Daniel made a nice dinner for all of us as I stayed by Riv, still confined to his room. With me I brought some books, some paper, and his art supplies as surely he was getting a bit restless at times, even while like this. At the very least I could bring him some things to do aside from sleep, should he have the need.

Our time spent together was mostly his clinging to my side. Grabbing one of the more advanced books I read through it with him, a large book of assorted fairytales with very intricate illustrations. With his head against my small chest and my scrawny arm over his back I held the book on my lap, Riv flipping the pages when the reading was done. We'd take turns with sentences, my reading one aloud and his reading the next.

After about a half hour Daniel came back upstairs with a couple of plates. On mine was a savory cut of beef and a side of crushed red potatoes topped with butter, salt, and pepper. On Riv's was some rice and mixed fibrous vegetables, something a little different that he seemed to appreciate. Daniel then left to get his own plate and eat with us, finally happy to satiate his recent red meat craving. The beef was a nice cut of steak, medium rare and very flavorful.

"How's it?" Daniel asked, smiling and cutting into his own. "You've been workin' real hard and I wanted to get somethin' nice we could share.

"It's very good," I said, chewing on the juicy steak. "It's funny, in most places I've been they cook it through a lot more."

"Yeah, and it ruins it if y'ask me," he laughed. "Lotta the flavor gets cooked right out and that's no fun. I won't judge ya if your tastes are different, but...well, actually, yeah I will."

I laughed a bit to myself as I took another bite. It really was good; I must have been missing out all this time. Looking over to Riv he seemed quite content with his simple dinner, though did keep looking to ours every so often.

"A bite wouldn't hurt him, would it?" I asked Daniel.

"Naw, go on," he grinned.

I cut a decent bite from my steak and gave it to Riv, who was all too happy to oblige. From the look on his face he enjoyed it, chewing nice and slow to savor the taste.

"Wouldn't mind makin' more of this when you're over your infection, kid," Daniel said, scooping up a forkful of potatoes. "It'd sure beat bread and bananas for every meal, but just hang on the next few days, okay?"

The tired child nodded his head.

We ate our dinners together, eating our respective meals with some idle chatter between bites. Once finished my heart sank, knowing I'd have to get back to some work. I hoped that getting most of this done today would mean a more comfortable weekend. Plus I did ask for the extra work, so I shouldn't be too surprised to receive it. The moderate boost in my recent pay would be plenty to get a change or two of sheets for Riv's bed and I could look for some more interesting food options he and I might like. Despite my small size and his skinniness neither of us were picky eaters, which was nice. Though I appreciated Daniel's willingness to fulfill errands and make us meals, I still...wanted to be the one supporting my child, with my own pay.

I brought the dishes downstairs to wash up, setting them aside to dry. Walking out to the lobby I grabbed my work and started to leave, but stopped before getting too far. I looked back to my desk, remembering Morissey's gift. With a sigh I walked back, grabbed the bottle, and carried it with me on my way back upstairs to my room.

Taking a seat at my desk I got back to work. By now my skinny wrists were on fire and my fingers cramped from tightly grasping my writing pen all day. Still, I was determined to get as much of this done as I could. I did have all weekend, but I wanted to spend that time with my child, not doing more of this. I knew he didn't understand why I did this, but still hoped that, somehow, he could feel it. If the surveys come back in my favor I'd be able to break more often again, work overall a bit less and offset the deficit. I just...need to keep going.

It was getting well enough into nighttime as I finally wrapped up the gist of this work. There were only a few more pages, but I was quite tired. My mind was still clouded, both racing and jammed with thoughts and plans. Even if I wanted to turn in a bit early I don't think I'd be able to sleep.

I looked down to the bottle of wine on my floor. Grabbing it by the neck I lifted it to my desk and just stared at it.

He said it would help me wind down, right?

Maybe it...wouldn't hurt to try.

After a fight with the cap I managed to get it off the bottle. Looking around I didn't have any glasses for this kind of thing, not really expecting something like this to enter my possession. I picked up the bottle and sniffed it, the aroma bold and fruity with a sharp alcohol burn.

I wasn't really sure how to go about this, but if I got it open...I might as well?

With the bottle in both of my small hands I threw my head back, taking several large gulps and not knowing what to expect. This was...how I usually saw those at home consume this. I set the bottle back on my desk and rapidly shook my head with my eyes tightly closed, all of my fur standing on end as a weird shiver ran down my spine. My teeth even chattered while my throat burned...what a strange sensation.

I didn't feel much different, at least not yet. I...guess this takes some time? Wasn't sure how I felt about the taste, having drank it so fast. Grabbing the bottle again I took another drink, slower this time to see how it tasted. The flavor was strong, semi-sweet, and with an alcohol burn exacerbated by what felt like carbonation. I quickly swallowed, the mix of the chemical and fizziness clawing at my esophagus on the way down. Another shake of the head and twist of the tail and I looked down to my completed work.

