there as well. The empty seats would be filled by any of the closer friends of Emperor Quaeus that would arrive.

The Carabainieri had the entire Corpo della Gendarmeria had the city under the watchful eye to ensure the safety of the funeral goers and the foreign delegations.

OOC: Bumped.

OOC: Disappointed bump.

Amongst the crowds, Queen Sarah V and Frank Griffen of Ustio stood, quietly paying their respects to the passing of an icon of the modern world. Griffen's phone vibrated, with a message that they would need to go to Osea 767 for the Oured Conference. He tapped the Queen on the shoulder

"Ma'am, the PM has requested that we go to the Oured Conference in his stead once we are finished here - his meeting with the President of Uiri is taking longer than expected"

The young woman turned to face him

"He's still there?" she whispered "Does he know how long he'll be?"

"He didn't say, ma'am" replied Griffen

"Alright, but let us finish paying our respects here first"

"As you wish, ma'am"

OOC: Hope that cheers you up!

OOC: Lol well I was hoping for more a turn out considering a few people posted in the announcement he was dead.

OOC: Roam, check the announcement thread again. Also, you still ahve not cleared up my question about Primus' age. I thought he was a small kid, now he's 16?

The 2-man delegation from Sur Abruzzi stood in respectful silence in the crowd. Prime Minister Talon Abruzzo and Ambassador Phillip DeSimone both said a traditional Catholic prayer in memory of the Emperor.

Prime Minister Abruzzo looked around at the stunning scene that laid out before them. The Prime Minister turned to whisper to his Ambassador "They truly loved him, didn't they Phillip?"

"Yes sir, they did. I only wish you could have..." Phillip replied, but unable to finish as he choked on his words.

Talon turned to his close friend, "Are you alright Phillip?"

Wiping a tear from his cheek, Phillip responded more meekly this time, "Yes sir. He was a legend in my family, as in all Italian families. It's a very sad time, sir."

The Prime Minister was taken aback by his friend's display of emotion. Talon had been raised in an Italian family, but they never spoke of the Emperor. The Pope assuredly, but never the Emperor. He suddenly realized more how much he wasn't just here to honor a marvelous world leader, but to also comfort the tears of many in his country, especially his good friend standing at his side today.

"Come now Phillip, it is almost time to proceed in to pay our respects. I will give you the time you need to say a proper goodbye, my friend," Talon said as he placed his hand on Phillip's shoulder.

"Thank you sir. My only regret is that our two nation's didn't come together before these sad times. It would have been an honor to have personally met him, but now I have to say goodbye."

OOC: This thread must have been pushed down very rapidly in the list, because this is the first I am seeing it.

In the crowd were two Lynion's standing side by side as they watched the funeral. They made their way slightly forward as they got a better view of the coffin that was passing by. The older one turned to the younger one for a moment.

"Did you knew him grandfather?" asked the man next to him.

"I met him during a meeting he had with your father Taishi Ci," replied Vamp. "He was a great man. A man with a bold vision though I never found out what it was,"

Taishi Ci and Vamp were representing Lynion and the passing of Ranakin and Xiahou. Vamp watched the coffin move past as he took his grandson's hand as they turned to the Church nearby.

OOC: My apologies I didn't notice people had posted in the thread. Primus was a kid but I skipped time ahead. I'll make an IC post after more people have had their chance to join in.

Constantinos Doukas-Palaiologos stood in the front rank of the crowd as the coffin was borne further along the funerary path. While his eyes tracked the coffin, his heart was with the young Primus, deprived of a father so young. He resolved to speak with Primus after the funeral, if he could.