The Hush Sound - Chapter 2
Give me your immortality, I'll set you up with the stars
The two men stared at the girl with disbelieving looks on their faces.
"What?" Rikku asked.
Brother and Buddy exchanged apprehensive looks. Rikku, wanted to come along? But the posters had been clear enough; Men only.
"Come on," Rikku wheedled, "I'm already one of the guys around here anyway, what difference will it make?"
Buddy's eyes swept Rikku up and down. A yellow bikini top and miniskirt was probably not the best attire to wear when you were pretending to be a boy. No, make that, trying to pretend to be a boy.
Sure, Rikku was probably could pass as 'one of the guys' at Home; she had grown up tagging along with them, grown up playing with machina and getting covered in oil to her elbows each day, but Rikku? He had probably never seen a girlier looking… well, Girl, in his life.
"No! Look… I'll dress up!" Rikku said brightly. "I'll wear… a hat, to hide my hair and big clothes to hide my figure! I can borrow your overalls, right?" Rikku added to Brother.
When Brother did not respond, she pouted.
"Pnudran…" She whined, adding in the Al Bhed address for increased measure.
Her brother remained stock still, she caught his eye and threw him a glare.
"Right?"
"R-right," Brother stammered. Oh, in the name of all Sanubia's vast Sands, why, Rikku?! You cannot do this! Vydran will kill you for this if he finds out! Brother almost choked. He could picture Cid's expression, red in the face outraged, 'You stinkin' piece o' hopeless dead shoopuff skin! How could you let her go off on her way like that?!' Brother scowled and regained his confidence. Rikku would not be the one to intimidate him.
"Not that you have much of a figure to cover," Brother said fiercely.
Rikku's eyes narrowed. Her fists clenched unconsciously. Ooh, the stupid, big, meanie, he just didn't want her to go in case she was competition.
She almost launched a head first attack on him.
Thankfully, Buddy grasped her arm and yanked her back towards him just as she prepared to step up into Brother's direct path.
"Rikku, stop being so hot headed," He chuckled. Rikku gasped and choked. Her? Hot headed? Yeah, right! As if he could talk, Buddy, he, he was- Rikku's lip trembled. There was no-one in the whole entire population of Home that could be any more laid back than Buddy was. Aw, poop.
Rikku's face fell.
"So you won't let me come?"
Buddy and Brother exchanged another glance. They could converse each other's opinions in a single look, after two decades of close friendship. Brother sighed and wilted; We cannot change her mind even if we tried by hitting her over the head and knocking her cold with a monkey wrench. So why try?
Buddy chuckled again and shook his head. He looked at Rikku.
"You sure you wanna do this? Dress up as a boy for a month."
Rikku hesitated and considered the fact for a moment. Was she really willing to dress up as a boy? She'd have to hide her identity, her gender. Not to mention, Yuna would be at D'jose, and she wasn't sure how Yuna would take it that her girl-cousin was suddenly a boy-cousin… Probably not so well, Rikku thought.
She didn't know this Gippal, but how hard would it really be to fool him? Rikku imagined her own face in her mind's eye. Hmm… maybe take away the lip gloss, put on a cap, change her walk to a slouch… she just might pass. And if she could just persuade Brother to hand her a pair of overalls… easy as pie. Right?
As for Yuna, she'd probably have to bag the poor girl and drag her off before she submitted to her explanation. Rikku cringed. Her cousin would probably have a bunch of insults and tactics ready up her sleeve to try and persuade Rikku out of it, but, nope, no sirree, she wouldn't let Yuna argue with her.
Rikku frowned again. No lip gloss, for a month? No bikinis, no skirts, no scarves no beads or braids… no nail polish. Her eyes widened. None of that, for a month? Oh, she wouldn't be able to live.
Buddy looked at his friend, something of a younger sister to him, amusedly. He could almost see the little cogs and wheels working in her head, weighing out the statistics. He knew what she was thinking. It was the skirts and braids versus the hidden identity and the shot at grand prize. Buddy grinned. He knew what the outcome of her mental debate would be.
Gippal paced the room uneasily, back and forth. It was almost lunchtime, and he could smell Yuna's cooking, hot steam wafting through the room. His stomach grumbled, but hunger was not his source of dilemma.
