Auron's first job was to be a full-time warrior monk, an occupation at which he succeeded for several years, earning higher ranks right and left. Only when he joined Lord Braska as a guardian did he realize he never enjoyed it that much, especially at that point where he was denied a promotion because he refused marriage to the high priest's daughter.
'I made the right decision then,' he was thinking, 'but what about now? At least it's a start.'
Presently, he was waiting inside Djose Temple waiting for an interview. He had been offered jobs in politics and such, which was something he chose to avoid, so he found himself in want of a job working on projects with the Al Bhed. Newspapers were looking for someone strong, which was only one of the many things Auron had to offer.
Can you speak Al Bhed? they asked. Yes, he'd told them, but not fluently. Was he good at operating machinery? He'd guarded prisons and such before, as well as disassembled machina when necessary. Can you dig fast? Well, they'd wait and see. After all, they'd told him he might not have to dig very often, if at all.
A pair of double-doors opened and a very young man, not very tall, made his way down the long staircase. Auron had almost never hung his mouth open stupidly, but was coming close to it when he recognized this figure.
Gippal, he finally realized, was the leader of the Al Bhed Machine Faction. It was one thing that he looked strange, with his spiked blond hair that stood up at least five inches high, a black eyepatch where his right eye should be (that complication being the only thing he and Auron had in common), in a pink and purple emo-punk styled suit held by gold suspenders, buckled straps hanging at his legs, and violet gloves that overlapped the ends of his lavender long-sleeved shirt. It was another thing that he was of a rather disagreeable character, not meaning any harm but he was still loud and arrogant. Not to mention he was Rikku's ex-boyfriend, perhaps the most offensive part of the whole picture.
Auron easily dismissed other people's sense of fashion, having known Tidus so many years, but seeing Gippal the first time not long ago only reminded him of Leblanc, looking not that masculine. And he also didn't condone dirty jokes all that well, but in this case, he couldn't help relating the mention of his name with Nipple. And too bad the boy's name wasn't Richard Cranium; it meant all the more fun for the older warrior.
"Well, holy crap!" Gippal burst unprofessionally. "Sir Auron! Are you really here for an interview?"
"I thought I was," he replied, gritting his teeth. "Am I really going to be working under you"
"Eh, not really. Anyways, you can't be just another celebrity looking to play in the sand. We've got a better position for you, if you're interested." His smile was toothy and his pastel eyes showed insecurity. Gippal could tell that Auron hadn't forgotten Valentine's Day, though there was really no concrete proof that either one of the two men bore a grudge against the other.
"And what's that?"
"Well, how do you like the idea of construction? Remodeling? We can have you in here working on our new experiment, raising its level. You spend very little time in the sandbox, and there's always room for you at the Al Bhed Home. You know, they just rebuilt it, and you get snazzy bachelor's quarters for very low rent." Gippal leaned against the table and snapped open a can of an Al Bhed cactus drink. "Want one?"
"No, thank you," Auron said, shifting in his chair, "but-"
"Ehh, well, you'll be given plenty of 'em on Bikanel Island, heh heh," the boy answered nervously. "Anyway, if you're interested, sign this contract"-and he pushed a long piece of paper in front of him with a feather pen-"and if you want, you can start today. I'll even help you move all your stuff in, and take care of the first month's rent."
Walking away would have been very easy, considering all that Auron had been through with other people before. He knew full well how to determine whether or not he'd be at the bad end of a deal. But as much as he disliked Gippal, the kid offered him what he couldn't refuse.
"Why, thank you. And I take it that the last part is written in the contract?"
"Of course."
"Well then," Auron said with a sinister grin, scrawling his name, "how old are you, boy?"
"Eighteen, sir." Gippal stood ramrod straight and his eyes couldn't meet Auron's, shifting uneasily between the door, Auron's sunglasses, the floor, and his hands.
"You're doing a fine job. And if you screw up, I know the legal technicalities, in the common language as well as Al Bhed."
"Sir-yes-sir."
"Until next we meet, boss."
"Sir-yes-sir!"
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"Rikku! Cdub puihlehk dryd pymm! Oui'na tnejehk ic ymm lnywo! Stop bouncing that ball! You're driving us all crazy!" Her father's voice echoed in the corridor and Rikku only smiled. "Frydajan rybbahat du oui fungehk ynuiht rana? Whatever happened to you working around here?"
"E's y ruica-kiacd, nasaspan? I'm a house-guest, remember?" she hollered back, playing with her cheap carnival prize and thinking about Auron's fast reflexes. She had been up and about since daybreak, eating out of boredom, annoying Brother, and doing anything to avoid dwelling upon what Auron told her two days ago at the Calm Lands. It wasn't as if she had any friends to catch up with, only technicians who asked for help behind Cid's back. Being the leader's daughter didn't necessarily mean any worthwhile social interaction.
"Ran luhland'c uh damajeceuh duhekrd Her concert's on TV tonight," one of the technicians told her in one of the basements later that afternoon, turning up the volume on a handheld radio to a song by an Al Bhed singer. "E raynt cra'c clratimat du cehk y tiad fedr Rekr Cissuhan Yuna I heard she's scheduled to sing a duet with High Summoner Yuna."
"E tuipd dryd I doubt that," Rikku laughed. "E fuimt ghuf ymm ypuid ed I would know all about it." She looked over the man's experiment, but could only see a little over this guy, who was bent over with a wrench in an uncomfortable position for hours now, and in an uncomfortable jumpsuit too.
"Drana'c y haf kio fru'c lusa There's a new guy who's come," he said to her, wiping the sweat off his tan forehead. "E drehg ouin vydran'c kuehk du syga oui ryja tehhan fedr ic du famlusa res I think your father's going to make you have dinner with us to welcome him."
Dinner was coming already? It amazed Rikku how time went by so fast when she was doing absolutely nothing. Dinner with the guys was something to do at least, even if it was supposed to be Brother's turn to welcome a newcomer.
Repairmen, assemblers, and construction guys alike ate in a circle in the common area outside of their living quarters, on a mat laid out on the floor. Rikku mentioned to her father years ago that they should have tables for the workers, but Cid only said they should weld their own. Unfortunately, as she recalled, they all had too little time to do so.
Rikku sat down with her tray in the circle of men, with a blank expression on her face as a beeping sound came from a machina who came scuttling by carrying a wastebasket. Everyone became silent, beginning to devour their cold noodles, until a door slid open from the steam room and a large figure with a sheet draped over his arm walked in. Maybe no one noticed except her, but Rikku's jaw dropped as she realized that the man wasn't a worker, and that wasn't a sheet draped over his arm-it was a red overcoat.
"Auron?" she gasped, unable to restrain herself. And in walked her knight with smudges on his face and smelling of smoke, hot metal, gloves, and old tools.
"Rikku," he said, nodding calmly when he saw her, yet his heart slammed within his chest. "I didn't think you were coming home."
The Al Bhed sitting around them only looked up from time to time, not understanding what they were saying.
"Well, really I'm just visiting, but... you got a job here of all places?"
"Pays well," he breathed, touching his frazzled hair and wiping his face with his napkin. "And Gippal agreed to pay for my first month's rent."
"You only get just one of those," Rikku said, pointing to his napkin. Quickly she ran into another room and came back with a can of that familiar sweet cactus drink and another napkin, bending over him and setting them on his tray. "Just don't tell Pops I did that. 'Cause he's cheap, and when everyone else starts wanting one...."
"It's alright. Thank you, Rikku. And," he added, catching her wrist tightly in his hand as she started to go, speaking softly into her ear with the coarseness she loved, "it looks like I'll be seeing you around quite often."