Description
A Greater Society - Chapter 19: Help Wanted
by Ratte
Story
I continued working into the afternoon, breaking briefly to get Riv and I something simple to eat. It turns out he quite likes Ulimi's cornbread, as did I, so I hoped that Ulimi might continue to make it in the future. Some of this with a little butter and honey was all I really needed and my small helper seemed content with the same.
Heading back to the lobby we heard the creak of a door opening and closing. Coming closer it looked to be Morissey, his fierce orange eyes lit by the sun as he better assessed the damage of my window.
"Ah, good afternoon," he said upon seeing us.
Riv grew nervous and hid behind me. I reached around to rub his back and reassure him.
"Good afternoon," I replied. "Um, is...is my window getting replaced today?"
"Yes, I put in the order for it this morning at high priority," he smiled and nodded. "It should be here shortly and will not take more than an hour to install."
I released a sigh of relief. It had been getting colder and I still hadn't been able to get new suitable clothing for Riv, so this would help buy me a little time.
"Have you, um, managed to reach these other members in your network?" I asked. "I d-don't mean to rush anything--"
"I did send a survey out, yes," he smiled. "You are being taken care of, please do not worry. I will have more to tell you within the next couple days."
"...R-Right, sorry--"
He put his hand on my shoulder and lowered his head to better meet mine.
"Reverend, please loosen up a bit," he quietly said. "I'm not going to bite you. You don't need to be so cautious."
My ears drooped and I looked aside. I could feel Riv clinging to my shirt as Morissey got closer so I held him closer to my back. Whatever it was, Riv was remarkably uneasy around Morissey, but I figured it was because he was a pure type and he got very suddenly close.
"Hm, who's this?" Morissey asked, seeing Riv's little hand on my shirt.
"Th...This is Riv," I said. "My foster child."
Morissey's ears perked, remembering the name. His expression turned to one I couldn't quite describe...something between curiosity and anxiety. Strangely he kept his hand on my shoulder and I could feel it give me a slight squeeze.
"...May I see him?" he asked, a surprising hesitation in his voice.
I gave him a stern look in response. He seemed to understand my intention, his typically fierce eyes turning softer but carrying a confused tone.
"Riv, would you...like to meet our financier?" I asked the boy behind me.
Riv slowly poked his head out from behind me to look up at Morissey. Morissey returned his glance but I could tell he felt a little shaken. From my few meetings with him it was hard to believe he could be bothered by much of anything, but I've been wrong before.
"...Those eyes," Morissey said under his breath, his own eyes wide.
Riv crept back behind me, his ears folded back. I continued rubbing his back.
"...Yes, he has those," I said flatly, moving my hand up to stroke Riv's cheek, "and I think they're beautiful."
"...I'm sorry, I meant no disrespect," he said, bowing his head. "I was just surprised. They...remind me of something...is all."
Morissey bent down to meet Riv at his level, slowly reaching out his hand with an open palm. Riv looked to his hand, then to his own hand, and carefully placed it in Morissey's palm. Gently Morissey wrapped his fingers around Riv's hand, giving a light shake.
"Apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you," Morissey said in a low voice. "Your...father speaks highly of you and I'm glad to make your acquaintance."
He closed his eyes and bowed his head, Riv's ears slowly returning to their usual state.
The man stood back up to look at me as my face had warped in confusion and worry. I wasn't really sure what just happened, nor did I feel it was really my place to ask.
"Apologies to you as well, Reverend," he nodded. "I did not mean to come off unsavory. His eyes are...nostalgic for me."
"...It's alright," I assured, continuing to stroke Riv's cheek. "I'm sure he understands, too."
"...Well, in any event..." he turned back to the window, "your new window should be here soon. I will let you know if and when I have any news for you as far as residents are concerned. Your overnight security will also arrive before sundown."
"Ah...about that," I started. "I was...I was wondering if you were fine with my having invited a friend of mine to stay on the upper floor to provide overnight watch. He's one of the movers from the carpenters' shop in town."
"Reverend, it is your house," he repeated. "You do not need my permission to house people in your residence."
"S-Sorry, I just thought--"
"Please, you have done nothing wrong," he turned his head toward me. "I am financing what we are using, including your services as an employee. Your house is still yours."
I reached up and pulled nervously on my hair.
"You will get used to these things in due time," he said, walking back to the door. "I have faith in you."
"W-Wait, there was...something else I wanted to ask you," I requested.
Morissey stopped and turned toward me, his hands behind his back and his ears perked.
"Uh...I-I was wondering if there were nurses among your staff," I stammered, tugging my hair.
"...You have some interesting tastes," he chuckled.
My brow furrowed and I pinched the bridge of my snout.
"...Please don't be gross," I exhaled in irritation. "I was being serious. Riv cut his foot on some glass this morning so I was wondering. Kids are rambunctious and prone to injury."
"You know, I'm not actually sure," he said softly, raising a hand to his chin in thought. "You do make a good point. In my haste I may have overlooked this, and I am not sure if I have any willing to move from their current stations."
"Would you be opposed at all to...raising my pay enough to hire one on my own?" I asked, bracing for the worst. "You said you...you didn't want staff that weren't yours, but..."
Morissey just continued to look at me, soon tracing his gaze down to Riv's bandaged foot behind me. Some gear in his head seemed to spin but he was too much of an enigma for me to read.
"I have no issue with this should your hire be willing to treat all members of the house," he said. "To make matters easier we will construct a simple building to the side of the house to serve as your infirmary. I have no problem funding this if you are willing to tolerate some noise during the construction."
"N-No, not at all," I said, truly surprised. "Are you...really willing to humor this request?"
"Mending broken people is what this organization is for," he said. "Sometimes the mending we need is also physical. Your future pay will be raised sufficiently to hire a nurse for the difference. Given the necessity of the field I take little issue with humoring someone I do not personally direct."
