Proverbial Revitalization
Written by Whimsical Symphony
It has been a while, hasn't it? I can make all the excuses in the world and it won't happen. I realized that I unknowingly avoid writing during the school year because then it truly gets in the way. And not to mention, when I have no inspiration I don't write. But I'm trying my damndest to get over that habit of mine for leaving stories for terribly long times until I hope inspiration comes back and I get into an awesome state called "The Zone" where I can type and type for hours on end because I'm utterly obsessed, and it doesn't feel like any time at all. This was not typed in such a state, but I don't want to give up. I listened to the appropriate music, and tried extremely hard here. It's mostly a filler to introduce both Baralai and Gippal – the latter of whom I love so much, even if I'm not a huge X-2 fan at all. A lot of it is honestly him cracking jokes, but I can't exactly fault him for it.
Also, you may notice there was a format change with the Al-Bhed in this chapter. Tell me if you like it better (that is, if anyone is still reading this story). I embedded it directly within the dialogue, especially since there is so much in this chapter that it would be an utter pain to look at it at the bottom and go back up and figure out when exactly that was said. Now you can read Al-Bhed and English side by side – it's like you got your very own Al-Bhed primers! Tell me if this works better.
And of course, tell me if you think the chapter is good or horrible, or completely 'meh' because I'm alright with that too! Tell me any of your thoughts and I'd be glad to hear them, even if you just want to complain about it!
Chapter 13 – Manners, Style, and Discreet Flirtation
Yuna decided to sit beside Lulu, and looked down at her clasped hands, fiddling with the edges of her shirt. Somehow, even though Gippal didn't mean anything by what he said, her face felt undeniably flushed, incredibly uncomfortable from someone focusing all their attention on her.
Being the focal point of any attention made her anxious, unbearably nervous. Most didn't do such a thing, especially in a place like Bevelle. It seemed like familiarity like this was one more aspect of life she had to get used to in a place like Zanarkand where people were friendlier, warmer, honest and much more open about what they thought and felt. That thought alone made her muscles feel less tense.
Bevelle had been a bit chilly, to say the least.
Glancing at Gippal, Tidus looked rather annoyed, stating loudly, "Gippal, don't just say stuff like that!"
"I say what I want, but I definitely only say the truth - yht cra'c tavehedamo dra lidacd kenm E'ja caah eh muhk desa [and she's definitely the cutest girl I've seen in long time]," Gippal said, turning back to his Al-Bhed half-way through, as if to disguise what he was saying. However, it only then occurred to him that no one else but he could understand what he said. "Damn, discussing someone behind their back only works when an Al-Bhed is among other Al-Bhed."
"And is infallibly rude because they won't switch to everyone's language?" Baralai interjected smoothly.
"You Yevonites can pride yourselves on your manners while we pride ourselves on our style," Gippal retorted, looking all too used to sparring with Baralai with words.
In fact, those words they used against each other could have been offensive, had they been said to the wrong person. Yuna thought it testament to how close friends they were, to joke about things like that – it warmed her heart a little, to see that. In Bevelle, she'd never had such close friends to spend time with. Instead, all she remembered was training with Belgemine, and walking around the market all on her own most days. When she stared out the windows in her bedroom at night, finally felt the darkness of the night once she planned on sleeping, only then did she think to wonder what company might have felt like. Maybe that had been part of the reason why she wanted to go to Zanarkand – a place with lights, and screaming fans, and Blitzball – it all seemed so different, the city, and the people. Those screaming fans wouldn't just be for people like Tidus, they'd help her not feel so lonely too.
"Actually… I can understand you," Yuna told Gippal, flushing red all across her cheeks.
Gippal's one visible eye widened. Lulu almost laughed, while Wakka definitely definitely didn't bother to hide it.
"Ah, is that so?" Gippal said slowly.
"What'd he say, Yuna – let's embarrass him to say he should be speakin' everyone's language, ya?" Wakka suggested playfully, while Gippal looked unbothered.
"It's probably his usual shtick – hitting on a girl." Tidus sighed, more than used to Gippal's game, even if he was gunning to flirt with Yuna. He didn't mean anything by it, and would think twice before he broke a girl's heart – especially if they were a friend. Gippal was much better than Tidus back in his phase when he really… got around. And that made him feel kind of shitty. "Don't even need to know Al-Bhed to know that."
