daniel and riv (legacy (ratte)) created by ratte
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A Greater Society - Chapter 31: In Good Hands by Ratte

Story

I tried to distract myself with my work, losing myself in a sea of text and blanks. Normally such a thing is so easy for me, but I found myself tapping my feet and looking at the clock every few minutes. Every second ticking by, every minute passing without either of them here was driving me mad. Still I struggled to press onward, hardly able to concentrate but still ensuring my work was done to satisfaction.

Once noon came Daniel opened the front door and let himself in.

"Ah, Daniel," I exclaimed. "H-How is he? I-Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes, calm down," he said, walking over to the desk. "Right now it's a tossup between two things. Again, it's gross, but I had to get a sample to best confirm what we're dealing with. I'll be culturing whatever it is."

"Which things?"

"Well, viral gastroenteritis was ruled out-- that typically won't make you excrete blood. Likely dealing with either salmonellosis or E. coli. The problem with vague symptoms is you also get vague diagnoses, hence going on ahead with the culturing."

"...Well, alright, I think."

"Viral gastroenteritis is a viral infection of the intestines while the others are caused by bacteria, thus these two groups of things require intrinsically different methods of care. Thing is, though, is that salmonellosis will typically recover on its own pretty quickly and may be alleviated with some simple medications. Often by the time someone is able to get it looked at there's no point in bothering."

"A-And the E. coli?"

"Generally, and unlike salmonellosis, you don't want to throw much more than rest and electrolyte fluids at it unless it goes septic, else you're actually more likely to make it worse. This is what I meant earlier about different treatments for three very likely, but very different scenarios. I don't want to give him antibiotics if it'll just make him more sick."

I tugged at my hair, nervous and at a loss for words.

"What matters the most here is that all of these, even the one ruled out, can be easily recovered from with some time," he said, grabbing my hand and gently pulling it away from my hair. "I know you're worried, but he'll be alright. Fortunately I have what I need already on me and I'll be keeping my eye on his intakes, so please stop pullin' your hair out."

"...I-I'm sorry, it's a...nervous habit," I said, looking away shyly.

"I've noticed," he said, patting my messy hair. "Judging by those noises you didn't eat this morning, so I'll get you something. Riv's still in the infirmary, lying on a cot with the door locked. Don't worry too much about him."

"I was a-about to ask that," I anxiously chuckled. "I think the last thing he needs is...them."

"Agreed. Now then, I don't wanna be too far too long from the infirmary with him there so I'm just gonna fix up some sandwiches. With your stress it'll probably be better to eat light. Don't want you puking."

The most I could do was laugh a little as he disappeared through the corridor. Unable to focus I set my elbows on my desk and just held my head, staring off into nowhere. I didn't know why this was eating at me so badly, but it was as though someone put blinders on me and I couldn't see anything else. How could Riv have gotten sick, anyway? None of us had, and we'd eaten the same things and otherwise occupied the same space.

This just cycled in my head for what felt like an hour, like some kind of broken record.

I wonder if...

"Here y'go," Daniel said softly, placing a plate and mug in front of me.

On the plate was a small variety of things-- a fish sandwich of some kind alongside half a banana, a handful of blueberries, and another handful of almonds. To the side was also a couple small pieces of dark chocolate. In the mug was an odd white drink smelling of tea and brown sugar.

"Dunno if you like fish but I managed to get some for fairly cheap," he said, biting into his own sandwich. "Already had it cooked for easy sandwiches and s'posedly it can help with anxiety. Same goes for bananas and almonds. Blueberries can help provide some antioxidants while the chocolate lowers one's cortisol and catecholamines, or your 'fight-or-flight' hormones."

"...I don't think I've had this before, actually," I said, picking up the sandwich and taking a whiff. "I may have lived too far inland for this, but it smells nice."

I took a bite of the sandwich. The taste was mild and a bit metallic while the texture was pleasantly dense and flaky. On top of the fish was spinach and some kind of dressing.

"...This is quite nice, actually," I said through my bite.

