Closed Meeting By Chance

[Ricky Maze]

Meeting By Chance
Spring 50th, 512 AV; 14th Bell

This running around the city to find one person was getting to be impossible for Ricky. Hannah could be anywhere at anytime, for all he knew she could probably be on the other side of Nyka. That's what flustered him anyway was the ides that she could be completely elsewhere, yet he did not stop his search because of this; no instead he used it as a motivator. Not much of a good motivator really, but the idea that just maybe she was in the Southern Quarter somewhere was all he needed.

He had spent all mostly all his morning searching, after starting the day with the food at the Safe Haven Hostel. Of course their food wasn't the best compared to other places he visited, but he was not in a position to complain. Nyka was different in it's laws, therefore Ricky would do his best do abide those laws until he found Hannah. Then Valo and he could bring her back home to Zeltiva.

'Sure wish some of these people wouldn't stare...' He slightly frowned as he felt a few eyes pry every now and then, of course the black eye would draw attention. It was a mark that was like a brand, inflicted upon him for the rest of the world to witness; and believe that he had to have lost a fight. He pressed on and ignored those thoughts, let people stare all they want, Ricky wasn't ashamed to bear this brand.

[Chase Lerar]

There it was, it looked just as good up close as it did a few feet back. On the butchers stand sat a fat slab of some kind of meat. Chase could tell it was fresh from the color of the blood, and his stomach twisted in anticipation of what he was about to do. This was risky, very risky, hell some could even call it suicide. But Chase hadn't had a decent meal in ages, and the temptation of meat was over powering his usual focus. The merchant of the stall looked away for a moment, taking his time talking to another customer. This was his chance, he had to take it. Instincts running on high, Chase quickly dashed for the stall. Before the man knew what had happened, Chase snatched the hunk of animal carcass and dashed away. "Stop, thief!" cried the merchant as Chase flew through the crowd. It was hard for him to maneuver through the dense sea of bodies, but he had to get away! He put his bloody trophy into his mouth and clamped his teeth down on it for dear life. He could hear people running behind him, who they were Chase wasn't concerned with. All he was worried about was making a clean get away. Suddenly the swarm of people began to thin out, and Chase thought he was home free. The boy grew giddy at the thought of a full belly, and as he turned the corner he didn't see the giant body right in front of him. SLAM Chase fell back hard on his butt, colliding with the other body. Blood from the meat splattered over Chase's white shirt, and he almost lost his prize in the blow, but quickly closed his jaw around the raw beef before it became floor food. "Thief, thieeeef!" a voice shouted from behind, getting closer and closer but the boy was too stunned to move.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky was looking to his left and then to his right, he scanned people searching for that vibrant fiery red orang hair that would easily stand out in such city bustle. However somebody smaller than him happen to bump into him, and not just bump but full on run into him. When this happened the boy fell to his bottom from the force of the collision, and Ricky grunted in the pain that shot through his torso as his broken ribs felt the impact. Son of a sea biscuit eatin bulldog of the petchin sea's!' He staggered back a bit and took a few deep breaths, and winced as he stood straight up again. Oh how he hated being injured. To have to deal with pain like this was bad enough when it first happened, but if he had to live through tormentful pain like this everyday; well then his life would just suck.

He looked down to the boy to find he had meat dangling in his mouth. Meat that was bloody and raw. Ricky wasn't sure of the possibility among other things, but narrowing it down the boy was either a.) an aspiring cannibal, b.) didn't like his meat cooked at all, or c.) probably a Kelvic. Considering Ricky knew his fair share of Kelvics, and how some of them like their food bloody and raw, he always knew to consider it a possibility.

"Thief! Thief!" There was shouts of anger as a man soon followed him, his face red as a tomato. His gaze immediately went to the meat the boy had. A monk had also arrived as well, one that looked like he took his job seriously, but then what monk didn't in the city of Nyka? 'Petch, this laddie's in a bind.' He wondered how he could he was going to help the boy out of this. He didn't have an inkling, just a general hope that things would smoothly work out.

