Closed Long Time No See

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

29th of Winter, 514 A.V.
Evening
The Maze Residence

Walking up to the entrench of the old Quarter's the blonde took his time, allowing his blue eyes to skim the exterior of the familiar abode. As he limped his way to the sturdy, wooden door, a smile crept onto his face, his scarred hand gently running along the wood fondly.

It was the end of Gale's shift today. He only needed to deliver one final letter before he was done. With the crisp envelope in his hand and the stained ink scrawling out the name "Ricky Maze", he saved the letter for last. He thought maybe if the couple wasn't too busy, they could catch up on the seasons they've missed.

Dear Laviku, it was hard to believe the last time he was here was last winter, and the last time he had saw his dear friends were last summer. Once Ricky had returned from Syliras, Gale hadn't even bothered himself to write a letter or even stop by to say hello or check in on Martin. How old was that child now? A year old? Had to be.

The widower looked down at the note in his hand with a sigh. He couldn't remember all of his excuses to not see the family again. After all, they were all he really had left besides Kendhl, who had now just showed up. Why didn't make excuses to see them instead of not to? He had no idea. But two whole seasons was a long time.

Gale couldn't help but wonder what all has changed with the growing family since he had left them. Was Martin doing alright? Was Ricky feeling better after his trip? Was he still a Waveguard or did he get a new job? How was Telion after the dilemma? Were they all doing okay? He hopped they weren't struggling as much as he was.

The man's eyes drifted to his emaciated hands. If he wasn't frail enough the last time he had seen them, he might as well just be a shadow of his former self now. He had gotten his job as a Courier this season, but before then, getting a job wasn't easy and he had to make what little money he had at the time last. And since he had gotten a job and had more money to actually buy food, Kendhl had come back out of the blue. With their gruesome discussion on her new form and with their horrible bickering, he hadn't really felt like eating, despite his obvious need to. It was a terrible habit he had gotten into, which he was honestly trying to break. It all took an obvious toll on the widower as his white shirt and vest were obviously too big now, sagging significantly more than they used to.

He also didn't look especially groomed either. His hair was longer now, not having had the time to cut it, and the blonde strands on his face were a fairly thick scruff. He generally just looked terrible, but Gale prayed that the couple wouldn't be too worried about him. He was fine, after all, he was making it through. He was alright.

He wondered if they would even recognize him.

Taking a sudden deep breath, Gale raised his fist and knocked three times on the door, silently waiting for an answer.

[Ricky Maze]

His hands and forearms still felt numb from earlier today when he first attempted the same futile effort as the first few days of the big freeze over, after the disturbances from the Obelisks occurred everything in Zeltiva just seemed to turn to shyke after what peace and quiet presided immediately shattered. The bitter cold had been nothing but harsh for the fisherman this season and even worse the drop in rations led to the ever so present issue of the usual, though long avoided, expectation that every local this season knew to face. Starvation hadn't fully affected them yet but if anything Ricky sure felt like he could eat more, except he wouldn't because any spare food they had needed to either be preserved or rationed out to his wife and son. They were above all the ones who needed a filled belly compared to him. Thus he sat in chair with defeat in his posture while the blanket wrapped around him tried to melt the cold in his bones, though the tiny quakes of his nerves made it feel the task was all the more impossible to accomplish.

"Damn winter blasts." He cursed as he brushed his arms with his hands to generate some small sense of heat. Telion had already made sure the hearth had been fed plenty of wood for flame and made sure Martin wasn't nearby to play with it, seeing as how he was a curious child that knew how to poke around into things he shouldn't. The given "no's" have worked on and off but that didn't stop him from having a fit or two sometimes, right now of course he was huddled close to his father in a blanket of his own. His beloved had managed to finish whatever it was she decided to do, an unexpected surprise in store for Ricky as she turned to bring him a bowl of prepared stew.

"Here Ricky, y' need to eat somethin. Y' have gone without all day and y' can't expect to fight the cold off that way." She issued as she brought the bowl over to the fisherman, fresh steam rose from the contents as she sat it down on the table next to his chair.

"What 'bout yew, and Martin? 'ave de both o' ya eaten?"

