Paine, Gippal - The chicken doesn't mind

[dead-electric.livejournal.com]

Who: Paine crimsonview, Gippal dead_electric
Where: Gippal's room
When: Evening (Monday, November 13, 2006)
Rating: PG - references to Paine's rack, sexual situations, Gippal being a jerk
Summary: Paine drops by to visit Gippal and discuss a few matters that have been toying with her mind. They end up looking back on the "good old days" and wondering how things managed to change within the course of just a few years.
the Story:

Paine was prepping herself to head out of her room, and over to Gippal's. Strange that she was put in the room right across the hall from his.. or he was placed, depending on who got there first. Did it really matter? He'd mentioned drinks, and she did want to forget about some of the things that had happened recently. Of course, there was the matter of Gippal claiming to have a crush on her. Was there any truth to that? And did he HONESTLY look at her "rack" that much? A crush might explain why he taught her how to speak Al Bhed.. She found herself standing outside the door, rolling her head on her slender shoulders, then knocking on the door.

Gippal visibly cringed at the sound, sincerely hoping that he wasn't in for trouble because of one of his dumbass remarks. He really wasn't looking forward to a beating just because he insulted someone in their journal thing. However, when he answered the door, the relief that washed over him was obvious.

Awkwardly switching back into his normal casual manner, Gippal fixed her with a haughty grin and leaned against the doorframe. "Couldn't resist me, eh?"

"...something like that." the red eyed warrior quipped, walking slowly into his room, glancing around to see what he'd taken apart, if anything. "I was wondering a few things, thanks to your...colorful conversation on my journal." She glanced to him over her shoulder, looking him over a moment.

"You look as if you were expecting someone else."

He laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck with his large palm. "S'at so? I'm just being paranoid." He offered her a lopsided grin. "You know more than anyone that I can't always keep my mouth shut when I ought to."

As she stepped into his room further, he fell back against his desk, leaning his weight against it. It felt strange, seeing Paine again in this bizarre place. He was almost getting used to the idea that he was alone in this place.

"So, wondering. Back to that. What's on your mind?" He couldn't hide his devious grin.

"First off, the whole crush comment.." As she turned to face him, she was rather close to where he was standing. "And my..'rack'...have you honestly been looking that hard Gippal, to even notice I have a chest?"

She folded her arms, giving that smartass grin she was so familiar to giving. Also, it was a little odd that he was here; she was still getting used to that.

Gippal dared a quick glance at her chest, his grin broadening as his working eye flew back to her face. "You don't do much to hide those babies, Paine." He replied in a matter-of-fact tone, biting down his desire to laugh at the whole situation. However, he was still working his brain around his first query to his teasing. When he caught sight of her usual smug look, he couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Girls have crushes, Paine. Guys don't." He said finally, weighing his words in his mind. It sounded stupid, even to himself as he said it, but it satisfied him. His fondness for a woman's form was going to end up getting him killed one day. ...He only hoped that it was a very sexy death.

"Then that makes you more of a woman than the rest of the old Squad." She couldn't help but smirk to him, looking him up and down a moment, then walking to his bed to take a seat. she stretched, rolling her head. She couldn't help but chuckle.

"It would explain why you were so willing to teach me Al Bhed." Now it was her turn to wink to him.

"Don't worry Gippal. I'm not going to kill you this time around."

The teasing insult rolling off of him easily and he shrugged, shoving his hands into his pocket. He watched her walk over to his bed and couldn't really deny the fact that she looked really good when she did it. Because, it was like, his bed, and she was the one on it.

"I taught you Al Bhed so I'd have someone to talk to. If you have forgotten, I was all but cut off from my own people, you know?" He stuck out his tongue playfully and moved to sit beside her, nudging her lightly with his elbow. "And hey, who said you'd be the one to kill me?" He fixed her with a suggestive look. "I'd have you on your knees before you could lay a hand on me."

"Oh I'm sure I could get a hand or two on you first." She laughed, ahaking her head a bit, then taking a deep breath. "And just what do you think you could do that would have me on my knees, hm?"

