Closed Riddle Me This [Ricky]

[Zandelia]

Zandelia listened to Ricky’s words, her mind turning the puzzle around and trying to find an angle that would achieve multiple ends. It was a difficult business to be involved with in truth. The acquisition and dispersal of information was not the difficult part in truth, anyone with enough audacity and sense could achieve it if they put in the effort to do so. No, the real trial was the piecing together of it for advantage, that was important and it kept the whole thing working on a positive gain. There was little point to giving up information freely, even if she didn’t know it and her employer only thought she did. She needed something she could have in return, something she could use for her own ends.

The question really isn’t whether I can find her, that is an inevitability. Everyone makes mistakes and a red haired short woman isn’t inclined towards blending into the crowd. The real question is what do I want from him? she pondered upon that as the missive was passed to her for perusal.

The words before her, dancing their way across the parchment, were a precious gift to her – though not for the meaning that was reserved for Ricky. No, what she saw were two people, liking each other enough not to want to hurt each other but also willing to sail seas for a simple conversational confrontation. Melodramatic emotion…it held such a full-bodied feel for her mind that it was almost too hard to smile greedily and lick her lips. She resisted the temptation and merely smiled in a benevolent way, placing the page upon her lap and reassessing Ricky compared to her former conclusions. This wasn’t a hardy brawler before her – this was a romantic.

And that I can use, after a fashion she told herself with pleased tones of thought.

“Indeed. It seems there is much that I do not know upon the subject, but I trust that it will not be getting me into trouble. You are a rare gem Ricky, you drop this into my hands as if it means nothing. Still….” She let the words die off, there was enough latent meaning in them for him to understand she saw the situation was charged in the very least.

“Still, I think we can find your…Hannah. She sounds like she doesn’t want to be found, but that she doesn’t expect you to be looking for her either. I would call her a fool if I didn’t understand the concept of human nature> Rest assured she will come to no harm from me. The others in Nyka however…I cannot guarantee. So…better we find her first, hmm?” she let that small niggling doubt fester in him so she could talk price upon an advantage.

“Excuse me for a moment Ricky…” she told him, pushing herself upward and out of the chair.

She walked towards the bar, motioning for Yeller to come towards her silently, almost unseen perhaps. They had formed an arrangement in the aftermath of her dealings for him. Forcing people to pay the debts that they had owed him had made him wealthier than before. The fact that she had a mind sharp enough to cut his patrons in half did some more for their understanding. The real thing, though, was that she knew Vysia well enough and the fact that she knew just how much he watered down his ales to push a hefty profit. It was a unique balance of collaboration and semi-intimidation that they had forged. He stopped short of openly aiding her, however small perks were enough for now.

“What do you want Amelias? I’m busy as you well know woman!” he told her, a small frown upon his forehead as he bent forwards as if discussing something small and pointless.

“I have something for the Entertainer to gain applause from” she spoke in code, she had learnt the advantage of it.

“And what is that?”

“A tale of a small girl, two thirds my height and with red hair. She arrived on a ship and probably smells of fish. I’d like to know the story. I can’t quite recall it” she told him as he nodded.

Soon enough one of his helpers would be dispatched and the required information would be there for her to absorb – she had obviously entered Nyka through the shipping lane and so the Fish Market was an ideal place to start their enquiries. It might turn up something of note and if it didn’t she had other options open to her. She returned to Ricky and sat down with a small smile for him alone.

“Now we wait,” she told him, “care to prove your worth to the others whilst the whereabouts of your Hannah is delivered to us?” she asked him.

“However, you have yet to determine the one thing most important at such negotiations. The price. Whilst you show these patrons your wit I’d like you to think upon that Ricky. I cannot work for free, I’m afraid” she told him, wondering what he would be willing to offer for his ultimate prize.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky's eyes never left the note when she read it, his mind rampant on the emotions that came when he first read it. When her hands had taken the note under the table and likely in her lap, his eyes would reveal a longing for answers and a hope that this made the possibility of finding her greater. He wanted to go home, the time he spent away from there was time the city was likely in need; that and Telion still waited for him to return. The idea of her being left alone again so that some other man may bring harm to her came to mind, the history of her previous boyfriend still fresh on his mind as he had helped her out of his place. Though Telion had a room next to Ricky's he still wanted to be there to keep her safe, thus this trip was something he wanted done as quickly as he could get it. When Amelias mentioned that she could help find Hannah, Ricky's face beamed with relief as he finally believed he found a break.

