(no subject)

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Characters: Rikku and Auron
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Auron finally reaches Lindblum, and Rikku goes to meet up with him.
Location: Lindblum, starting in the Industrial District and probably ending up at the inn
Date: early May
Warnings: None

Ever since getting that message from Auron ages ago, Rikku was sure someone was just pranking her, even after the videos an voice messages. After all, someplace like this had to have people good at tricking others and making them think someone was alive when they weren't.

Then he mentioned finding Yuna. It took away most of Rikku's suspicion, but still. Maybe Yunie had been tricked too.

Now she'd know for sure. Once she was able to touch him, Rikku was sure she'd believe that he was really alive. She'd always been a tactile person, after all.

Unfortunately, trying to find someone in a crowd when you were kind of short was really hard.

Comments

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"I hate this place."

And Auron wished that was an exaggeration. After living in a place like this for ten years, he was ready and very much willing to return to Spira. Now, here he was, stuck in another city. It was crowded and loud and had annoyed Auron to end.

At least this weapons shop seemed relatively quiet, compared to outside anyway. Rikku would probably make herself known somehow.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

C'mon, how hard is it to find a meanie red-cloaked guy with a sword that weighs more than I do?

Much harder than Rikku thought, apparently.

Auron wasn't by any of the neat places, where they were building stuff, so that left the shops. He had to be here somewhere...

And there he was, standing by the window of the weapons shop! Smiling, and a little nervous, Rikku entered.

"Auron?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

He turned at the sound of someone calling his name. "Rikku." He nodded his acknowledgment.

Finally, he was getting out of here. He just hoped Rikku wasn't in a chatty mood. He didn't feel like talking. At least not here.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Auron!"

Rikku couldn't help it; after all, she thought he was dead. And the jerk had left without saying good-bye.

She tackled him in a hug. "Hiya!"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"..."

He wasn't surprised that Rikku had done this. He simply shook his head and looked down at her over the rim of his sunglasses. "Do you have to do this?"

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Rikku replied, not looking up. "I didn't think you were really really really real until now, even with the voice messages and videos and stuff." She let go, smiling at Auron and wondering just what he thought of her thief's bikini. After all, she'd grown since the last time he saw her.

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"How much more real would you like me to be?" He asked, after she finally released him. Though he fell silent when it dawned on him how different she looked. Was this even the same Rikku.

"You look...different."

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

...Was that Auron for 'I like it' or Auron for 'What the heck why did Cid let you wear that?'

"Eh-heh, yeah. We found stuff called dresspheres back on Spira," Rikku explained. "I've got the thief's one on." She blushed. "Y'want me to get different clothes, dontcha?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"I'm not your father. Wear whatever you like."

Dresspheres? That was definitely different. Just how much had changed in Spira while he was away? Not much, it would seem, because even with that outfit, Rikku was still Rikku. "Anyway, let's move on."

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Rikku grinned. So like Auron to just not care.

Grabbing his arm, Rikku led the swordsman out of the shop. "So," she started, heading down the streets leading away from the industrial district, "whatcha been doing since you came here, other than getting Yunie and talking to me."

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Her enthusiasm certainly hadn't changed. Auron followed her reluctantly, trying to match his long strides with hers to avoid stumbling. "Trying to find a way back to Spira."

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Rikku frowned, and she slowed down a bit. Hearing Auron say that made her feel kind of guilty since...she hadn't been looking for a way home.

"Any luck?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"No," he answered simply. He noticed the change in her pace and slowed down accordingly. Was it something he said?

"I doubt a way will present itself any time soon. So we should make the most of our time here."

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Like get someplace not an inn to stay so we don't use up all the money?" Rikku asked. "Or something?"

She started swinging her arms back and forth, thinking. What to do...?

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"I suppose." It had been a long time since Auron actually had a place to live. He didn't foresee them getting home any time soon, so he wouldn't object to finding an apartment while they were here in Lindblum. "Where should start then?"

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"I think there are a few houses for sale near the inn," Rikku offered. "I mean, it's not the best part of town, and it's probably gonna be really expensive, since a lotta people here are richer than maesters were but it's a start?"

Forgive my slow replies; I'm in the middle of a canon review

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"We will look then. But not now." Auron's pace had slowed a little more. He was tired and just wanted to sit down and rest for now.

is okay!

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Hm?"

Rikku glanced over at Auron and noticed him slowing down. "You okay, Auron?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"Fine," he replied, "Don't worry about me. Just keep going." He didn't want anyone fussing over him. There was nothing wrong with him that a little sleep wouldn't cure.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

That probably would have worked if Rikku hadn't traveled with him and fought fiends with him two years ago.

"I don't believe you!" she announced, crossing her arms. "When did you eat last?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"..."

He knew it was a mistake to say anything. "Why does it even matter?"