"Glad to hear it, means I can get more food like that in the future," he chewed. "I'm assuming you won't care, but I'm wondering if you'd be alright with my staying overnights or something while Riv's still sick."

"O-Oh, no, please go right on ahead," I said, sipping the hot drink. "I'm, um, not sure where you can stay, though, unless you'd be okay with staying in one of the empty rooms on the east wing?"

"As long as I have a place to sleep for a few hours I should be fine, really," he assured. "The beds you got here are bigger than mine at home and I'm sure my back and neck would like a break."

"Well, you are welcome to staying anytime should you feel the need," I softly laughed. "I could also arrange for you to...live here if that ever comes up in the future. We're not exactly lacking in space."

"Heh, might consider it. I'd be a lot more available that way."

"...You really take your job seriously, huh?"

"Among other things, but glad ya noticed."

We quickly finished our food, Daniel kindly washing the few dishes and heading back toward the door.

"I'll be bringin' him back inside come the end of the typical shift, but I'll still be here well into the evening," he said, grabbing the doorknob. "He's in good hands, Reverend."

I gulped as the door closed and I was returned back to an otherwise empty lobby, the only noise to keep me company coming from the staff that stared at me from every nook and cranny. I turned my nose back to my work, hoping to focus as much as possible on this and place my trust in our nurse. He said Riv would be alright, so...surely he would be.

It was difficult, but I managed to push through into the early evening. Time seemed to drag on against my wishes, but eventually the nurse came back with a tired, sick Riv in his big arms. It was so strange seeing Riv with such low energy and with those usually bright eyes so foggy. I stood up and left my desk as fast as I could, within reason, to meet them just past the door.

"He's alright, Reverend," Daniel whispered. "He's very tired and needs a lotta fluids to keep hydrated. Once I get him back upstairs I'll need you to watch him while I go get the drinks he needs. Should only take a few minutes and I got plenty in storage so he won't run out anytime soon."

I reached up to softly stroke the boy's head. His ears perked and he slowly closed his eyes, seemingly appreciating the contact.

"He'll be on a pretty limited diet for a bit and we'll gradually add more foods as this progresses," Daniel said as he carried Riv down the hall. "Gonna be a lot of water, prob'ly some broths, and foods like rice, crackers, bananas, and applesauce."

I silently followed them up the stairs, kneeling by Riv's futon as Daniel lay him on the mattress. Daniel then left to go retrieve his electrolyte drinks as I scooted closer to my little boy, running my fingers through the fur on his cheeks. Even while sick and in discomfort a small smile crept across his lips.

"...Father?" he whispered.

"Yes?" I replied.

"...I love you."

"I love you, too. You'll be alright."

I brushed my fingers through his damp hair, trying to provide some comfort in the only way I knew how. The nurse returned before long, carrying one of the drinks and offering it to Riv. The child slowly sat upright and drank what all he could before slumping over to cling to my skinny arm. I lowered my head to touch my nose to his hair, rubbing the end of my snout over his crown.

"Tomorrow I'm fixin' to give 'im a bath," Daniel said from above. "I'm sure he's not too thrilled being covered in sweat, but I'd like him to be a bit more steady on his feet first. I'll take care o'that, though, so don't worry 'bout it."

"...Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Hm?"

"...Uh, how you speak, lately," I hesitated. "It's...stronger? I don't know how to word it."

"Ah, that. Sorry if it bothers ya. Can try to rein it in a bit more if you'd prefer."

"N-No, please don't! I was...just curious is all. I'm sorry."

"Heh, well, for better or for worse I'm from a place where a lotta people talk like this," he shrugged. "Had issues with some thinkin' I'm dumb or uneducated for it, so I try to talk a little differently when around unfamiliar people or when I'm tryin' to be taken seriously."

"Did something happen?"

"You've understood that I'm very serious about my work and what all it means. That's valuable to me, so I'm not tryin' to work so hard to keep my 'verbal composure' in a sense. Though, as I said, should you have some problem with it I'll try to talk more like I had."