"We have, now do me a favor a y'do the same." She pleaded as she returned to the pot to grab another bowl, Ricky didn't really wish to eat as he constantly reminded himself that their food needed to last, otherwise the shortages would drastically effect them in turn. As he grasped the handle for the spoon he looked down to Martin as the boy watched his father in the same manner he always held, even when he'd seen it so many times before he somehow took interest in how his parents acted. Here lately he's even tried to mimic them in some ways, that and his progress with walking has been a slow and steady progress since last season. The father worried that the child was hungry again and so, he decided to see if the child would eat some of the things out of the stew while he would eat too. The first thing to be scooped up was a sliced carrot that just emanated pure steam, a gentle blow of air from his lips sent forth to cool the vegetable off so that it wouldn't burn the child's mouth.

Telion had managed to fill herself up a bowl as well as she came to sit next to them at the table, until a knock upon the door alerted the family that they had a visitor unexpectedly show up. "I'll get it." She rose to her feet and shuffled over to the door to give the knob a twist, a creak of the door swinging ajar to reveal the guest that they had drop by. It was none other than the Godfather of Martin, and Ricky's closest friend for what seemed like the longest time. Gale McCenry. Admittedly though he was certainly a bit ragged compared to the last time they'd met, which was the day Ricky and Telion returned home from their trip to Syliras. Not much had happened but they were still completely busy with their own lives, and now fate deemed that the two friends were finally ready to meet up with one another again. "Gale! What a surprise!"

"Gale's 'ere now? Git yer ass in 'ere mate!" The father cheered as he suddenly forgot he was still pretty cold, he appeared to be pretty excited to hear that the friend of the family decided to pay them a visit. Once Gale had been given his warm greeting hug from Telion and allowed inside, he would soon face the wrath of a big bear side hug from the fisherman as Martin was in his other arm.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

As Gale stood and waited by the front door, his mind seemed to be counting the ticks that passed. He didn't fully understand why, seeing as he was willing to wait all day if they weren't home, but he could almost hear a faint one, two, three, four, five going off in his mind. His eyes glided across the hinges of the door and then steadied on the knob, still counting and waiting for the small clicks and creaks of the wood opening. Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

He tapped the envelope on his palm a few times, feeling the crisp paper. Gale did his best not to pry at the letter while on his way here, but curiosity was something no one could avoid and he had wondered what exactly the letter was about, or even who it was from. But that was Ricky's business, not his. Just like any other letter, he shouldn't ask about it and he should leave it alone.

Eleven, twelve.

The door was pulled open gently, gracefully floating away from the frame, and there was the gorgeous mother herself. "Telion." He smiled fondly. The blonde wasn't too shocked at the woman's surprise. But he was shocked, but only briefly, at the burly voice the erupted from inside. The man couldn't help but laugh though. Their never ending compassion towards him would never cease to amaze him, and neither would Ricky's will to get right to the point.

Before he entered, Gale of course gave Telion her well deserved hug. "It's so good to see you." He told her with a bright smile. But for a second, the warmth of her hug seemed foreign to him. He wasn't sure if it was just because he was freezing having to run around in the cold or weather he was used to Kendhl's frosty touch. The difference was quite astonishing, and after he let the woman go, he glanced at his forearm. At least he knew for a fact that she wasn't dead. Like she would be, anyway.

He was brought inside, and the he could better still feel the difference in temperature. His hands and cheeks tingled as their numbness already started to dissipate. But his eyes didn't care about the temperature, not that much anyway. They hurriedly made their way to the bear of the man himself and -

Oh sweet Priskil, was that Martin?

"Hey!" He greeted, finding himself switching between looking at Ricky and looking at Martin, who had significantly grown since the days when he took care of him. He didn't have a whole lot of time to actually say anything besides a quick 'is's good to see you' before he was embraced in the man's arms. Obviously he was doing well to be able to stay so strong. Not that Gale expected otherwise. He could only expect the best from Ricky. It's Ricky.

At first Gale didn't really mind the overly affectionate hug. It was nice to see them again and he was sure they were glad to see him as well, but it was when he heard and felt a pop was when he protested. "Okay, okay!" He chuckled, attempting to unlock Ricky's one armed hug. "You're going to make me ruin your letter!" He laughed again, as if that was an excuse.

Once Ricky did let go, Gale straightened out his shoulders. Huh, that pop might have been a good thing. His back didn't feel as awkward as before. But in an attempt to cover it up, he smiled, an in a sarcastic, official sounding voice, he held out his final letter for the day. "Letter for Mr. Maze."

[Ricky Maze]

oocSo I debated what the letter could possibly be, then I remembered there is a juicy little plot in the works that could tie into this so well!

