Description
A Greater Society - Chapter 12: Bleak
by Ratte
Story
Riv sat beside me on the bed, leaning lightly against my sore side. I put my arm around him, thinking of how best to go about this trial. It was evident to me that staying here was just not an option and that I had been dangerously stupid to leave in the morning like I had. I didn't know how else to turn in my work, though, which was another issue. With Riv being my only charge the town was unwilling to help fund the home, thus it had to all come out of my pocket. I wasn't in this for money, but I still needed money to keep the lights on and buy groceries.
As it stood this was a large building meant to house many people, so it also required a fair amount to keep everything powered. With the loss of one of my employments I had to think quickly how to compensate for that loss, especially with other places trying to passive-aggressively tell me off from the lessened work and shorted payments for work fulfilled, both thoroughly and on-time. I would do physical work if I had the capability, but I just hadn't the strength nor stature for what I'd likely need to do. If the simpler things in life were a concern, then home security was but a pipedream.
It would not be long before I'd have to touch my savings to keep the home running, eating into my funds and time more and more. With how far south we were it would be a ways north to more neutral territory and I wasn't sure if it were wise to force such a small boy to come with me unless I rented something like a moving wagon and the animals to pull it. Even small ones were expensive. The only reasons I managed to come all the way here were because I was by myself, I had only a small bag of possessions, and the towns were willing to humor me for being another pure. Riv would not get this luxury if this town were any indication, at least not until sufficiently north, which would take tens of days on foot. I couldn't willingly put him through that.
I...I didn't know what my options were at this rate, or if I even had any. Even if I tried to put out feelers for other foster homes as a last resort it would take weeks to hear back from them if they responded at all. I didn't have that kind of time, or that kind of hope, for something so fickle. Loans required that you stay within the town limits until repaid, so that wasn't an option, either.
The more ideas I flipped through, the more ideas I had to scrap.
The more hopeless I felt.
The weaker I grew.
"Father?" Riv asked.
"Hm?"
"Will you be okay?"
"Please don't worry about me, Riv."
"...Do you want me to go away?"
Shocked, I spun my head to look at him, my hand on his shoulder. I pushed my rear back a bit to bend over and meet his eye level, placing both my hands on his shoulders. He wouldn't look at me.
"Riv, please look at me," I quietly requested.
With hesitation he did as I asked, but I could just hear those sad gears turning in his head. His eyes were puffy and red, trying hard to hold back what ailed him. All of this was so much...too much for such a small boy to go through. It disgusted me.
"Are you listening?" I asked.
He shallowly nodded his head.
"I would never, ever want you to go away," I said, brushing some of the hair from his face. "Please don't...ever ask me that. No matter how bad things get, no matter how horrible these people become. I will...I will try to figure something out for our future."
He looked off to the side with his ears low. I raised my hands to his face, my palms gently on his soft cheeks and thumbs wicking away the tears that fell.
"You're my sweet boy," I said, bringing myself closer and touching my sore nose to his crown, "and you always will be."
He scooted closer and I pulled him into my core, the tip of my snout resting on his head. I brought my scraggly tail around him, hoping to reinforce my assurance. My eyes slowly closed as I listened for any commotion outside as he rested his head against my collarbone, likely lost in his own brand of future-planning.
After a few minutes there was a knock on the door. We both stayed put, waiting.
Another knock.
"It's me," came Tamani's voice. "Everything is clear; you can open the door."
I slowly stood up and walked over to the door, looking through the peephole. Sure enough, it was just him, so I unlocked and opened the door.
"I-Is everyone alright?" I asked. "I'd hate for--"
"The workers are fine," he said. "They did a number on that crowd outside and aren't likely to try that again anytime soon. I'd still consider some kind of security, though, just in case. I feel like people have actually gotten worse lately."
"...Ulimi said the same thing not long ago," I recalled. "Do you have any idea what it may be?"
"...Not a clue, unfortunately," he said, tapping his chin. "Other than these run-ins and dealing with deliveries I don't actually interact a whole lot with faradens. ...Not because I dislike them or anything, mind you."
"Heh, it's quite alright," I smiled. "I do sort of...wonder something, now that I think about it."
"Oh?"
"Back when the home just opened I had a pair of volunteers helping me with everything," I said. "Very nice people, but eventually, urgently, they moved to some other town. They didn't say why or where to, but I remember overhearing a conversation in passing-- something about a group of people moving to the area? I didn't want to pry so I didn't ask."
"How long ago would you say that was?" he asked.
"It was shortly after I took in the children from Stipa, including Riv," I pondered. "I'd say maybe two, three months ago? I've actually lost track of the time lately."
"Yanno, that...actually sounds about right," he said, looking at the calendar on my desk. "It's quite possible that whatever your volunteers left to avoid came here after all and it's what's making the residents worse than before. If that's the case I'm glad they bailed-- means they didn't want to be part of it."
"Have the people here always hated new types?" I asked.
