A Greater Society - Chapter 17: Please Sign Here By Ratte
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"M-Morissey...?" I stammered.

"That's my name, yes," he said, amused. "Might I come inside?"

I stepped aside to let him in, still trying to wake up. He took the step up to reenter my home, now damaged, and slowly sauntered about the lobby before turning to me.

"I had overheard something about an attack on your home while I was in town today," he said, turning his attention to the window. "I'd hoped it wasn't the case but I see they weren't lying. Any idea what happened?"

"...No, I was not present when it occurred," I replied, keeping my voice down. "...My child and I were upstairs showering when it took place this morning. I don't know who did it, or how many were involved."

"I see," he said, stepping closer to assess the damage.

"I-I did try to clean up what could be, but do be careful walking on the floor in case I missed something," I blurted. "I will be taking another sweep through the floor tomorrow when I'm...a bit more awake."

"Ah, don't worry," he said, turning back to me. "I'm a very careful person. I just wanted to check up on you, make sure everything was alright. I'd have come by earlier in the day but I assumed you'd be busy and didn't want to take the time away from you."

"Well...thank you for your concern," I said. "Riv and I are...fine, but--"

"Riv?"

"...My child," I said. "Th-That's his name."

"Ah, right," he replied, closing his eyes and waving his hand. "Apologies, I don't think you told me his name yesterday. Do go on."

"Um...we're fine, but..." I sighed, looking at the broken window, "I don't know how I'm going to cover for this."

"Still unable to find much in the way of work, I assume?" he asked.

The only response I could muster was a grimace.

"Mm, I see," he said in a low tone.

He reached out a hand and placed it on my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. His expression was piercing and serious, as though looking right through me to my very soul. It was both comforting and disarming, especially given he was a pure type like myself.

Ever since I took Riv into town I'd begun growing distrustful of other pure types, what with these pointless confrontations and attempts at harm. The only people I felt I could trust anymore besides Riv were the ramiotrans, who were not part of the faraden schism and thus had no dog in the race.

The longer I was here, the lonelier I felt. It was like nothing had changed since Hagali, since Falun. This time, however, it was my own kind turned against me. Turned against me because I was fostering Riv, a member of the type who had...maimed me, frequently, for years. As per what Ulimi said, the irony was not lost on me at all.

I couldn't help but question the personal reasons behind such gross outrage. Until Riv I never saw a new type in this general area, so I had a hard time believing that any person here, at least those who'd always been here, had a history like my own. Then again I haven't been here long and I didn't like making assumptions-- anything is possible. But something about this uncertainty, something about this doubt had been chewing away at me. Riv's history was not terribly unlike mine, though intercepted much earlier. The thing is, though, is that he didn't exhibit anger like these citizens. No, what I saw from him was fear. He wasn't angry, but he was definitely incredibly nervous and overly-cautious, hyper-focused on volume, expressions, and movement. This made sense.

What I'd seen from the residents was simply a different story. They weren't afraid. They had nothing to truly fear because it was foreign to them.

...Even so this was utterly terrifying, as they would only grow angrier.

"You alright there?" Morissey asked.

"Ah, sorry," I jumped. "I was just...thinking."

"Seems you have a lot on your mind," he observed. "You stared off into space for a good couple minutes."

"S...Sorry," I muttered, turning away.

"You know, my offer still stands," he said, raising a finger to his lips. "I would be more than happy to toss you the rope to climb out of this hole you're in. Of course, those caveats still exist, as nothing in life is truly free."

I looked down to my scuffed floor, to the cuts and scrapes on my hands.

What is the point of living if you're living in fear?

I didn't care much about myself. All I wanted was something better for Riv...something better for my gentle, caring little boy.

...Something I never got, but would do anything to give to him.

...Anything.

"...Just a name, right?" I asked, eyes still to the floor.

"Your name will belong to me," he said. "You will be given a title in the meantime until a name can be earned."

"...And you will...provide me a set of staff, yes?" I continued.

"The staff will be financed and directed by me," he said. "You may reason with them should your requests fall in line with my guidelines just as you could reason with me."

"...And finally, I would...be able to work for an income, correct?" I asked.

"Your income will be dependent on the number of pure faradens you house," he reiterated. "I will not fund dil-- new types, should you choose to house them. I may fund the care of other races should that ever happen, but that is not likely."

