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Description
Days passed, then months. Before I knew it a year or two flew by, time lost like grains of sand in the ever-flowing hourglass. Few remarkable things happened during then, life seeming to stabilize to normal following the horrible attack against my person by the corrupted staff. While I'd notice here and there some odd looks from the other employees I paid them little attention, having grown jaded to their gazes of malcontent so long as they kept to themselves. Trying to intervene would only reinforce their unsavory opinions, I felt, so I let them come to their own conclusions as they saw fit-- whatever those conclusions may be.

A few days after the attack Tamani would move in, sharing a room with Kuri and trading shifts so someone was always here when the other wasn't. It was nice to have him around again after his trips back and forth between here and Ramios. I guess he was happy to finally settle in one place for a while, business back home taken care of for the time being. During some of my longer shifts he and Daniel would help each other in the kitchen, coming up with some interesting, flavorful foods.

My children were growing so fast it was hard to keep up, much of my money going toward their clothing. Both Sura and Riv had well surpassed my height already, though it was of no surprise to me given how short I was. Sura was kind enough to use her talents to modify clothing here and there to better fit both of them, or mend holes and tears should they occur to help lessen the blow against my meager income. Both of them were just as sweet as before, helping me around the house with various chores to ease my workload and I truly couldn't be more appreciative. I did notice, though, how the staff would eye them were they not looking in return. Eyes of apprehension and fear behind their backs, undoubtedly worried about how fast both of them were growing compared to the average pure type.

I'd have to see where this all went, I suppose, and watch over both sides as much as possible. While Morissey and I had managed to foster a sort of friendship I didn't want to paint myself a target or narc over every little thing. I still needed their security at the barest possible minimum, but I also just...did not like tension or confrontation, having endured so much of it and for so, so long.

I did wonder, however...

---

I softly knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in," came a soft voice from beyond.

I turned the knob and pushed inward. Sura was sitting on her futon, a few papers scattered in front of her all adorned with quick, colorful sketches.

"Ah, sweetie, could I ask a favor of you?" I proposed, nervously scratching my head.

"Hm?"

"Um, if I bought the materials for it, would you be...willing to make something?" I asked. "I-I'll also happily pay for the labor, too."

She seemed surprised, tilting her head in response.

"I know it's...maybe a little strange, but...would you?" I asked further, looking behind me and out to the hallway.

"Uh, sure, what did you want?" she asked in turn.

"C...Could you make a hat?" I quietly requested. "Not for me, but for Riv? He's always been so self-conscious about his eyes s-so I thought maybe a hat could help shade them?"

She looked down in thought, raising her fingers to her chin to think about it.

"I'm sorry if it's...stupid or strange, my request, but I don't know what else could work for this. I'd like him to feel more confident is all, and thought maybe that could help."

"Oh no, I agree, I'm just trying to think of how to make it look because he's, uh..." she trailed off, trying to stifle a giggle, "...he's got kind of a flat head."

I hadn't even thought about that, but even I couldn't help but chuckle a bit under my breath.

"I think I could make it work, though," she said with a smile. "I'd just need some materials, which I'll write down in a bit. Shouldn't be anything too expensive, either-- it's not like hats are very big."

I sighed in relief. While I wasn't too concerned about the expense, it was still reassuring to know this wouldn't break me. I hated being so concerned about money, but with their growing so fast it also meant more clothing and food purchases and more often than before.

"Th-Thank you so much, Sura," I said. "I, um, do ask that this be a surprise if you can do so. I'll ask Daniel to go into town for the supplies you need this weekend."

"That sounds good!" she exclaimed, grabbing a piece of paper and starting her list. "I'll do what I can to keep it a surprise."

---

Come the weekend I gave Daniel money and Sura's shopping list, his returning with everything she needed plus a bag of groceries. As the nurse put away the food I took the supplies upstairs to hand off to Sura while Riv was taking a shower, he none the wiser from what I could tell. Sura took the supplies but refused my money for some reason, saying she'd treat it as a gift from both of us. Not wanting to argue I put the money back in my wallet and let her get to work while she could.

After a week or two the hat was finished: A flat black cap with purple highlights, Riv's favorite color. He took to it immediately, wearing it around the house during those hours of heavier staff activity to better keep them at bay. Riv already seemed more relaxed and confident, my smiling to myself from my desk as both children worked on their schoolwork. That hat would quickly become a permanent part of his daily wardrobe.

As always, Daniel kept a careful and watchful eye on all of us, both those of us at home and those in town. Every weekend he'd stare out the large lobby window, looking south back to town and seemingly lost in thought.

"More than before," he'd often remark to himself before turning toward me and pulling me close against his side.