"Ah… um… he called me cute. It's a compliment… I guess…" Yuna said awkwardly. Deciding to change the subject, for the sake of her own heart which beat at an almost unhealthily fast pace, a pitter-patter half to do with the attention on her, and half to do with realizing that Gippal was an undeniable flirt. "I'm actually Al-Bhed, on my mother's side, that is."
"Just like I said. Though, what he said wasn't a lie – Yuna is pretty cute," Tidus added with a wide smile, laughing when Yuna turned beet-red.
"Cutest girl I've seen in a long time – get the compliment right, Ti'. You're underestimating her here," Gippal admonished with a shake of his head. "Don't even know how to give a girl a proper compliment."
"You were the one not even willing to hand out the compliment. Thought she couldn't understand Al-Bhed," Tidus shot back, finding it way more fun than he was willing to admit to argue with Gippal.
"This is why you should be careful, Gippal. Don't do something carelessly and get caught," Lulu said with a sigh. "Honestly, how do you do function? Al-Bhed is a common language."
"Should have known. It's our good looking Al-Bhed genes. Can't hide those," Gippal said somberly. Yuna, slowly but surely was getting used to the jokes he told. It was difficult not to find him charming, a likeable person – even if she wasn't used to it. His easy jesting drove away any tension. Yuna didn't have to be frightened as she normally was of saying anything wrong and offending someone. She appreciated it, and when Gippal winked at her and said, "Show us a pretty smile, why don't you? You can even laugh at me, but my compliment has to have some sort of result," she couldn't help but give him a small one.
In some ways, his words reminded her a lot of Tidus, his behaviour, his sunniness that drove away the gloom and brought a smile to her face. Tidus too, helped wipe away her tears, and she thought she'd always be grateful for that. She hoped to do the same for him whenever the time came.
"Is that so? You don't look very Al-Bhed to me, and you act more like…" Baralai analyzed carefully, looking at her clothing.
"Yuna grew up in Bevelle," Tidus said for her, relaxing now. He didn't seem so concerned about Gippal's behaviour anymore, maybe because he realized she wasn't uncomfortable.
"So far away from home? You journeyed far," Baralai continued, almost concerned.
Yuna took a moment to observe Baralai and decided that he was starkly different from his bright, cheerful companion – a very proper Bevellian, but not as cold as those she remembered from her time at home. He seemed warm, warm but proper.
Of course, Yuna didn't expect anything less from those who gravitated around Tidus. All of them had to be kind and friendly, just like him. Her mother said once that good people often drew in other good people, like moths to a flame. She wondered whether her meeting Tidus meant she was a good person too.
"Yes, my father is actually… Braska. I came here with him for the Blitzball tournament," Yuna explained, unsure about what they would think, hearing her father's name.
But she didn't get the reaction she expected so much, tainting what natural friendliness remained between all of them, twisting and turning it into something forced and strange.
"Lord Braska… I respect your father. Unfortunately, despite being a Bevellian, I know how horrid the people of Yevon have become. To Al-Bhed too," Baralai said with a frown, looking from Gippal to Yuna.
"Braska's daughter, eh? I can believe it," Gippal said, smiling slightly. "You've got his face. Pid ouin aoac yna tavehedamo dra aoac uv y bnaddo Al-Bhed sudran [but your eyes are definitely the eyes of a pretty Al-Bhed mother]."
"Thank you… dryhg oui [thank you]," Yuna smiled as wide as she ever could upon hearing their words – her heart felt like it was rising, rising high up into the sky.
"You know, these guys taught me a lot… that it doesn't matter what your background is, or who your old man is or anything – it just matters who you are. Heck, they didn't judge me for being Jecht's son," Tidus started, flushing a little himself, embarrassingly enough, when he saw Yuna's smile, "and Gippal actually likes Blitz like most Al-Bhed."
"The Psyches are a fine team, and not all stuck up like those Luca Goers," Gippal said, matter-of-fact.
"They were a nice team… I put the garlands around their captain and he seems really respectful, I think," Yuna chimed in more freely, more used to sharing her opinions around them.
"Right? Mad'c ku, Psyches [Let's go, Psyches]! Well, them and Tidus' team here."
