Closed In Search of a Cure

[Ricky Maze]

In Search of a Cure
Spring 75th 514 AV, 8th Bell
Location: Entrance to Zeltiva (Mirahil Pass)

Tent? Check. Flint and Steel? Check. Backpack? Check. Supplies? Check. So far everything looked to be in an organized order, as the family worked together to organize everything that was in their wagon. They'd rented it from a small group of traveling merchants, who welcomed the presence of Ricky seeing as how he would be a large man who knew how to wield a weapon. Go figure. The wilderness was a dangerous place to trek, even so it certainly wasn't a place for a lady such as his wife... nor for the child she held so dearly while Ricky and Hannah sorted out the gear they were taking. Their venture was about to start and they weren't going to rest much until night was approaching, as it was well advised that this caravan cover as much ground as possible. All the same it was a good and welcome idea, the sooner Ricky reached the only salvation left for him the better. Syna's ascension into the sky was sluggish and had yet to fully bring the warmth of her kiss towards the bay, leaving the air to feel incredibly chill as the equipment was finally halfway through being packed.

Rations? Check. Lantern? Check. Oil? Check. Preservation kit? Check. Fishing equipment? Check. That looked to be his essentials, as well as the elaborate longsword he owned and the shield of the Wave Guard which rested next to it. Ricky wondered if he should've left his shield at home though, seeing as it would've likely been unnecessary weight, but in the event he may need it for defensive purposes he knew it would serve him well. He just hoped a time wouldn't come where he had to use it, nor either of the swords in the wagon for that matter. "That's everything. Now we just need Gale here, so he can take Martin and we can be off." Hannah added as she finished her own arrangements, he looked to the ginger somberly as he could see it in her eyes. Even when she didn't bother looking away from the equipment packed in the wagon, she still couldn't hide the fact that this entire idea was just wrong.

He couldn't blame her. He hated it too, as did Telion for that matter. Yet there was little choice, the outside world was far too dangerous for Martin. It was certainly no place for a child, hell not even for is beloved had she'd not been so damn stern. Yet even with the will to go with her love to see that he returned alive, they still had to leave one important thing behind... and it broke their hearts to have to do so. "He'll be 'ere, he said he'd come." Ricky murmured to her, she scoffed afterwards though.

"You should probably enjoy what time you have left Ricky. This trip is going to take a while after all, and it only gets harder down the line." She ordered for him to do as she fixed the bonds of her leather gauntlets, she didn't look all too comfortable in the small adornments of leather armor she wore. She didn't give him the chance to say anything, more or less nudged for him to go to his wife, and went to the front of the wagon where the horse stood waiting. The other caravan were still in progress with their preparation, but it wouldn't be too long until they too were ready. Thus Ricky practically had about less than a bell's worth of time to spend with his son... so little time to say goodbye to something so precious. When he approached her she couldn't keep her eyes off their son, tears withheld in her eyes as she tried to remain strong for Martin.

"We'll be back my little one. I promise we'll come back quickly and never let go of you again." Such a thing made Ricky practically tear up as well, as such a promise held the heaviest gravity upon his heart in turn. Because of him they were leaving, because of him they had to go. Why? Just what made Lhex decide this? Did the God of Fate find sick humor in all of this? He couldn't say anything, merely choke on a lump in his throat as he wrapped his arms around her. He looked down to the child in her arms, who in turn looked up to his parents with a lost look in his eyes. He didn't know what happened, only that his parents were sad for some reason. It wasn't fair. Nothing was, but then that was life. Wasn't it?