I wasn't sure what to think or say, unable to see for myself what he had. Most of my outings into town with Morissey I hadn't really noticed much that seemed unusual or out-of-place, and most of that most was at night anyway with nobody in general to be seen. Something about this piqued me-- Daniel went into town in the middle of the day and usually on weekends, and that's when he'd notice more of the organization staff around town. When I went out, to the contrary, was typically at night, but the times I went during the early evening were still while accompanied by Morissey and I'd still not notice much to write home about.

Maybe this were just speculation, but I couldn't help but wonder if Morissey's presence had anything to do with it. Maybe not his presence, but rather the lack thereof?

Ah, none of this meant anything, at least not by itself. If the organization members weren't causing any harm, did it matter? So far I'd only heard that they were around, not that they were actively doing anything aside from standing guard in some places from the sounds of it. That by itself didn't seem like a bad thing, but Daniel's concerns still shone through all of those suggestions. Only time would tell, I suppose. For now we did what we could to sleep soundly, both of us still sharing my large bed, while the house staff watched the home and our ramiotran friends watched the house staff. As long as this balance could be maintained I had few worries, everything seemingly settled down to some semblance of normalcy.

I'd drift off the night following a typical Thursday of work, snug up against my partner's front in our warm bed. Before long, just like the previous nights, I'd become one with my dreamscape to prepare for the next morning.

---

The following morning would begin like any other, performing my first chore of separating my face from Daniel's chest to start another workday. It was one of the hardest things to do, pulling away from my source of warmth and comfort. The larger man would laugh as I audibly groaned and protested the morning, wanting "just five more minutes" before getting up. With enough nudging between my ears I'd finally relent, sitting up to slide off the bed and start the day. He'd grab his clothes and I'd grab mine, our changing in the bathroom before heading downstairs to put breakfast together.

The same old routine as it had been for a number of years now, about eight years since the home opened and those from Stipa joined the home. Riv was fourteen, Sura was thirteen, I was forty, and Daniel would be thirty-eight before long. Hard to believe so many years had passed, those years lost to turmoil and tension, but also to growth and closeness all the same. Some bad with the good and vice-versa, and certainly an upgrade from the life I knew at their age.

...I hoped they saw it similarly. While I never told them of my childhood, diverting the subject when it arose, I hoped above all their life left them wanting for little. Daniel and I tried to provide what we could to keep them safe and happy, but as long as my memories still wore on me I would always worry if there were more I could do, more I could give. Though they were getting to the age of independence I'd still hug, cuddle, and nuzzle on them as often as possible, even when it clearly annoyed them. The last thing I wanted was to cause them to feel like I loved them less for not being my own blood when that couldn't be further from the truth. Daniel's warning from years prior never left my thoughts and I'd do anything in my power to alleviate any source of tension that might stem those feelings.

No matter what, and no matter our relation, they were my children.

After breakfast followed a typical Friday, my thoughts wandering to ideas for the weekend as I idly worked through Morissey's daily stack of paper. I'd also requested a bit of extra work for the weekend if only to pass the more dull parts of the evenings, the man issuing the handoff as he came by before our weekend walk around town. It was a nice, cool evening complete with a salty sea breeze sweeping between the buildings and trees.

Something about tonight, though, gnawed at me in the back of my head. I couldn't say what it might be, just a strange feeling that I tried to ignore. Perhaps I was just coming down with something.

After about an hour's walk around town we both ventured back to my residence, my waving Morissey goodbye before he left to return to his own quarters. It did bring a little smile to my face seeing him so much more relaxed these last couple years, once he started to open up and work through what all had been wearing on him. He and I were similar in a lot of ways so such a thing wasn't foreign to me.

I took my weekend work from the children's table and back to my desk, deciding to get an early start on it to free up more time for the weekend. Opening the desk door I slid in, plopping down on my chair and grabbing my pen to get started. I figured it was already late enough I might as well capitalize on what remained of today and let the others enjoy the evening with their hobbies.

I worked into the night, a couple hours passing as I scratched my pen across a never-ending pile of paper. By now I was getting quite tired, considering turning in for the night. Looking over and my desk clock it was about the time the children would be heading to bed anyway--

BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!

Four loud knocks slammed against the front door. I jumped and gasped, my pen falling out of my hand and hitting the floor.

"What on earth?" I said to myself. "At this hour?"

The glare from the lobby light was too bright to see past and at this hour I had no idea who it might be, but a strange feeling tugged at my core.

...The same feeling I'd get when that corrupted staffmember from years prior would follow me.

