Closed Meeting By Chance

[Ricky Maze]

The silence that followed was heavy but short, the boy had to consider what he would do; and his stomach apparently wouldn't go unheard. It was enough for him to give in, to allow Ricky to help him out."Okay...Thank you..." It was low and soft when he spoke, but the young boy decided to show his appreciation Ricky could've expected coming. "I-I have some money... its not a lot but... you can have it." Already he was reaching down into his pocket to pull out the amount of coin he carried, but he would find Ricky held up his hand as a gesture to hold that thought.

"I don't want any money laddie, nor do I need it either laddie. Ye keep it and save if for when ya do need it, I'm happy knowin yer not gonna starve." He reassured the boy with a humble warm smile. Ricky stood up and led the way back to the Hostel, even if Chase insisted Ricky to take the money Ricky would refuse. His heart was set on helping this child out, and the best place to begin with was his stomach. Kelvic or not the boy was still a boy, a child that would live on with his generation. It was left up to people like Ricky, to help guide and show that generation the way. Even though he was no parent Ricky would still take the role of a father figure for the boy, he would lend the little aid he could and set the child on the right path.

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Twenty chimes had passed before they finally arrived at the Hostel. Ricky led the young boy to his room, where he would find his old worn travel bag. This bag had been on quite a few trips with him, as the worn holes and tears were proof of its age. Ricky opened the pack to fied any possible dried meat, he had only restocked enough for a few more days in Nyka; though he had pretty much bummed off the food offered here at the Hostel when its been given.

He found what he was looking for, and held it out for Chase to grab. "This should fill that hole in yer gut." He still held the warm humble smile, and waited for the boy to take the food and eat.

[Chase Lerar]

And protest Chase did, as they walked their way back to the Hostel. On his person Chase carried at least five silver miza, the rest remained in his room at the Hostel. At every rejection Ricky gave to Chase, the boy only returned with his own argument even if it was a weak one. Eventually the boy fell silent and followed Ricky without another word. The silence was heavy for Chase, for he was still unsure who this man was or if he intended to really give him food. For all he knew it was a trap. _______ Finally the two reached the Hostel, Chase was still nervously glancing at Ricky every now and then trying to gauge the man the best he could. When they were in Ricky's room Chase made sure to keep the room door open. If Ricky was keen enough to catch on it didn't matter. Chase wanted a viable escape route in case something were to happen. He eyed the bag as Ricky brought out dried meat and held it out for him. Carefully the boy took the meat and gave it the once over. He sniffed it, it had no smell. He nibbled on it, it had a bland taste but it was meat. Satisfied with his investigation over the food, Chase began to wolf down the meat in a matter of seconds. Although as Chase swallowed, if Ricky were to pay attention he would notice that the collar was restricting the passage of food for only a moment. Chase coughed as it eventually went down, and sighed as he felt real food hit his stomach. It gurgled in thanks but growled afterwords wanting more. But Chase didn't ask for more, it was enough that Ricky was sharing his food Chase didn't want to overstay his welcome. "Thank you." he said with a small smile. Silence hung in the air for a moment, it made Chase uncomfortable. "Um.." he hesitated, "My name is Chase..." The voice in the back of Chase's head screamed that he should keep quite. It was unwise to give out his name, what if he was wanted in the other city? What if this man knew his master? He would be turned in and punished for escaping and stealing! But Chase felt a longing for company and companionship. A real friend to call on and to be his support. It was only natural for a kelvic to desire a bond of friendship after all. But the cautious voice in his head yelled at him, it screamed for him to leave and hide somewhere in the city. No one could be trusted, he wasn't safe in the presence of others. This conflict was obvious on Chase's expression. His heart was pumping, and his skin grew cold and clammy. Color drained from his face, and Chase began looking around the room nervously.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky watched as the boy scarfed down his food eagerly, and noticed the boy had a minor issue with his color. "Try swallowin less at a time, maybe that'll help ya." He instructed as he went to his bag once more. Sure Ricky needed to save up on his rations, but he felt sure he had enough for a another few days. When he went back to Sunberth is when he would stock up anyway, it was the trip after would follow that would be the longest.

The boy gave thanks to Ricky and after a moment of silence hung around he finally heard the boy speak. Well Chase I couldn't just walk away with yer belly all grumbly now, He turned to Chase once again with another ration, "and ye can call me Ricky." There was a humble smile that resided in his expression, but that was soon replaced with concern. The color in Chase's face paled from earlier, and his eyes darted around the room as though he were worried. Ricky wasn't sure if it was the collar or if Chase felt afraid, but his caring nature turned to protective measure. Chase obviously needed a sense of sanctuary, as there was something that ate away at him. Ricky couldn't help the empathy he felt for the boy, it was just something that happened.

Ricky knelt down to eye level with Chase once again, the ration still in his hand still offered. "Laddie if somethin is troublin ya, ye can tell me what it is. I'm here to help ya, I ain't gonna let anythin happen to ya." There was a calm, confident attitude in his tone, with a sincere, honest look to Chase.