The couple would be waiting for Gale but sure enough others could come to wish them goodbye, that is if they knew why the parents were leaving. It wasn't a goodbye that would be cheerful that was for certain, as Ricky himself could be facing imminent death. Should somebody come to see them they would find Ricky wore only his terribly worn white vest and old green linens, the last clothing he wore when he first set out on a journey. This time though he wasn't alone, his wife would accompany him and in turn he made sure she was prepare. A turquoise shirt cut at the sleeves rolled over a skirt that allowed her legs to breath, with a sash tied over her waist area, thick boots made for walking, and then a cloak to cover her frame along the walk in the daylight. She looked decent in terms of adventuring but she certainly wasn't one to dare travel, the realization that she was about to see the world outside of Zeltiva something both immense and frightening to handle.

Yet she was strong, both she and Ricky had to be strong. For the little one that rested in their arms, and wait for their return when they would depart.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Last night was torture. Petch, these past few days had been torture. It had all been a huge mind boggler with many heart strings pulled. Heck, they weren't even pulled. They were torn. Gale could feel each of his makeshift strings be pulled apart. And it wasn't even quick. These past few days had been pulling them apart one small thread at a time. Today, he felt like he was only the last string.

The man was laying in his bed, his arms and legs spread out over the blankets. He had been awake all night, tossing and turning, but not one ounce of sleep came to him. So instead, for the past few bells the widower had lain there, starring at the blank and plainly made ceiling.


Before, his mind had wondered from thought to though like the passing of clouds. Though, a little later, they came down on him like hail. Now, it was a clear sky. Just blank. He couldn't think of anything. If he tried, his mind would manipulate it and reel it back to death and to Ricky, and every time that happened, his eyes would grow a bright red and tears would fall down his cheeks until he was unable to anymore.

So he remained there. Quiet. Alone.

Blues eyes starred at a single spot on the wooden ceiling. Not observing it, but simply starring blankly. Sometimes the wood would fog as his eyes would unfocus and blur. Other times the lines would separate from one another, creating two overlapping images. But mostly it just remained as it was. Just plain wood. Plain but sturdy wood that more than likely held the feet and furniture of the next level of the Grotto.

Who knew, maybe someone was up there, laying in their own bed or sitting at their own desk. Sleeping or writing away. Completely unaware of his existence. Unaware of the pain and heartbreak that spread around the level below them. That's how it was, wasn't it? The one's above you unaware or completely ignoring the suffering of those below them. That's how it worked, right? High classed people not caring about the less fortunate. The only people who could do something not caring. Not giving a petch. That's how the world turned, no?

There was always something that had to happen in order to make the world spin for just one more tick. Everything happened for a reason. Whether it was the world balancing nature or whether it was to balance grace with punishment. But why was this something that had to happen? What could Ricky possibly balance? Were there not enough evil men in the world to balance Ricky's heart? Did Ricky need to be punished for something that was worthy of death? Did Gale do something that needed to be punished? The murderer's head started to buzz, and not even a tick went by where he saw the problem.

Oh goddess. Oh goddess Ssena! It was David wasn't it? Oh goddess, it was David! Gale's eyes started to water and his hands were brought up to them to cover his face. Goddess, Ricky was dying because of that stupid, stupid decision. Dying because Gale couldn't stand doing the right thing and letting the petching murderer go. He knew it would come back to him. He knew! No one ever gets away with murder without a price. No one. Now another husband was going to die because of his hands. A loving and caring father was going to die at the hand of a horrid disease. Because of him.

Trails of tears strolled down the sides of his face and his nose started to run. His palms slid over his eyes sockets and started to rub and press them. A failed attempt to stop the slow stream of salt and water that now flowed freely.

[Ricky Maze]

As the parents stood there they could only gawk and awe at each precious moment that was spared with their child, the clock was ticking and the countdown for their departure would soon enough reach its end within the bell. How much longer would they have? How precious would these next few moments become? How long did the Godfather need before he too would come say good-bye to the two, and in turn take in the child they were to leave behind? Time. Time was never your ally, even when you had plenty of it. It was by far a construct of fate that cruelly eroded away every important memory from the surface of the world, until nothing but a shell of what once was finally remained in the same place.

