Completed The Return Home II

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky couldn't pull himself to smile as she congratulated him, as she gave the impression that it was good news he still didn't know what to feel. Ricky could only describe himself lost, the territory he now treked far beyond the power of his knowledge. When he looked at Leila sincerely in the eyes to understand why she said good father and husband, he actually found that Leila still seemed to be upset with something. Was it because he left without any time to say so? Or was it the news he had shared with her? He clearly had a lot to figure out now. Leila went off after Ariann, a small distance off to where he could hardly hear their short conversation. He stood up and watched the two, but didn't make any other movements to them. When Leila ran off however part of him wanted to stop her, and the other part wanted to stay put.

"Don't... Don't go." He didn't want either of them to run off on him, but it seems that it couldn't be helped. Slowly he turned back to where he was facing before and took a seat back on the fountain, his mind filled with newer questions that came about. 'Husband? How would I be a good husband? Why does she believe I'm gonna be a good parent?' That was two that had told him that, two people that tried to convince him otherwise. Yet they hadn't the ability to understand the pressure he felt, the fear in knowing that a child you made is growing, and how heavily dependant that child will be on you.

This fear was almost enough to paralyze Ricky, as he couldn't believe in himself as far as others could. Not when something this major came along, it became nearly impossible for Ricky to convince himself otherwise. 'I'm... I... I dunno what to do damn it!' He felt himself almost cry once more, the fear and worry settled in once more as he believed to be alone once more.

[Ariann]

Ariann watched as Leila began to run off, her emotions running rampant and leaving Ariann with a confused look on her face. The cherubic emerald eyes of the charoda blinked as she turned her head back towards Ricky to see him sit back down on the fountain's edge, the soft words touching her ears and causing Ariann to feel sorrow and regret for Ricky, two feelings she'd not yet experienced in her innocent life.

She began to move quietly back to Ricky, her baggy clothes flowing behind her as she reached the fountain and stood within arms length of the man. Her head tilted to the side and a look of confused curiosity caused her deep blue lips to part slightly as she waited for a moment. Kneeling before the man, she offered him an awkward smile, a mere twitch of her lips as she reached out and placed both hands on his, her voice softly coming out. "Ricky is sad and lonely, but why doesn't he see the good?" She asked herself softly, bending forward to try and peek at his face, "He should go to Leila Monster-herder. She is feeling alone as well." Ariann said, forcing a smile through her confused expression. "She needs someone to cry with..."

Ariann paused and looked away, towards the ground off to the right a little. "Mother always said that a man should cry just like a woman should. Crying is a way to relieve feelings that bottle up." She blinked, her large green orbs glancing skyward now, "Just like the skies cry when the gods fear the life of the land and provide it nourishment... Ricky and Leila cry to provide nourishment to the land as well, but so far apart that nourishment means little." She nodded, "That is why they should cry together." She said with a hopeful tone as she smiled at Ricky, her emerald eyes blinking once or twice. The sadness isn't good, but I know Ricky needs a friend.

[Ricky Maze]

Arianne returned to console him once more, as she questioned why he couldn't see the good. When she had mentioned being alone that got him to think, he thought about how Telion felt and how alone she must be. The idea no doubt scared her as much as it did him, even more considering she would be the one carrying the youngling. Ricky didn't want to be alone, he wanted her more than anything. As he thought this Ariann's voice was cut out by the overwhelming realization of what her point was. Ariann had tried to persuade him that he would be a fine parent, which he couldn't honestly believe that as he didn't feel ready. Yet he wanted to be with Telion, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He did eventually want to have a family with her, when the time he would be ready came. Now was a unexpected time for him, but it was still a time he could share with her.

Ricky stood up once more deep in thought, he looked up to find the sun had finally began to set. He had spent a while at thinking about this, and now it seems that his mind was at last made up. Ricky looked to Ariann with a new hope in his eyes, a faint smile now grew on his face. "Ye're right Ariann, I may be a good dad or I may not. Either way I should be happy that I'm gonna be one now, 'cause its with the woman I want to spend the rest o' my life with." He gently grabbed Ariann's shoulders and brought her to her feet, and then gave her a shoet gentle hug. "Thank ya." He spoke with sincerety as he drew back.

"I have to find Telion, and tell 'er everythin'!" He stated as he turned to run off, he did so with a wave to Ariann. Thanks to her he saw the light in a situation he knew thought otherwise, and even though he wondered why Leila ran off he had little time. He made a mental note to check on her tomorrow, but right now he had a declaration to make. That declaration would be the very thing that decided if Telion would be with him, and it was because Ariann's point of being alone that came across. 'Thank ya again Ariann.' He repeated in his mind once more, as he ran to the Old Quarter with great haste.

[Ariann]

A smile spread across Ariann's face meekly as Ricky seemed to regain his vigor, waving at her as he turned to dash off. Ariann subconsciously returned the wave, her finned fingers closed together and her thumb awkwardly held out to the side in an attempt to repeat the motion. She felt a twang of lonliness shoot through her as she watched Ricky dash off. "Good bye, Ricky..." She said softly to herself, her smile swiftly fading as he began to grow distant from her yet again. "I hope we meet again..."

It took her a few moments to find her ability to stand once again, a frown crossing her lips as she did so. She was leaving Zeltiva. For good. She turned and faced the harbor for a moment before she began her trek down the sloped hill, finding an eagernesss to return to the water she once called home.

[Paragon]

Ricky

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Philosophy	2
Rhetoric	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Every Tadpole Needs a Father
•	Two Feet are Stable Enough
•	For Better or For Worse
•	The Need to Stand Up and Act

Ariann

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Socialisation	1
Rhetoric	1
Persuasion	1
Philosophy	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Helping the Lost
•	Every Tadpole Needs a Father
•	Giving Others Confidence
•	Ricky is Going to be a Father
•	The Closeness of Humans
•	The Need to Return to Water

Leila

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Acting	1
Philosophy	1

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	A Friend Returns
•	Ricky is Going to be a Father
•	The Pain of Not Knowing a Man

Legend Becomes Reality

Very fun thread, plenty of drama from the three of you! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can work from there.