When she went to speak with Yeller, Ricky let the tension in his back and shoulders release. There was a short amount of time where his ribs acted up, but compared to the feeling that filled his being the pain was nothing. He let the thought of finding Hannah and going home fill his mind, it would be a moment of joy and ease for him. That joy and ease was what he felt now, and though it may just be imaginary Ricky still felt better about himself. He was one step closer to her, and even more so answers that were in demand. Alas things likely wouldn't turn out the way he imagined, but he remained optimistic about them nonetheless. After days of what felt like would be a hopeless search, finally he caught the break he needed.

Amelias came back and Ricky waited eagerly to hear the news she would have, he was pleased to hear that they only had to wait until information arrived. "Absolutely! I'd be more than happy to prove my worth." He assured her, but his grin faded as somethimg else came along. She had demanded a price to be paid, and while it caught Ricky off guard he could only nod as he understood; she was going through a great deal to help him. Therefore it was only fair he find some sort of way he could return the favor.

"I don't really have anythin 'sides the clothes on my back and..." His hand went to his chest, the family heirloom remained tucked away under his shirt. It was something he would never have ever considered trading for something such as information; especially with the history his pendant had. In truth he planned on passing it down his family, seeing as hoe the pendant held great importance to him. It would have to be a last resort, in case he couldn't win her over with anything else. Ricky looked as though he would've gone into distress, as he pulled out the few silver and copper miza's he had left. "This be all I have lass, unless ye happen to need a favor I can take care of right now." He waited with hopes that maybe she would be convinced, he needed to find Hannah more than anything. Should she request any information Ricky would give it if he knew it, if she wanted a favor he would try to help with the best of his ability, if she wanted something involving value then Ricky would have to just give up his heirloom.

[Zandelia]

She noted how Ricky seemed to tense up as her words filtered through the hubbub of the tavern, slithering through the air in dangerous tendrils until they slunk into his ears and were processed, their implications apparently almost unexpected by her possible client. She couldn’t hold it against him, in truth far too many people assumed that because gossip was freely found it would be freely given. Perhaps it was her mind, it was wrong in some way that with irrevocably intrinsic. It was true that where others saw something to be enjoyed she saw little but advantage or waste. Words were dangerous weapons, the sentences strung together by foolish mouths could easily topple a city or kill a man if they were powerful enough. It always bothered her that people gave little consideration to those who made it their purpose to read such things…and react to them.

It seems that, wherever I go, few understand the tedious hours it requires to glean true meanings from words. Ironic really, seeing as people use them to deceive on a daily basis. If I were a business woman it would be easily understood, but because I am me…it never is she told herself with a wry smile turning her lips slightly upwards.

“Of course there is a price Ricky, there always is for what we want. I am not unselfish but if I spent my days giving out freely what it has taken be a good 30 days to build I would be considered a fool” she told him, fiddling with the parchment in her hands underneath the table.

She noted how he touched his chest, a truly obvious move that she could only discern meant there was something of value he did not want to bequeath to her. It was not to say that she would immediately take such an item, his other offers held far more use to her. Still...it intrigued her that he had something hidden he would rather keep that way. She reasoned that it couldn’t be anything of value to her, something that clearly lopped around his neck was probably small and only of personal value. Yet, she liked to know the details of people and couldn’t help her curiosity.

“I see you grasp your chest, Ricky dear. Is there something there I don’t know about?” she asked, trying to keep the interest from her voice.

She needed to buy time for her messages at any rater and the mystery before her was good enough to do so. She could only negotiate fully upon a well prepared hand of cards and she did not have that just then. She opted to the sue the skills that were, as far as she knew, mostly unique to herself. She spent some time bought by Ricky’s shocked visage to pull at her Djed, teasing it into activity. It came quicker these days but still it was not overly easy – it took time. Channeling it she slipped it upwards towards her eyes until the world of the mundane phased into the world of color. It was always a small shock despite how often she used it in her line of work, she tried to focus upon nothing but Ricky but it was always difficult.