Time was never an ally it seems, yet for Ricky each precious tick that passed was a moment both treasured and yet wasted. Though he got to be with his wife and son for what could very well be the last long haul in his life, he was also allowing all the important amount of ticks in doing so as well... if he wanted to be saved of course. Fifty days. That's how long this trip could take, maybe more maybe less. Yet even when he was told this the thought of what could happen while he was out there... he had to be strong he had to hold himself together for the two that was to accompany him. He wasn't going anywhere alone this time, not like the first venture he had made to Syliras back in 511 AV. Though he wasn't entirely alone then either... Still the fact was he had people he didn't want to leave out in the wilderness, therefore dying wasn't an option for him in that regard. Of course it was never really an option he chose either, it was just another cruel fate thrust upon him by the misfortunes that seemed to haunt his life.

Yes. Those misfortunes were no doubt the work of fate, some higher power or curse wanted him to die for some reason. But for what? Why? What did he do to deserve such punishment? What happened that spawned a generation of misfortunes to occur? There was no answer, only the indication that fate itself was a cruel thing. "This isn't fair." Telion murmured loud enough only for Ricky to hear, but of course the sullen expression remained all the more guilty, when he looked down to her out of the corner of his eye.

"Oi'm sorry love." He mumbled back to her with a crack in his throat, a painful pull felt in his heart as he blamed himself as the cause for all this. Why else would they need to leave Zeltiva? Certainly by no means would this be a simple vacation. Sure they would rest and recuperate when they reached Syliras but even so, they still had to make the long trip there in order to arrive. Fifty days was practically half a season, a season that would be spent with no Martin. How in a Goddess's name could he not blame himself for such a thing, seeing as how they would literally miss their son for a whole season's worth of time.

"No. No Ricky it's not..." Telion gently shook her head as she shifted to turn, her light eyes quick to sincerely stare into Ricky's a moment afterwards. "Don't put this on you okay. It isn't your fault that you developed this sickness, and it isn't your fault that we're both leaving for Syliras together. I made my decision, even if I slightly regret one thing about it." She assured him with another look down to the child in her arms, Ricky's eyes nearly watered as he placed a gentle hand behind her head, so he could ease her forward to place a sudden but soft kiss to the forehead.

"Oi know dat. Believe me Oi'd rat'er yew stay 'ere instead o' comin' along, de outer world beyond Zeltiva ain't no safe place. Oi just..." He gulped down a choke as he allowed a deep exhale out through his nose, his attention shifted to the child that watched the two closely, eyes curiously upon them as the boy looked to be simply lost at what they were talking about. The poor child. Martin likely knew nothing about what was going on. All the same it would probably devastate the child, to leave him behind for so long because of this... Ricky alone couldn't find it in him to forgive himself, seeing as how it was his condition that led to the two of them leaving. "Oi t'ought after all dat's 'appened, we'd finally settle down an' start livin' a normal life. No more pirates, no more Denvali.... an' certainly no more crazy mages." He pointed out bitterly as he reflected upon the current events of the season.

Thinking back... this year had a promising start until that particular event occurred, what a great way to begin the new year it seems, which in turn made Ricky settle with the idea that his misfortunes were indeed a curse. Something he hoped would be over with, once they returned back home of course. "Given de fact Oi'm usually de one t' go t'rough t'ese t'ings, Oi'da figured yew t' stay behind whilst Oi went. Martin needs yew more dan me, an' Oi certainly dun wanna see ya get 'urt while yer out t'ere wit' me." He reasoned in his state of glum, though a slight scoff and chuckle came out of Telion afterwards, much to his surprise of course.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Oh Goddess. Poor Ricky. He'll drop like a fly soon and there was nothing he could do about it. Not a single damn thing!