[Chase Lerar]

Chase couldn't help but smile a bit. His body felt warm, like the cold that had infested his body was being brushed away. Could it really be that this human was genuinely kind? For once Chase let his barriers down, and took the next piece of meat from Ricky. Like the last he quickly consumed it, but took his time to swallow. If Ricky looked hard enough he could tell that the collar was skin tight. A thin blade might be able to slip under it, but not without nicking the boy in return. If Ricky looked even harder he could see that the collar had several shallow cuts and ends where it seemed that the boy had tried to remove it. As a result small bruises and cuts marked Chase's neck. However many of them seem to be healing, as if quite a deal of time had passed since he last attempted to break the bind. "Laddie if somethin is troublin ya, ye can tell me what it is. I'm here to help ya, I ain't gonna let anythin happen to ya." Chase looked down to his hands, and began twiddling his two thumb together. "I ran away." he stated bluntly, "Had to... didn't want to live with him anymore." Chase gritted his teeth as he uttered him. It was obvious that he held some resentment to a person from his past. Chase hesitated for a moment and looked back up to Ricky. "You wont turn me in... back to that bad man, right?"

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky did look closely to the collar and he did see the bruises that were healing. The fact someone could put such a burden on a child was despicable in his book. Sure the child was a Kelvic, but that didn't mean he had to be treated like the animal he is. To Ricky the Kelvic was an extraordinary race that deserved to be treated like people, and it made him feel bitter to those who saw or treated them otherwise.

Chase partially shared with Ricky his story, for the man could only surmise he hadn't heard the entire thing. The information he was given was little in its source, but at the root of it all it just proved how scared Chase really was deep down inside. Ricky wanted to hug the poor kid, hold him close and tell him nothing else would ever come to harm him. Alas he held his position in the room, the only difference was that he scooted off the bed to sit on the floor and lean against it.

Chase no doubt suffered from whoever his previous master was. There was that tone of disgust at the mere mention of "him", he who apparently would not be named. When Chase asked that Ricky not turn him in, the man almost snorted as he too already hated this man.

"Laddie trust me, if I even knew who this man was; I'd be givin him a piece o' my mind." He spoke sharp when he said this, the mutual feeling that had developed was met with Chase's; and Ricky didn't even know who this man was. "Ya had every right to run laddie, if someone is treatin ya wrong and ya can't stop them. Then by all means get away from that person, just like ya did him." Ricky nodded in assurance.

It was no wonder now that Chase had a difficult start in trusting Ricky, a trust that must've taken a lot of courage to give. That kind of trust was what allowed a difference to be made, the kind of difference that proves there are people that care. All this really made Ricky want to hold Chase close, like a caretaker or a guardian that would protect such a tortured soul. The boy deserved better than what he had to live with, it wasn't right to suffer the things he had.

'Ey, that color is a bit too tight. Any way I can loosen it for ya? I'd help ya get it off, but I don't have a knife on me or in my pack." Ricky figured extending some form of another helping hand would ease Chase further, if there was any way he could lend more aid to this troubled soul then he would.

[Chase Lerar]

"Ya had every right to run laddie, if someone is treatin ya wrong and ya can't stop them. Then by all means get away from that person, just like ya did him." Chase smiled at this and brought his legs up to his chest, resting his arms on his knees. That warm feeling of actually being around another person intensified. It was like he was back home with the family who cared for him. "Thank you." he said softly and looked up to Ricky's eyes. This was the first time the boy actually made eye contact. Deep in his amber eyes was a world of pain, brought by his previous owner. But that jaded past was slowly being chipped away by this older soul. Finally Chase looked like he was happy, his eyes full of the small amount of joy he had gained from this encounter. 'Ey, that color is a bit too tight. Any way I can loosen it for ya? I'd help ya get it off, but I don't have a knife on me or in my pack." Chase winced a bit at the mention of his collar. It was forced on him by his previous owner. Chase didn't feel like he needed to explain that though, he could already see that Ricky knew. "The collar is welded on by this metal." he said pointing to the metal plate where the leather was connected. Various scraps and cuts were etched in the metal. "No key, no way of loosening it. I think... I think it was going to be replaced when it got too tight..." he played with the leather a bit, shivering at the cool touch of metal when his finger passed over it. "I've tried cutting it but..." he pointed to a recent mark on his neck. It was a cut. The damage wasn't bad, it was a very shallow wound. "I found some broken glass, tried to cut it off... but I got scared when I cut myself." he fidgeted a bit. "I'm too scared I might cut my throat." he looked up at Ricky again, eyes filled with some kind of hope. "Can you get it off? Maybe find someone who can?"

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky felt a chill as his imagination took play and pictured the terror of cutting his own neck, the idea to be stuck with a restraint that limited one so young; it was horrible. 'Petch the bastard that'd do such a thing.' His hand rubbed the part of the neck where the imaginary cut was made, his mind subconciously aware of the experience even though it never happened to him. He had experienced enough gashes to know what pain was, but those wounds weren't accidental nor self inflicted. The trouble Chase was having with this collar was more than what it's worth.