I sighed and looked back to the bottle. It didn't look like I had much, the bottle being a fair size. In my impatience I hoisted it up again, taking several more large mouthfuls of the bold red wine. How much of this is someone supposed to have in a sitting?

My ears raked back harshly as I shook a third time. That's...enough I think.

I stood up to cap the bottle, moving it aside on my desk. Picking up my finished work I stowed it in a folder, leaving the incomplete assignments in front of me. Looking at the clock it was just a little before nine and my exhaustion was catching up with me.

Or at least it must be by now given how strange and...heavy my head feels. When I turn my head everything has some...kind of momentum to it, and it's somehow unfocused. I feel slower, like...everything happens faster than I can react. I'm definitely...defin...itely tired.

I'll just...lie...lie down right...here.

***

I noticed Reverend hadn't come to say goodnight to Riv, but figured he was just real busy. It's pretty incredible, the amount of work he does for this place. He really did care about this house and about this kid of his, and though I'm sure he felt otherwise I don't think Riv really felt he was lacking in any particular department. He was a happy kid, all things considered, though I really wish he could get enrolled in the school here, maybe make some friends.

Ah well, you make the best of the hand you're dealt and he could certainly be worse off. Kiddo never really complained, anyway.

Taking Riv's temperature one more time he seemed to be stabilizing. A slight fever yet, but coming down well enough. I was sure Reverend would be happy to learn of it, the little boy getting over this bug pretty quick. Still bothered me, though, that we couldn't seem to find an origin for it. I'm very careful with my food, so while I'm surely biased in my own favor I've never gotten anyone sick from my cooking, 'least to my knowledge.

"Where's Father?" Riv asked as I covered him back up with his comforter.

"Aw, he's got some work he wants to catch up on if he can," I said, grabbing his stuffed bear and putting it with him under the covers. "He works real hard for this place. Wants to get ya a new set of sheets for your bed."

"Really?" he asked, his eyes starting to clear up.

"Really!" I answered. "It's somethin' he's wanted to do for a while. You know he loves ya very much."

"Mhm. I love him, too."

"Good to hear. Remember, I'll be over in the next room for prob'ly a few more days if ya need me. Hope you don't mind my bein' here."

Riv shook his head with a tired smile.

"Heh. Alright, then, kid, we'll see ya tomorrow."

I pat his head and stood up, stretching my legs as I paced to the door. Turning off the light and grabbing the doorknob I gently closed it behind me, looking back once just before to make sure all was well.

While a shy child, he did like familiar company and I was more than willing to provide it if he liked. I'd always wanted kids, but between moving around so much and my work being rather intensive at times it just never seemed to come by. I tried not to let it bother me too much, content enough with the people I'd come to know such as Reverend and his little boy here. Maybe it's the upbringing but I stuck pretty fast to them-- Riv was a very sweet kid and Reverend, well...he's got some issues that I wished he'd talk to me about, especially lately. He was a timid man with his heart in the right place, but that heart was aching and it was plain as day to me. Experienced plenty of this sort of thing and knew this wouldn't be easy, but I'd try as much as I could to get him to open up a bit.

Looking to my right I saw some of them staff walking about, eyeing me. I just glared right back, not wanting to deal with their passive-aggressive nonsense. It did have me wondering, though, if maybe they had something to do with Riv's illness. It'd be pretty weird but I've heard of weirder things and I knew they didn't like us. I had no proof, nothing more than just a hunch, but...it was just too isolated.

I looked to my left and saw Reverend's door was closed, but his light was still on. Wonder if he just missed the time, buried in his work. With a few steps I was in front of his door, tapping a few soft knocks.

No response. Hm.

I carefully grabbed the handle and pushed open the door. A look over to his desk brought to my eyes the sight of a small man passed out at his desk near a bottle of wine.

"...Geez," I quietly exhaled to myself.

I should probably get him to bed, but...there was one thing I needed to do first. I turned around real quick to knock on Kuri's door. The ramiotran answered promptly, though was surprised to see me and not Reverend.

"Hey, it's prob'ly weird but I need a big favor of ya," I requested.

"Yeah?" he replied, head tilted.

"Your room is right across the hall from Riv's, so...you mind staying up here overnights and watching this wing of the hall?" I asked. "I'm sorry, but I don't think Riv got sick on accident and I've heard whispers about Riv's door getting found ajar in the mornings. I know they don't like him, or any of the three of us, so d'ya mind doin' that?"

"Sure, I don't mind," he shrugged.

"Thanks, Kuri, it means a lot. Please, though, be discreet about it. Keep your door open a hair and listen intently. Just...somethin' about them."

"It's no problem, Daniel. I'll let you know if anything seems weird."