[Chase Lerar]

The term, 'busted' came to mind when Chase finally got his bearings straight. First thing was first though, Chase came to the quick realization that he had hit someone in his attempts to flee. Looking up Chase saw... well lets be blut, he saw a 'BEAR' of a man. Well if the sight of the man Chase ran into didn't drain the color from his face, the fact that one of the monks had now caught up to him sure did. The boy began to shake uncontrollably. He had heard stories and rumors about the monks while staying in the city. Most of them not very good. He felt like he was going to be sick, nope scratch that he was now very ill. Chase removed the meat from his mouth and put it on his lap. He didn't look up, either at the man he had ran into nor the monk who was now only a few feet away. All Chase could do was raise the meat up with both hands. He still kept looking down, and his body continued to shake as if the winter air had returned to the city. "Sorry, sorry, sorry." he muttered consecutively, although his voice was probably lost in the clamor of the market.

[Ricky Maze]

"Sorry, sorry, sorry..." The frantic repetition of regret filled his eyes as he held up the meat for the man to take back, satisfied that the hands that held it were his own. Now it was just the matter of punishment, which Ricky had gathered what the monk would do. He was familiar with the way the law in Zeltiva worked, but that was only because he was part of the city guard. Here in Nyka the monks were the city guard, so in a way they both were peace keepers for their own home.

"Scuse me sir," He directed a sincere look to the monk, who was about to reach and pull the boy up by his hair. He looked to Ricky curiously as though he wasn't expecting an intervention. "I understand that ye gotta keep the peace 'round here, but the laddie's just a boy. I know yer bound by law cause at home I too am a city guard, so I have to request that you let him off with a warnin. Just this once." He requested with a humble positive attitude, a sort of confidence reflected in his expression. The monk took about a chime, until he finally responded.

"Very well. One warning and that is all, next time he will be branded." He warned and he made sure his point came across clearly, then left to retuen to his duties. The meaty man didn't look happy to see the boy unpunished, but with a "hmph" he simply returned to his business. Which left Ricky with the young boy.

"What in the Void were ya thinkin back there laddie?" He reached down to pick up the boy, should Chase have allowed it he'd be brought pack up to his feet.

[Chase Lerar]

Chase winced as the monk reached down for him. This was it, well being branded wasn't that bad... right? But oddly enough... nothing happened. The meat was taken from him, and the monk went on his way. Wait, what? Chase looked up and around confused as to what just happened. It soon became apparent that this large man had somehow saved Chase from his punishment, but why? He stared up at the man, trying to find words to express his gratitude. "What in the Void were ya thinkin back there laddie?" Welp, there went any confidence Chase had to speak. He fumbled for some words, but ultimately reared back from the man's hand as he tried to help Chase up. He looked like a dog getting ready to be beaten. However the moment passed, and Chase picked himself up. "I'm... hungry..." he said while avoiding any eye contact with the man. Chase nervously plucked at the leather collar around his neck. It had grown tighter since he came to the city. The boy couldn't even bring his pinky finger under the strap anymore. "Sorry that I... ran into you." It was strange, talking to another person. How long had it been that Chase actually held a conversation? Not that this would be considered one, but still. He felt as if he should just keep on talking, and talking letting everything that has happened over his first year out in one long sentence. But, a voice in the back of Chase's head just told him to run, run far and back to the shadows where no one can find him. Should he heed the voice? It saved him from his previous master, it helped him so far. The only little bit of trouble this voice has caused for him was the incident just now. Surely it won't lay him astray again... right?

[Ricky Maze]

Before Ricky could help the boy up he already scrambled onto his feet, he could see the child was nervous by the way he avoided eye contact. "I'm... hungry..." Was his excuse. Some part of Ricky chuckled inside, but mainly what he felt for the boy was sympathy. His compassionate side now showed with his humble nature, he understood there was reason behind the boy's motive. Though the deed was wrong it had been corrected, and therefore the boy was left in Ricky's good graces now. He couldn't simply turn his back on someone so young, not when they were in need.
"Sorry that I... ran into you." He fiddled with a leather collar wrapped around his neck. The next piece of evidence that confirmed the choice of his several possibilities. The boy was a Kelvic, therefore Ricky had to be more considerate then he was before.