"As for those Goers, I hope they're Goners in the tournament, ya. Can't stand them," Wakka commented passionately. "So much for best team, anyhow, ya. The Psyches beat them every time and they don't get any credit."
"Yevon's really kind to the Al-Bhed," Baralai noted cynically. "It's no wonder they don't get any due credit."
"That Bickson was a complete ass to Yuna that day, trying to harass her and ask her out. I hope they're Goners too." Tidus' frown and furrowing of his brows, and the clenching of his fist which rested on the table, told Yuna of his concern for her. That he cared so much, made her happy, and she smiled a little. "You know what, I'll make sure they're Goners. Hell, I'm the one playing in the tournament, I can actually kick their asses."
"So that Bickson is like your shoddy captain," Gippal stated firmly. "If that's the case, screw that guy."
"Right, I forgot he gave you a black eye, once. Sorry 'bout that, even though I have zero control over the ass." Really, he did have absolutely zero control over the guy, or else none of the bull he experienced would have even happened. "At least I can count on you to one-up the guy."
Rikku came on by just then to take their orders so they could all get something to eat. Lulu ordered herself a fancy looking cocktail, and helped Yuna pick one similar when she seemed interested. Tidus thought the two of them really did seem like sisters just then, and he never really thought Lulu was the nurturing sort, but she showed more care to Yuna than he'd ever seen her show anyone else.
And to think, he thought she was an ice queen for the longest time.
Tidus, being really simple compared to Lulu and her fancy cocktails, ordered a pitcher of beer, an Al-Bhed brew suggested by Gippal for them and Wakka. Baralai joined the fancy cocktail club because he was a prissy Bevellian.
As for meals, they got a variety of things – lasagne for himself because Brother was awesome at making it, a shepherd's pie for Yuna, a club-sandwich for Gippal, seafood chowder for Baralai and seafood pasta for Lulu, and a good old-fashioned burger for Wakka.
"Ah, I remembered that! Gippal, you even tried to cover it up with concealer!" Rikku commented over her shoulder, making fun of her childhood friend.
"Shut up, Cid's girl. A black eye can't ruin my good looks!"
Tidus looked at Yuna, who frowned and seemed sympathetic. Her bleeding heart.
Gippal was one lucky guy for having her look that way. It reminded him that literally every time she sent him one of those looks he confessed everything like he would to a bartender when completely sloshed. Yuna only needed to give him a look and he spilled the beans. Tidus wondered if he was pathetic or whether she should have considered becoming a law enforcement interrogator.
He was probably more pathetic, than anything. Why the hell couldn't he comfort her the same way? His old man's voice went through his mind again, telling him that crybabies were only good at crying and not much else.
"You, with a woman? You can't even catch a ball!"
Well, at least he got that part down right, though he couldn't get rid of his tears. And he couldn't get rid of the tears of the woman he really, really liked.
"Why did Cetan give you a black eye?" she asked sadly, clutching at her skirt tightly. "I've only been hearing such bad things about him… he… to Tidus…"
"Hey, I'm fine, right Yuna? No need to worry. This guy's a joke to us all, right?" Tidus looked desperately to anyone else to help cheer the girl up.
Man, he really didn't know what to do when she cried, when he was too eager to cry himself. He really was self-centred – fit the star athlete stereotype to a 'T'.
"It's alright, Yuna, Gippal was triumphant in the end. It actually happened last time we came to watch Tidus play – Wakka wasn't there that night, which is where half of this started," Baralai explained slowly, hoping to calm the young woman down and soothe her worries with a small smile. "It's a funny story."
"Funny?"
"I heard it all from 'Lu. It all started cause Ti's jackass of a captain tried to hit on her, ya," Wakka chimed in. Yuna wondered if he felt bad because of that, but then his booming, jolly laughter proved otherwise, and then she realized just how few things he felt bad about. "Like 'Lu'd go for that guy, anyway."
"Well, I went for you," Lulu stated coolly.
"That's mean, Lu'!"
"Cetan followed me back when I was meeting everyone after one of our games'd ended. He always has to be a jerk to me – even if partially, it had something to do with how Lulu looks," Tidus mused with a sigh, thinking about it.
"Lulu is very pretty," Yuna admitted, looking shyly at the older woman.
Lulu simply looked at her with a soft smile uncharacteristic of her, and brushed her hair behind her ear. "You have your own kind of beauty. I don't think anyone could ever say you're not pretty."