"Oh sure," he said. "Honestly, having touched upon the subject in the past I can understand some of the tension between your groups. Tension is one thing, though, and this is something else. Like, honestly, I've not seen reactions this vehement before and it's crazy."
This worried me. If something was pulling tight ropes even tighter it was bound to get worse from here. Things were only getting more urgent.
"Alright, I will...start looking into other towns," I conceded. "At this rate we just can't stay here. It wouldn't be long before something else happened--"
I felt a warmth against my side and put my hand on Riv's head.
"--and I couldn't live with myself if these people hurt him."
"Well, you may be able to ask one of the carpentry workers to sit your house overnight," Tamani suggested. "Can't guarantee anything, but I know there are some with more nocturnal schedules who might not mind."
"...I'll ask when I can, but I can't afford payment," I sighed. "My recent jobs have shorted me, some greatly, and one pulled my employment entirely. It...won't be long before I'm working at a deficit just to keep this house powered."
"I get your concern, but I still suggest at least asking," he assured. "Some who're single might be willing to do that in return for something like, I dunno, a place to live? You scratch my back and I scratch yours? Give it some thought."
"...I will, thank you."
The three of us slowly made our way back to the lobby. Remarkably, not much damage had been wrought-- mostly just floor scuffs. Just outside the home the workers were waiting, seemingly for me. I opened the door and meekly stepped outside, Riv close to my side. They all looked to me, then to him, to see what they'd run here to protect.
"Oh wow, he's cute," said one.
"They were after this tiny kid?" asked another.
"He's got some unusual eyes," said another. "Very pretty color."
I don't think he was quite used to this kind of attention, let alone this much of it, so he clung tighter to my side.
"It's alright, Riv," I reassured. "These are the people who helped us. They're happy to meet you. Now, what do you say when people do something nice for you?"
"...Thank you," he said shyly.
"Heh, I'm sorry, he's...not used to getting this kind of attention from so many people," I chuckled. "I assure you he's a very sweet boy."
Riv managed to pull himself away from my side with enough curiosity, stepping outside to meet the shop workers.
"I, um, was wondering if...maybe anyone would be willing to s-sit my home for overnights," I stuttered. "I-I'm unfortunately in a pinch financially, but I could...I could happily house anyone who would be willing to help me. Rooms upstairs are...are furnished with beds and dressers. Th-There is plenty of space. I-I--"
They all looked at me. I felt small and awkward asking such a massive thing for what amounted to no tradeoff. I reached up to tug on my messy hair as I looked down to my side, unsure of what else to say.
"...Sorry," I said. "This is far too much of me to ask for. Please just forget about it."
"I can, if you give me a few days," said Kuri. "I live alone and it kinda sucks. I could get used to being up at night I guess."
"...Are...Are you sure?" I asked, tears welling in my eyes.
"Yeah, I don't mind," he said. "I'm used to living around people so living alone feels really weird. I don't usually work until the afternoons anyway."
"I-I don't...I don't know what to say," I said, falling to my knees. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"S'alright," he smiled. "I don't have much stuff, just need to deal with the paperwork and whatever. If you'd like I could let you do that for me and I pay you for it?"
"Yes, yes I could do that," I smiled pleadingly. "I-I could have it done for you by tomorrow if you get it for me today. You'd h-have to pick it up from here, but it would be finished and ready."
"I can do that," he assured. "Be back later today with it, after I get this shift done. We all gotta head back, but I'll get Tamani the day off so you'll have company for a while. Don't have any deliveries today anyway, so I saw."
Kuri pat Riv on his little head before they all walked off, heading back to town. He scurried back over to my side as we both retreated back into the house, my closing the door behind us. Tamani stood behind us, arms crossed and with a sly grin.
"The worst that could've happened was they all said 'no', right?" he joked.
"I didn't actually think anyone would...want to do such a thing," I said. "That's a very tall thing to ask from someone."
"Maybe faradens," he shrugged, "but we're used to communal living. It's not often that you'll find people at home living by themselves. They get stircrazy pretty fast. For all you know you're doing Kuri a favor. He's agreeable enough and pretty quiet, so I think you'll both get along just fine."
"Thank you, Tamani..." I said, looking to the floor.
"Not a problem," he waved his hand. "I'd see about taking a shower, though. You're soaked from all that running and crazy shit and you'll probably feel a lot better afterward. I'll take Riv to the kitchen and put something together for him to eat. I'll make enough for you, too, if you're done in time."
"Okay, I'll...do that," I said through a stifled cringe.
I hated showers, but I hated being unclean far more so. My clothes were sticking to me and it felt awful. The two of them walked away, heading to the kitchen as I paused to take a breath for a moment. Just as I turned away to head upstairs I heard a noise from the door.
Under the crack of the door was a card of some sort, addressed to me.
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Tarov
MemberThis is a good representation of the innocence-in-strife character, really makes you feel for little Riv.
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