Completed Parenting For Dummies

[Ricky Maze]

"Glad to be of help to ya lad. Anytime ye need me, and remember that." He assured the man with a warm smile as they pressed onward. He nodded enthusiastically when Castor mentioned finding the book they were looking for, eager to see what the contents would say when he would look inside. He expected it to have some sort of guide to raising a child, or at least hopefully shed light on the process of going through the pregnancy in detail. He had no knowledge or experience in this whole thing, so any details that could be given to help him out were exceptionally welcomed. When they walked down a corridor and Castor filed through the titles to find the one he thought would help, Ricky looked ar a few titles of his own to wait patiently. 'Jungle Dance, Lost in Falynder: A Lost Chronicle, Shaka'hal the Myrian Cannibal... Can these books get any weirder?' He mused with a chuckle, a look up to Castor as he came down and handed him a book.

"Lisa Turrell huh?" He opened the cover and mused himself further at the title, certainly a bit easy and obvious to the story within. 'Guess the title is just to help catch the eye.' He turned the pages and read a few of the first paragraphs. Nothing real fanciful about pregnancy as she mainly just wrote about her expedition, but considering it was just the first few paragraphs he couldn't really say for sure. "My my, do a bit of research are we?" Ricky looked behind him as he shut the book, and found Hannah stood at the end with a smug grin.

"Hannah! What're ya doin' here." He inquired with a bit of surprise.

"Same reason you are block head, though my research doesn't involve reading about knocked up expeditionists in the wild. That is just plain silly." She teased with a wink to Ricky and he could only scratch the back of his head. "Who's your friend?" She nodded to Castor with intrigue in her eyes, a casual smile now upon her face as she approached with a swagger.

"Oh, this'd be Castor. He's helpin' me out," He introduced with a friendly face, "Castor this is Hannah. She's a friend o' mine." He watched Castor to see how he took Hannah's random appearance, and hoped she wouldn't pull anything awkward towards the man. She had a habit of coming off strong, and Ricky didn't want to give Castor a bad impression by any chance.

[Castor Riley]

Castor had been waiting patiently as Ricky leafed through the pages of the book, when, seemingly out of nowhere, a red-haired woman appeared. She was obviously a friend of Ricky's, as she bantered playfully with him. He couldn't help but agree, inwardly, with her assertion that reading about pregnant expeditionists was rather silly. It would likely be more of an interesting story than an actually helpful book on pregnancy. He briefly considered whether this woman might be Ricky's pregnant lover, but rejected the idea fairly quickly; they simply did not seem to have the vibe of a couple with a baby on the way. Then the woman's attention turned to him and he saw that her eyes were an incredible blue. Could she be Svefra? he mused to himself. Ricky introduced them to each other. "How do you do?" was Castor's first question to the woman. He went on, smiling professionally: "I'll have to accept responsibility for the choice of research material. I'm the librarian helping Ricky with his request, and I really couldn't think of something more pertinent to suggest. If you require assistance, please don't hesitate to ask a librarian. Though I am presently engaged, there are plenty of others roaming around." Castor felt that the professional introduction might be a bit much, but he was still on the job and it had been a creedo of his to remain as a helpful, yet distant member of staff, his experience with Ricky notwithstanding. He didn't want to make a habit out of getting involved in other people's affairs beyond what was necessary from his job description. He couldn't help but ask the question that was on his mind though: "Might I ask, would you happen to be Svefra? Your eyes are the most impressive shade of blue I have yet to see." Color lightly tinged his ears as he realized how... peculiar his statement might be taken as. He hoped she wasn't much of a stickler for proper conduct.

[Ricky Maze]

"Splendid actually, I just found the book I've been looking for ages ago." She happened to hold out a book with a similar color, and very familiar title, for the two men to see. "Laviku's Trident".

"Knew it!' Ricky choked on his own words and coughed a bit before he cleared his throat. Hannah only looked at him curiously before she responded to Castor.

"A good try nonetheless, still I think this sea bear is better off getting advice from a medic rather than a tome." She winked at Ricky with a flirtatious grin, and relaxed against the sturdy bookcase with intrigue in her eyes. Castor had asked her a question Ricky never thought to ask before, a question that definitely interested him as well as the librarian. Hannah laughed at his compliment near the end though, a smirk grew on her face as she gave her reply.