Let us see how he reacts beyond the spoken word… she thought as she concentrated upon the man’s aura.

“Please show me, it will most likely not be my price. Still, it might interest me to know what it is you fear to lose – you whom have travelled the world to find a girl” she asked simply, words were not easy when her concentration was split.

[Ricky Maze]

She was right. Of course someone like Amelias had built some sort of network for her to gain intelligence, therefore everything that involved information would require some small price at least. Ricky wondered if she thought his necklace had a value to it, sure its price was simply bound to be nothing; but to him it was a treasure that was passed down from his family. Alas she inquired about it, and therefore Ricky would provide her the answer.

He didn't notice that her concentration diverted when she mentioned she just wanted to see it, thus he slipped out the pendant with a loose grin. What she would see was a small feather shaped from glass, the memories that Ricky had with this were fond ones. Memories of his father and the days he wore it, memories of the days Ricky wore it after his father was lost out at sea. Life had been a wild ride since that time, and even now Ricky lived without knowing what to expect next, yet as he looked upon the necklace and remembered his father and Odis he felt better. A bit more confident in knowing that if both were here now, they too would encourage him to keep moving forward. "My ma made this before I was born. She gave it to my pa, and ever since then he never took it off. Not until he passed it on to me anyway."

When he looked at Amelias his faint grin was now again a humble one full of assurance. Though she mentioned that it wouldn't be her price that could've easily changed, however Ricky felt sure of himself now more then ever.

"I've got a riddle for ya." He finally said as he found the words to piece together the puzzle that would await an answer. He waited for her blessing to hear it before he continued though.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia let her gaze shift to the small trinket being proffered towards her, it was not her ultimate goal but served as a useful distraction and thus she kept up the small charade enough to not illicit suspicion. She knew what she used was magic, though her understanding was merely based upon loose associations and a few choice words from past lives. It was a dangerous thing really, using it in such an open place, however she was relatively sure she wouldn’t be detected. As far as her researching had told her there were a scant number of Djed users in Nyka and the majority of those were not found within the Northern Quarter. Still, it was worth the risk for the gain she was making.

Interesting, there are few colors in him – almost as if her has few emotions…or more likely they don’t surface often. A deep pool perhaps…very rare. Still…there is…fondness? Yes, from his words it must be fondness…and love she told herself as she kept her peripheral vision locked to his aura.

It was a useful thing, what it gave off. It told her a lot of what others sought to hide from her in many situations. What she learnt from Ricky, however, was not about his hidden emotions. No, she instead memorized his aura – it gave her the ability to find him within the tempest of existence if she so desired. In many ways it was even more powerful than being able to read him, it gave her the ability to find him simply by her Auristic sight. She smiled, as if she were reveling in his small story, and filed away what she was reading from him – his own uniqueness.

“Well Ricky, I was right the first time,” she mused out loud as she let the energies seep from her eyes and trickle back into her body slowly, it left her tired indeed but she kept up appearances for now, “a nice story indeed. Perhaps, one day, I can learn more of it. Still…no…I shan’t take it as a price”

“A poor helper I would be if I gave from you less than what I robbed, no?” she asked him rhetorically – they both knew the answer and so it was not needed.

She took a sip of her wheat beer in an effort to restore her lost energies, circles now appearing underneath her eyes as her body finally took stock of the energy she had expended without recompense. She had not considered that it might take much from her stores, it didn’t usually lead to such a deficit – still…it had been a trying score of days and she reflected that she should have known better. Her inner flame had been flickering of late. She had learnt something, however, and that was worth the price of her sloth. She placed her empty cup upon the wooden table and regarded Ricky with a small sparkle in her green eye.

A riddle? Well this man is resilient. I threaten to take his precious possession and he can only think of fun? If only I had a dozen of him in Nyka… she pondered as a small smile crept upon her lips.

