#ofmachina

She has been working on this exam for the past four months, adding detail after detail, obstacle after obstacle, perhaps the most complex exam she’s ever designed, and when Xu gets the list of cadets who will be participating it, it almost makes her want to scrap the entire test and start again. 

Instead, she sits there for a few minutes, reading, rereading, the email bright on her screen, responds with a brief affirmation, and shuts her computer down for the night. 

The laptop is packed, her briefcase is slung over her shoulder. Dinner plans have been made, delivery ordered and scheduled to be dropped off within the next ten minutes. Enough time to get down to her dorm, uncork a bottle of wine. Relax. 

Rikku is rummaging around Xu’s dorm when Xu enters. Subtlety is not Rikku’s game, but so far, Xu has been able to crush rumors beneath her heel. 

who said i love you first?: RIKKU. And Xu just sort of rolled her eyes and made a dismissive gesture like, I know, I know. She says it at two AM, when Rikku is asleep, and feels better for admitting it. 

who laughs when the other trips?: Rikku. Always Rikku. 

who pays the bills?: XU IS THE ADULT HERE. Xu also pays for dinner/dates. Xu has actively stuffed Rikku’s gil back into her pocket. 

which one makes a bigger deal around the holidays?: Rikku. Xu forgets holidays are a thing. 

who’s more clumsy?: They’re not clumsy, but Xu is the one buying insurance on her phone because she drops it constantly. 

who checks their daily horoscope?: Rikku. Who reads them aloud. And then reads Xu’s aloud. 

who sings louder in the car?: Rikku. 

who leaves the cap off the toothpaste?: RIKKU. 

who is more up to date in pop culture?: See above. Still Rikku. 

who insists on going to see the newest movies?: Xu goes to premieres sometimes, because Garden does a lot of high-profile work for studios in Galbadia, and they get free passes. But Rikku is the one who insists on seeing new things in theaters without any special occasion surrounding it. 

who cries when the abused animal commercials come on?: Xu changes the channel because she will totally cry. 

who’s the lighter sleeper?: Xu

who believes in ghosts?: Rikku, but Xu, while skeptical, has seen some shit. 

who does the grocery shopping?: Xu. Rikku is not allowed unless she has a list. 

     The sound of a pair of wings swiftly approaching caught the brunette’s      attention and she found herself facing a... winged eyeball? What?      Having just arrived to this world, with no clue where the heck she is      mind you, she was in the middle of some exploration-- until this guy      showed up anyway, with the determined glint in its eye and the intent      to do some harm. 

          “... What in the world are you?”

If there’s one thing you could say about Al-Bhed as a people, they are certainly not shy. 

     A quirk of his brow as hips rest upon a nearby treasure. His treasure      if he is being specific. Aye, it seems as if he has a guest traversing his      secret treasury. Could prove fun. There’s a quirk of his lips as arms cross      at his chest.