He didn't make any attempts to approach the boy, for he felt it gave a bad impression considering the reaction that had occurred a moment ago. Instead Ricky just knelt on one knee, so that he would stand eye level to the boy; and hopefully give the boy the impression Ricky wouldn't look down on him.

"Hey laddie, ye were just doin somethin ye shouldn't have. If yer hungry I have enough left over supplies to spare, ye just gotta trust me as we go to the Save Haven Hostel." When he spoke it would be in a attentive fatherly tone, one that would hopefully help the boy feel a bit more at ease; and maybe even present trust.

[Chase Lerar]

Chase eyed the stranger for a moment, being cautious even as he knelt down. His nerves relaxed slightly when the man brought himself to eye level with Chase, but he was still on edge. It was a small improvement, maybe Chase wouldn't run after all. "Hey laddie, ye were just doin somethin ye shouldn't have-" Chase was going to protest to this. He knew what he did was wrong, but starving out here was the worst. But as the man continued, Chase listened. "If yer hungry I have enough left over supplies to spare, ye just gotta trust me as we go to the Save Haven Hostel." Trust, something was was once commonplace with Chase, however since the last season of abuse he had little trust left for the world. Still, having a person offer their food had the boy almost accepting the man's offer. But, he knew nothing of this man or why he was being so nice. Chase had not been exposed to kindness for quite some time... not since... grandpa. The first master, the kind master, the only master Chase could call family. That is when he was truly happy, that's when he was able to trust everything and everyone around him. But not now... first master, grandpa, was dead and there was no bringing him back. "Why?" Chase eventually asked. He looked at the man once in the eye and turned his gaze just as quickly back to the ground.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky wondered if the boy was actually considering going with him, surw enough thw idea would've been tempting had he need food so badly. Yet there was the important question that would always turn the tide, to test Ricky and see just what kind of person he really was. "Why?"

Was there an answer to the question? Did there really need to be such an answer. It was the right thing Ricky felt he should do, a personal act based up the natural flaw of his being. His way of naturally allowings things to happen as they come had always been his way of life, thus any and all situations he faced he did so with courage. Was this an act of courage? Or a kind gesture for a lonely soul? This was a question that had many possible answers, both direct and indirect, physically and spiritually, morally as well as reality. To reflect on all these aspects was something no man could have time for, but for the sake of one small boy he had to give one answer that fitted well to the truth.

"Why? Well because," Ricky wore a warm hearty smile, "it would make us both feel better knowin ye won't starve yerself. I can't simply turn a blind eye on a laddie such as ye now can I." It was a rhetorical statement at the end. Enough to prove his point and at the same time allow some sort of trust factor to start. For Ricky's role was that of a sentinel, he was there when someone needed him. He protected those that mattered and helped whenever it was possible. Such was his nature, whether it was flawed or not.

[Chase Lerar]

Chase thought for a moment. Could it be possible that this human was being nice just because they were nice? Or was there some underlying meaning behind the man's actions that he couldn't quite figure out yet? There were too many possible outcome's for him to even to comprehend. It was hard for Chase to make any kind of decision at this point, but one thing remained prominent, his need for food. Without warning Chases stomach let out a low 'groooowl'. He blushed and sighed, it was unavoidable. "Okay..." He whispered loud enough for the man to hear. "Thank you..." he added at the end looking at him through his brown locks. "I-I have some money... its not a lot but... you can have it." he said while fumbling for his pants pocket. Chase would buy his own food, but the system here didn't allow the trade of money for goods. However, one bit of charity deserved another. Chase didn't believe in a free give out, and it would be wrong of him to just take a persons generosity without offering something in return.