"Aye! Tis good t' see you too dear." Telion reciprocated the welcome with a soft chuckle as she beckoned for him to proceed inside, then of course he soon became victim to Ricky's overwhelming hug moments after he saw the other two waiting inside. Laughter followed from both parties as Gale found himself locked in the grizzly embrace that belonged to Ricky, as Martin squealed a bit and giggled about with hands drawn together almost excitedly.

"Letter ya say?! Petch it fer now, what letter be more important t'an a visit from Godpa Gale!" The father cheered with snickers until finally their guest struggled free from the hug, released with the freedom found in being able to attend the task he came here to do in the first place. Oh how long it had been since they'd gotten a visit from the Godfather, and to top it off he came here on official 'business' with a proper sounding tone. "Oi'll be damned mate, look at yew all fine an' proper." He jested as he accepted the letter the friend had brought, there didn't happen to be any name but it looked more like a package really, like something might've been put inside it.

Since he was here that meant he could sit down and enjoy a stay for a short while, and granted he must've worked hard, he definitely needed the meal to warm his bones for the day. "T'anks mate, ye hungry any? Telion's whipped up some fine stew, pretty sure we got plenty t' share!" He encouraged as he extended the offer, of course Telion wasn't just going to sit by and allow the opportunity to go by either.

"Well o' course he's stayin' ye big oaf! If anyone's gonna get ya t' eat proper, he most certainly can convince ya to." She added as she proceeded to shut the door, a lighthearted smile on her face as she walked close to the two. "Please boys, have a seat. I'll get ya a bowl ready quick like Gale." She didn't hesitate to proceed to the hearth where the pot was, her first objective being the cupboard so she could grab the necessary dishes for their unexpected guest.

"Dun worry 'bout what she's sayin', Oi'm eatin' just fine. Honest!" He tried to cover up as he slid open a chair at the table for Gale, he then resumed the seat of the table where his bowl resided. He continued to hold Martin snugly in both arms until he finally sat relaxed, so that the child rested on his lap while the three adults could spend time catching up on recent events.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

As Gale managed to pull away from the burly man and his fatally compassionate grip. The smile upon his face was clear as day and he couldn't manage to whip it away, even if he wanted to. But forcing it from him he felt would be a crime. It had to be a crime to not smile when you were called Godpa Gale.

Unlike at first, when Ricky and Telion first proposed the idea, he didn't feel his stomach twist and he didn't want to cry. He just wanted to smile. Gale's eyes returned to the small child as bubbly and giggly as ever. "Wow, it's great to see him so happy again." Gale chuckled. When Gale first started taking care of Matrin, he was just chipper and happy like any baby should. But as time went on and Ricky was gone for another day, Gale could see that Martin wasn't as happy as he should have been. It was understandable but the widower was awfully glad that Ricky was now home safe and sound. It was great to see Martin carefree again and just being his little mischievous self.

His mind went blank however when Ricky started to talk again. He blinked at the fisherman, but then the words started to register. "What? No! No, I'm fin-"

"Well o' course he's stayin' ye big oaf!"

Why was it a thing for women to insist on people eating food? Yeah, it's important to eat, obviously, but it was starting to feel like a common motif now to have women ask if he's been eating. His mother did it, Hana did it, Kendhl was starting to do it. What's the big deal? It's not like anyone was eating well right now anyway. Why would you bother asking?

"No, seriously, I'm-"

"If anyone's gonna get ya t' eat proper, he most certainly can convince ya to."

"What?" His head snapped to the father. "You hadn't been eating?"

When it comes to city wide scenarios and circumstances, people generally understand what's going on. They know that people are going hungry, they know that people are dying from all the explosions and obelisks and such, everyone knows that. But it's another thing to comprehend that being applicable to you and your friends. In this case, especially friends.

Gale knew the suffering all too well, actually, he was starving himself anyway. But even though he knew it was hard times for everyone, even people just as capable and strong as Ricky, it felt like an entirely different type of scenario to hear that Ricky was refusing to eat. "Why would you do that?"

Ricky had his own opinions and morals, though, and it was the least you can expect from such a noble man. But his reassurance didn't do much for the courier now as his smile faintly started to slip away. Wondering mindlessly to the chair at the table, Gale followed Ricky and sat next to the man. Martin who was promptly places on the sturdy knee of his father fought to bring the smile back to Gale's face. As a result, his mouth was slightly agape, somewhere between a smile and shock and his eyebrows were furrowed in a thoughtful manner.

The murderer managed to not say anything more about the subject, however. It didn't seem like something Ricky wanted to dwell on. Closing his mouth with a small click o his teeth, Gale looked down at the empty bowl in front of him. Casually, he pushed it a few inches away. But as he started to clear his mind of the rushing thoughts, an odd feeling that Gale hadn't fully come to realize hit him like a wall.