With a turned head, Paine looked directly into Gippal's eyes. "I highly doubt you would be up for something like that."

Gippal plastered an innocent look on his face, which wasn't about to fool anyone. "I suppose there are a few things," He admitted in a thoughtful tone, sending his gaze to the ceiling as if he was really thinking hard on the matter.

"Honestly, Paine, when you say things like that, I begin to question just how much you know me, despite us being war buddies." He leaned toward her slightly, bringing his cheek against hers as he spoke. "Or are we thinking on two different levels?"

She sat tall, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she felt his cheek against hers. "That would depend on what level you were on, Gippal. " Her eyes trailed over to him as she kept her somewhat stoney outward appearance, though it was more for show than aything else.

"You... also mentioned having drinks sometime?" She wanted to change the subject a ltitle; but if he brought the topic up again, she would continue talking about it. Right now.. it was a little odd. This was her former partner...There was no way he actually had anything resembling a crush on her.

Gippal leaned back, satisfied for the time being as he stood, moving towards his desk. He pulled open the drawer and removed his flask, raising an eyebrow and tossing to her.

"Yeah, I'd suggest we go down to the parlour that Yuki showed me, but I'm not really in the mood for moving around this place at the moment." He bit the inside of his cheek, watching her carefully for a few moments. "He was a fun guy, I mean, a little stiff, but still had some good points to him. It's a shame he's gone now. We never got to have one more drink like we agreed on." Gippal kicked his boot into the floor a little, thoughtful. "Sucks."

Paine caught the flask with one hand, raising her brow at the tanned Al Bhed, then shook her head with a chuckle.

"Never saw you as the type to get attached to anyone." She saluted him with the flask, taking a large bit, then closing her eyes, enjoying the taste.

"It's rather endearing."

Gippal pulled a face. "I wasn't attatched." He snorted through his nose and leaned back against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest. "I only just met the guy. I'm just disappointed." He rolled his eyes, licking his lower lip briefly. Really, Yuki Kitazawa's reaction to the taste of Al Bhed whiskey... the look on his face was still stuck in Gippal's mind. He allowed himself a tiny chortle before he went quiet.

"So, Paine, what's been up on your end? I mean, I was surprised that I didn't hear from the famous trio sooner."

"I've been keeping to myself. I took Flurry to the gardens to keep him in shape. Beyond that, I have yet to talk to anyone...except a troublesome young man that did not belive in the existence of Spira, and believed my spheres were an illusion." She shook her head with a huff at that thought, tossing the flask back to him, her head rolling on her shoulder to work out her muscles.

"Yuna and Rikku, haven't seen them since I got here."

For a few moments after catching the flask, Gippal simply admired her, his slender eyebrow raised. "Yeah, I know what you mean," He replied, his voice growing detatched as he watched. "The other day I got cornered for slamming my hands into my keyboard as I type." He laughed lightly, shaking his head. "I guess, without the proper characters, Al Bhed does look pretty stupid."

So, Paine hadn't even hooked up with the other two? He was actually pretty surprised. The three of them seemed indefinitely joined at the (very sexy) hip. At the thought of Rikku, he paused, a slight smirk crossing his features. "I heard about Cid's girl trying to start some rebellion against walls? Did she try and wrestle you into that?" He sighed and shifted his weight. "She's such a kid sometimes."

"I hadn't heard. Like I said, I've been keeping to myself. I rarely look at my system at times. I should probably use it more often." There was something of a shrug as she leaned back so she was on her elbows, her legs crossing gingerly as she looked to him. "And you.. I imagine you've been keeping yourself pretty busy as of late? Socializing.. flirting.. getting nowhere?"

Gippal coughed loudly, putting his hand over his heart in mock-devastation. Of course, she was obviously very much right. He hadn't been laid in a long time, and all these flirtatious women weren't making it any easier on him.

He sighed, raking his fingers through his hair, averting his gaze as Paine stretched out her toned legs. With her attire, it was hard not to notice her built form, and it was actually starting to get on his nerves, much like Rikku's clothing did. The people in the mansion, he didn't trust them at all, and then here come the Gullwings, dressed in their cute little... he slammed his fist down on the desk, feeling a mild headache coming on. "I can't believe Cid lets her go out like that." He muttered quietly.

