Riv seemed to get along alright with the new residents, finally having a couple peers. They were a bit older than he was, but they were willing to play with him either way. He was still quite shy, only going with them when they approached. Over the following weeks, though, these residents seem to get more withdrawn and preferred to stay together. Maybe it was just familiarity, but some part of me didn't really believe that.

With the way the staff leered at my little boy, and myself, something had me thinking that they might have something to do with the hesitation. Tobias and Zuri were sweet children in their own rights, but I admit I just couldn't feel the same attachment for them that I had for Riv. Maybe it was because I knew their stay was temporary, but I really couldn't say.

During those proceeding weeks the infirmary was finished. The construction workers from the previous mishap did well to leave us be, only occasionally asking for some water. In a sort of peace offering Riv, Daniel, and I would make lemonade and bring it out to them, hoping that maybe this would ease their feelings and nervousness about myself and my boy. Some seemed to come around a bit while others just pulled away harder. That was their right, I guess, so I didn't try to force the matter upon them.

Ulimi and Tamani still arrived on occasion to make dinner. I missed them, but with how busy everyone had been I understood their prolonged absences. Fortunately Daniel was willing to run errands for me in town to pick up groceries and other things I needed. Sometimes Ulimi would show up on his own and deliver them if only to talk a bit before heading back home. He still kept watch over the house from a distance and would often say that something about the house felt off to him, unable to really place what.

My pay went up only slightly, as I was told would be the case. I wasn't surprised by this at all, so I tried to put in some more hours into my assignments to get Riv some new clothes soon. He was still growing and could use more than the couple sets he had. If I could put in the time I really wanted to get him some new art supplies and a stuffed animal or two, things I've wanted to get him for a long time now. I'd see what I could do.

The first couple days of the infirmary opening Daniel wasn't so easily found. As he said before, he would be finalizing and putting in orders for supplies for anything liquid or consumable. He came to me on Sunday with his filled order form to have turned in to Morissey the next morning when he'd come by.

"Once I get these I'll be able to take first evaluations with everyone here," he said, looking over his form before handing it to me. "Remember that this includes you, and to make it a little easier on ya I can certainly take it during an evening or a weekend so you're not missing work."

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I don't want you to feel that you need to put in more time just for me."

"Reverend, I know how much all of this here means to ya and the last thing I wanna do is pull ya away from that," he shrugged. "I'm here on weekends anyway so what difference does it make?"

"...You're not going to let me fight you on this one, are you."

"Nope."

I chuckled as I looked through his form. There was quite a bit on here, a lot of words I don't think I'd seen before. It was written in brackets to the side what the purpose was for each item in his list. He really seemed to think of everything and it was refreshing to me how seriously he took his work and care, showing a kind of dedication I wasn't used to seeing. He...did say it wasn't just the matter of a job for him, though, and that was still taking some acclimating.

"There's a...couple'a things I'd like to talk about with ya while we do that, if you don't mind," he said in a surprisingly tense tone, looking around.

"Is...Is something wrong?" I asked, putting his order form in the outbox folder.

"Mm, we'll find out," he said. "Don't worry about it for now."

"...O...kay?" I said, eyebrow raised.

He went back to his infirmary to sort out more files and put things away, probably tired from hauling everything up and down a bunch of stairs all day. I let him be, plus I had my own stack of work to sort through-- making more day assignments for Riv.

Riv was getting better and faster at his assignments. For a while now he'd been the only one here during much of the day as the other residents were enrolled in the local school system. It pained me that they could attend but my child could not, especially over such a superficial reason. Nevertheless I stuck to what seemed to fit the academic outline I received back some time ago, Riv catching on to the material well enough after some support. He was shy to try things out of fear of doing something wrong and embarrassing himself, but would get the hang of those things rather quickly. I helped with whatever I could, when I could, when I wasn't making his worksheets.

---

Come the following Monday morning Morissey arrived to pick up what work had been finished the previous workday. I couldn't help but notice that every day he seemed slightly more tense and bothered by something and that I seemed to have something to do with it. Despite my asking he refused to indulge me, just looking right through me with those fierce orange eyes before leaving. Well, whatever it was didn't seem to be enough to fire me over...which I couldn't afford to have happen, so that was good I suppose. Before he left he said that Daniel's order should arrive within the next two days, no later than Wednesday at noon. That was...impressively fast.

Most days were unremarkable and routine by now. I missed seeing Daniel coming and going, playing with Riv or taking him outside. Soon, though, he'd have a little more free time. There were a lot of staffmembers to account for, after all, and he had to consider both day and night shift. Each person took between thirty minutes and an hour to process, and that was just the initial meeting. Even Kuri got one since, well, he still lived here and Daniel thought it was fair.

