Chapter 8:- Dinning at Seymour's Part Two of Two

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Hall - Present Time

This house is the proof that no matter who the person may be, if they have more money than you, they flaunt it.

Right in your face.

And Seymour has definitely changed my opinion of his decorating skills.

All this expensive stuff may look pretty, and I may have nearly walked into the nearby wall because of my gawking, but that doesn't change the fact that it is all put together completely wrong and it definitely doesn't change the fact that I would give anything to be home at Bikanel.

Well, when I say everything, I mean everything apart from that pretty gem I stole the other day. That's just too damn pretty to give up.

But don't tell anyone that.

It's gonna be our little secret, okay?

Golly-gosh this place is tacky, I mean, if you're going to flaunt your extravagant wealth, you really should do it in style, I mean, those wall hangings and that colour, do not go well together, I mean, really. They should take some ideas from me, I have a million! Plus, I can make the colours orange and green look well together, now that's clever. . . .

OH MY DAYS THAT STATUE IS WEARING NO CLOTHES!!!

And it's male!

And his. . .

Oh I'm not even going to go there.

Innocent thoughts Rikku, innocent thoughts. . .

Mmmmm, hey, he looks like Auron. . .

Not that I've seen him in the nude or anything. . . .No joke, like I want to see him of all people naked.

That's just scary.

You know, I think I have seen that painting at least twice before. I knew I was lost! So I tumble into the nearest door, which just so coincidently happens to lead into the Maester Seymour's bathroom for the female part of the Guado and hopefully Spiran race.

Boy does he need an interior designer. Maybe I shall offer him my supreme services, or maybe not. It may offend him slightly.

"And what, pray tell, is an Al-Bhed scum like you, doing in my bathroom??"

Oh cred. It's little Blue Forelocks of Doom. . . .

I took a step backwards, as he walked towards me. He is rather tall. Never realised that before.

I was now backed up against the cold sink, Seymour was towering over me, and. . . .Isn't this the women's bathroom?

He leant over so his face was right next to mine, and his hands (Hey, you better watch where you put those buddy!) gripped my shoulders and pulled me closer to him and his fishy breath.

"I don't take nicely to thieves in my mansion, let alone an Al-Bhed such as you"

I gasped, and pushed myself away from him, the last thing I heard as I ran out of the door, was him calling "You don't belong in a place such as this"

Biting my lip I looked up to the ceiling as I ran (Mama always said this was good if you didn't wanna cry, and I just can't cry now)

I just don't understand why people can be so mean!! I never did nothing to them!!

When you see so much abuse been dealt to your family, even small comments can break you down to nothing.

I've seen that happen to Pops. Though he'd never tell.

Please let me find the dinning room!

Auron's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

Seymour excused himself awhile ago also.

Everyone sits, picking at their food. They don't know what to say.

Yuna picks her head up as the sound of the door being opened, and a drooping Rikku slumped in, but as soon as she saw us staring at her, she perked up and ran to her seat, chattering to us all at the same time.

"Mmm, this looks good! What is it? Where did Seymour go? Isn't he supposed to be here?"

I raise an eyebrow. Something is not right. And it is not the mango Steen I have in front of me.

The mango Steen is very nice indeed.

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

Phew, I think I pulled that one off okay. Don't think anyone noticed my slight lapse in hyper activity. . . .Well, Kimahri may have, I'm not quite sure.

Ewwwww. . . .What is this food?

Guado people have the strangest tastes in food I ever did see. Back at home, we ate stewed Dingo and called ourselves lucky!

When I came in, everyone was silent. Now, they are beginning to talk again, I like that. If Tidus and Wakka are talking about Blitzball, and Yuna and Lulu magic, the Pilgrimage and Yuna's proposal is forgotten. The only people who have the journey and everyone's safety on their minds the these times are Kimahri and Auron. But even Kimahri looks a bit happy with his Kitty-Smile, and Auron seems to be enjoying his food.