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Because if you pass out on me I can't haul you back to the inn on my own," she replied simply, grabbing Auron's arm. "So, to food! I'll pay!" Rikku started dragging Auron (or trying to, he was much larger than she was) off to a nearby cafe-thingie that she knew had good cakes.

And by canon review, I mean playing blitzball. :|

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

There was no sense in arguing with her. It wouldn't get him very far to say the least. So he allowed himself to be dragged, all the while wondering just what in the world he had gotten himself into by seeking her out. As if his head didn't have enough gray hair.

XD I never could get the hang of that mini-game

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Rikku thought Auron could use a little more. It would make him look all the more dignified!

And she could tease him about it.

Leading the pseudo-samurai into the cafe, Rikku walked right up to the counter.

"A carrot cake and...um...what do you want, Auron?" She looked at him expectantly

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Auron studied each cake carefully. He wasn't a fan of sweets, really. So he chose the plainest, simplest cake. And then turned his back to the counter so Rikku could not talk him into getting something else.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Party pooper.

Rikku frowned at Auron until the cakes came out, then dragged him over to a table away from everyone else. "Happy, Mr. Grumpy Pants?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

He replied with a grunt, as he sank down into a chair. He had to admit, getting off his feet was a welcomed change. It felt like he had been walking ever since his arrival here. How long had it been anyway?

He looked up from his untouched cake at Rikku. "How long have you been here?"

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Few weeks," Rikku replied, digging into her cake. "Why?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"Simply curious," he said. He wondered if time passed differently here. Would Spira survive when people could obviously be plucked from their world and promptly deposited into another? Did this mysterious force choose people indiscriminately? And if that was the case, what was stopping it from dropping Sin into this world as well?

He shook his head at the thought and began eating quietly.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

A few minutes of silence, and then Rikku huffed.

"You're being broody again! Geez, didn't you learn anything from us? Brooding equals stress which equals bad," she reminded him.

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"It's nothing." Auron frowned behind his cowl and cut the last bit of his cake into smaller pieces. He knew saying anything would only make Rikku worry. And to be honest, he did not need that.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Liar. You say that when you don't wanna worry someone--Tidus, Yunie, me, Wakka..." Rikku glared at him. "If you don't tell me, I'll plant itching powder in your pants again."

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"Enough." He pushed the plate with his unfinished cake away from him and sat back in his chair. None of Rikku's idle threats were going to make him say anything.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Well.

Rikku frowned and finished her cake. "Y'don't have to be a big meanie about it," she muttered sullenly. "I'm just tryin' to help." Curious, too, but when wasn't she?

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Auron sighed. "It hasn't happened so it isn't relevant." And he highly doubted that it would. At least he hoped it wouldn't. Because if it did, returning home was going to be the least of their concerns.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"If it's big enough to make you brood, it's probably re--actually, never mind, you brood over what socks to wear," Rikku quipped. "C'mon, let's go."

She stood, looking at Auron impatiently.

orz, sorry so late.

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Rikku did not have to tell him twice. He stood without a word and turned toward the exit.

Re: orz, sorry so late.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

...Meanie.

Rikku followed after. "So...want me t'show you to the inn?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"Isn't that what we discussed?" he asked, turning back to look at her. He didn't really feel like being dragged all across Lindblum. They could do that later, when he was less tired.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

Right. They had, hadn't they?

"Okay! The innkeeper said there's a room open for ya, and I'm paying for it," she informed him, skipping around so she was facing him and walking backwards. "Brother's not too happy, but oh weeeeeell--ow!"

Rikku stumbled over a loose cobblestone, landing flat on her rear in front of Auron. "Owwie..."

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

"Rikku, there is no need for you to do that," Auron said as he walked. He looked down at her when she turned to face him as she walked.

"You should watch--" He stopped mid-sentence, when she tripped and fell. He simply shook his head and offered the fallen girl his hand.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Dryhgc! And yes I do, I wanna help somebody," Rikku said, taking Auron's hand. She checked for scrapes and dusted her pants off. "Tifa helped me when I first got here, and the moogles help everyone, so why can't I help you, huh?" She looked at him expectantly.

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Auron released Rikku the moment she got to her feet. "You don't have to help me because it isn't necessary," he replied, as he continued down the street.

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"But I want to help you!" Rikku chased after the older man-ghost-thing. "How often do I really want something, huh?"

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Auron sighed. "Fine." There was no use arguing with the girl. She wasn't going to let it go until he either gave in or had a headache.

call it done?

[pickinurpockets.livejournal.com]

"Yay! Now, come on, before he decides to give the room to someone else!" Rikku grinned, motioning for Auron to hurry up.

Sure

[stoicguardian.livejournal.com]

Finally. He was beginning to think they were never going to reach the inn. But at least now they were moving and he'd finally get some rest.