“Well, I am good at riddles…so they say. Answer their and then we will see how good you are” she advised him, her words duller than she liked.

“Remember though, we may have to leave at any point to go…investigate…your problem. Can’t have Hannah slinking around these dingy streets longer then needed hmmm?” she finished.

She was so tired and he would probably notice it, even if he didn’t know why. She would hold on, though, at least until her business was concluded. She had never been known for a lack of tenacity.

“Keep me occupied…lest I change my mind” she tried for a deflecting tactic she couldn’t feel much enthusiasm for – it would perhaps suffice to keep Ricky off balance and more prone to revelations.

[Ricky Maze]

"Gotcha." Ricky nodded in agreement, as he remembered the previous puzzle before. His guess on the third was based on a simple idea he knew from home. Thus if he wanted to get this riddle correct he would have to think harder, really rack his brain just to find the answer. Of course Ricky didn't know that Zand had looked rather tired compare to earlier, his mind had overlooked that detail as it had went into a different state. A state where his smarts and wit were used more then he usually would.

'One is sitting down and will never get up, and you use to provide...' A crease in his forehead came as he recalled the information, still it was far to generic to be able to call anything. Maybe if he pieced together the other two it'd make sense. ' The second eats as much as is given to him, yet is always hungry, and used to give life to the weary...' Something that could make better sense if it worked with the first, however the third clue had to be considered as well. 'The third goes away and never returns and is usually an annoyance to those who don’t enjoy it'

Ricky folded his arms as he went into thinking further. 'C'mon Rick, ye can figure this one out... somethin that usually sits, could even be an object from what I know.' His eyes shortly looked from his empty mug to Amelias, then to the group that still called out possible guesses. Each one made was a good possibility but none received the recognition of a correct answer. A tricky riddle indeed, Ricky felt as though his riddle would be too simple because of this. He looked to the lamp next to him, the faint glow of the flame provided little life to the area. His mind kept wondering as he looked at thr tiny flame, the oil that rested within slowly being consumed to provide what light it could.

'Eats as much as it's given but is always hungry!' His expression was one of realization as he connected the two. Fire provides for the weary in many ways, in order to burn it must have fuel which is consumed by the flame. Even if this were the second answer the first and third remained anonymous to him, but he knew that they still could be connected together. Ricky just had to think harder on what could be connected to fire. 'We use fire to provide heat and light, so maybe those two are related in some possible form...'

He thought about it for a good few chimes, though he was silent before Amelias she could probably tell he was in deep with his thoughts. The puzzle had a likely answer he felt positive with, and though he was excited to come across it he couldn't celebrate just yet. No he had two more answers to find, both tied to the each other as well as the second. 'Light is what we need when we can't see, usually when its dark outside or in a place like this. Outside though it'd be when night falls. Campfires require a lot of wood...and they smoke a lot too...' Ricky's mind wandered about the campfire, how it could be used for heat and light, and how meals would be cooked in order to survive. Then the idea hit him, some food had to be smoked in order to obtain flavor. 'Smoke in general tends to annoy people depending on where it rises, since the wind carries it away. So smoke in a sense could be correct, 'cause it never returns...'

Fire and smoke. Both possible answers that he felt could be correct, yet how did fire and smoke tie together with the firsr clue. Ricky bounced his leg repeatedly and started tapping his fingers on the surface of the table. 'One is sitting down and will never get up, and you use to provide for something. It has to house fire somehow, which provides for the weary...' Ricky thought about it, he remembered the campfire idea once again and how it was used to provide food in the wilderness; cooked edible food anyway. When he thought more on this idea he came across his last answer he felt an appropriate guess. Now he just had to see if his guesses were correct, and hopefully after what felt like half a bells worth of exhausting mind work, Ricky hoped he was correct on this.

"The first is a stove, the second is flame, and the third is smoke." He called out dryly, as he spent much of his time thinking; he forgot to keep his usual habits going. A curious expression now took place, as he waited to see how Amel and the others would react.