Sisters, Tidus thought, just ones who hadn't been living together, or related to each other. Who said blood relations had to determine family? He underestimated just how much they bonded when he took her to Demi a while back to meet her.
And, Yuna, he thought was kind of lonely.
"Right, I think I've said you're cute before, Yuna – it's not just because of the dress you were wearing at Lulu's. I'm serious whenever I call you a bnaddo kenm [pretty girl]," Tidus charmed her, placing a hand on her shoulder. Sharing a glance with Gippal, he said, "What'd Gippal say, pretty smile, right?"
"Chicks dig foreign guys, but when it's so obviously fake, it doesn't work. Your Al-Bhed sucks." Gippal shook his head and sighed, and Yuna laughed at that. With a wink, he added, "And that's how you make a girl smile." Tidus didn't even protest, happy at least for Yuna's smile, even if at his expense. That and, he really couldn't argue by saying his Al-Bhed was good. "But speaking of bad flirtation, Cetan took the cake that day."
"When he saw Lulu, he said, 'hey gorgeous, how about you ditch that pirate. I'm sure you'd like some quality alone time, until morning, with a star Blitzball player like me'," Baralai quoted dryly, and it seemed extremely out of place coming from his mouth.
"Mistook Gippal of all people for the boyfriend, 'cause he happened to be sittin' next to her, ya," Wakka said amused. "But Gippal's a good guy, ya, tried to get that sleaze to leave 'Lu alone. Ti' tried as well, ya, but Gippal definitely got there first."
"Well Lulu could handle herself – told that idiot that she 'didn't have time for arrogant, second-rate Blitzball players who overestimate their own talent.'" Tidus laughed when he thought about it. "It was a sore spot since he screwed up with a pass pretty bad that day, you know?"
With the look on Cetan's face, you'd think it was the first time he'd been turned down. Well, probably was considering how successful he was at charming his way into the pants of Tidus' girlfriends.
"And when I, the pirate himself tried to cut in and said that women liked the whole rugged look, missing one eye and all – a battle scar – and said that a guy should know when to back down, he punched me. Socked me right in the good eye," Gippal told her animatedly, wild gestures included. "'Course, I broke the guy's jaw. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth –literally, since he lost a tooth - and since my face is definitely worth more than his, objectively speaking, it's equivalent exchange."
Yuna laughed a little, tinkling bells, and then immediately put her hands over her lips, saying softly, "That's not nice, you know."
"What do you Al-Bhed say? Gippal told me once before - ajah y cruubiv'c cred ec fundr suna dryh cusa eteudc eh Spira [even a shoopuf's shit is worth more than some idiots in Spira]," Baralai quoted in perfect Al-Bhed, much to Tidus' dismay. "I think he's right about equivalent exchange there."
And with that, Yuna's giggling became uncontrollable, and she downed her own glass of water when she almost started to choke.
"What's he say, ya?" Wakka asked interestedly.
"In his Al-Bhed which is much more pleasant than Tidus'. You have no excuses now for how horrible yours is. Baralai is definitely not Al-Bhed," Lulu teased, and Tidus groaned, putting his head in his hands.
"Um… he said that even a shoopuf's poop is worth more than some people…" Yuna said, trying to make it sound much less crass, but failing. Everyone laughed along with her then. With a fond smile on her lips, she stated, "My mother… she said the same saying a lot. It was always whenever my father would get worried when people were rude to her because she was Al-Bhed."
"Us Al-Bhed, we got to have backbone and style," Gippal amended his earlier statement. "Have a will that's stronger than steel and no one will get to you."
Tidus knew how Gippal charmed the girls, though thankfully he was a good guy, like Wakka said – not like his ass of a captain, Cetan who changed women like socks and couldn't give less of a damn about their feelings.
Yuna needed to broaden her horizons and make new friends, even if they were from harmless womanizers like Gippal. Hell, Yuna was at least friends with him now, and he couldn't claim to be much different than Gippal – they got on because they were pretty similar, and Baralai got pissed at them for the same reasons too. Though, he hoped Yuna saw him as something more eventually. But if she came on to him, it'd probably only be in his dreams.