"Since when have you ever cared about what Rikku wears?" Paine raised a brow as she looked to him again, shaking her head, then observing him. "You look like you need to lie down. I can always leave and we can continue this at a later time.."

She wasn't sure why she cared about his well being; well, perhaps that whole being his former team-mate, but that was a little while ago. They weren't in Spira anymore.

Gippal was quiet for a long time, not really sure what he wanted to say to that. He had actually always been a little bit concerned with Rikku's choice in clothing, even back in her tamer days. Perhaps he felt it was his duty to his Al Bhed leader to protect his daughter, or maybe it was something else completely. He just didn't feel comfortable knowing that other people would have their eyes drawn to the spunky blonde.

His thoughts turned to Paine and he shrugged lightly. "If you want to go, it's cool. It's not like you have to walk a long way anyways, so we can just pop back and forth whenever." He flashed her a devious grin. "I'll even bless you with the opportunity of having me arrive at your door." He gave her a wink, though it was an action lost upon her since he had only one eye to wink with, and it may as well have been an ordinary blink. "Or you could keep warming my bed for me, since I don't mind having a lovely lady like yourself in my company." He grinned. "Just don't expect me to keep my mouth shut about it if we ever come across Baralai or Nooj~"

She had to smirk. Perhaps she knew that the one-eyed smartass was winking at her. She rolled t her stomach, her head propped to her hands. "If you came across the hall to grace me with your presence, what makes you think Flurry would let you come into the room?"

The silver haired warrior chuckled to him, then motioned for him to come over to his bed. "And just what would you tell Baralai and Nooj? that I was lying in your bed? They wouldn't believe you."

Gippal smirked in return. "I'd strangle the chicken." He said matter-of-factly, though it was obvious he was teasing. He was actually kind of scared of the thing. Birds were more of Rikku's fondness, not Gippal's.

He moved towards the bed, sitting down and admiring the view. He whistled through his teeth and shrugged. "Guess not, but that's their problem, right?" He laughed and fell onto his back beside her, kicking his boots off so that they fell to the ground with a heavy clunk. He was thankful that he wasn't wearing his knee-high boots, because he would've had a hell of a time trying to kick out of those things. "But then, I'd have to change the story a little anyways, so they wouldn't be wrong to assume I was a lying little shit." He turned his head and bit at the air playfully.

She was amused, if nothing else. She laughed at him, rolling to her side, looking to him sarcastically. "And just how would you go about changing things a little? Who would they be more inclined to believe; you or me?" She tapped his nose as she mentioned him.

"I have you a little beat on the credibility level."

Gippal snorted again, more dramatically this time, as if his pride was wounded. "I'm hurt," He complained, twitching his nose after she poked it. "that you would say such a terrible thing."

He looked at her quietly for a few moments, simply enjoying the company before he decided to speak again. "Actually, I wouldn't change the story at all." He admitted, closing his eye. "In fact, I probably wouldn't even tell them. You're worth more than that." A small twitch of a smile tugged the corners of his lips, but he did nothing to expand it further. "Plus, Baralai would probably go on about how I'm a corrupt soul with no chance of redemption." He turned his face to her and rolled his eyes. Though it had indeed been a while, he still knew the torture of being lectured by the silver-haired Yevonite, and he was sure Paine could vaguely recall it as well. Boring.

"It would.. more than likely be best to not tell them." Was she agreeing with him? There was a Yevon afterall. She tossed her hair, getting a few pieces from her face, although a few strands still played about her features. she looked to him with crimson eyes, a smirk to those silken lips of hers.

"Baralai may be one to lecture, but at least his heart is in the right place."

"His heart? Paine, really, I think he just needs a good lay." Gippal waved his hand dismissively in the air, before dropping it back onto his stomach and sighing. "He's so high-strung ever since..." Gippal trailed off, giving her a quick glance to tell her exactly what he was reliving. He sighed, closing his eye. "All of us were affected by that. Even you, indirectly." He cleared his throat, feeling slightly agitated. He sat up and began working off his tie, grunting.

