Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy, Squeenix, or any of the affiliates.
Yuna, Friday April 12, 1912
When Yuna awoke, she couldn't remember where she was. A hotel in London, perhaps? But, no, she was on a ship. The Titanic. It sailed so smoothly, it was nearly impossible to remember they were in the middle of the Atlantic. She glanced over at Rikku's sleeping form, slipping out of bed and dressing quietly as not to wake her. She felt bad for the way she'd acted so nonchalant about Rikku's new betrothal. Rikku had obviously been upset and Yuna had merely written her off. The worst part was when Rikku shoved it back in face and Yuna was hit with reality. It was likely that Uncle Cid and Aunt Arianna would be choosing her husband as well. Yuna had been raised with the notion that she would marry for love, but if she chose to marry poor, she would be disowned by the only family she had left, just as her mother had been. Would it be worth it? It had been worth it for her parents, but what if Yuna herself made a mistake?
She shook the thought from her head and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. She tried to remember her way through the halls to the dining room, pleased when she found it in such a short time. She entered and looked around, realizing with a sinking heart that she knew no one.
"Over here, hun!" a voice called. Yuna looked over to see a rather large busted woman sitting at a table, waving her hand over her head. Yuna blinked for a moment and looked around to see if anyone else was reacting to the woman's calls. When she saw no one, she turned back and pointed at her chest.
"Yes, you, come here, darling." Yuna made her way to the table. "You looked alone, and I'm alone, so why don't you join me?" she boomed. She was loud and boisterous, but she seemed nice enough. Yuna took a seat.
"This is very kind of you…"
"Nonsense, darling! I enjoy company, and I must admit, there aren't many who enjoy my company on this ship. They're all too worried about what it would look like to dine with one as lively as myself."
"I find it quite refreshing," Yuna admitted, lowering her voice. The woman leaned in to listen. "I've found that most of the first class are quite two faced and I can't say that I enjoy keeping their company very much." The woman let out a booming laugh.
"I like you, girl. You've got gumption! The name is Lulu. Lulu Brown."
"My name is Yuna. It's very nice to meet you."
After her meal with Lulu, Yuna made her way out toward the deck. She had greatly enjoyed her conversation with the energetic woman. Many people had shot them disgusted looks as they chatted, but Yuna had found that she really couldn't have cared less what the others had thought of them. It was nice, to not have to worry about everyone else. She hadn't felt that way since her father had died.
She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself, so she just walked, going up on side of the deck to the bow and then down the other to the stern. She did so several times, thinking about anything that came to mind. Most prominent in her thoughts were those of Tidus, the steward. She'd had strange feelings ever since his beautiful cerulean blue eyes had looked into her own. She felt a strange desire to know everything about him.
That wasn't very likely with the way she'd been acting around him, though. She found herself quite incoherent when in his company, something that disturbed her all on its own. Still, they had spent time together the night before and she had found herself relaxing and even speaking to him. He was a wonderful listener, making her feel like everything she said was the most important, fascinating thing he'd ever heard. Yuna found herself wishing that she could spend all her time with him. It wasn't to be, unfortunately. He had duties to attend to and she wasn't supposed to 'fraternize with the help'."
Still, she couldn't help but wish.
Rikku awoke to the bright sun flooding through the porthole and across her face. She blinked in disorientation, wondering for a moment where she was. When the events of the previous day flooded back to her, she wished that she were still sleeping. She would rather sleep her entire life away then face what had been revealed to her the night before. How could her parents expect her to marry Gippal? How could they so something like this to her? It was unjust!
She glanced at the small timepiece she kept on a chain around her neck. It was nearly noon. She gasped in wonder, amazed that she had slept so long. Amazed that she had been allowed to sleep so long. Her parents must have felt the slightest bit of remorse for the way their conversation had gone the night before. Still, Rikku wasn't foolish enough to believe that they would change their minds. They would merely put all their energy into trying to convince her that they knew what they were doing. Well, she wouldn't have it. She was not going to marry Gippal Thorne. She would sooner wrap herself in chains and step off the Titanic's deck. Not for the first time, she wished for more understanding parents, parents like Yuna's. But Yuna's parents were dead and Rikku's parents were strict. There was a hardly a point of wishing for what she couldn't have. She dressed in a pale yellow gown with bell sleeves and a square cut neck, the simplest dress she owned. She had many beautiful dresses, but she preferred the simple ones, merely because they were easier to move in without fear of ruining something about them. Her mother would have a fit if Rikku were to accidentally ruin one of her new gowns.
As Rikku approached the door, a brisk knock came from the other side. She didn't know who it could be. She didn't know a soul aboard the ship but for her parents and Yuna, who would have called out to her. She momentarily toyed with the idea of her caller being Tidus in search of Yuna, but quickly brushed the thought aside. Surely he had duties to attend to at this time of day? She opened the door, only to find a young girl waiting outside the door. Rikku wracked her brains, trying to remember if she'd ever seen the girl before.
"Can I help you?" she asked finally.
"You are Miss Rikku?" she asked, her accent clearly Irish.
"Yes. Might I ask who you are?"