But unfortunately for me, Yuna becomes very interested in her glass, Tidus and Wakka shovel food into their mahussive gobs and I feel a knot of worry beginning to form in my gut. The noise dwindles down to the dull sound of people eating.

I bet all of Seymour's dinners are boring like this if every time he walks into the room his guests shut up.

I hope he doesn't say anything about our encounter in the bathroom. . . .

Auron's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

As Seymour glides in and seats himself gracefully. I feel a presence in my side. Rikku has gently pressed herself closer to me. She has been very uncomfortable here at Seymour's.

"I see the conversation has died down since I left. So Miss Rikku, what are your thoughts on the offenses during Operation Mi'ihen?"

She stiffened. And stuttered.

"Um . . .Well, I hmm didn't really think there were any um, offenses, at all, sorta, kinda"

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

Hey! Why'd he have to do that!!

Sooooo not fair!!!

I bet he's talking about the machina! What am I going to do?

Oh poopie.

Auron's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

I carefully cover my face with my cowl. No doubt that this will get interesting. But I don't like that this will all be at Rikku's expense.

"So, Miss Rikku, you didn't see any problem with the Crusaders turning to the Al-Bhed for help and using Forbidden Machina?"

Ah.

"Oh, well, you see, I suppose it is rather bad, but, I really can't comment"

"Waddaya mean? 'You can't comment,' ya? The Crusaders went to those Heathen Al-Bhed for help! Of course it's bad, ya?"

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

No Wakka! No! Wrong side of the argument! Your supposed to be on my side remember!

Ooooo, I can feel his glare from all the way over here!

"But do you not think that it is also the Crusader's fault, considering it was them who turned to the Al-Bhed?"

And I love Lulu! In a non-literal friendly way, of course, but still, she has been the only person to say something for my side of the argument.

Wakka and Seymour are slightly thrown by this, but, as always the Maester of Yevon has something to say back.

"With all due respect, Lady Lulu, should the Crusaders cease to exist in the aftermath of this tragedy, Spira might wake to find that the lesser members of the community will become targets"

Auron's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

Her fingers that had been clutching my arm in an iron-grip went limp.

Maester or not, he has no right to say such things.

"Hey! Back off! Can't you see that you're hurting her?"

We all turned to look at Tidus, who was glaring at Seymour with pure hatred, and Seymour smiled.

"Why should she be upset? She is not Al-Bhed, there is no reason for her to be distressed"

"What do you know!" yelled Tidus, "You don't know anything about any of us! And what would it matter even if she was Al-Bhed? She is still a person!"

Jecht would have been proud.

"Regardless of whether she is human or not," Replied Seymour calmly, "An Al-Bhed is a heathen, and she would never be accepted by the people of Spira"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Since when has Rikku been Al-Bhed, ya? Don't insult her like that! We all know she wouldn't be travelling wid us if she be a heathen!"

Rikku herself slammed her hands down on the table, narrowly missing her own mango Steen, and glared at Wakka.

"So are you saying that if I were Al-Bhed then I would not even have the right to travel with you and Yunie?? That you would hate me? Just because I'm not like you?"

She looked around and straightened herself.

"I'm not going to eat with racist pigs. I will see you tomorrow"

Rikku's Thoughts - Maester Seymour's Place of Residence - Present Time

I don't even know if I will. Wakka, as dense as he is, must have worked it out.

He will not allow someone like me to travel with someone like him, and definitely wouldn't allow me to be with Yunie, but she'll stick up for me, right? And Auron, I still have his glasses, he wouldn't let me go just like that! Would he? I mean, I looked after him, all those years ago! I know it was him, and he must remember me!

I wish Pops was here. He would look after me.

As soon as I am out of sight of the mansion, I dash to the Inn, picking up my trailing dress so it doesn't trip me.

The end is nigh. . . . one chapter to go!

Forgive me for not posting for so long, I really don't have much of an excuse apart from writer's block and exams. . .And also because I couldn't upload documents. . .

Chapter nine is in the works though!

Please review on your way out!

ImInDenial X