"I would be able to keep Riv with me...in my home," I said further.

"I will pay you less for keeping him just as I would for any other new type, but you may offset these deficits by working more or housing more pure type children," he went on to say. "Of course, if you think you can manage this, then by all means. This is, at the end of the day, still your house."

"You are...not purchasing my home?" I asked, confused.

"No, I am not," he affirmed. "Your house is yours, I will just be paying for its use and for your services in my organization. Consider it akin to renting a studio, to any other means of employment. In fulfilling these three things I will provide an accreditation on your house and enroll it into our network."

"And what will this provide?" I inquired.

"The accreditation will make your house appear much more trustworthy, for one," he said, walking in a tight circle. "For two, the networking will help us secure and provide children for your home. We have representatives in several nearby towns, but those towns may not have a resource like this. That is where we come in: Should there be a child in need of care in a town lacking adequate care, we can send them here."

I just kept silent.

"Issues like corruption attacks, or accidents, natural and artificial disasters..." he trailed off, looking toward Stipa with his hands behind his back. "These things do happen, and more often than you might realize given you are but one person currently on your own. That isn't a slight against you, though, so please do not take it as one."

"...I understand," I said, "...but I must ask how you plan on making anything from this system. This was never meant to be for profit, and surely there is something you are after."

"Very perceptive!" he smiled. "The most I plan to impose is an adoption fee. It will not be unreasonable, especially considering children are...not so cheap to raise. As I see it, if they cannot afford the fee then they cannot afford to raise a child. Do not worry too much about this part as it's my personal responsibility, friend."

"What other restrictions are you planning?" I asked, skeptical.

"Mm, limitations to married couples for the sake of family and financial stability?" he thought aloud. "Same types required, also for the sake of family stability? I think a pure type trying to take in a new type would yield some unsavory results, as you have experienced, though it's nigh unlikely it'll happen to begin with. For the former I can certainly humor disregarding the restriction for cases of adoption by relatives. I am not above compromise."

These things did not seem...too drastic. Honestly, these were already the trends I had seen as I dealt with the matter of Stipa. Perhaps I was up in arms over nothing, just tired and on-edge from how the day had gone.

"Your home will be protected," he said smoothly. "You and yours will be able to rest easy again. Should you agree to my terms I can even get your window replaced as early as tomorrow afternoon."

"I..."

"Just remember: The future may bring some changes, just like any other place of work," he said flatly, "but I can be reasoned with."

My heart was pounding. It both did and didn't seem too good to be true, but...

"Now then, what do you say?"

...I just had nowhere else to turn.

"...I am interested in your offer," I conceded.

"Ah, I'm glad to hear it," Morissey said, pulling out a rolled-up page and pen from his coat. "If you wouldn't mind putting this action into writing I will put in the order for your window first thing tomorrow morning. Everything else I've described will begin within the next couple of days."

He handed me the contract and pen. I looked over the wording but didn't see anything too strange or offputting, more or less saying what had already been described.

"...And the security?" I asked.

"They will start tomorrow, along with the rest of staff," he assured. "I will begin surveying nearby towns in the morning to see if there are any children in need of a place like this. Knowing the state of the world there are bound to be at least a couple. If so, they will be brought here."

"...Employment?" I asked, holding the pen.

"Also tomorrow," he smiled. "You will be paid weekly on the basis of assignment, depending on how many pure children you house. Of course, if you would like to earn more, you can certainly work more, as I've stated."

I took a deep breath and finally signed my name on Morissey's contract...a name I never thought I would see or hear again.

"Very good," he said, looking at the signature. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"N...No..." I said, ears flattened.

"Come now, you and your house will get to be part of something...much greater," he said, putting away the contract back in his coat. "I can tell you're exhausted, so please see about getting some rest...perhaps in a real bed, and not your desk."

"...Ah...right," I said nervously, pulling on my hair.

"Don't mind me, I will see myself out," he said, strolling casually back over to the front door. "I will see you tomorrow."

"...Yes...Th...Thank you," I whispered with uncertainty.

"Oh, it is not a problem," he said as he grabbed the door, starting to close it upon himself. "Welcome to A Greater Society, Reverend."

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