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(A/N: Yayyy! End of Chapter 1! I've had the concept of a Rikku story in my head longer than any other story idea I've put out there to date. You could say it's sort of my baby. Haha. Anyway, I'm doing everything I can to make this story the best that I can make it, bringing out personalities and giving a good mix of dialogue and story. But I won't give anything away quite yet! You have to stay tuned! Please, please, please review...I live for those things. :grin:)
Glass Half-Full
Chapter 2: Stoagies and Sticky Shoes
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In the city of Bevelle, life and excitement was booming as usual; this time, though, three familiar people paid a special visit in order to shop for the upcoming wedding of Nooj and Leblanc.
"No," a crimson-eyed beauty with a tough exterior simply stated. "There is no way in this world that you'll get me into that horrible outfit unless you intend on getting hurt."
"But Paaaaa-aaaine!" Rikku whined, holding the frilly white outfit in front of her, "I think it would give you an air of elegance!"
"No no no...try on this." Yuna cut in, holding an aquamarine replica right in front of it. The silver-haired woman looked at both of them like they were compeltely inept and shook her head.
"These frills would make anybody look like a pansy. I'm not wearing it."
All three let out a sigh, being completely overwhelmed by the whole situation. The wedding of Nooj and Leblanc was going to be very talked about in the near future, so it pretty much went without saying that nobody wanted to be the worst-dressed attendent at the wedding. Not even the toughest of girl warriors wanted to look bad. Finally, though, Paine's eyes lit up when she spotted something on the opposite wall. As she glided across the room in a swift movement, she snatched up a blazer, a pair of pants and a blouse and dashed off to a changing room. She was tired of looking at all of the sickeningly girly things that her friends were throwing at her and simply wanted to get out of this heavily-perfumed store as quickly as possible.
Taking a cue from their take-no-crap friend, Rikku and Yuna hurridly split up and began searching for their own items. In the end, they all decided on things that complimented their personality as well as their body. Paine's tight leather pants and matching jacket had enough sophistication to pass for a wedding, and the crimson blouse complimented her eyes. Yuna decided on a pink, spaghetti-strapped peasant blouse with a tanned, knee-length skirt. Finally, Rikku wore an emerald-green spaghetti-strapped dress with a matching shawl. Rikku's outfit, for whatever reason, stirred up questions amongst her friends.
"Wow...uh...you're pretty conservative there, Rikku. Everything alright?" Paine teased as she gave her the up-down. Rikku went to playfully punch her on the shoulder, but wisely changed her mind.Yuna chimed in.
"Yeah, where's the spunky, on-edge Rikku that we all know and love?" she asked, ruffling her cousin's blonde hair.Rikku put her hands on her hips, scowling right back.
"What's the big deal you two meanies! Can't a girl be...sophisticated once in awhile?" she spat back accusingly, her green eyes burning with anger.
"Easy, princess. Just wanted to know why the change. It just doesn't seem like you, that's all." Paine uncharacteriscally comforted, and Rikku calmed a little. Only a little, though, seeing as being called 'princess' was a constant reminder of her so-far secret future.
"I just...maybe I don't wanna be a spinstress all my life!"
"But you're only half-passed 19."
"So? Yunie's only 20 and she's got Tidus!"
"And...?"
"And Paine! You're 21 and you've got---"
"Say 'Baralai' and I'll kick you in the fallopian tube."
It was lucky that Paine had suddenly decided to be so blunt, seeing as Rikku's mind was starting to swim with thoughts and emotions that she wasn't used to.
"I..." Rikku went to spit out everything that she meant, but the hard lump forming in her throat made it difficult. At this point, Paine and Yuna had completely given their attention to their tongue-tied comrade. "I don't want to be left behind. I want to find my place, too." She stuttered, sliding a slightly-damp hand over her forehead and onto the top of her head.The talk with Cid had made her uncomfortable for this very reason; she hated to even think about being alone, let alone confront the people that were seemingly abandoning her. Rikku's exterior was a bubbly, happy girl whose silliness and natural honesty drowned out her insecurities. Insecurities like growing up too fast and being left in the dust by people she thought of as family. And now, right here in the middle of a Bevellian dress shop, all of those insecurites were suddenly emerging in front of everybody. It was embarassing, to say the least.
Slowly, Yuna took a step towards her and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Rikku...what happened? Who put these ideas in your head and made you feel this?"
Rikku shrugged uncomfortably, then tried to laugh it off.
"It's just something Pops said earlier. Duties of an adult and whatnot. Heh. You know how it goes!" she giggled, walking towards the register to pay for her items. Paine and Yuna stood for a moment of hesitation, then followed. Rikku had gone from one extreme to the other, then back down just as quickly without warning. Nobody had ever seen her act the way she did that day, but they also knew that Rikku was the type who would talk when she felt obligated to. They would wait for that time to come, but do their best to cheer their good friend up in the meantime.