"You sure your chicken's going to be okay with you staying out for so long?" He asked, wanting to change the topic. It was starting to feel very uncomfortable as remnants of the event crawled back into his mind's eye.

"He's in his sphere." She watched him, and how on edge he seemed. She sat up, shaking her head with something of a small grunt. "Here, let me help you. You're damned near useless if you stay so stressed...."

Gippal felt his face heat up but he didn't move to stop her, delighting in the fact that she was actually willing to calm him down. He was already starting to hear very faint screams, and it always made his back tense.

"I resent that." He said gruffly, a tiny smile on his face. "I'm always stressed, Paine. The Machine Faction's really testing my patience, you know? Drawing up plans and doing trivial fix-it jobs... that's not really how I wanted to live out the last of my days, you know?" He grunted, rolling his shoulders a bit to relieve some of the tension. "I was kind of hoping for a bit more from all of this. Sin's not coming back, so I've got... nothing really left going for me." He gave her a weak grin. "I think, I was truly at my best back when the four of us were just being stupid kids that wanted to change the world. Growing up... it sucks."

"You complain too much." She shook her head, helping him to remove the tie he was wearing, then moving her hands along his shoulders, beginning to massage them firmly. Needless to say, she was good at this, from being a warrior. This was a very rare moment indeed. She was willing to help Gippal relieve some tension.

"We made a difference.. and now we're here. There isn't much we can do but make the most of it."

Gippal leaned back into her touch instinctively, not even bothering to stop himself from groaning quietly. "I'll stop... complaining... when life... stops being so... shitty..." His voice softened, already feeling his earlier frustration disappear with Paine's movements.

"But what is 'here', you know?" He rubbed his palm over his face once, sighing heavily. "Because 'here' doesn't really seem like the best reward for all that we've done." He bit his tongue. Paine was right; He was being a brat. You don't do a good deed to get praise, you do it because it's the right thing to do. Though he knew this was true, he couldn't help but sulk a little. Why didn't anyone build him a super cool temple in his honor? Djose Temple didn't count since that was strictly for the Machine Faction... "Damn it, Paine, someone needs to build me a temple." He joked, laughing.

"You don't get a temple." She smirked as she continued to slowly work the muscles in his upper back. "Your ego is large enough as it is. I would hate to see it with a temple built in your honor." She shook her head again, pausing to flex her fingers before going back to his back."Does this feel at least a little better?"

She didn't mind this much; Gippal was someone she knew... and her travels had changed her a bit.

Gippal leaned his head forward a bit, allowing Paine to work her magic. "Paine, everything about me is large, not just my ego." He shook his head with a stupid grin.

"Yeah, it feels great." He inhaled, savoring the feel before continuing. "You know, if I had known you had a talent for this, I would've found you out a lot sooner." He admitted, his voice laced with mirth. "Hell, maybe even Nooj would loosen up a bit. Spira knows that he, of all people, needs to stop being so uptight. I mean, how long has Leblanc been trailing him now?" He quieted, thinking this over in his mind, feeling something else stirring with Paine's massage. He looked down into his lap and groaned quietly, his previous thoughts dying immediately. She wouldn't let him live it down. He coughed and put his hands over the growing tent, really hoping she hadn't noticed.

"Nooj will never lighten up." She laughed, leaning closer to the Al Bhed as she worked over the muscles in his back. "And as for things as large as your ego, I doubt that's possible." She leaned around him to look to him for a moment, then glanced down...... and blinked.

"Then again, I could be wrong." No, she wasn't going to let him live this one down. A hard-on from a massage?

Gippal let out a strangled whine, sounding much like a child about to throw a tantrum. "Oh damn it." He snapped, feeling the urge to laugh at himself despite his embarrassment. "Oh for the love of... don't look at it!" He laughed openly now, playfully scooting away.

