"How nice it is to see you again, Mr. Machina," Dona purred lowly in Gippal's ear as she hugged him hello.

"Nice to see you too," he winced and flinched away from her, his voice monotone.

"There's a system of pipes in my suite that needs a fine pumping and realigning if you know what I-"

"Dona. Please." Gippal swallowed hard and pushed her away.

"Excuse me?" she looked up at him, clearly displeased.

"Don't." he looked away from the giant rack that she wasn't even trying to be modest about.

"Are you shitting me?" she said, her voice husky and just above a whisper.

"No. Just, please. Don't. I'm off this job now, I'm on someone else's." Gippal clenched his eye shut.

"All the more reason! Now there's no conflict of interest!" She hissed.

"There never was any interest!" Gippal snapped back.

"How dare you!" she gasped. They both looked guilty when they noticed Rikku awkwardly slipping away.

"See what you've done?" He cast a hand in the direction his former love had escaped.

"Oh for sobbing out loud, are you back with the princess? WHEN are you going to give THAT fantasy up?" Dona rolled her eyes.

"I don't work for you anymore so I'm not required to be nice when you say shit like that to me," Gippal growled.

"Oh baby, please don't be! You know how I like it when you-"

"STOP IT!" Gippal snapped again. Dona just stared back, her jaw hanging slack. "God, you're infuriating!" He flailed his hands a bit in frustration.

"You liked it," She looked him up and down.

"It was one time! Do you KNOW how much rum was involved in that contract signing?!" Gippal yelped.

"You are on some very thin ice, Monkeywrench," Dona stood up a little straighter. "Maybe I just need to let Bartello know that there was a passionate night between you and I that was completely against my will and that you-"

"DON'T you EVEN. DARE." Gippal stared her down. "If anyone took any advantage of anyone it was YOU," he glared at her. She stared back, then finally let out a smirk.

"And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," she winked before turning on her heel, slapping on her fakest smile and greeting the room full of people. Gippal stood behind her, hot, bothered and really pissed off.

Rikku managed to sit as far from Dona as possible at dinner and found herself next to Paine. Paine ate quietly and half listened to Rikku assume as many sexual situations between Gippal and Dona as she could imagine. Some of them were a little too imaginative for the dinner table. The blond barely ate but managed to stab the living daylights out of the meat on her plate. Paine slipped in as many glasses of wine as possible and was wishing SHE had sat next to Gippal for two reasons. He was being silent and scowling and avoiding Dona like the plague, as well as Rikku wouldn't go anywhere near him.

The Gullwings set up a small concert for Kilika's leaders and VIPs. Rikku managed a fake smile while she drummed and Gippal stood stock still while Dona danced beside him. Tidus thought the entire thing was hilarious and lacked the social graces not to point and laugh. The majority of the small crowd didn't seem to notice and was thrilled to have the ex-summoner among them whether she was singing or not. Yuna could hardly get a moment alone.

After the short show was wrapped up much to the dismay of the audience, The entire crowd moved out towards the water to continue the party. Yuna assured them all that the Gullwings would bring much more to the stage in a few nights when the entire town was present. Now she was sitting quietly with some of the older residents, sipping a social glass of wine and debating old yevonite ways. Paine and Rikku had managed to ditch their fans and were hiding by some trees and tipping back a few beers out of the view of so many important people.

They had a great view, however, of Gippal getting pestered by Dona.

"Look at her," Rikku scoffed. "WHAT a SLUT."

"Yes, I heard you the first forty-seven times," Paine sighed. Rikku looked up at her with a displeased scowl.

"Well she IS," Rikku huffed and took another swig of her beer.

"And he is not even kind of interested," Paine pointed out. Rikku cocked her head a bit and looked him over. He was stiff, he was standing off, he kept doing that defensive thing with his shoulders, his eye was wide and he was shaking his head a lot. He was talking with his hands, something he did when he was heated, or drunk, or both. She knew those hand gestures well. He used a lot of them during their ridiculously public break up in New Home.

"Yeah right. It's probably all a show so he can go bone her out in secret," Rikku looked away, disgusted she had even uttered that phrase.

"Give me a break!" Paine laughed. "Look at him! He's miserable!" He was. His drink was empty and he was doing everything he could to get away from the woman.

"Serves him right," Rikku snapped.

"Would you give it up already?" Paine smirked a little. "I know you're just dying to talk to him."

"I am not!" Rikku whipped around, her eyes wide.