"I would...prefer you to just speak by what's natural to you, Daniel," I said, laying Riv back down on his bed. "Please don't try to appease me with something like this."

"So, a simple yes-or-no question: Do you want me to talk like how I actually talk?" he asked, his snout turned aside and eyebrow raised.

"Yes, please."

He sighed, seemingly a bit agitated as his ears slid back.

"...W-Was that the wrong answer?" I asked, my own ears falling back.

"No, just...s'weird, is all," he answered. "Nice in a way, not havin' to care so much, s'long as I'm still understood. I've heard the people around here and know how they talk, but it's not as strong as where I come from, so...lemme know if I say somethin' you didn't understand."

Daniel extended his hand, lifting me up by my own back to my feet. I covered Riv up before leaving, turning around to close the door behind me.

"D'ya mind takin' your remaining work upstairs here?" he asked quietly after our exit. "Hate t'be weird but I'd kinda like to stay up here within earshot should somethin' happen and it's after hours anyway. I'd like the company."

"Oh, um, sure, that's fine," I scratched my head. "I'll be right back up."

I quickly ran to my desk to grab some extra work I'd been meaning to do through the evening, taking it with me back upstairs. Daniel waited for me just outside my bedroom door, hands behind his back and head low. His stance piqued me.

I reached for my doorknob and turned it, heading inside and closing the door behind me until the motion was interrupted by Daniel's hand.

"...U-Um--"

"Relax, Reverend," he laughed. "I jus' kinda wanted to see your room is all, in case I need to come in here for anything."

"...Uh...okay, I guess," I said, turning up my lights and making my way to my desk.

"Awful dark in here," he observed. "No windows?"

"According to the blueprints of the building this room was meant to serve as a large storage room, sort of like an attic, so windows weren't really considered. I just...try to keep my desk lamp on while I sleep so I'm not completely blind in the morning. The building is brick so trying to install windows now would be, well, a bit of a chore and for not much tradeoff."

"Why'd you hole yourself up in a storage room instead of takin' one of the normal rooms?" he asked, looking around.

"I figured this would be well enough out of the way, I guess?" I shrugged. "There isn't much we keep in storage, so dedicating this entire room to just a few boxes seemed wasteful. Even then, those boxes are only divided into a few different rooms now because it's easier to know what's in them by the room they occupy. They could very well be moved into a single storage room if we ever need the space."

"What about the other rooms up here?"

"I'd like as much space for the residents as possible, or for a tenant or two. That's what this place exists for."

"So y'picked a room out of the way to maximize the available space to residents."

"I...suppose? It just made sense to me at the time."

"Hm."

I tilted my head.

"A lot can be said about a person by their actions as well as their bedrooms, is all," he smiled. "Helps me get a feel for what goes on in your head since, well, actions got a harder time lyin' than words."

I looked around my room, but couldn't see anything that stood out or seemed unusual. Maybe I was too used to it to notice anything that could impact me since it was my own room.

"That's all," Daniel said, shrugging. "I'll let ya be. If ya need me I'll be right around the corner in the staff room sorting out some forms. Don't be a stranger."

I lightly chuckled and waved as he left, closing the door behind him and giving me some space. Standing there for a moment I looked to my desk, to the folder of work I'd yet to sort through.

Taking my seat and pen I set to work on whatever I could. There wasn't a whole lot in here, though it would still be a couple hours of work-- some from this morning, some extra for a bit higher pay. With Tobias and Zuri gone my pay had dipped again and I wanted to buy Riv some new bedsheets if I could. When I had tried to pilfer some from down the hall the staff refused me. Fair, I guess, as those sheets belonged to them.

I tapped my pen on my chin while looking down to another page of numbers and blanks. The silence started to gnaw at me. With a sigh I packed the work back into the folder. Taking it with me I opened my door and closed it behind me, joining my friend in the nearby staff room.

---

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  • Comments
  • I wouldn't be surprised if Riv got sick on his own, that sorta just happens to little kids, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the staff did something to him, they seem very shady.

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