"Holy Shyke!!" Hopefully Telion could forgive him for his language but, "Shyke!"

Gale jumped from his seat, jolting the table with his leg as he did so. He grunted at the dull pain but looked directly at Ricky, "When in the world did you get Marked Ricky?!" It was hard, even for Gale, to tell whether his toe was angry or excited.

He didn't even know how he felt about Ricky being marked by Priskil either. Of course, Ricky deserved the mark, more than anyone. If anyone could find hope in anyone it would be Ricky, but goddess! He wasn't even full able to comprehend it exactly, which would explain his confused reaction. His hands gripped his long hair, almost as if to try and get his brain to work faster. As a result, his eyes zipped across the man in an almost frantic attempt to find the mark. Perhaps maybe to try and confirm this sudden knowing of it's presence.

To the man's surprise, or maybe not, he found a familiar looking vortex on the back of his right hand. It was on the opposite hand, but it still reminded him of the warm and calming affects. Almost as if one of them used their gift, Gale rapidly started to calm down, noticeably taking deeper breaths. His eyes lost track of the gnosis, moving to the plain back of Ricky's left hand. Gale stomach dropped this time.

Nervously moving was was left of his left hand, Gale stared at the missing limb on his friend. "You sir have a lot of explaining to do." He chuckled, almost hysterically.

[Ricky Maze]

Telion pretty much had the correct idea in having Gale stay for dinner even if he were to modestly turn down the offer, but of course the family wasn't going to have it any other way seeing as how the Godfather looked to be thinner compared to before. Still the attempt to shrug off the why's was made and while Ricky remained stubborn about it, Telion only huffed in silence at his inability to compromise with his own ideals while she went for the stew. Gale seemed prone to try and avoid it but when the bowl seemed pushed aside in a politely put "no thank you" manner, it only worsened his cause at it made it easier for Telion to fill it with the contents of steaming hot veggies and the meat used to provide a bit more sustenance.

Then of course it dawned on the courier that Ricky just so happened to have the same exact mark he did as well, the mark of Luminance found on the fisherman's own right hand as it gave off a faint radiance at certain intervals. Ricky hadn't paid much mind to it until Gale reacted and said something, and it became then the father realized that he felt the same thing as Gale did, a sense of comfort and hope infused with an ease of the mind. Their marks were the same after all so they naturally had the same effect on one another, but to think two separate marks would appear in the same room never once crossed Ricky's mind. "Ah! Well Oi'd fergotten 'bout dat bit o' detail, as well as de fact ye've got yer own." Ricky admitted a little embarrassed, Telion of course giggled as she slid the bowl back in front of Gale.

"What better time t' discuss it than over supper, hmm?" She prodded with hidden rhetoric, her seat taken just a moment afterwards to join the two. Gale then mentioned something about Ricky having a lot of explaining to do, with quite an laugh to follow that practically made Martin laugh as well. Though the child more or less laughed at how excited Gale appeared to act, seeing as how he didn't fully understand what was going on.

"Oh," Ricky looked at his left hand where the missing digit was, "This? Well shyke mate, that's a whole 'nother story." He mused with a grin, surprised at how much Gale had already missed during the year. "T' start Oi'd 'ave t' say de whole missing finger shenanigans happened 'fter de asylum break out, ran int' a ol' geezer d'at could leech Djed an' open black holes wit' it. Best idea Oi 'ad in mind was t' tackle de bastard, so Oi took 'im down 'afore he hurt anybody, o' course Oi wasn't aware Oi'd lose me finger t' de hole in de process... Anyway! T' de better part!" He encouraged as he finally acknowledged the bowl Telion nudged in front of him, he gave her a look and when he did she only raised her eyebrows with arms crossed. "Dare Oi say she's nagger." He sighed after he gave in, a smirk cast towards Gale as he grasped the handle of the spoon.

The fisherman went ahead and took a small bite of the stew, more or less eager to engage with the story about how he earned the mark. "It wasn't anyt'in like Oi'd expect! We stopped at a cabin t' rest at on de way t' Syliras, an' me sickness started t' git worse. Oi didn't know 'bout it 'til Oi came 'round t' but Oi was out fer a couple o' days, dreamin' de craziest dream ever!"

"He went a lil' crazy where as he didn't remember anythin', had me worried he did! Lil' did I know he had another watchin' him." Telion added to the story.