"Well, one of us has got to go over there and save him," Paine said matter of factly, turning her attention back to the woman of the hour and their struggling friend.

"Why?" Rikku spat out.

"Due to an oath I pledged years ago, I'm not supposed to leave him in a situation where his life is in danger," Paine said, trying not to laugh. "And if one of us doesn't get him out of there soon, I think he's going to take his own."

"So go get him," Rikku shrugged and looked away. Paine grabbed Rikku by her shoulder. "Hey!"

"I like it better when you do it. It's funnier for me," Paine laughed, then gave Rikku a good hard shove towards the arguing pair. It wasn't hard enough that she crashed into them or their conversation, but she was now so obviously close to them that she had no choice but to head right on over. After shooting the dirtiest look she could muster over her shoulder at Paine, she took a deep breath, stuck out her chest, and strutted in her most hip-flattering-strut towards Gippal and Dona The Man Stealer.

"Rikku!" Gippal yelped in surprise.

"Hi," Rikku blushed a bit but tried to hide it. She was glad it was fairly dark. "Dona, could I borrow him for a minute?" Rikku looped her arm through Gippal's elbow. He flinched a little when she touched him. "Brother and I need some help on the Celsius, the engine is awry again, and you know us Al Bhed! Can't let too many hours go by without fixing something!" Rikku stuttered awkwardly, giggling with nerves.

"Yes, I've heard you're very good at breaking things, too," Dona narrowed her eyes at Gippal. "Please, by all means, take your lowly equipment tech back to his grease pit," Dona huffed and dramatically turned away. The pair watched her go, still arm in arm. Once she was out of ear shot, they both let out the breaths they were holding.

"Thank you," Gippal looked down at her pleadingly. She wished he wouldn't.

"Don't thank me, thank Paine," Rikku said, her voice small and shy. "She made me. Some crimson oath or something." Rikku rolled her eyes.

"Well I'll make sure to catch up with her later then," Gippal smiled a little. She was still holding his arm. She felt good there and she felt familiar. Her hands felt just right. "I don't actually have to go fix the engine right now, do I?" He asked, a look of panic flashing across his face. She burst out laughing.

"No!" she laughed. He smiled involuntarily at her laugh. It always made him smile. He couldn't be this drunk already. He felt dizzy but he'd only put back a few drinks. He had to get away from her but he couldn't let her go.

"Thank god," Gippal laughed too.

"Besides, I wouldn't let you near that thing," she giggled, snatching his empty beer bottle out of his hands and shaking it at him.

"Please, I've fixed bigger birds than the Celsius when I was way more than half in the wrapper," He said, raising a cocky eyebrow at her and tossing out a devilish smirk.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, flirting right back.

"Of course," he inched closer to her.

"Like this water system? All the pipes and filters?" She gestured towards a series of nearby water wheels with her hand.

"What?" He wrinkled his nose. "This was one of my biggest projects. I stayed perfectly clean for all this."

"ALL of it?" She raised the same cocky eyebrow back at him, coming close to making a cute little question mark out of it.

"Yes?" He looked back at her quizzically.

"So you were sober when you flushed Dona's filthy system?" Rikku pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. "Really, Gip. I can't stand you, but I know you better than that. She's terrible." Gippal opened his mouth to retort, but nothing came. She knew about that? And was okay with it enough to be making jokes? She had to be drunk. They all were, but really. She thought this was funny? It WAS kind of funny. Funny if it wasn't him. Funny if she wasn't her. Funny if she wasn't so devastatingly perfect. He really wished she'd stop smiling.

"Yeah, she is pretty terrible," Gippal hung his head a bit and chuckled as he got the words out. Rikku stifled a small giggle. "But I've had worse."

"Oh have you?" Rikku let out a laugh and looked up at him. They met eyes and quickly looked away. She took a deliberate step away from him and put her hands on her hips, clearing her throat loudly. He scratched the back of his neck and suddenly found the stars completely fascinating. "Well!" she exclaimed. "You know what? I have a very full day of lying on the beach tomorrow, so I think I'm going to hit the sack."

"I'm definitely going to need a few more drinks to wash down this weirdness," Gippal's eye was wide. She snapped her head back at him. "With Dona!" He fumbled quickly. "You know, this bullshit. Being back here," He looked around, willing himself to stop talking.

"Sure," she smirked, her usual sass returning as she took a few backwards steps away. "Goodnight." she smiled.

"You too, Rik," He waved half heartedly as she walked away. He watched her go, loving and hating Shinra for that miniskirt.