Ricky sighed as he wished he hadn't lost the parring knife that he obtained when he first gathered his travel gear. The bag was the only thing left from that journey really, other than the iron sword he kept. He looked over to Valo's bag; and even though he would regret invading his fated friends privacy, he needed a knife or dagger that would give Chase the release he needed. "One moment laddie." He told the boy as he scooted near the bag. He filed through the things that was in Valo's pack, his mind sent a silent apology to the artist for having done this. Finally he discovered a wrist knife tucked within, the perfect tool he'd need if he were to cut the collar.

He pressed his thumb on blade to test its edge, it felt sharp enough to cut leather to him. There was just one important thing he had to take into consideration; if Chase was willing to follow through with this. Ricky turned to the Kelvic with sincere eyes, he made no movements to the boy as he didn't wish to scare the child. Its bad enough he intimidated Chase earlier, to have a weapon in his hands now could easily elimante that trust he built with the boy.

"Chase lad, I'm not gonna press the issue with ya. This is entirely up to ya, and if you choose not to go through with this then I can completely understand. If yer willin to put that kind o' trust in me, I'll do what I can to cut the collar off; while tryin not to hurt ya as best as I can." There was still the possibility he could slip the knife under the collar, from there it would have to carefully be cut off. Probably in a sawn motion, but that would have to be confirmed on closer inspection. Right now however it was up to Chase, should he accept the chance for Ricky to attempt this all he had to do was sit on the bed. From there Ricky would figure it out as he went along, and hopefully spare Chase as much pain as possible. If Chase said no however then Ricky would accept it, because there was no shame in facing an issue like this later. He may come to regret it if he grew any more, but the decision was entirely his. Ricky would put the knife back where he got it from, and the two would go about conversing just as they did earlier.

The decision waited to be heard; what would Chase choose to do?

[Chase Lerar]

Chase leaned over and watched as Ricky dug into his bag. He was slightly out of his comfort zone now, but Chase felt he could trust Ricky. The man had shown so much kindness already, this was hardly the time to start to doubt the man. However, when Ricky came out with that knife, Chase shrank back. He didn't look too terrified, but he was a bit weary as the sharp object was produced from the other bag. "Chase lad, I'm not gonna press the issue with ya. This is entirely up to ya, and if you choose not to go through with this then I can completely understand. If yer willin to put that kind o' trust in me, I'll do what I can to cut the collar off; while tryin not to hurt ya as best as I can." The boy looked from Ricky and back to the blade. He lightly touched the collar on his neck and tried to see how much room there was. True, before when he tried to cut the collar off the glass was sharp on both edges. The knife however had a blunt side where it won't cut him. But, the problem was getting the blade underneath the collar. It was a very tight fit, no matter how thin it was there was going to be some kind of injury during the process. But the biggest question was, was he willing to trust Ricky getting the collar off of him, so he could finally be free? There was always the chance that Chase would flinch and the blade be plunged into his neck. That was the real worry the boy had on his mind. However, the thought of finally being free, finally being able to change to and from both forms was too tempting. "You have to be careful..." the boy said softly pointing to the collar. "Its very tight... you can slip the blade in, but you'll cut me when you do it. J-just don't flinch..." He let out one long sigh and closed his eyes. "H-hurry please." he said in a whisper. He kept his eyes closed, as not to see the sharp edge of the knife.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky admired the decision that Chase made, the Kelvic chose an attempt at freedom even though the risk was great. He was willing to put forth the trust and faith in Ricky, even when Ricky himself had a difficult time believing he could do it. Yet Ricky wouldn't falter now, he would help Chase out to the best of his ablities. The fact Chase could make such a brave decision was more than enough to give Ricky courage. Both had to trust each other in this, if he were to pull it off successfully of course. "I'll try to make this quick laddie, I promise ya that." He didn't intend to startle Chase if he did, but Ricky gently grabbed the boy's wrist; to tug him to where he could sit at the edge of the bedframe. That way Ricky could get a closer view of the collar.

Upon closer examination there was a few jagged spots that seemed worn, the one that looked most effective was where he had attempted it with glass. There was several enough nicks that, should Ricky apply enough force, he could probably cut the retraint off. Of course this would be a bit painful for Chase in the process, it would have to be done quickly if there was any hope to shorten the amount of time he'd feel the pain. Ricky took his pinky finger and tried to slid it in between the collar and the boy's neck; he could only get the tip through. He withdrew his finger and checked out the blade once more. There was no way he could just slide it in there and cut through, however the blade was flat enough to fit if he turned it to the side. Should he do this then angle the blade, he could probably get the right spot to cut and apply enough force. He didn't make his advance just yet though, instead he made sure Chase was ready for what he was about to do.

"The medals gonna feel cold at first, but that'll be because I have to angle the blade first. Once that is done I need ya to concentrate on bein a statue, it'll hurt like a bitch for a chime but I should be able to cut through it." He explained his idea with honesty, confidence present in his voice but there was still a quake. His heart raced from the pressure he felt, the idea of inflicting pain far beyond what he wanted to do. Yet that pain is what could help Chase achieve freedom, and even though Ricky was nervous about this, he would follow through with it with courage.