Edonil: You're all too good to me! So I had to write. Besides, my horoscope said yesterday (when I started writing this) that I'd be creative. I took it as a good sign… :) So, as to my lovely reviewers (how wonderful you are!)… Congratulations, RefugeofSouls, for being my first reviewer for this story (I think). And as for your accusation that I'm hypnotizing you, I'm not, I swear ((she says while fiddling with one of those little watches on chains hypnotists use)). You're imagining it… Balthier, I agree; I did need to reveal a little more plot before any good titles can be suggested. Gypsy Queen, I suppose I should add more emotion, etc… Well, let's see how this goes, eh? (And yes, I am Canadian!) Ikecer, interesting title, I might keep it in mind for a future story, but I don't think that'll work for this one… Besides, I think I've got it figured out. But thanks for the input! And so, with very little more ado…
Disclaimer: All I own is… uh… Hmm… Nothing. Not even this computer; it's my dad's.
Advertisement: I've got another picture of darling Kuja on my website! If you go to www(dot)edonil(dot)com, he's near the bottom of my updates page. And while you're there looking at beautiful Kuja, perhaps you could check out some of my other artwork and original stories?
To Challenge Perfection
Chapter Two: Dinner
"Dagger! Wait!" Zidane caught up to Dagger, looking worried. "Dagger… Wait!" Dagger hadn't stopped walking; heck, she hadn't even glanced at him. "Come on, Dagger; what's the matter?"
"What's the matter!" Dagger's voice raised another octave. "How can you be so calm!" She then broke into a run.
"Hey!" Zidane hurried off after Dagger. Eidolons, she was fast. When had she had time to become an awesome runner? Wasn't she off doing queen-ish things? "Dagger! Please! Just… Let me explain!"
"Alright." Dagger stopped so suddenly Zidane crashed into her. "Explain."
"See, I was in the Iifa Tree, and it was collapsing a little, but suddenly all these vines came at us, so I had to protect Kuja with my body. Then I was unconscious, but Kuja used his magic to heal me somehow. I guess it was like when everybody healed us right before we got Necron. So anyway, I was healed, so I dragged Kuja out, and we both survived. I took him to Madain Sari, and the moogles healed him, and then we left for Lindblum. Dagger, he is an awesome fighter. I probably would've died without him! So… Just give him a chance. Please?" Dagger frowned slightly.
"I…" She looked at Zidane's pleading face, and something inside her broke down. "Alright, I'll give him a chance. Only one, though. And I will not like him. Only tolerate him. Understand?"
"Thank you!" Zidane breathed, relief plain on his face. Dagger only nodded coldly and continued walking.
"Ach!" Zidane hurried after his love. "Dagger, please, please, please don't give me the cold shoulder!" He pouted. "Please?"
"Zidane…" Dagger sighed. "Alright, I won't hate you. But you'll have to work to get me to like you." Seeing Zidane's rather promiscuous look, she added, "Zidane!"
"What?" Seeing her glare, he grinned. "Hey, I can dream!" Dagger gave a rather un-queenly snort. "Alright, alright. My Lady, may I escort you to the palace?" he asked, bowing low and offering her his arm. Dagger grinned and brushed off her dress, seeming to stand taller.
"Zidane, we're already at the palace. And the correct way to address me is 'My Queen' or 'Your Highness', peasant."
"Hmm… My Queen, shall I escort you to wherever it is you are going?"
"Very well, Mr. Zidane." Grinning like the immature adolescents they were, the two 'regally' strutted off.
((Some time later…))
"Ah, there you are, Captain Steiner." Steiner bowed deeply to his queen, giving Zidane only the smallest of nods.
"How might I serve you, Your Highness?"
"Please inform the kitchens that I am dining with only a few companions tonight." Steiner shot Zidane an angry look, then turned his attention back to his queen.
"And how many must the kitchens prepare fore, My Queen?"
"Uh… Three." Zidane looked surprised.
"Three, My Queen?"