All Gippal's striding was proving to be a very good, and very unwanted, distraction to Paine. She sat in one of the hard, wooden chairs at a table in the cafeteria, her leg crossed over her knee, a clipboard positioned in her lap. Her hand skidded back over the papers as she made last minute checks to the application listings.
Every now and then, Gippal let out a frustrated groan and ran his hand backwards through his air, shuffling around. And every now and then, Paine and Yuna would both look up from their work to stare at him, puzzled looks on their faces, before one turned back to her paperwork, the other to the large pot of wonderfully smelling hot soup she was in the midst of brewing.
Paine thought, to herself, that she was being rather patient with Gippal at the moment; and only because of two factors; one because he had the power to sack her if he wished, and two, because they were friends, and she didn't want to cause a strife over such a small thing. However, his distracted pacing back and forth was becoming irritating as she was no longer able to concentrate on her work.
Setting her pen down onto the table, Paine looked at Gippal. He was muttering to himself, thumb on his chin.
"What." Paine demanded.
Gippal looked at her in shock.
"What?"
"Why are you pacing around this room back and forth like a maniac? It's distracting."
Gippal twitched.
"I guess I'm just uneasy about this whole thing… hey, man, you really don't know where Tidus is?"
Paine shook her head, rolling her eyes, and picked her pen up again. She didn't think she wanted to know.
Gippal ignored her reaction, and looked towards Yuna hopefully. Catching his eye, she shook her head.
"Why are you so worried?" Yuna asked peacefully, whilst taking a taste test of the soup. She blew on it gently before bringing the spoon to the tip of her tongue, tasting it thoughtfully. Hmm, maybe it needs a little more salt.
Gippal shrugged. "Don't know… I have a hunch."
Paine almost snorted. Gippal. Had a hunch. Mhmm. Yeah. Keep going.
Yuna made a, Hm,-suit-yourself look and turned back to her cooking. Working in the kitchens at the Faction had to be the most enjoyable job in the world, she thought. It felt nice, spending her time thinking up of new lunches, and watching everyone dig in; This is awesome, Yuna. It was so satisfying.
Suddenly, as if on cue, a question that had been at the back of her mind for quite a while reared its head.
"Why is this thing men's only anyway?" Yuna asked.
Gippal looked up at her. She tilted her head a little to the side questioningly.
"I… Well… Cid wanted to find someone who would be capable of handling things on their own, y'know, not let things get out of hand, know what to do if something blew up…" He talked about the building blowing up in the most casual way, as if it were nothing. Maybe it was just the way he had been brought up; with the Al Bhed. The Yevonites certainly were not that open-minded about single-handedly destructing a large room built of stone and marble.
Yuna blinked. Uncle Cid was involved in the program? That was new. But how he wanted a men to be the only ones to apply for the program? That, wasn't. In fact, it sounded exactly like Cid.
"Don't you think it's a little…" She trailed off, stirring her large wooden spoon in the giant vat of soup.
"Sexist?" Paine's voice came from the other end of the room. Gippal spun on the balls of his feet to face her. He shrugged.
"That's what I said at first," He answered, grinning. "There's nothin' like a hot chick that can-" Gippal stopped as he caught Paine's face and changed his direction. "It wasn't my fault. Cid was the one who said there weren't going to be any girls allowed. You know how he is," He finished, scowling at her. Paine shook her head.
"I do not."
"Well," He paused, then turned to Yuna. "You do,"
Yuna nodded.
"He's very, very traditional."
"It's still sexist."
"Hey, look, I can't do anything about it, alright?"
Paine nodded nonchalantly before turning back once more to her papers. Gippal made a face. He made himself a mental note never to say anything in front of Paine's face that could possibly lead to another of her feminist rights action philosophies ever again. It would be unbearable to endure another of her long, lecture-come-threat sessions. Threats to shove her sword up my ass, at least, Gippal thought scathingly. He shuddered. Whilst Paine spent her days as a sarcastic, yet seemingly innocent secretary to the Faction, he knew she was also a gifted warrior, and although he also had his fair share of skill in combat, he did not want to come face to face with an angry Paine that wielded a large and potentially harmful, sword.