"Why yes! My mother was an adventurous Svefran, then she went to Wind Reach and met my whore of a father. You can picture the rest I'm sure." She remarked with a giggle, Ricky only shook his head with a small grin. He felt quite sure neither of them wanted to picture it. "You're quite handsome yourself. You free later? I could do with some good company now that I'm staying in Zeltiva." She mused with another flirtatious wink, and Ricky choked on the air he inhaled as he face beamed red. "Goodness me Ricky, you might as well ask the doc to check on you as well." She teased once more with an entertained giggle, Ricky cleared his throat several times as he tried his best to hide his embarrassment.

oocI left it open for Castor to react however he would, so he could tease back or do whichever he pleases.

[Castor Riley]

Castor hadn't come across the book Hannah had flashed for the two men, "Laviku's Trident", so the meaning of the exchange between Ricky and the woman was lost on him. Having heard her suggestion, Castor felt like smacking himself upside the head for not coming up with such an obvious solution himself. "Ah! Of course! That would be a much more prudent course of action!" He was obviously too biased towards considering books as the sole bearers of knowledge. He then turned to Ricky. "Still, Turell is a talented writer, and I do believe you would quite enjoy her." Castor was then wholly surprised by Hannah's response to his question. As a reply to her heritage, she had invited him to picture her parents copulating. She responded to his professional and distant manner with such unabashed flirtatiousness that it was obviously intended to provoke. Even though they had known each other all of five chimes, they were in the greatest library in all of Mizahar and he had been so strictly professional, she had been unperturbed. She appeared to be taking great pleasure in the discomfort her openness to sexual subjects produced in those around her. He wasn't sure whether to be shocked, impressed or curious, so he settled for all at once. In any case, he decided to drop his professional tone. From his days at the Great Bazaar, he had learned that people responded better the more you matched your perceived self to theirs. Plus, there was obviously little use for it. He smirked right back. "Good company is pretty easy to find in Zeltiva. It's bad company that's harder, and I wonder which it is you're looking for." he replied, cheekily. It was just some harmless flirting and if anything came of it, she seemed the type to be interested in only the carnal side of it, which suited him just fine. Still, he felt a bit awkward to be performing this social dance in front of Ricky, who had appeared deeply embarassed in the beginning of the conversation. He wondered how this situation would play out.

OOCI hadn't really thought how Castor would react to the sex issue yet, so I guess that's decided.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky nodded as he looked down to the book, maybe he would read it sometime when he had the time. For now though he had to figure out just what was thinking about doing. Again he still tried to fight the blush that colored his cheeks as Hannah persisted to flirt with Castor, and clearly the conversation would take an awkard turn for him as Castor clearly accepted the flirting and returned a little of his own. 'Why me? I'm just a simple man with a child on the way.' He slightly cursed to whatever god possessed the skills to bring this encounter together, be it fate or just dumb luck with terrible timing on his part.

Hannah only giggled and approached Castor with her casual strut, but a more devious look now filled her expression as she pressed Castor's buttons a little more. "So true," She pointed her finger on his shoulder and proceeded to guide it down his chest, "its so hard trying to find someone so bad its good. I wonder just how bad you could be." She teased as her finger nearly reached his waistline now, Ricky's eyes bulged as he decided now would be a good time to keep his eyes in the pages of the book he held. He did his best to hide his constant blushing as he made sure his eyes remained averted from Hannah's little game she decided to play. "Know any good places around here where you can show me?" She raised an eyebrow with a devious smirk, her finger would still circle at his waist as she waited to see his reaction.

'Laviku help me cause this woman is helpless, I really gotta put a leash on 'er.' Ricky thought in silence as he folded to the second page already, even though he could look away and hopefully avoid them noticing his completely red face; he still couldn't cover his ears at the same time he distracted himself. Whatever Castor decided to do next Ricky would focus on straying from the topic when he found the chance, as Hannah clearly made her point clear that she was in the "mood" she so easily advertised.