Gale let his hands fall from his face, and his head turned towards the window. Ricky and Telion where both out there waiting for him. Waiting for his presence before they depart on the long journey to Syliras. Waiting with their faces of despair and self-evaluation. Their mourning and wet tears. Gale could picture the death that lingered around Ricky like a heavy grey fog. He couldn't stand to look at them. He couldn't do it. He couldn't watch someone fade away again. He could only stand so much after all, and seeing Ricky's face as he longed for just one more moment would tear him apart. Imagining the decay as his corpse is buried in the graveyard.

No!

Gale rolled over off the bed, landing on his hands and knees on the floor. Tears dripped from his eyes, splashing softly on the dark brown wood. Gale awkwardly sniffled, attempting to take deep breaths. Though the breaths only came in bursts. The tears slowly started to form a puddle as he continued to stay there, despite the artist closing his blue eye tightly.

He wasn't strong enough to look at them. He wasn't strong enough for Ricky. He couldn't help it! He was weak. He was so weak when it came to death. And Ricky had to suffer from it. Gale couldn't do it. He couldn't take care of them. He couldn't face them one last time. He would go insane if he did.

Gale sat back on his legs and he hunched over, his arms pressed together and shielded his face as he curled into a ball. His hands grabbed handfuls of his messy, ungroomed hair, squeezing and pulling at it as if it was some sort of lever or rope that if he pulled he could escape. Wake up even. He didn't think he could handle much more of this. Not with the innocent. Not with Ricky.

"I-... " Gale stuttered as he tried to force words out of his mouth. " I’m sorry Ricky."

[Ricky Maze]

The scoff he heard of course had a reason to be made, and Telion didn't waste any time in telling him just why exactly she had made it too. "First off if you haven't learned by now then sure enough you better loon soon." Her look shifted from Martin up to Ricky once more, her gaze serious as she expressed her thoughts to her beloved husband. "You aren't normal Ricky. You're different compared to everyone else, special because deep down you have so much unconditional love to spare. Yes. More often than not you're always caught up in something, something happens that you get dragged into or caught up in. But that's all part of it Ricky, that's what makes you different from normal." She explained sincerely but there was a bold meaning to her words, something Ricky didn't expect to hear and nonetheless hoped to hear.

"Seriously. No matter how many times you may wish for things to be 'normal' or 'ordinary', I'm happy knowing that I have a life with you. No matter how exciting things get, I'm always gonna be here by your side. Because I love you, and if that's the only thing normal about us then that's what I'll settle for." She finished calmly although Martin started to grow restless, an arm reached out to his father as he tried to push himself away from Telion. Of course, it was the same pattern the child always fell into. He would often want his mother to hold him, if not then have his father do so seeing as how they were both his most secured loving guardians. That was only part of the role as a parent, and the life of being a parent had adventures all on it's own. To hear her say that though, it both uplifted Ricky and yet at the same time knocked him down. He couldn't say that he wanted a life full of excitement, a life that involved him being on his toes everyday. Being a Wave Guard was suppose to play a part in helping him reduce that, yet even then he still had encountered more life and death situations than he'd care to count.

He took the child as Telion handed him over though, his face sullen as he tried to find some sort of comfort in her words. Nothing came other than fear though. "Even having Martin was extraordinary for me, to say that is part of a normal life Ricky? I couldn't see fit to reason with the idea." She added with a small shake of denial with her head.

"Dat's different love, havin' Martin wasn't... well it wasn't normal I can say, but it was somet'in Oi wanted all de same. Oi fell in love wit' yew an' dat was excitin' t' in it's own right." He admitted as he looked back and reflected on the more positive things that had happened in his life.

"See? If those things were normal in your standards, then I'd certainly like to argue just what settles for otherwise." She crossed her arms with a soft smirk on her face, though that too faded as Ricky intervened.