"It's too late to change it now," Gippal said. "People'll start coming in soon."
Paine's face remained blank. It didn't concern her, much, anyway. He was the boss, and it was his choice, wether to let women apply or not. Not her business.
Shrugging away again, Gippal continued to pace the room as the scratching sound of Paine's pen occupied the room once more.
Brother stared at his friend's interaction with his sister. He was almost encouraging her, Buddy, he was, with that stupid grin and all that chuckling. That, would spell the downfall of his sister. No, wait, suggesting that she dress up as a boy had been the moment her dignity had flown out the door, so this didn't count. Wait, what was he saying? Yes, wait, hold on, no. What?!
Brother shook his head as if to shake his thoughts off and looked at Rikku.
"Rikku?" He said quietly.
Rikku looked up at him.
"I'm going to do it," She said. "Who cares, it's only for a month,"
Buddy grinned. Rikku, dress up as a boy? This, he had to see.
"Alright," He said.
"You'll let me come? REALLY? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
"Yep. But on the deal that no-one spills. Got it?" He said to Brother. Buddy didn't understand why Brother was so reluctant. It was all a huge joke, right?
Rikku could be heard whooping and giggling in delight in the background.
Brother ignored Buddy and walked out the door, straight backed and solemn.
"I am going to tell Vydran."
Rikku stopped laughing and stared wide eyed at her brother.
"But… Pops is never gonna agree!"
Buddy chortled and patted Rikku on the head.
"I think, that was the point, Rikku."
"Oh."
Great.
"Man, I'm beat," A young man's voice rang through the kitchen. Yuna looked up to see him, tanned, stocky, shaggy blond hair, toolbox in his hand, grease stain down his front. She smiled eagerly at him and her expression brightened.
Grinning and waving at Yuna, Tidus pulled out a chair next to Paine and collapsed down onto it, his toolbox hitting the floor with a loud clank. Gippal jumped and turned to for the source of the noise before he glowered at him. Tidus noisily picked up an apple off the bowl on the table before chomping down on it, biting a large chunk out of the flesh and eating it with gusto. A little juice dripped down his chin and Paine made a noise in disgust. It was horrible, the way he ate sometimes, he was so messy and so immature. Yet, because she was so used to his behaviour, she had no will to tell him off. But that didn't mean she understood him. In fact, she didn't even understand what Yuna saw in the guy.
"Where were you?" Gippal asked.
Tidus shrugged.
"Highroad,"
"Why?"
Tidus shrugged again before he took another huge bite out of his apple.
"Hover broke down," The sound of him chewing through the fruit was starting to bother Paine. She flicked her hair.
Yuna eyed the three at the tables, still stirring the pot.
Tidus looked at the girl at the stove. "When's lunch?" He grinned.
Yuna smiled.
"Soon,"
"What is it?"
"Soup and bread, pasta if anyone wants it,"
The blonde man nodded before taking one last bite from his apple and setting the core down onto the table. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up, picking his box up.
"Gotta go find Blappa. Give me a yell when lunch is ready," Tidus walked out with a wave. Paine rolled her eyes. Was food the only thing he ever thought about? Probably, considering the size of his brain. Not very big.
Gippal's eye widened, and he set off on his way after Tidus, intent on asking him about the bunk arrangements.
Apparently not noticing the two's departure, Paine frowned disgustedly again at the apple core and poked it with the end of her pen.
Buddy and Rikku hurried out of the room. Rikku felt extremely sticky and dirty, what with being covered head to toe in sand and sweat, but she didn't care. She wanted to go to D'jose, and wanted the job. Cid had to let her go, he couldn't say no. Who knew, maybe she'd even pick up a nice boy there, settle down eventually and even pop out the old man a kid or two. That was what he wanted from his daughter, wasn't it?
The two approached the door in which they knew Cid was behind, and Brother also, now probably spilling everything about Rikku's ridiculous idea of cross-dressing.
At the door, the two looked at each other, Rikku had a frown on her face. Buddy grinned and shrugged.
"I think it's great," He said. "Seeing you dress up as a boy?"
Rikku flushed.