[Castor Riley]

As Castor looked back at Ricky, he couldn't help but notice the man's obvious discomfort from the alarming hue of red he seemed to be turning. For Castor, this caused equal parts shame and... amusement. He felt hard-pressed not to guffaw loudly at the sight. Then, of course, Hannah came closer and started making some very flirtatious advances on Castor, her finger feeling incredibly warm as it made its way across his body. However, Castor's mood had decidedly shifted towards amused from flirty; a fact that was enforced by the sight of Ricky in the background, reading the book he'd been given with a fervor and devotion that could only be described as scholarly. His eyes rooted to the pages, and his face flushing red in constant waves, it was just too entertaining a sight to ignore. That was when his mood shifted once more, from amused to devious. He smiled at Hannah, and, taking advantage of Ricky's attempts to remain completely blind to their interactions, subtly directed her attention at the man with his eyes. "Well wouldn't you like to know?" he went on with the flirting, trusting she would recognise the devious glint in his eyes for what it was. Her finger was still circling his waist when she asked her next flirtatious question, so he decided to wink at her conspiratorially and hoped that she would understand his intention as he replied: "Good places? Well, isn't right here, a good place? It's a really good library..." He kept looking at her, while keeping his attention primarily on Ricky out of the corner of his eye. He belatedly hoped that he had not been misunderstood.

[Ricky Maze]

'Oh dear Laviku... 'scuse me while I blow chunks bit.' Ricky retorted in silence as he closed the book, as it clearly would not be helping him out. Hannah only giggled as Castor carried out the little flirt game they had going on, his little notions weren't missed at all as pure delight filled her eyes. Her devious grin went wide as her finger finally slid down to the area below the belt, the area where she would fondle playfully with a few extra small giggles. She wasn't doing this just to tease Ricky, she also wanted to see just how far Castor would go. How far he would allow her to overstep any boundaries laid before her, if there was one thing Hannah loved as much as the sea, it definitely was coercing another person to give in to deep temptation.

"Oh believe me, I'll take any corner of this library. So long as you're the one doing the research, I need a good lesson after the neglect I've put up with." She winked once more, this time a bit of a pucker to the lips as her flirting wouldn't cease. Ricky finally decided to try and turn the tide since the two were going to continue this foreplay, besides if Hannah wasn't going to get what she wanted from Castor now, she most likely would try again at a later time just because she wanted to.

"Why's it always 'bout sex with ya?"

"It's not. Sometimes it's about sex with other people."

"Ye see? It comes up every single time ya talk."

"We're just talking, Rick. If it comes up, that's not my fault."

"I- nevermind!" His red face couldn't possibly be any redder now that he reached the greatest amount of blushing he could do, he attempted to bury his face in the book once more as a cover up. Hannah got a good laugh out of his reaction.

"I had my fun Rick I swear." She finally laid back a bit to give a small distance between her and Castor, and Ricky just looked up with raised eyebrows as he wondered if it really was out of her system. "But really Castor, show me a good time sometime. If you have the stones enough to be "bad" for it." She laughed with a sly grin, her point no doubt well made across to the librarian. 'O' course she ain't gonna waste the opportunity to get in his pants.' Ricky sighed as he rubbed his hand through his short hair a few times. "Now if you excuse me, "Laviku's Trident" calls my attention." She mused with a wave, a kiss blown to Castor before she strutted on to leave the two. Ricky looked to Castor with an awkward grin soon after.

"So... That got interestin' for ya huh?" He tried to muse but he wasn't sure if the humor stuck, really it depended on how Castor took the whole thing since Hannah decided to be extremely forward with him. "Almost thought she'd be rippin' yer trouser's off man." He finally remarked with a little chuckle, finally he regained some sense of humor after all the blushing.