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A week and a half later and the wedding was already upon them. Paine had decided to stay on board the Celcius for old times' sake; at least until the wedding was over. After that, it was back to Bevelle to continue this mysterious soul-searching that Baralai was supposedly aiding her with. It was strange to see a person like Paine turn to somebody else in order to figure out something about herself. It was no mystery that she was a very tight-lipped person in regards to practically everything around her, so the shock still hadn't worn off of Yuna and Rikku that she requested that an upstanding political leader help her figure out...whatever it was that she was figuring out. Yet even though this certain man happened to be a politician, he was still the same Baralai that had gone out for the Crimson Squad with Paine as their recorder. And perhaps that was the comfort in the change that happened so frequently in Spira. No matter what events turned their world inside-out, they all usually managed to stay true to the people they've always been.
Yuna had been contacted after returning to the Celcius from dress shopping by one of the people on Leblanc's wedding staff. Apparently, Leblanc was practically on her knees begging for Yuna to sing something at the reception. Something about unity and blah, blah, blah...whatever it was sounded a lot like the reason for singing in the Thunder Plains. Vegnagun was gone, and the final merging of all the people, Al Bhed, New Yevonites, Youth League members alike, still needed some final touches. And obviously, anybody who was anybody was coming to their wedding, so a song by the already walked-on High Summoner would be just perfect. Yuna was only mildly irritated and didn't let anybody see it, but she did decide to shake things up with whatever she sang. In the end it had to be appropriate for a wedding, so vengeance-laced trance songs about breakups were out the window. And since nobody seemed to realize that Yuna had been trying to appear more risque, the lyrics had to have a little added spiciness to make people wonder. Yes, nothing but high-energy, sexy fun for this new single. Perhaps Tidus would see her in a new light as well...
Rikku had settled down from her minor-dress-shop-meltdown after awhile, but not before giving herself a good ego-bruising. She'd sat up in her bed, staring out the window and wondering what she had to do to get herself out of such a strange funk.
Okay... she thought, What upset me in the first place? I mean besides the thought of Prostitution R Good Barbie squeezing into an equally tarty wedding dress? Yowch...easy, Rikku. Well, maybe that's just it! Love. Love makes me a little upset because everybody, harlots included, seems to have it except for me! So all I have to do is...ugh. Find my prince. Find my prince and I will be equally fulfilled. And mature.
Rikku happily bumbled off of her own bed and pranced down the stairs, stopping at Barkeep's bar. She ordered a martini for self-celebration, but before she left, she looked square at Barkeep and said,
"Know what?"
"Yeeeessssh?"
"I'm going to this wedding, and I'm going to have fun! Know why?"
"Well, Mish RikkuuUUU--"
"'Cause I'm young, I've saved the world twice, and I'm not going to be a spinstress!"
"Okey dokeshy Missh Rikku!"
With that, Rikku happily skipped off, careful not to spill her fresh drink all over herself. That would be a step in the wrong direction of maturiosity. Yes, sir. And there would be none of that.
SMACK.
Rikku ran right into some horribly misplaced wall. "Wha--? Tidus!"
Tidus had stumbled back a little bit as well, scratching the back of his head and blushing like a madman.
"S-sorry, Rikku! Heh heh. So clumsy lately! Whooo...hey, Barkeep! Got any specials tonight?"
Rikku cocked a blonde eyebrow and walked towards the elevator, wondering what in Lying Yevon's name had gotten into her cousin's boyfriend. Oh, dear. That was probably just it---what had Yuna done? She skipped a level and went straight down to the engine room in search of her crazy cousin. Lo and behold, Yuna was completely in character, pacing around in her songstress outfit. Her hair was nothing short of humoring as it stuck in every direction, and her flushed face was enough to tell her entire story without her even needing to say a word. But she did, anyway.
"I...I, uh, practiced my song for Tidus just now! It was the first time that he got to see me sing, and, uh..."
"You didn't even get past the second line before he saw you in that songstress outfit and jumped you?" Rikku empathized, fingering through her cousin's hair and doing what she could with it. Yuna's eyes turned into saucers.
"How did you know!"
Rikku giggled and shook her head.
"You're just radiating of glory and happiness. That, and your bra is still on the floor over there." she replied, before leaving a stunned Yuna to silently freak out. But to Rikku, all of life's strange happenings were peachy-keen, jelly bean. Even those horrid images that wouldn't leave her mind couldn't get her down, because she, too, would have something to brag about come Saturday. She'd pick up some hopelessly adorable anti-yevonite and make him her love slave. Or just get her dad to be still for a moment while she tried to catch up with her friends.
