I only own my creativity

Rikku was ready to scream from frustration. Her father had gone too far this time. Yes, he was getting older. Yes, he needed someone eventually take over for him as leader for the Al Bhed. However, that did not mean he had to marry her off right now. Rikku had only minutes before the next guy showed up at her front door. This would be the seventh suitor that Cid had invited to family dinner in the last month. All of them were guys that Rikku had grown up with but she had never shown the slightest interest in. That fact did not matter to Cid apparently, who kept inviting young men over to the biweekly family dinner. The only characteristic that seemed to count was that they were from good Al Bhed families. At least, that was the only connection between the suitors that Rikku could think of. That thought made Rikku somewhat happy since there could only so many Al Bhed males from good families left. The end was in sight, or so she hoped. Maybe once her dad had invited all possible candidates he would give up and things would go back to normal. A girl could dream right? Unfortunately Cid would most likely not let her be until she picked one of them to date, marry and then have children with. She could not see that happening with any of the guys Cid had invited so far.

There was one Al Bhed male from a nice family that Rikku was hoping Cid would never invite, and that was Gippal. She was dreading the mocking that would follow Cid trying to get Gippal to marry her. She could only hope that since her father did not personally approve of Gippal being very friendly with too many girls he would not be on the list of men for Rikku to marry. Rikku looked at the clock to see how much time she had left before Cid's guest arrived. There were less than five minutes before the torture would begin. Rikku made a face as she stared at herself in the vanity mirror that she was sitting in front. The guys were not all that horrible. They were nice as friends but nothing more. None of them made Rikku's heart race, gave her butterflies in her stomach, or anything that Rikku thought should happen when being around a guy one was in love with. Not that she really had much experience with being love. Most of her knowledge about the symptoms from her talks with Yunie rather than personal experience.

Maybe in the few minutes left before the guy arrived she could figure out a way to escape or how to get out of the seventh boring dinner. Too bad Rikku had not found out who tonight's guest was ahead of time. If she had that information before hand she would have tried to bride them not to come. Or perhaps if that did not work then maybe a threat would have worked. Rikku's musings were interrupted when her father poked his head into her room. Rikku met his gaze in the mirror in front of her rather than turning around to face him.

"Our guest will be arriving soon for dinner. I hope that you will be friendly to him or at least civil." Cid said as he leaned against the doorpost. Rikku forced a smile before answering.

"I try my best to play nice with the other children, father." Cid sighed, "So who is the lucky guy tonight?" Cid looked down the hall when he heard a knock on the door.

"I guess you will find out when you come and greet our guest. I will see you downstairs." Cid disappeared from the doorway. Rikku took one last look at her appearance, stood up and then walked down the stairs. Rikku froze half way down the stairs and forced the groan back down her throat. Gippal was standing in the entryway conversing with her father.

"Hey Cid's girl." Gippal smiled up at her. Rikku gave him an uneasy smile and then continued her way down the stairs.

"Well, I will let you two talk for awhile before dinner." Cid said and then left the room. Gippal turned towards Rikku with a small smile on his face.

"So Cid's girl, I hear you need a husband." Rikku glared at Gippal, wishing that looks could kill.

"No, my father is trying to marry me off. There is a difference a difference between the two. Just like someone being in love with you and being in love with your money." Rikku retaliated. Gippal tilted his head to one side.

"My sister has been talking too much again I see." Gippal guessed, "So how many guys has Cid invited over already?"

"You are not number one if that is what you are thinking." Rikku answered

"Oh I knew that before I was invited. Apparently my workers are very eager to discover who the will be the lucky guy. Lunch time is never quiet at Djose." Rikku blushed. Before she could think of a reply, though, Cid called them into dinner. Well, that was not as bad as it could have been Rikku thought as she sat down to dinner. She could only hope that the night would pass quickly.