[Castor Riley]

Castor snorted when he heard Ricky's first comment on the whole affair. He was about to disengage from the flirting now that he'd reached the joke's logical conclusion, when Hannah just took it to the next level. Castor was stunned into silence, and finally felt himself flush, part embarassment, part lust. This woman was seriously undeterrable once she'd identified a target! He could see that she'd understood his winks and hints that he had just intended to mess a bit with Ricky, but that had been of little importance to her. When she reiterated his own joke suggestion, he felt that she actually meant it. Castor was a bit relieved when Ricky finally put a stop to the whole thing. He needed some time to get his bearings again after the whirlwind that was the red-haired woman. He couldn't help but laugh as Hannah pressed Ricky's buttons and wound him up, though still rather flushed himself. When Hannah made a second invitation - an invitation that sort of sounded like a challenge as well - he'd regained some self-possession. "You know where to find me." he said with a wink. Departing as suddenly as she had arrived, she left Castor musing that the way she said "Laviku's Trident" really made it sound like a euphemism for something. Alone again with the Wave Guard, Castor felt closer to the man due to their mutual embarassment. "That's one way of putting it. Maybe too interesting" he responded with an awkward grin of his own. "You know, I've got to be honest. After a point, I was really more interested in watching your reactions! Your face turned so many different shades of red, I was sure you were going to blow something!" he laughed good-naturedly. "This whole situation was basically your fault for being too funny to tease" he added with a cheeky grin. "Wow... Is she always like that?"

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky could only chuckle softly as Castor replied to Hannah, the way she acted to him was definitely a more straight forward way to get involved with another man. Ricky wondered if she really considered just bedding him from the get go and see if things went there, or if she thoroughly planned out how she would've gotten him to fallen for her. Either way things turned out for the unexpected, and he now belonged to the closest female friend he ever had. "Figured ye were in it to tease me," He laughed a bit as he closed the book once more, "Hannah does enjoy seeing me turn red all over. Must be her way of entertainment really."

He crossed his arms and relaxed against the shelf where Hannah stood, attention focused on Castor as he gave a friendly grin. He found it funny Castor thought him rather humorous, and thought that if Castor had been in the same position maybe then he would've enjoyed it as well. "Aye, been an honest man all my life, so I can't say that this kind o' talk is my cup of tea." He admitted with another chuckle, the statement pretty much an obvious one. "Oh believe me, she is always open 'bout that stuff. She kinda has no shame what so ever." He looked at the book once more before he approached Castor, still friendly and humble before the librarian. "Ya know she's serious 'bout the both of ya hook up, and she ain't one to quit so easily until she gets it. Quite determined really." He laughed a bit with a pat on Castor's shoulder. "So good luck with 'er whatever ya do, she's quite the fiery temptress she is."

He wondered if he probably went a little too far into detail on that note, therefore decided a possible subject change would be in order. He honestly didn't mind talking about their past ordeals, though going into detail definitely fall into his strong suit. Ricky being too modest for his own good, he'd likely fall into a new shade he hadn't reached before. "I'll definitely look into readin' this when I've more free time." He assured Castor with a nod, the book now present to be returned to its orginal place. He had to admit even if Hannah made things a bit awkward for him, Ricky saw a fun side to Castor he could actually agree with. A side that the two would definitely let loose when work didn't demand their attention.

[Castor Riley]

"Yeah, I thought that might be the case." was Castor's chuckled reply to Ricky's response. "You know, I hadn't been entirely sure she was serious until uhm... that last part" Castor replied, blushing a bit, but taking it in stride. "She seems fun. I doubt she'll have to try all that hard." He welcomed Ricky's pat on the shoulder, though it reminded him of the one he'd received just a few chimes earlier, which threatened to darken his mood again. He didn't dwell on it, however, and gave Ricky a curious look; the way he'd said that last statement sounded like he'd had some previous experience with the matter. He raised an eyebrow, questioningly, but Ricky changed the subject. He took the proferred book and ascended the little ladder once more to return it to its proper place. "Well, if you do need it, all you have to do is ask. I'll remember where it is now" he mentally solidified his knowledge of the location by considering the surrounding sections and adding it to his mental map of the library. His experiences in the aisle would probably make him burn with at least some embarassment whenever he went by it, so he doubted he could forget it, even if he tried. He descended once more and looked Ricky straight in the eye. "But, hey, wait a second" his curiosity got the better of his politeness. "It sounds like there's more to the story of Hannah and Ricky. Were you guys once... an item?" he asked, quite curious, and frankly beyond caring about the impertinence of the question. Ricky'd already been subjected to a glimpse into Castor's love life, it was only fair that the Wave Guard share the same fate.