"Thank ya. Have a good night."

As I walked back to Reverend's room I heard Kuri close his door all but the latch, allowing me a small sigh of relief. Stepping into Reverend's gloomy room and closing the door behind me I quietly walked over to where the little man was slumped over his desk, grabbing the wine. He said he never drank, so this must've been given to him. It was fairly high concentration for what it was and I'd say at least three or four drinks worth were missing.

Putting the bottle aside I reached down to pick up the sleeping secretary, lifting his light body up into my arms. Once I took a few steps he seemed to stir, mumbling something.

"...--mé," he murmured.

"Hm?"

"...Ezz...mé..."

"Esmé?" I softly asked. "Who's--"

"...Ez...zmé...I mi...izz you."

I'd never heard this name before, but apparently they were important enough he'd remember them in a stupor. I just sighed and continued walking, this troubled man in my arms. It wasn't long before I felt a strange wetness on my shoulder, followed by hushed sniffling.

I bent down to try to lay him on his bed so he could finally get some sleep, but he clung to me like his life depended on it, his sharp nails digging into my back. It hurt and my ears crept back, but I tried to stay calm. I'd dealt with drunks before but this was...something a little different.

"Reverend, please, I'm tryin' to get you to bed and I can't do that if you're stuck to me like a bur," I said, but he wouldn't budge and just continued sniffling.

"Do...Don't leave...me a-again..." he trailed off, ending in a whine.

I sighed and turned around, sitting on his bed while I sat him on my knee and continued to hold him.

"Reverend, what's goin' on?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"...Who...Who's Rev...rund...?"

"Please tell me what's goin' on."

"...I-I...I mizz...Ezzmé..."

"And who's Esmé?"

"M-My fia...fianzée... Why'd she...d'she st...ay?"

"Stay where?"

"Why...'d they do it...?"

As he went on he grew progressively more tense, trying his hardest to hold something back. I just continued to hold him there, awkward as it may be.

"What did they do, Reverend?" I asked, trying to keep him talking.

"They...They took her..."

"Took?"

"...Th-They..."

He squeezed me tight. Whatever he was recalling really shook him and it was painful to see someone in this state, especially someone I felt close to.

"...Th...They k..."

"Let it all out, Reverend. It's just us here and you really need this."

"Th-They...killed her... They ki...lled th-the love o-of...my life."

His whole body tightened and he started sobbing, pressing his head against my clavicle and his fingertips into the flesh of my back. He squeezed my ribs like he'd not been hugged in years, starved of any kind of meaningful physical affection but too afraid to seek it out. I...guess I didn't blame him, the only familiar people around being other men and evidently not swinging that way. He always tried so hard to hide his emotions, or divert the subject when it arose. I turned my head a bit to see that old portrait hung up by his bed-- a faded photograph of a pure faraden woman, the edges worn in places. I'd guess that was Esmé.

"...I-I'm...zo a-alone..."

I sighed and held him as he sat on my leg, my rubbing his small back as he continued crying. I remembered overhearing that tune he hummed to Riv the previous day and began humming it to the distraught, terrified man on my lap. As I did he wailed into my shoulder, letting out what sounded like months, if not years of frustration and sadness. I felt like a horrible asshole for taking advantage of his state like this, but he was in so much pain and it needed some -- any -- kind of out.

"There you go," I whispered. "Let the hurt out, Reverend. You don't need to carry so much of this around."

He kept sobbing for several minutes, his grey face thoroughly wet and stained with months of tears begging to flow. I let him continue until he couldn't anymore, reduced to a small, gasping and disheveled man. With my other hand I combed through his damp hair, his ears sinking low as I did so. I felt bad I couldn't be this fiancée of his for something like this, that I was just another guy, but he was hurting and that mattered above all else.

"You're gonna be alright," I said, rubbing his stiff shoulders. "Let's get ya to bed."

I turned to try to lay him down but he still clung to me.

"...Pl...lease do-on't...go away ag...ain," he slurred, barely conscious.

"Reverend, I need to," I said, feeling uneasy. "I can't stay in your room."

"...P-Please..."

My ears slunk back looking to this crumpled man I held. Normally I'd keep urging to part were he just a patient, but this was a very...very different matter and I, too, was tired from the past few days. With a heavy sigh I reached for the switch to turn his overhead lights off, keeping his desk lamp on. I scooted carefully back to lie on the bed as he still clung to me, my lying on my side. He kept his head low, my resting my chin atop as he tapered off from hyperventilation. I kept running my fingers through his hair to calm him, doing what all I could to help him recover from his crying, and after a while his breathing stabilized. Twisting my neck a bit he seemed to have fallen asleep, exhausted from everything all at once.

Of course, I was stuck there, Reverend still glued to me even in his sleep.

...This will be interesting to explain tomorrow.

***

---