"Dat's still different, while t'ose are extraordinary t'ings in me life t'at Oi wanted, de rest isn't yet comes up like a... like a..." He couldn't find the words for it, all he knew was that most of his life seemed largely different compared to the average man you would meet. One wouldn't just walk up to a fisherman and expect to hear great stories and adventures would they? No. For Ricky though he had those things, he had stories that he could tell... yet at the same time he wished he didn't. He didn't want to be the one that lived through those trials, those ordeals that made the stories a reality. He wanted a simple life that led him to be who he was now, he wanted to be a simple fisherman whose life revolved around the ones he felt close to now.

"The rest? You mean the things like the pirates, Odis, the Denvali, the Breakout, and of course this condition. Right?" He could only nod as he swallowed hard, it was a bitter feeling to swallow knowing that all these ordeals he'd lived through were things he could reflect on. Why though? Why did he have to go through them? Why did he have to be part of them? He couldn't help but wonder, just what higher power demanded that he'd be thrown centerfold into things like this? "Those may not be normal Ricky but believe me, without you going through those you wouldn't be who you are today." She pointed out with a soft hand brought to his cheek, his eyes fell into a gaze with hers as she continued further. "Without those ordeals you wouldn't be the man I fell in love with, even so probably wouldn't be the father of our child now. Because of those events Ricky I'm thankful that you're here, and even if this condition is another ordeal we have to go through... We're going through it together. Because I know it'll make us stronger as a family, make both of us stronger as we raise our child in this world." She assured him with a bit of encouragement, though the argument she struck had a valid point, Ricky still couldn't say he agreed fully.

"Oi love yew." He finally managed to say after he choked back the emotions that stirred tears behind his eyes. He couldn't come to accept the same idea that Telion did but all the same he loved her for it, because deep down he needed to hear it. He needed to know that she was with him on this, that she would go the distance with him as he endeavored to make this struggle for life count.

"I love you too. And as far as staying here goes, I wouldn't have it any other way." She added with a gentle smile on her lips. "Sure we have to leave Martin behind, and it hurts so petching bad... but I believe that Gale will be able to handle taking care of him. Gale can watch Martin while we're gone and we'll make the most we can of our time away, so we can hurry back as soon as possible to return to the life we have waiting here. Besides," She raised a finger up to Ricky as she pointed this out, "Gale won't be the only one to watch Martin too. You asked Aoren and Pulren to check in with him on occasion, and I've a feeling that they too will help Gale out when he needs it."

"That's... almost reassuring." He chuckled modestly as he thought about it, being one to never really ask such favors from others, he thought it a huge burden on their part all the same. A responsibility that he didn't wish to just leave upon them, yet even so there was also a feeling of concern there as well. Though he wasn't prone to judge them about it there was always that wonder, if they could in fact watch over and take care of Martin while his parents were gone. The idea was a scary concept and in some cases amusing, yet that was what made the relationships between them important.

"I've faith in them." She added with a bit of a bigger smile, a little more reassured by her Ricky too found himself with a small grin. Because just like Telion, he too had faith in them somehow. That's what made the idea so important, that's what tested their friendships while they would be gone. It was all about faith, and hope too. All while the parents would endeavor to make a miracle happen.

[Perplexity]

You have played well, but the game is at an end.

You have been bested. Beaten. Checkmate!

However, here is a consolation prize: a wealth of Experience and Lores! If you have any questions or concerns regarding this grade, please do not hesitate to send me a PM. I'll be more than happy to assist you!

 

Ricky

XP

• Organization | +1 EXP
  Planning | +1 EXP

LORES

• Planning: Supplies Needed For Travel

MISCELLANEOUS

• N/A

 

Gale

XP

• Philosophy | +1 EXP

LORES

• No Lores awarded.

MISCELLANEOUS

• I gave you a point in philosophy for contemplating the morality of your decision to see Ricky off. However, no lores were awarded because you didn't do anything your character wouldn't inherently learn from. There was nothing to specifically pull out to categorize adequately as a Lore.

Note: This thread read more like two solo's mashed into one over arching category. I would advise avoiding something like this scenario in the future.

Until Our Next Match,
-Perplexity, DS of Zeltiva
.