"Yes, three." Glancing around, Dagger added, "And I would greatly appreciate it if Beatrix could be present. In fact, why don't you tell the kitchens four; Beatrix can join us."
"Yes, My Queen." Steiner hurried off, looking confused.
"Uh… Dagger, who…?" Zidane asked, his facial expressions similar to that of Steiner.
"I suppose I will have to get used to Kuja, even if I don't like him. And dinner will be a lovely time to talk."
Yes, of course, Zidane thought. 'Talk'. You mean interrogate, I suppose… Ah, well, nothing I can do, and Eidolons know Kuja deserves it.
((Some time later…))
"Oy! Kuja!" Zidane hammered on Kuja's door.
"Ah, Zidane. What a pleasant surprise. Do come in." Zidane had not yet figured out how a man in make-up, a skirt, and a thong managed to sound as suave as Kuja.
"Actually, I'm kinda busy. I just came to tell you you're invited to dinner tonight with Dagger and me at seven o'clock."
"Just yourself and the Queen?" Kuja delicately raised an eyebrow. Somehow, calling Dagger 'the Queen' had made Zidane sound uncouth. He'd have to figure out how Kuja did it.
"And Beatrix."
"Ah. Of course." Kuja smiled politely. "Well, be assured, I will be there." He then politely and amiably inclined his head and closed the door.
It was disgusting. Kuja never did anything more than be polite and respectful, yet he seemed so… refined. He never said a wrong word, oh no; in fact, everything he said seemed to make Zidane sound uncouth, indolent, or just plain vulgar. How could a man who lazed around all day sipping tea and fixing his hair make Zidane sound indolent and vulgar! It wasn't fair…
((Some time later…))
"He's late. Zidane…" Zidane flinched.
"No, he's not, Dagger. See? He still has one minute."
"No, he doesn't. Thirty seconds, maybe." Rolling her eyes at the bickering, Beatrix reached over and turned the clock to face them.
"There, see! Dagger, he has… Uh… Ten seconds."
"Nine seconds. Eight," Dagger counted. "Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Zer-"
Someone knocked on the door. The knock was neither too loud nor too soft. It was assertive, with a slight hint of deference. In short, it was perfect.
Zidane cursed under his breath. Damn perfect, punctual genomes.
"Beatrix, why don't you let our guest in?" Dagger smoothed her skirts, and patted down invisible stray hairs. Getting up, Beatrix adjusted her sword with one hand, patting down her invisible stray hairs with the other. Zidane fluffed his hair out, making it stand even more on end.
"Hello, Kuja," Beatrix said politely, opening the door. Kuja walked in, nodding politely to Zidane, giving a small bow to Beatrix, and giving a formal bow to Dagger once he'd reached the table.
Damn the man!
"Queen Garnet til Alexandros XVII, I was delighted to receive your invitation," he said elegantly. His hair was perfect. Damn him. "I hope I am not late."
"Oh, no," replied Dagger, sounding faintly strangled. "You're just on time… exactly. Please, sit." Smiling politely, Kuja complied.
"Ah!" said the tiny chef from the door. "All zee guests, they 'ave arrived! Announcing… DINNÉ!" Zidane snorted at the man's accent. Dagger glared at him. Zidane shrugged.
"So… I hear you spent some time in Treno once, Kuja," Beatrix said at last, breaking the silence.
"Ah, yes, I did. Have you been there?" Kuja asked, nodding his thanks to the servant who brought him his soup.
"Yes, actually, the Queen recently was on a royal visit there. Fascinating place."
"Indeed. Did you… see any of the sights?" Kuja leaned forward slightly, indicating his interest.
Curse the man, he looked completely at home!
As Beatrix told Kuja about some Treno attraction she had seen, Zidane looked blankly at the cutlery around his bowl. How many spoons could a guy possibly need? Looking helplessly at Dagger, he managed to catch her eye. After a few seconds, she smiled slightly and lifted her own spoon. Taking note of the shape and size, Zidane was able to approximate which one it was.