"Okay yeah, so I've been lacking in action lately, sue me. You can't exactly tell me that you've been hooking up in this place either, right? Some of these people give me the creeps." He raked his hands through his spikey blonde hair again, trying to avoid thinking about his problem. "I've met some scary people in Spira, but some of the people here... top of the charts. Freaky people." A shudder travelled up his spine briefly before he moved to sit closer to Paine again. "Yeah, so, about that, if you don't tell anyone about this, I'll... ah..." He trailed off, leaning back awkwardly. "I don't know, actually."

Paine smirked as she watched his reaction, then stretched as he moved closer to her. "All I ask, is that this is kept between us. I doubt anyone would believe we spent a civil time together anyway, but.. " She shook her head, chuckling to herselfat the thought of it all. "Best to keep it to ourselves, dont you think?"

"Besides Gippal, why would anyone believe it?

"I don't have the face of a liar, do I?" He batted his lashes flirtatiously, feeling a bit more bold. He waited for a few moments, then smirked. "Okay, don't answer that." He flicked his tongue out, dragging it deliberately against his bottom lip.

"You know, what's so hard to believe about us having a civil conversation? I'm a great conversationalist, I think."

"As many times as I've told Baralai and Nooj that I was going to throttle you?" She laughed, turning her head to glance to the Al Bhed, looking him over and smirking. "And you.. I shouldn't be giving those kinds of looks.. considering your... condition.." Paine was enjoying giving Gippal a hard time, in more ways than one. This had to have been the most amusement she'd had in weeks since she'd been here.

Gippal shrugged carelessly, as if that was of no issue. "We both know you couldn't do it, as bitchy as you may seem." He grunted and stretched his arms over his head. "You're like a kitty without its claws."

Deciding he wasn't doing much good just sitting there, he stood, reaching over to his coat and grabbing a pack of smokes. "Want one?" He asked, not really paying attention as he popped one out of the carton, sitting back down beside her.

She shrugged, taking one and leaning back, her foot propped on the bed, the other casually stretched out. "You've never seen this kitty with her claws out Gippal. Besides, something tells me you would get a little excited at just the thought." She smirked, nudging him slightly. She couldn't help but smirk to him. She did have quite a bit to drink afterall, and even though she could handle it, it did lighten her quite a bit.

"I didn't know you smoked."

"It's a habit I picked up after we split up." He admitted, offering his lighter to her as he lit up. He blew out smoke in tiny puffs, eyeing her lazily, though with unveiled interest.

"There's just something about Paine and the word 'kitty' that works me into knots." He teased, closing his eye for a moment. "Leather suits you." He said finally.

"Never knew I worked you into knots. Good or bad thing?" She tilted her head to him, looking him over a moment before brushing a bit of silvery hair from her face. "Well?" She was quite curious now. She leaned, holding the cigarette with a mysterious grace. This was only her second time smoking, but it was a nice way to relieve stress. Although, with Gippal here, she had a feeling she wouldn't be so bored anymore.

"Thank you. I would've thought you'd like some of my other spheres."

Gippal leaned back, the cigarette drooping from his lip precariously as he yawned. "I appreciate your spheres just fine, Paine." He drolled, feeling drowsy.

He decided to ignore her other comments, because he wasn't really in the right state of mind to answer them properly.

"Some things never change." Paine couldn't help but smirk, taking a long drag of her cigarette, then putting it out, stretching and sitting up.

"Well, as amusing as you've been Gippal, you look sleepy. Either that or i've compeltely bored you. Or..someone had a little too much of his own alcohol." She laughed to herself, then placed a hand to his chest, looking him over with a smirk to her glossed lips. "Get some sleep. We can talk another time."

She grinned again, then surprisingly placed a small kiss just to the side of his lips. "It's been fun. Thanks for the drink."

Gippal blinked stupidly, cocking his head as she moved away. "Ah? Ah... ...uh... well, you take care... crossing the hall?" He rubbed his eye, then patted her bottom lightly. "We'll catch up some more another time. Don't keep your parrot waiting."

He was considerably surprised at Paine's actions, and he began wondering if her tolerance for booze had dropped. He doubted it, buuut... "Have a nice night, darling." He said in a saucy tone.