"Aye, Priskil happen t' be d'ere somehow. No idea how but she was t'ere, in me dream and watchin' over me. Really Oi just didn't let doubt git de better o' me in de dream, an' because o' dat she... saw somet'in in me? Oi dunno. She gave me her mark at any rate, an' Oi've sort'a 'ad it since summer began." He finished it with a grin as he finally gave in to his inner need for food, the taste of the stew earlier did more than just tease his stomach at this point. "So now that ye know how Oi got mine, why not share wit' us how yew got yer's?" He reflected with a glint of interest in his eyes, the spoon finally used to shovel small portions of the stew into his mouth. Telion silently sneered as she practically gloated at her welcomed success, satisfied to see Ricky finally eating something now.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Gale has never really understood how someone could forget such an event as getting gnosis, let alone forgetting to mention it. But then again, Gale was sill kicking himself at not being able to remember her. Seemed like Ricky did.

Why couldn't he remember?

"Well whatever you do, don't be trying to become me." He didn't want Ricky to suffer. He didn't want Ricky to die.

Glancing at the giggling child on Ricky's lap with a smirk, he sat himself down in his seat again, not noticing the steaming bowl now in front of him. He propped his boney elbows on the table, his emaciated hands folding into one another, an he propped his bearded chin on them, listening to the storytelling in which Ricky was offering with lips pressed together and with fervidly eager ears.

As the story progressed, the blonde man nodded only slightly, noticing the key difference in their two stories. While Ricky lost his finger trying to defend something, Gale lost his while being a coward and defending himself.

Good thing Ricky wasn't taking after him.

Once the short story was complete, Gale managed a laugh,"Wow, that's some story. " He let his hands fall and gently land on the table. "Even with the asylum breakout, I haven't really met any hostile mages, so that's interesting to know." Gale started to smell the steamed vegetables and looked at the bowl in which Telion has set down.

"Well, actually, that's not true." He's met one. That being his father. "He just isn't as outwardly hostile as- uh- as him." He gestured to Ricky, assuming he would understand he was referring to the man in the story. "But man, that's some story." He laughed, looking at the bear of a man with a grin.

It wasn't long however, until Ricky plunged head first into another story, in which Gale assumed was how he had gotten his own gnosis. Gale wasn't sure why he was so worried when they were gone, because Gale already knew for a fact that Ricky would find some way to pull through, but it seemed like someone else knew it too. At least she had Ricky's back. That's all he could as for. "Wow." He nodded again with a toothy smile once again. "I say she chose wisely, because if anyone was going to be as dedicated as you are then they'd probably die from overwork. Congratulations." Gale grabbed the spoon from the bowl, but simply twirled it slowly in the bowl rather than taking it out.

His blue eyes drifted to Martin again. Ricky surely was a good choice. He makes everyone proud.

"So now that ye know how Oi got mine, why not share wit' us how yew got yer's?"

instantaneously with the words being spoken, Gale's large smile vanished in a blink of an eye. It was replaced with a furrowed brow and a distinct frown. The murderer dropped the spoon back into the bowl, leaning back in his chair crossing his arms. A long sigh escaped his lips, his eyes refusing to look at either of three. "That's a long story..." he muttered. The story starts almost 30 years ago.

It was a very long story.

The man sat there in though for who knows how long. Ricky and Telion probably knew how long, but Gale didn't pay attention. He was concentrating on what to say to them. Because he couldn't tell them. But he wanted to. Which was more important? What he wanted to do or what he could do?

The man let out another sigh, placing his hands on his knees. "Ricky, do you remember when you come into my room with Martin, and you asked if I wanted to hold him?" He starred at the white steam that slowly rose from the bowl in front of him. Gale waited for Ricky's answer before continuing. "Do you remember at all how I couldn't stop looking at him?" His tapped his pointer fingers lightly. He waited again.

"I was starring at him because..." He took a deep breath,"I can't swim... and..." " His eyes slowly drifted away from the bowl down to his hands and the swirling mark. "And I don't deserve the gnosis." Not one bit.

Gale folded his hands together in his lap, and he breathed through his nose for a few seconds before continuing. "The night before you walked in and started asking all of these questions and asking me to hold Martin was when I got the gnosis."He still refused to look up. "I stayed up late that night, and I walked along the docks. No one was around, I assumed everyone was inside asleep like you guys were." He paused. "I walked down one of the piers and I stood there starring at the water. But then I turned around and I walked back a little ways and then I turned to the water again."

