D'jose Temple~

(From "Mi'hen Highroad~")
*Chocina squeals about almost reaching the goalpoint, and sure enough, they pass over a cliff and reach a crossroad. Chocina begins harbouring left, where [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] stands, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]*

Mana: *blinks the Tidus vision away and eyes widen at the view* W-Whoa... Be careful flying, Chocina! Let's make it there without getting fried, yeah?

*Chocina suddenly decides to chance against life and closes in on the floating earth, scaling sides of the rocks that float about and narrowly hopping over an arc of electricity that passes by. She circles around the entire temple once, before hallowing the ground below her with her wings and landing fairly smoothly. She squeals, excited by the nice flight*

Mana: *pets Chocina adoringly* You did great, Chocina~! *snuggles her* Even if we happened to have magically lost, I think you were awesome~!

*Chocina bends her head around, wondering where Calli waited for them, when Calli makes her way across the bridge leading to the temple. She seems almost excited to have lost*
Calli: That was incredible! I didn't know Chocina could fly.... and they way you led her! It's like you were in sync!

Mana: *pets Chocina lovingly* It helps when you understand what she's saying~

*Sugar, Yuna, and Paine finally catch up, having to give chase on foot*
Yuna: So, who won~?
Calli: Mana did. She sure showed me~!
Yuna: Wow, great job Mana!
Paine: Even if you did cheat.
*Yuna shushes Paine, and Rikku rides in on a Chocobo, having been oblivious to the race in her own love of the winged creatures*
Rikku: Hey guys~!
Yuna: Rikku, you missed it~!
Rikku: What did I miss?
Paine: Flying Chocobos.
*Rikku's eyes light up*
Rikku: What!? Where!?

Mana: *still set on Paine's "cheating" comment, as reflected by her puffed out cheeks* How did I cheat?

Paine: Chocobos don't fly.
Sugar: Most chocobos don't fly. There are rare "Black" chocobos that can fly, fairly quickly as well~
Paine: So a race with a black chocobo is unbalanced.
*Calli waves her hand*
Calli: No, no! I've been trying to breed a black chocobo forever~! Finding out Chocina is one is only better news~!
*Calli rubs Chocina's beak, and at the same time, Rikku glomps Chocina, rubbing against the chocobo enthusiatically*
Rikku: Cho-co-cho-co~

Mana: *sniffs* I can't help it if I picked up an awesome chocobo~ *joins in the petting* Right, Chocina~?

*Chocina ruffles her feathers, chiming in praise of Mana's flying skills*
Calli: Well, I'd better be going back now. It was nice to meet you, Mana!
*Calli nudges her chocobo to start walking, and then she whistles*
Calli: C'mon Chocina~!
*Chocina lowers Mana down gently and whinnies, hoping to see Mana again one day. Then she follows Calli, and the three of them race back for the Rest Stop*
Yuna: Well, that was fun...~
Paine: Hm.
Rikku: Chocobos...

Mana: *very downcast now* I didn't get to make her a plushie...

Y,R,P: Plushie?
*Sugar waves their question aside nervously*
Sugar: We can always go back, once we've finished our quest~
*Sugar stops smiling upon thinking about the quest*
Sugar: ...
Yuna: ...Well, it looks like Calli forgot to let us bring Chocobos with us-
Paine: Because we chea-
Yuna: So we'll have to continue on foot. We're at the D'jose temple now, so...
*Rikku's hair stands up on end*
Rikku: So we have to leave now, right!?
Yuna: Wha? But, I thought, since we couldn't stay at the stop on the Mi'hein, we could stay at the temple here...
Rikku: We can't!
*Paine catches on*
Paine: What's the matter? Afraid to run into someone?
Rikku: NO! I just don't like this temple! That's all!

Mana: *looks curiously at Rikku* What's wrong with this temple?

Rikku: Th-there's, it, It's just stupid, alright?
: Aw, come on, that hurts my feelings~
*Two leather-bound hands land on Rikku's shoulders, causing her to tense up. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] stands behind her, smiling, causing her to break from his hold flustratedly*
Rikku: G-Gippal!
Gippal: Good to see you remember me~ How's Cid's little girl doing~?
*Gippal pats Rikku on the head, whom swats his hand away*
Gippal: And I see you brought the whole gang!
*Gippal saunters next to Yuna, whom takes an obligatory step back*
Gippal: Good to see you again, Yuna~
Yuna: Good to see you as well, Gippal....
*Gippal turns his head to Paine*
Gippal: Doctor P~
*Paine groans, causing Gippal to smile*
Gippal: And you even brought Sugar along with you~
*Gippal bends down until he meets Sugar at eye level, whom blushes and looks away*
Sugar: H-hello again.
*Gippal stands up straight, and turns to Mana finally*
Gippal: You're a new face. What's your name~?

Mana: *smiles friendly at Gippal* My name is Mana~

Gippal: Mana, huh?
*Gippal bends down and stares at Mana straight in the eyes-.... eye*
Gippal: You guys are dropping in like flies. Is there a giant animal farm no one told me about~?
*Rikku shoves Gippal out of Mana's face*
Rikku: Cruf cusa nacbald, rir!? Cra'c uh y ciban-esbundyhd secceuh!
*Gippal laughs, as if used to be pushed away, and just places his hands on his waist*
Gippal: So, what "Super-important Misson" business are you guys on, anyways?
Paine: None of your business.
*Gippal grins*
Gippal: That's my favourite kind~

Mana: *looks at Paine* Fyed, fa lyh'd- *shakes her head* I mean, we're not supposed to tell him?

Rikku: It's none of his business!
Gippal: Come on, you can't really feel that way~
Paine: It isn't.
Gippal: And I thought we were friends, Paine...
*Gippal shrugs his shoulders and twists on his heels, walking back for the D'jose Temple*
Gippal: Fine, I guess you guys don't want a ride on my new tram system then~
*Rikku's ears perk up*
Rikku: ....

Mana: *looks intrigued* You guys have trams here on Spira?

Gippal: As a matter-of-fact, we didn't~
Yuna: You made a tram?
*Gippal doesn't bother turning back to face them, instead wagging one finger in the air*
Gippal: Maybe, maybe not~ I can't really remember~
Rikku: You don't!
*Gippal shrugs*
Gippal: If you say so~
*Rikku seems infuriated by the boy, and Paine shakes her head*
Paine: If it'll get you off of our backs, Mana's going to kill Seymour.
Yuna: I-It's not that simple-!
*Gippal, either understanding of Paine's tone, or not as curious to know the details, opts to bend and focus on Mana again*
Gippal: Really? And you're trusting this little girl? Whatever floats your boat...

Mana: *puffs out her cheeks in distaste and puts her hands on her hips* Looks are deceiving.

Gippal: No need to tell me twice~
*Gippal very suddenly saunters to Rikku's side, pinching one of her cheeks*
Gippal: Just take Rikku, for example~ Who'd have thought she'd make such a good girlfriend~?
*Rikku flusters and slaps Gippal away, her face becoming very cherry-like*
Rikku: I WAS TWELVE! DROP IT!
*Yuna and Paine share their snickering*

Mana: *her eyes start twinkling in what most people who know her would describe as a dangerous and mischievous light* You two had a thing?

Rikku: WE DID NOT!
Gippal: She was lovesick~
Rikku: I WAS NOT!
*Rikku flails on Gippal*