"It isn't gonna be that funny,"
"Oh, yes it is,"
Rikku rolled her eyes. She stood with Buddy, the two unable to decide wether to knock or not.
"What is it, boy," Cid asked his son, his tone gruff and impatient.
Brother cleared his throat.
"Vydran, I have something to say."
"Well, spill the beans then, I haven't got all day,"
Brother cleared his throat again.
"Rikku is going to D'jose."
Cid looked up. "And what's yer point?"
"She is going to D'jose."
"Alright,"
"Vydran," Brother groaned. "Rikku ec kuehk du ku du D'jose du zueh dra Sylreha Vyldeuh'c ybbnahdelacreb bnuknys dryd ec vun sah uhmo! Oui sicd cdub ran!" Apparently switching back to his native tongue was much easier at a time of stress like this.
Cid raised an eyebrow. Rikku was going to do the apprenticeship program? But that was mad, Rikku, entering it. He had been the one to specify to Gippal after all, that choosing a boy was the best option to share the Machine Faction's responsibilities, and Rikku was going to join? Cid frowned.
"Is that it?" Cid asked his son.
Brother nodded, dumbfounded. He had expected much, much more, a shout, a yell, maybe even a roar of fury, but this? No way!
Cid frowned again, stared at the table for a moment, then quickly drew his conclusion.
"So are you here tryna' tell me to stop her from goin' to D'jose?"
Brother nodded once more.
"Well then you're wastin' your time, boy, go find another bone to pick,"
"Fryd?! Fro?!"
"You know better than me you can't change no mind of hers when it's set, your mother was the same way. If she wants to go, then you'll let her go, you hear?"
"Pid fro- Vydran- Ed fyc cbaleveat, sah uhmo!"
"That's right," Cid replied, bored. "Gippal knows darn well he ain't gonna hire some girl to do it, so you just let her off on her own. She'll be lucky if Gippal even lets her try, anyway,"
"Pid-"
"Shut yer trap, boy, I'm busy. Now you get goin'." Cid dismissed his son with an easy wave of the hand.
Cid knew, that in any given situation his daughter could probably outsmart her elder brother in any way, and with no difficulty whatsoever. Fine, then, let her try, he didn't mind. But he knew, even if Rikku got so far, Gippal would probably decide against her gender and choose not to hire her. I'll be, he thought, a woman, directing a Faction? Preposterous. Well, that was the way things went, wasn't it? And if Gippal felt as if all the girls should be given an equal chance as well? It was the boy's Faction, and he had no business with that, so he could do whatever he pleased then.
Feeling hopeless, Brother turned and left with a last angry snort.
Opening the door angrily, Brother came face to face with Rikku and Buddy, the former whom was snorting with giggles. Brother's eyes narrowed. It was obvious she had listened to their entire conversation inside the office.
He walked away.
Buddy rolled his eyes and ran forwards to catch up with his friend, leaving Rikku standing outside the office alone.
"Ignore him, Rikku. Pack your stuff tonight, we ain't wastin' no time. I'll tell Cid we're leaving in three days, alright?" He called over his shoulder as he left.
Yes! Rikku thought. She made a happy jig on the spot. Buddy had agreed to take her!
Hmph, well too bad if Brother didn't want her to go. He wouldn't stop her, nope, even Cid had said that she were to be allowed to go.
Turning to head towards Home's living quarters, she made her way to her room before collapsing onto her bed, exhaustion finally setting in.
That day, Rikku decided on one thing before the sun set.
She wanted that job. She wanted the position, and she was going to get it. She was going to show Brother how much determination she carried, just how good an engineer she was, and she was going to kick his ass.
Translations:
"Rikku ec kuehk du ku du D'jose du zueh dra Sylreha Vyldeuh'c ybbnahdelacreb bnuknys dryd ec vun sah uhmo! Oui sicd cdub ran!" - Rikku is going to go to D'jose to join the Machine Faction's apprenticeship program that is for men only! You must stop her!
"Fryd?! Fro?!" - What?! Why?!
"Pid fro- Vydran- Ed fyc cbaleveat, sah uhmo!" - But why- Father- It was specified, men only!
A/N:
This was a filler. The real plot starts next, and it gets better, I swear it does. Come back soon :D
R&R :)
RC