Gale shifted in his chair at this point, his teeth taking a hold of his lips as he tapped the wooden chair. There was another pause, but he chuckled suddenly,"It took me two running starts to actually jump, but I jumped with no intent on coming back." His face became serious again, but he continued tapping his fingers in a slow roll.

"It felt like ages, but I kinda just sunk, you know?" He briefly looked at Ricky with a sad smile. He as soon as he looked back down it vanished. "I just let myself sink, and eventually I couldn't take it anymore and I inhaled and that was that, really." He huffed. " Until I felt someone grab me. But I blacked out before I was able to see or know who it was."

He smiled to himself again with another pitiful chuckle,"The last thing I thought to myself before I blacked out was shyke."But that smile vanished just like all the others. "I woke up, I don't know, a few chimes later I guess, spitting out whatever water I managed to breath in. " He nodded. The warm water on his chest was something he'd never forget. "As I just coughed my lungs out and spat, I could have swore that you had somehow managed to figure out what I was doing and saved me, but it was actually a woman." He glanced at Telion this time, his head low, still, and peering through his hair.

"To this day I can't remember what she looked like, it's literally just an empty space, but we sat and talked for a bit, and apparently she underestimated me, thinking I wasn't actually going to jump. " But that wasn't important "And after a while, I ended up asking who she was and she said she was Priskil. She held out her hand and asked if I would be her friend, and as I accepted and took he hand, she gave me the gnosis."

Gale nodded to himself for a god chime, half expecting them both to jump at the opportunity to speak their thoughts. But he apparently spoke first. "Ricky, I was starring at Martin because all I saw was death, an all I thought about was how to lie to you or how to avoid telling you the truth." The man sniffed, and briefly whipped his nose his his wrist. "I wasn't over it, and I'm still not, but I didn't want you to know because I thought you wouldn't think me fit to be Martin's Godfather, or maybe even as a friend." He ran a hand through his long hair.

"Ricky, you were give your gnosis because you loved life. I got mine because I hate it..." He sniffed again. "And I didn't want to tell you that my purpose here was to watch people die, some by my own hand, some not. And I didn't want to tell you that it was about to be your burden to bear."

Gale didn't lift his head once he was done. Instead, he watched as his nail scratched at a small piece of wood that was starting to peel off.

[Ricky Maze]

The moment Gale made the comment "Don't become me," brought a rise an eyebrow as the father proceeded, then of course with the story to come and be heard Gale soon learned how Ricky's finger certainly became missing. "Aye, cut clean off too." More interest raised as Ricky didn't connect the fact Gale meant his father, when he had mentioned that he just so knew another mage that seemed like that. "Huh. Well at any rate, if he knows how t' open an' close d'em holes see if he can't find me finger." He jested even when he knew good and well the damned thing was lost, by now he hardly noticed that the digit had been gone until he'd usually see it missing. Then of course the entire story about his meeting Priskil and how she gave him a mark followed, and sure enough that had to baffle the Godfather as well by the looks of it.

"Oi call kelp shyke," He laughed at Gale's comment about the choice being wise, "aint not'in Oi find special 'bout me. Still if Priskil saw somet'in in me Oi don't, d'en obviously Oi've been doin' somet'in roi t' earn someone's favor." He mused with a glance down to the mark once more, still a little amazed that the someone turned out to be an actual Goddess. Then came the moment of reflection where Ricky would finally, hopefully, hear the legendary tale of how Gale earned his very own mark! He didn't feel exactly sure why, just that somehow the fellow friend had a much greater story to share than his own. Of course when it seemed that Gale turned cryptic, the mood between the couple died down a bit to a more serious feel. The man fell silent and lost in his own world, almost as though he became unaware that they were still present to him. Though not unusual it still seemed rather strange for Gale to act this way, usually it meant there was grave details involved with what he had to share.

Ricky knew him too well to not know something had to be up, thus the father paused for a chime until Gale finally spoke. "Yeah, Oi 'ad t' get better dressed 'afore me own balls froze off." He responded lightheartedly even though the atmosphere still felt serious, he then practically returned to eating as Gale continued. A "Mm," to respond to the second question since food seemed present in his mouth, the memory vague but still present to recall to mind. Then finally the crack happened. Gale's sentences didn't quite match up but Ricky already got the hint; "can't swim" and "don't deserve the gnosis" immediately set up a red flag to drag the fisherman's attention. Unfortunately that happened when he needed to swallow, hence a choke on his food commenced for a brief moment before a cleared throat corrected the issue. "Say what?!" Gale then elaborated with the explanation that served as the story, that one story Ricky so badly wanted to hear that day when Gale had the nasty cough. The cough, the wheezing, the wet clothes, and... the mark.