In what felt like no time at all came the weekend. Morissey took my work and offered me my compensation-- one slight increase from housing the two pure faradens and another from the extra work I'd put in. I was all too happy to receive it.

"...Might I ask what's led you to work more, lately?" Morissey asked with his hand on the door.

"Um, well, I was hoping to get some more clothes for Riv, if I could," I rubbed my neck nervously. "After that I-I would like to see about getting him some more art supplies, maybe a stuffed animal or two. Just...you know, normal things for children."

"...I see," he said, looking away to his staff.

"...He doesn't really want for much, but...I want him to have more than what he has, Morissey. He's my little boy."

"...I understand," he said quietly, closing his eyes and nodding. "Thank you for your hard work. I will see you next week."

"Th-Thank you very much. Please have a good rest of your day."

He just looked back to me, eyes hinting disdain, and left the premises.

From there I quickly resumed my work, his staff staring at me from the hallway corridor. I was too busy to pay them much mind, wanting to get as much done today as I could while still having some time to spend with Riv. The child was currently upstairs and taking a shower after his breakfast, having wanted to help me make it first and foremost.

Much of the day was otherwise uninteresting, most of it a blur of text. I did ensure that I took my usual lunch break with Riv and Daniel, eating our simple meal outside in the sun. It bothered me more lately that every time I seemed to turn around some staffmember was watching us, but I tried my hardest to ignore it. Surely it was just them checking on us, making sure we were safe and accounted for, though it was bothersome and a little creepy.

After work came dinner, and after dinner Daniel pulled me aside.

"Tomorrow's Saturday, and you know what that means," he said.

"...No work?" I said coyly.

He just looked at me, half-lidded and unamused.

"Reverend, I'm being serious here," he said with irritation. "I know you ain't looking forward to this but I really do need your cooperation, okay? I hope by now you realize I truly care about both of ya and what I do here."

"W-Well, I...don't really have any reason to doubt you."

"Good. This will require your honesty. The whole thing. I can't help you if you lie to me and I obviously can't help what you don't tell me. I might infer a lot, but I can't do much more than guess. I cannot force you to spill your guts by any means, but you wouldn't be doing me -- and therefore yourself -- any favors. Are we clear?"

"...Yes."

"Good," he said, squeezing my shoulder. "I've already gotten everyone else taken care of, even Riv. Always kinda figured his name was short for something."

"Oh?" I softly chuckled.

"Just seemed like one of those names is all," he smiled and shrugged. "Obviously I don't mind calling him what he prefers, though. Personally never liked my name shortened, but that's me."

"Hm, Dan?" I smirked. "Danny, maybe?"

"Don't you start," he playfully growled, shaking his head. "Plus that's hardly fair given I don't know your name."

My heart jumped.

"...W-What do you mean?"

"I've been in a few places and seen my fair share of weird names, but I wasn't born yesterday, 'Reverend'. Come on, now."

I reached my hand up to my chest as my heart beat against my sternum.

"...I-I'm...sorry."

I started to walk away but was stopped and pulled back by a big arm.

"C'mere you little shit," he chuffed, pulling me into a hug. "I didn't mean it like that. Sometimes I think you read more into something than what's actually there. Like I said, I don't do mind games or hidden meanings. Sometimes a word is just a word."

I couldn't really find a response and just stood there. He reached up to pat my head similar to how I'd do to Riv.

"Just be prepared for tomorrow," he said. "From what I gather you're not the type to like surprises, so here's your warning."

"...Um...th-thanks, I guess."

We resumed our evening, though I'd end up chewing on this the rest of the night. I don't know why it bothered me so much; it's not like anything about me really mattered. Just...something about it, something about the fact that someone would know me past my job was...disconcerting.

But, well, there was no getting around this. I was told weeks ago that this would happen, but tried not to think about it.

---

...

Here goes.

The next morning I knocked on the heavy door to the infirmary. Within a few seconds Daniel answered, looking down to me with a big smile.

"Howdy," he said. "You ready for your first appointment?"

My ears fell back and I looked off to the side, my shoulders stiff and body tense.

"Aw, you'll be just fine," he said, putting his arm behind my back and nudging me forward. "You know I don't bite, Reverend. Please just let me take care o'ya. Remember-- these appointments are just between you and me. Everything said here is completely confidential."

The heavy door slowly swung closed, locking behind us.

---