The girl looked away. "That's really of no importance Miss. Your mother sent me to wake you. She requests your presence," the girl said.
"Oh," Rikku said, slightly confused. Why was this girl acting as her mother's messenger? "All right. Do you know where I might find her?"
"Follow me," the girl instructed, taking off at a brisk speed down the hall. Rikku shut her door behind her and followed, deciding she would ask her mother when she saw her. The girl led her to a small ladies' parlor just off the main dining room, where a fair amount of ladies were having tea. Rikku could see Yuna seated with her mother and a few other ladies, her eyes trained on the table. Her expression revealed nothing, but Rikku knew that she was upset about something.
Rikku took the seat between her mother and Yuna, watching in shock as her mother handed the girl a dime and sent her on her way.
"Mother, who is that girl?" Rikku asked.
"Don't mind her, darling, she's a third class girl, hardly of any importance. I paid her a dime to go get you. The heavens know it's nearly impossible to get any decent help on this ship."
"Mother! You treated a third class girl as your own personal maid?" Rikku asked heatedly.
"I don't see why you have to take that scandalized tone with me, Rikku. I paid the girl good money, didn't I?" she said pompously.
Rikku glanced at Yuna, whose hands had clenched in her lap underneath the table. Rikku reached out and took one, squeezing it softly and looking away from her mother. She was sure if she cared to look, her cheeks would be slightly red. She'd never been quite so furious at her mother's actions before, but even worse, she was embarrassed. Her mother's carelessness for the well-being, or even the simple humanity, of others was quite lacking. Rikku found herself ashamed merely to be in the presence of such a woman.
This was a new feeling for Rikku. She'd never quite agreed with the things her mother said and did, but she'd never been embarrassed to merely be in the same room. It appeared her mother had reached an all time low.
"If you'll excuse me, mother, I feel that I've quite lost my appetite," Rikku murmured in distaste. "I beg your leave, ladies." Rikku then stood and gracefully made her way from the room. She could hear Yuna apologizing behind her and a moment later her cousin stood at her side.
"Can you believe her?" Rikku raved. "Can you believe what she did? How low, how so very low!"
"I know, Rikku, I could hardly believe it myself. It's not the only thing either," Yuna spoke quietly as Rikku stared over the edge of the ship into the deep blue water, sparkling in the afternoon sun. "She's been publicly scorning Lulu Brown, did you know?" Rikku nodded. "Yes, well, I dined with her this morning and I find her quite a wonderful woman."
"I think my mother is going too far, now," Rikku sighed. "All this grandeur is going to her head. She's acting rashly. I do hope she'll stop, lest I have to slap her in public."
Yuna's eyes went wide as Rikku said this. "You wouldn't do that," she said after a moment of silent deliberation.
"Wouldn't I?" Rikku sighed. "Her behavior is completely unacceptable. The two of us, at seventeen, have more tact then she herself does."
Yuna sighed and hung her head, shoulders slumping from their usually perfect posture.
"I'm afraid I might do something rash if she acts this way the entire voyage."
"Rash like what," Rikku teased, "keeping the company of a ship's steward?"
A faint blush spread over Yuna's cheeks and she nodded minutely. "I imagine I'll do that anyway, cousin," she said coyly. Rikku laughed out loud, her spirits lifting quickly.
"He is quite a looker, isn't he? Anyone with the ability to reduce the great Yuna to mere monosyllables must have some sort of charm."
"He is quite good looking," Yuna admitted. "But it's more then that. He listens to me Rikku, like he cares what I have to say…and he's so sweet, promising me he'd protect me like he did last night. And he's ever the gentleman. Last night at the party, he…" Yuna trailed off.
"He what?" Rikku pressed, leaning closer as if they were conspiring rather then having a pleasant discussion.
"Well, a man groped," she whispered grope as if it were an awful swear word, "me last night, and he punched him! Right there, just punched him in the stomach and the man dropped like a pound of bricks."
"Ah, so he's strong, too. It seems, Yunie, that you have found yourself the perfect man, doesn't it?"
Yuna nodded and sighed wistfully, her eyes dreamy. "He's so perfect." Rikku giggled. It was obvious that her cousin was completely and totally gone. Rikku snapped out of her reverie and turned to look seriously at Rikku, taking her hands. "I'm so very sorry about the way I acted last night. It was inexcusable," she apologized.
In Rikku's huff of anger with her mother, she'd momentarily forgotten about her current predicament. She felt slightly nauseous now as she remembered.
"It's all right, Yunie. I've forgiven you all ready." Yuna smiled and hugged her quickly. "Who knows, Rikku. Perhaps your parents will change their minds," she whispered.
"Yes, maybe," Rikku agreed. But they both knew that Rikku's parents would never change their minds. They were just trying to fool themselves, but Rikku's mind refused to be fooled. When she set foot in America, the shackles would be placed. Rikku had only this voyage left to her own free will, and by god, she was going to use it the best she could. Her parents be damned. For this trip, Rikku would do as she wished.
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A/N: And here comes the Rikku we all know and love. Screw what the parental units say, she's gonna get what she wants! You know what I noticed just now? Cid doesn't talk…like ever. Damn that pushy wife of his…