Ricky's face started to flush a bit as he listened to what Gale had to say, he heard every word of the story and that didn't really help to the cause, though Ricky could understand what had been told that didn't stop him from feeling a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, hurt, denial, oddly a hint of betrayal. Why? Why did Gale keep this quiet? To hear the details of how he just sunk, it pained the fisherman's own heart and had Martin not been in his lap, then surely enough the Zeltivan would've thrown himself across the table already. Finally the reasoning behind it all. Death. Evidently coming forward with this proved hard on Gale, which didn't surprise Ricky since he himself felt a little bit of everything at this point. Telion held a look of concern and worry for both Ricky and Gale, yet all the way up to the end the father listened quietly with hushed heavy breaths. Finally Gale's own reasoning for their gifts blessed upon them, which finally pricked the last nerve of Ricky's patience as he then reacted.

His free hand raised into a fist and before he knew it the table and bowl had been slammed by it, "Shut the petch up!!" shouted in a highly elevated tone. Martin cried then once the stew in his bowl spilled across the table and the aggression scared the boy, a tick passed by long enough for Telion to rise out of her chair and take the child. While she attempted to calm the boy Ricky shot up to his feet, the need to be in a separate room a top priority at this rate. He didn't care if Gale followed or if the man sat in his chair, he just needed out of the room before he showed himself a monster to the family he loved. With a slam of the door Ricky went into the other room where Gale would have to go through if he were to exit, which left him the option of either sitting and waiting until the father calmed down on his own... or talk him down from being overly upset.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Common Vani Nari

Much like the entirety of the situation, Gale didn't really know how Ricky would react to basically anything he said. Ever since he knocked on the door there had been a presence of confusion and general uncertainty. This feeling had lingered until Gale had managed to tell the man that he couldn't swim. And with that rambunctious response done and over with, Gale had continued through the rest of the story, knowing it wouldn't be viewed fondly. Since Gale had refused to look at man through most of his brief storytelling however, Gale didn't really know to what extent Ricky's anger would pursue. But if his initial reaction was any indicator, it wouldn't be pretty.

And it wasn't.

It wasn't just anger, that Gale could feel in his ear drums. It was rage, and this rage had gotten a firm grip on Gale, so much so he didn't move until Ricky had left the room. And once he had, Gale's hands instantly flew to his hair, grabbing large chunks and letting the weight of his hands pull the curly strands down. The breath he didn't realize he had held let out in a sharp, short tick. Conflicting emotions of weightlessness and chained down ran through his spine in one large wave. With this wave, his hands collapsed onto the table, even landing in the large pool of food that had managed to linger it's way over there.

His head soon followed, however managing to avoid the food as his forehead hit the wood with a thud. His dirty hands gripped his neck, and his eyes simply observed the blurry wood that was simply too close to even see. Listening to Martin cry in Telion's arms, the blonde could even feel the anger coming off the child, even though the small boy probably had no idea what was going on. He could feel the amount of hatred, or t least rage spinning in the room like a typhoon, and it forced Gale to speak again.

"Telion, you have to understand." He mumbled through the wood and his tears. "I didn't tell you beca- I couldn't tell you because I was afraid of losing you too." How hypocritical does that sound? You wouldn't even tell your best friends you tried to commit suicide because you're afraid to let them go. Seems like all he wanted to do was let go, huh? "I couldn't take losing you guys anymore." Everyone just leaves and never comes back. He didn't want to see their back turned too, walking into the light.

Gale lifted his head off the table, pushing his chair back as he stood up, hands still pressed against the table. He looked up at the wife and her on, smiling briefly at the tears strolling down the child's face. "It's not the first time either." He let the table go and stood up the rest of the way, but looked down at the still full bowl of food she had made him. "But torture clearly isn't the best medicine." He shook his head. "And I'm sorry, I am truly, deeply sorry..." He looked at the woman. "I was selfish, I know, I was a coward, I know, I really am." His thumb and fore finger ran along the bottom of his eyes. "But you guys are all I have that's worth anything, and you were almost gone too..."

The entire time, Gale didn't give Telion enough time to speak, and if she did try to intervene, he would simply continue on as if she wasn't. But once he was done, he simply stood there for however long her reply was, if the woman had anything to say, that is. He never responded to her after that, and instead, however, made his way to the room in which contained the beast which he would have to encounter sooner or later. He didn't bother being quite about it, letting the creak and swing go through it's natural motions, but he didn't say anything and simply stood in front of the door once he had shut it. Nothing besides a mumbled:

"Ricky...