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Guadosalem was every girl's dream on that Saturday. The whitest of flowers lined every wall, and the pyreflies that somehow managed to escape the Farplane gave the small city a sense of dream and euphoria that had been long gone in the solemn place. Too many bad things had happened in that city, so Nooj and Leblanc had to be given credit for trying to put something on Guadosalem's hypothetical list of "pros."
Hypellos had worked long and hard, lining hundreds of chairs in front of Leblanc's chateau, and now those chairs were being filled. Many, many people, most from high-standing positions within their communities talked amongst themselves; for Yuna, Rikku, and Paine, this sound was like music, seeing as nobody was raising their voice or throwing a punch.
The second the three were done ogling the gorgeous decorations, they took their seats, front and center, and waited for the procession to begin. While seated, many people approached them for autographs, which irritated them a little, to be honest. It's not that the former Gullwings were jaded about being sphere hunters or the hero of their people; it just bummed them out that the attention was being taken away from the wedding. Away from the reason that they were all there in the first place.
"High Summoner Yuna! What an honor!" shouted a man amidst the crowd. He came bumbling forward, a large, ungraceful man, and approached the three with no regard for etiquette whatsoever. This was made obvious by the large cigar sticking out of the side of his mouth and the way he was already drawing a business card. At a wedding that was due to start in roughly three minutes. Why wouldn't these people just let them be for right now!
"The name's Haaz Beachman, and I'm in the public relations business. You see, I want you to be on the cover of Spiran magazines all over the place. This blazing pop career that you've left behind; why not pick it back up? I mean, with saving the world like you've done, and quite a body for pict---" Haaz placed his left hand quite blatantly on Yuna's rear end but was cut off my Paine stepping between the two and staring down the stout man.
"Excuse me, Mr. Beachman, but we're at a wedding, and you're undressing the High Summoner with your eyes. Pretty thick for somebody in PR, don't you think?"
Haaz glared up at the woman, only slightly intimidated, and began to retort. Fortunately, a beautiful sound cut them off. The sound of music beginning the procession. Everybody took their seats, and the wedding began.
Whoaaaa! That was freaking awesome of Paine. Rikku thought as the soft music lulled everybody into a peaceful trance. Unwanted attention aside, this whole event hasn't been too bad! Ooh! Here comes Nooj all dressed up. Awww. He looks like such a softie in a tux like that. Cleans up pretty well, doesn't he?
Nooj did look very charming in his black suit as he came walking out of the Farplane entrance and onto the bridge. He smiled down at all of the spectators with a certain mist in his eyes that wouldn't be expected in a former Deathseeker. Turning his attention back to the Farplane tunnel, he watched as his groomsmen joined him on the makeshift alter.
Doodie doot doooo...hmm. Pretty music. Oh, man. Do I have gum stuck on the bottom of my heel? Cred! OK, Rikku, don't be un-graceful. No more cursing, and let's not look stupid while you check your shoe. Maybe I'll just step on Yuna's foot and see if we stick together. But I have to make it subtle...ready. One, two...oh look! Groomsm---OH, VILG! VILG, VILG, VILG. What is HE doing here!
Rikku watched in terror as Baralai walked on stage accompanied by...him. Gippal. Gippal and his tanned skin and his spiked hair and his eye patch and his sharp suit and his everything that Rikku hated to love. He really was such an egotist and always made her blood boil when he'd talk down to her in public. But while her blood boiled, there was something about him that made her furious and completely desperate for him at the same time.
They had been young and silly, flirtacious to a fault, and ended up together at one point. Rikku would never forget how into him she was, and she thought it was completely mutual. She even came to the decision that he would be the one she gave everything...everything to. But when that night came and they'd met in a machina graveyard to make that very exchange, he abruptly changed his mind. He changed his mind and said nothing more to her for months. At that point, he left to try out for the Crimson Squad, and Rikku left to save Yunie. Then, when they met in Djose two years later, he'd played it off like they were old friends. Chummy chum chummy Gippal and his obnoxious ways of hurting her in front of her friends without them having any idea at all. Every time the Machine Faction needed help, Rikku was forced to remember the way her 15 year old self experienced her first stupid heartbreak.
And now, Gippal and his manipulative ways, Gippal and his stupid tuxedo, they were standing up there being diplomats. While Rikku was being sticky and a deer-in-the-headlights. And now, Gippal was grazing the crowd with his eye; it landed on Rikku, and Gippal and his horrible self dared to smile at her.
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(A/N: Thank you again to the three of you that reviewed (very kindly, I might add) my last chapter! I hope you all enjoyed this one as well, and I'll update again on Monday. Until then, I must go give blood and probably die. Thanks for reading! -Lindsay-)