[Zandelia]

She watched Ricky mull over their little game of riddles with a closely guarded amusement, he was an interesting creature indeed. It was strange in some ways, she had not expected the man to be filled with many a romantic ideal upon her first assessment. Those whom dressed as warriors did seldom held much in the way of propriety or fancy notion. The riddle was not what concerned her, though it was useful to watch his face – his eyes – to see if she could pick up on some of his reactions. She had found that it was always useful to be able to read people and the best time to learn someone’s signals was to catch them whilst thinking – they were generally oblivious to said assessment.

A puzzle of a man indeed, when I was beginning to think men were so simple. Then he falls into my lap like a babe in swaddling. Fortuitous indeed. Still, some things I have learnt. A furrowed brow, the crossing his arms…these are useful traits for future interactions. To know what one is thinking, before they know you know, it is a powerful thing she thought to herself, Ricky clearly had little concept of social subtlety. It was a blessing in some ways…and a curse.

"The first is a stove, the second is flame, and the third is smoke." He stated out loud, there was a small tremor of what Zandelia thought was doubt in his tone but the words were firm – he had thought it through more than the common patrons of the Sharp Tooth.

There was a silence then, a ripple as if a small stone had been dropped into the waters of the pond that was intellectual intrigue. She knew Ricky was correct, though she kept any judgement from her face as all awaited Yeller’s verdict in unison. She turned her head to look at him, they had their own small code between them – Zandelia could stay without harassment, so long as she kept entertaining his patrons and helping him to make money off of the vice of drunkenness. There were other reasons, for mutual benefit of course, however the more visible nature of the charade she had to keep up with others. His smile told it all, such a small smile as he buffed yet another mug lovingly.

“You pick your friends wisely Amelias, a rare thing that a stranger can enter and guess correctly. Yes sir, you are right. Your reward? You get to test us, and tell us your name too so we can know it” Yeller responded, one more telling look between himself and Zandelia before turning to deal with another customer.

He knows, of course. Or he suspects that I helped Ricky with his little quandary. But that’s what I’m here for. To keep the buyers in and drinking as they try and win back some of their pride from us foreigners she smiled inwardly as she turned her attention back to Ricky.

“Indeed, correct you were my friend!” she joined in on the charade, upping Ricky’s status by doing so in such glowing terms, “a marvel your intellect must be if you can outwit these regular patrons. Tell us your own then, make it a…hard one” she smiled t Ricky then, nodding to let him know silently he had accorded himself well as retorts to her sharp words could be heard around her.

Her gaze slipped sideways once more at peripheral vision motion – a small boy had arrived and he carried a note with him. It seemed that her associate had already returned his verdict – just in time for Ricky’s own riddle. She waited for it to be brought to her, allowing Ricky his moment of fame and influence – she needed people seen as adept as this would prove he was.

We can stay long enough for that… she told herself as the missive was slipped to her by a barmaid, shielding it with the pretence of delivering her an ordered drink.

A few lat slipped into the girl’s deft fingers and the exchange was made, mutually beneficial indeed.

[Ricky Maze]

"It's Ricky," he gave Amelias a nodded glance with a smile, a silent thanks in appreciation for the second set of clues she had given him, "let me think a moment..." He wrapped his mind around the answer to his riddle, so he could find the words he felt necessary. Based on his story and how he ended up here Ricky considered the recent events as good indications, and so he found the words he needed.

"I work on even the smallest things, yet affect a grand larger scale. I bring people together and bring them apart all the same, as a continuous cycle that never ends I work in the most unpredictable ways; what am I?" He stated with a smirk, he waited to see Amelias' face before he allowed himself the pride of a good riddle; even then he would probably worry it was too vague or too generic.

Still Ricky found himself wondering if they could pull together an answer, as everybody in the world could relate to this. Who knows; maybe Amelias or Yeller would get it should the others find themselved puzzled, Ricky would take pleasure in knowing he held the answer in his mind.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia listened and dissected his words, the Sharp Tooth tavern was silent for a good few chimes as the traditional assimilation of the riddle into one’s memory was taken by all those invested in the little game of back and forth half-mockery. They were complexities, or rather the riddle was a disguised simplicity within a complexity foil. She had learnt a long while ago that the ones with the most enigmatic structures were usually the ones so simplistic that they were never solved whilst a difficult answer was sought. Still, she tilted her head and smiled slightly at Ricky – nodded at him almost imperceptibly – his attempt had been a decent first foray. Even now the hushed babble from around them could fill him with at least a small amount of pride.