"Is there some reason you wouldn't hire one on your own?" I asked.
"I cannot and will not force any person to join this organization," he said solemnly. "Just because I offer someone a position like I have for you and the others does not mean they will take it. At the end of the day, we all get hurt or sick, and that...means more to me."
He looked once more at Riv's bandaged foot before turning back toward the door. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness from his last words.
"I assume, then, that you will start looking very soon, knowing you," he said, turned away.
"Yes, of course," I said in haste. "I was going to put up some ads in town tonight and I would tell you once I made a hire. I don't expect an increase in pay until a hire is accepted."
"Fair, that was my plan," he turned his head back just enough to look at me. "I must be returning to my station. If I receive any news about new residents, I will let you know immediately. Please rest easy; I will take care of whatever can be."
"...Alright, thank you for your time," I said.
He looked to me, then down to my nervous boy. There was conflict in his gaze.
"Likewise."
---
About an hour later a large glass pane was delivered to me, a small group of people gathering to install it. Installation didn't take long and I felt much more secure with it back in place. It was like nothing ever happened. Riv also seemed more at ease with everything getting slowly pieced back to normal.
Tamani also showed up, spare leg in hand and with a small set of tools. He got to work quickly on Riv's little table. The leg didn't match, but it was the right size and I don't think either of us could've cared less as long as it worked. I offered him anything I had from the fridge in exchange for all of his help lately, but the most he'd take was a single pear. After taking my next freelance payment I'd see to replacing Riv's chair, provided I got enough.
Evening was soon upon us. Kuri arrived with my compensation and a small bag of effects -- mostly clothing -- ready to move in. I took him upstairs and to the east wing to one of the empty rooms by one of the staff rooms. He picked one he liked and made himself at home the best that he could, content enough with the futon and wardrobe.
Returning to the main floor both Kuri and Tamani took Riv to the small kitchen to work on dinner while I took some time to make some posters to hang around town. These wouldn't be fancy as I was certainly no artist or marketeer, but I would do what I could to make them work.
Just before sundown the day staff was replaced by some night staff. Most of them stayed on the ground floor with a couple heading outside on patrol rotation. I was impressed, honestly, and though the staff was entirely pure faradens I felt a lot safer with them here.
Once I had a large enough stack of posters I set them aside so I could partake in whatever aromatic dinner I smelled from down the hall. Upon a plate was some kind of rolled corn flatbread topped in a red sauce and melted cheese. I cut into it with my fork to find it stuffed with chicken, cheese, and onions. I'd have to ask for these recipes pretty soon so I could make them on my own.
Soon after night fell Tamani headed back into town, trading places with Ulimi who offered to help me put up the posters around town.
"Sure, I don't have much else to do tonight," he said.
"Kuri, you're okay watching Riv for a little bit while we go do this?" I asked the large red ramiotran.
"Won't be a problem," he said, picking Riv up upside-down as the small boy giggled. "You have fun with your posters."
I chuckled at the odd sight and then left with Ulimi to head into town, my posters in hand. I couldn't help but look every which way for possible trouble, but he assured everything was fine.
"I didn't see anything weird yesterday when I left," he said, smoking his pipe. "Think the most I saw was a single pure on his way to your place and you took him in on your own so I didn't ask about it."
"Ah, that was...our financier," I said. "He will be helping provide the things I need to run the house and reach more people, including employment. I guess he's part of some organization that does these things already."
"That's...interesting," he said, eyebrow raised. "Seems a little too good to be true."
"I don't blame you there," I said. "There are limitations to it, but they can be worked around from the sounds of it."
"Limitations?"
"Ah, well, I can't really get into it because I signed a non-disclosure agreement," I said, tacking a poster to a wooden lightpost, "but I am not too worried about it. The limitations can be worked around and some seem just too unlikely to occur anyway."
"Hm, well, if you're sure," he shrugged. "If something seems off, though, please let us know. We care about ya."
"O-Oh, of course," I said, unsure how to feel.
We both traded duties hanging up posters around town. Some went on lightposts, some on buildings. A few even adorned some trees by the time we finished.
"Alright, I think that's good," I said, scratching my head.
"...I'm serious, by the way," Ulimi uttered.
"Er, what?" I asked, head tilted.
"Just...about that whole thing," he said, looking back toward the house. "Everything seems just a little too convenient and I don't really believe in coincidence. Just...be careful, okay?"
"Of course," I quietly assured.
"You know, as much as we've talked and such, I don't think ya ever told me your name," he pondered.
"...Ah," I said, my ears slowly sliding back. "...Just call me Reverend, if you please."
"...Reverend of what?"
"Just...Reverend," I said, turning to hide my stiffened back.
"Um, okay," he cocked his head. "I guess it's something."
Ulimi escorted me back to my house before turning back to head home. I looked back toward town, hoping to get lucky enough to find someone willing to humor my invitation.
With my work done for the day and Riv already in bed, I decided to turn in a bit early. I hadn't been running on all cylinders lately so maybe a fuller night's rest would help fix that for the oncoming days.
---
The next morning I was startled by a sharp knock on the lobby door. I'd been so lost in my work I hadn't noticed anyone walk up to the porch. Lifting the heavy arm I pushed past the desk's door and carefully strolled across the lobby floor, past a Riv busy with a small pile of books.
I reached for the handle and opened the door to be met by an unfamiliar face. The newness startled me and I jumped back a little bit.
He smiled and looked down at me with his bright orange eyes.
"Heh, howdy."
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Tarov
MemberThis is a very nice chapter. Morissey seems like less of a cunt, and Daniel is here!
In general, things are looking up for "Reverend," though I know that won't last forever. :(
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