"Ah yes. I don't suppose you went by Queen Stella?" Kuja was asking Beatrix. "If not, you should visit her some time; her collection of Stellazzio is quite fascinating."
"Oh, I've heard of it. Zidane, didn't you help recover some of those coins?" Beatrix and Kuja turned to Zidane. Zidane looked around uncomfortably.
"Uh… Yeah, when we were off, uh… questing, we came across some… all… of them. Uh… They look… nice, I guess."
"Indeed? I suppose you saw them as well, Your Majesty?" Kuja asked. Dagger nodded.
"Yes. I must say, the inscriptions on them told a fascinating tale- Thank you," she added to the servant who removed her soup bowl and gave her a plate of potatoes, meats, roasted vegetables, and other main course foods. Glancing down, she delicately picked up a fork, seemingly at random, as did Kuja and Beatrix.
Glancing down at all his options, Zidane figured he'd wing it. He began to pick up a fork- and hurriedly set it down again when the servant frowned slightly. Watching the servant closely, Zidane moved his hand over the forks. When the servant nodded, Zidane picked it up.
It looked more or less the same as all the others, but what did he know?
The conversation progressed from there. Zidane only vaguely followed it. Something about some people that did something… Whatever. He didn't really care. Trying to eat properly was taking up all his concentration, anyway.
Then dessert came.
Zidane looked at the dish in front of him. Ok, blueberries … So any spoon was good, right? No, probably not. So, uh… That one was big and round; that probably wasn't it. That one was also kind of big; weren't dessert spoons smaller? Uh… That one was small. He picked it up… The two ladies snorted- Kuja simply looked amused.
"Zidane, if you don't know which spoon is the fruit spoon, you could just ask," Dagger said, smiling. Zidane scowled.
"Fruit spoon? What nonsense is this!" Dagger and Beatrix hid smiles behind their hands. Kuja didn't smile at all, of course- he was perfect, as always- but still managed to convey the impression of amusement.
"You must be glad we are not having a royal feast," Kuja said. "After all, then there would be a strawberry spoon, a blueberry spoon, a raspberry spoon-"
"Ok, ok, I get the picture." Picking up the other desert-type spoon- which honestly looked exactly the same- Zidane started eating. The others went back to their aristocratic discussion.
As dinner drew to a close, the discussion turned to summoning magic.
"Ah, yes, Your Highness, I have heard of those writings, but I've never had the opportunity to see them," Kuja was saying to Dagger.
"Really? I don't suppose you can read the script."
"Actually, I can; it was part of my education. Why do you ask?"
"We have a copy here in Alexandria. I've been trying to puzzle out the meaning, but it is difficult. I don't suppose you would mind dropping by the library some time?"
"Not at all, Your Highness."
"Please, call me Garnet."
"As you wish, Garnet." They smiled at each other. Zidane bristled. Curse the man! Damn perfect genomes…
"Wonderful!" Dagger exclaimed. "When are you available?"
"I have copious free time, Garnet. It is not like I have anything to do. Thank you," he added, speaking to the servant who cleared his bowl.
"Really? I don't suppose you're available now?"
"I have nothing better to do now, Garnet."
"Lovely! Beatrix, I don't think we'll be needing you…"
"Of course, Majesty," Beatrix said, saluting. "I will go off and see how big a mess Steiner has made in my absence." Nodding to Kuja and Zidane, she left the room.
"Good idea. And Zidane," Dagger turned to Zidane, "Um… Do you want to come? I can't imagine you'd be interested…"
"I'll go hang out with the guys," Zidane told her. "I'd only be bored out of my mind."
"Excellent! Now, Kuja…" Kuja and Dagger walked off, leaving Zidane alone.
Dammit!
Edonil: And so, we leave our hero forlorn as his girlfriend goes off to the library with the perfect genome… By the way, as to the spoons, I actually did look up pictures of dessert and fruit spoons, and I didn't see a difference. Google 'fruit spoon' if you're wondering what one looks like. And please review!