But then, he looked at her face, smiling and laughing, enjoying the food she ordered when it came around, taking a sip of the cocktail Lulu told her to get and tell her so excitedly, genuinely, that it was really good. When Yuna smiled, he really couldn't help smiling along with her.
Yeah, who gave a crap that she, Rikku, and Gippal had some special Al-Bhed connection, or that Baralai and her both had Bevelle in common.
He was pretty good with seeing her happy, even if he was clearly less of a smooth-talker when he compared himself to Gippal. After all, he couldn't even call her a bnaddo kenm right.
When Yuna sat in the stands the next day to watch Tidus' game, she couldn't be any more ready to cheer, cheer, until she couldn't anymore. Her father was here too, although he sat in the same box, the highest one that could see every inch of the sphere pool. While he accompanied Maester Mika, he gave her one of his usual gentle smiles which warmed her heart, and told her to have fun with her friends.
She still remembered how shocked everyone had been to meet him, the only one unaffected was Lulu. Tidus also had been at the stadium much earlier to prepare for the game.
"I'm glad that after all this time, you can find people to enjoy your time with, to confide in and enjoy life together with. In Bevelle, it was difficult for you," Braska explained, glowing when he saw her with all her companions. He placed a hand on her shoulder reassuringly, and then greeted her friends with a low, respectful bow. "Thank you for taking care of Yuna. You have made her days brighter, but mine as well to know she's no longer lonely."
"L-Lord Braska, ya – there's no need to b-bow!"
"Now that's a sight… E lyh caa frana Yuna kadc ed vnus [I can see where Yuna gets it from]…"
Braska chuckled at Gippal's words especially, and he was once again reminded that people could understand him.
"Such a high standing man, bowing so low?" Baralai questioned, almost flustered when it happened, and then with a smile. "He loves Yuna that much…"
Out of all of them, only Lulu answered point-blank, "Yuna is important to us too. I find myself liking the girl… she's made my days brighter as well."
"I am… happy to hear that," Braska commented, rising, then looking at Yuna's blushing face. "I'm certain she is too."
"So the game's between the Goers and the Abes, huh? Seems like Ti's really going to have to make them Goners like he said, ya," Wakka commented. "Really hope he's able to do that, ya."
Lulu chuckled, and said, quite bit wordier than anyone would have expected out of her, "From what I've seen, the Abes are a better team than the Goers in any case, even with their second-rate captain."
"Right, can't be much better or worse than Bickson. They both look like smug bastards to me, and Tidus'll get a rush off of knocking that guy's teeth in," Gippal commented sourly, remembering Cetan and the punch to his good eye. He glanced at Yuna and said, "After all, that guy was a jerk to you, right? Tidus'll fight for his girl, count on that."
"H-His… girl?" Yuna flushed, and looked completely baffled.
Gippal just laughed and swung an arm around her. "That's what he said yesterday. Trust me."
"Ooh, is that true, Yunie? Tidus said that? When did he get so smooth, not that I'm complaining though, you know?" Rikku added excitedly.
"He learned from the best, Cid's girl."
"Ev ra fyc mega oui, kenmc fuimt fyhd du bihlr rec cdibet vyla [If he was like you, girls would want to punch his stupid face]! You're just an arrogant meanie!"
Baralai sighed, taking pity on the poor girl. "Can you both not make Yuna regret sitting in between the both of you? And Gippal, you're making her especially uncomfortable." He stood up and peeled Gippal's arm off of her.
"T-Thank you…" Yuna said gratefully, thankfully not flushing all the way to her ears. But then she smiled. "Let's all wish Tidus the best, shall we? Let's all cheer for him."
And almost as if she predicted it, she heard celebratory sounds of party poppers and heard the cheers begin as the sphere pool revolved to prepare itself for the game. Yuna herself became quiet, like she'd been drawn into a new world. This is what she wanted to see since she heard about it in Bevelle – the city which never sleeps, the Blitzball tournaments there, the loud cheering, screaming fans all wanting their favourite team to win. She would join them too, once Tidus entered the sphere pool. She didn't know how much she could actually give him, what her cheering could do, but she had faith he would win and would show it with all her heart, for everyone to see.
"Well, well, look here, folks! Your very own Zanarkand Abes are entering the sphere pool, ready to face off against the Luca Goers! Let's give them a loud cheer!"
The cheers became much louder. Yuna liked to think her voice made a difference in that.