[Ricky Maze]

Really the only anger that had been found came from where it originated, while it highly affected everyone in the room he had now pretty much left, therefore the ability to calm Martin down proved a little bit easier although it would take a bit of time. Telion showed signs of anger but a bit of anxiety in the situation, the pace back and forth slow as she bounced Martin in her arms and shushed him softly. The sound of wooden furniture crashed against the stone floor in the next room momentarily, and then from there things grew silent for what felt like an age. Then finally Gale seemed able to speak to her, a confession of internal fear presented to her, which put her in a position where she didn't know what to say. She didn't really have anything to say, it wasn't her call at this point anymore anyways.

Thus while she listened and looked down at Gale she placed a hand on one of his shoulders, hopeful that while she may not knew what to say she would show, that even when times felt hard for Gale she was here for them. They were here for him. They always would be in fact, because he's just as important to them as they were to him. He was the Godfather for God's sake, that made him practically part of the family. Still he came forward and finally stood tall, eager to set out without allowing Telion a chance to speak. She merely watched as he headed out the door and into the other room, the entryway to the building in which Ricky threw over one of the wooden benches found in here. No real damage appeared present in the furniture, but the fact it laid on its side proved that he'd vented the aggression that built inside his mind. Ricky had his back turned toward the door Gale had came from, his right hand held before him as a glow seemed present before him.

That glow then died out just a moment before Gale finally murmured the name, and alerted the Zeltivan that his best friend had entered the room. His right hand lowered and balled into a fist now, his shoulders showed signs of quick breaths as he tried to keep a clear head. Yet the only thing that he could think about was what Gale had been said, what he had to understand in that exact moment before he gave in. Hate life he does! So de only reason why he lives is t' watch as ot'er people suffer an' die?! There had to be some reason as to why Gale thought like that, why he believed that should be his purpose or fate. It angered Ricky so much that he literally hated it, and nearly spat the thought out like dirt in the mouth. No sense of understanding came to him, only more anger and in turn it turned off his ability to filter impulses. Thus right before he knew it, Ricky had turned around and walked to Gale in a haze of his own. "YEW PETCHIN' IDIOT!!" The right arm had raised into a hook that shot straight forward towards the man before him, and whether or not it would hurt Gale there was no pull in this punch.

Whether or not Ricky did hit him it wasn't directed towards the face in general, just the head or shoulder area to at least smash the jaw line. Either way if Gale had been it Ricky wouldn't apologize nor stop from his excessive rant, as there would be no way of avoiding this long coming lecture. "D' yew honestly t'ink d'at all ye're 'ere fer is t' watch as ot'ers 'round yew die?! Ye gotta be de biggest dumb ass Oi'd ever met! Seriously why in de world try an' commit suicide when yew know Oi've already lost too much Gale!" The fisherman started to pace now with his breaths heavier, his face red as a tomato as he tried to slow his intake of air down. His nerves had been shot and he practically had to put in a great deal of effort just to avoid a black out. "Stupid, stupid, stupid t'ing t' do! An' t' t'ink Oi held de benefit o' de doubt fer dis long. Ooooh Oi knew ye 'ad some monsters, but d'is? D'is is where it's gone t' far!" He muttered to himself as he practically stomped and kicked at the stone floor, the sudden idea to flood the room with water became an urge he quickly suppressed.

"Why?! Just why did yew- no wait! Don't petchin' tell me, Oi already know." He started to connect dots now finally. Hana. Kendhl. Losing not one but two lovers in a lifetime had to be hard, that being the one thing that could've sent Gale in his bad funk, that had to be the key source of the problem right there. But to lie? That's where the rage seemed to well up from, sure enough Gale had his own secrets that Ricky never pressed to learn, but the fact one suicide attempt (possibly more) had commenced because Gale just wanted to give up? Quit on life? There had to be better reasons that just wanting to quit, something that explained why exactly the pessimist always had this 'hatred for life' thing. "Petch it all! Tell me this then," He turned to face Gale with pointed fingers and bitter cold eyes, "why keep it a secret? Why not tell me d'ese t'ings? Knowin' d'at Oi could'a very well helped ya, why de bloody hell would yew not tell me?" He remained still and rigid with tensity high in the air around him, silent prayers to Priskil that the answer might justify his reasons.