“An admirable attempt Ricky, it should keep them busy for a small time at least. Now,” she began as she slipped the missive she had been given onto the table top for him to see, “to business. I have a response…let’s see if it can lead anywhere” she kept her eye on the man then, watching his face and body language for the most imperceptible shifts.

If I can tell you I have the answer already…what would it mean to you? Would you really give anything…just to talk to her? she wondered as she kept her neutral gaze upon him, assessing and assimilating.

She pulled the small, make-shift, cover from the message within and cast it down to be forgotten for now – it was of little worth beyond as a fragmentary notation page at any rate. The real moment of truth came as she unfolded the small piece of paper that had come from within. She read it under Ricky’s avid gaze and could not suppress the turning up of the corner of her lips. Fatone always did like to use flowery words. She read:

Oh Mistress of the eye, who is want to spy, your message I did receive,

I recall a head, with shades of red, who was adamant she did have to leave,

She let it slip, from her lips, a lover she did from hide,

She said not from where, but I do declare, she came from a ship’s side.

Where she is now, with furrowed brow, I will try to seek and learn,

Come to me soon, with your cheeks all abloom, if this thing is what you yearn.


~ FTM


She closed the note and pushed it across the table towards Ricky, she saw the hesitation there as his fingers toyed with it and merely nodded her assent at his inquisitive look. She let him read it to his heart’s content, the words were plain enough to thoroughly comprehend that there was a possibility they had a lead upon his Hannah. It was not a certainty, she could never offer any of her clients that factor in an ever dangerous world. Still…it possessed promise.

“Sound like someone you know?” she asked him softly as she watched him with interest. She made sure to take in every emotion that crossed his face, every tick that would give away his true feelings.

Anything that I can use to…negotiate she told herself, her heart was harder than it had ever been after the season’s events.

Now, for her, there was never a service without recompense. She had decided what she would ask of him, though she was not sure he would like it. Still…she would leave such a bartering for later.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky's modesty kept him from embellishing too much into pride, although he had made a riddle that would take a while to guess at there were still far better out there. Plus it wasn't like he made the toughest riddle in the room, Yeller had much more experience to bring to the table; whereas Ricky had next to none what so ever. Yet his attention was fully on Amelias now, the room was silent as the men were all thinking deeply. Ricky didn't know it nor did he have the intention, but he had made a riddle that would take some serious thought into account; this being based on the one thing he thought of.

As Ricky took the note he was in fact curious, his mind filled with anxious energy as he wanted to read its contents. This would surely point him in the direction he needed, or at least give him insight that she was still here. He wanted to know what waited in the written words, the sources that gathered this no doubt fresh. Or at least the information was fresh. His mind was in a loop now anyway, a moment where he spaced out happened when he unfolded the parchmen. His eyes darted along the lines as his mind became a sponge, it soaked in the words and sought to make sense of it all; the key fact being that it was about Hannah as well as their affair. 'She's still 'ere then.' He looked to Amelias once again, eyes a bit watery as joy filled them. This was not a wasted trip fortunately, and hooefully by tomorrow he would find her exact location; then the two may go home. "Yeah, it's 'er aight." Satisfied with the note he closed it and slid it back to her, his eyes locked on it as he wondered what came next.

"Thanks to ya lass, now we just need to hear where and that be it." He held a firm warm smile, confident that everything would turn out for the better now. There was just the matter at hand, and that was Amelias' bargain price. He hadn't forgotten that she would ask something from him, although he hadn't the slightest clue what to expect. His mother's necklace didn't seem to be the item of interest, so it was apparent she wanted something else from Ricky; something he would have to figure out soon. "I'll be honest, I dunno how I can repay yer kindness." He initiated the deal, to see if she was about to ask for her compensation now. Sure enough she may decide to evade the topic, but he had to give it a shot; he figured it'd be better to hear it now then guess in the long run.