---

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Description
Days passed, then months. Before I knew it a year or two flew by, time lost like grains of sand in the ever-flowing hourglass. Few remarkable things happened during then, life seeming to stabilize to normal following the horrible attack against my person by the corrupted staff. While I'd notice here and there some odd looks from the other employees I paid them little attention, having grown jaded to their gazes of malcontent so long as they kept to themselves. Trying to intervene would only reinforce their unsavory opinions, I felt, so I let them come to their own conclusions as they saw fit-- whatever those conclusions may be.

A few days after the attack Tamani would move in, sharing a room with Kuri and trading shifts so someone was always here when the other wasn't. It was nice to have him around again after his trips back and forth between here and Ramios. I guess he was happy to finally settle in one place for a while, business back home taken care of for the time being. During some of my longer shifts he and Daniel would help each other in the kitchen, coming up with some interesting, flavorful foods.

My children were growing so fast it was hard to keep up, much of my money going toward their clothing. Both Sura and Riv had well surpassed my height already, though it was of no surprise to me given how short I was. Sura was kind enough to use her talents to modify clothing here and there to better fit both of them, or mend holes and tears should they occur to help lessen the blow against my meager income. Both of them were just as sweet as before, helping me around the house with various chores to ease my workload and I truly couldn't be more appreciative. I did notice, though, how the staff would eye them were they not looking in return. Eyes of apprehension and fear behind their backs, undoubtedly worried about how fast both of them were growing compared to the average pure type.

I'd have to see where this all went, I suppose, and watch over both sides as much as possible. While Morissey and I had managed to foster a sort of friendship I didn't want to paint myself a target or narc over every little thing. I still needed their security at the barest possible minimum, but I also just...did not like tension or confrontation, having endured so much of it and for so, so long.

I did wonder, however...

---

I softly knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in," came a soft voice from beyond.

I turned the knob and pushed inward. Sura was sitting on her futon, a few papers scattered in front of her all adorned with quick, colorful sketches.

"Ah, sweetie, could I ask a favor of you?" I proposed, nervously scratching my head.

"Hm?"

"Um, if I bought the materials for it, would you be...willing to make something?" I asked. "I-I'll also happily pay for the labor, too."

She seemed surprised, tilting her head in response.

"I know it's...maybe a little strange, but...would you?" I asked further, looking behind me and out to the hallway.

"Uh, sure, what did you want?" she asked in turn.

"C...Could you make a hat?" I quietly requested. "Not for me, but for Riv? He's always been so self-conscious about his eyes s-so I thought maybe a hat could help shade them?"

She looked down in thought, raising her fingers to her chin to think about it.

"I'm sorry if it's...stupid or strange, my request, but I don't know what else could work for this. I'd like him to feel more confident is all, and thought maybe that could help."

"Oh no, I agree, I'm just trying to think of how to make it look because he's, uh..." she trailed off, trying to stifle a giggle, "...he's got kind of a flat head."

I hadn't even thought about that, but even I couldn't help but chuckle a bit under my breath.

"I think I could make it work, though," she said with a smile. "I'd just need some materials, which I'll write down in a bit. Shouldn't be anything too expensive, either-- it's not like hats are very big."

I sighed in relief. While I wasn't too concerned about the expense, it was still reassuring to know this wouldn't break me. I hated being so concerned about money, but with their growing so fast it also meant more clothing and food purchases and more often than before.

"Th-Thank you so much, Sura," I said. "I, um, do ask that this be a surprise if you can do so. I'll ask Daniel to go into town for the supplies you need this weekend."

"That sounds good!" she exclaimed, grabbing a piece of paper and starting her list. "I'll do what I can to keep it a surprise."

---

Come the weekend I gave Daniel money and Sura's shopping list, his returning with everything she needed plus a bag of groceries. As the nurse put away the food I took the supplies upstairs to hand off to Sura while Riv was taking a shower, he none the wiser from what I could tell. Sura took the supplies but refused my money for some reason, saying she'd treat it as a gift from both of us. Not wanting to argue I put the money back in my wallet and let her get to work while she could.

After a week or two the hat was finished: A flat black cap with purple highlights, Riv's favorite color. He took to it immediately, wearing it around the house during those hours of heavier staff activity to better keep them at bay. Riv already seemed more relaxed and confident, my smiling to myself from my desk as both children worked on their schoolwork. That hat would quickly become a permanent part of his daily wardrobe.

As always, Daniel kept a careful and watchful eye on all of us, both those of us at home and those in town. Every weekend he'd stare out the large lobby window, looking south back to town and seemingly lost in thought.

"More than before," he'd often remark to himself before turning toward me and pulling me close against his side.

I wasn't sure what to think or say, unable to see for myself what he had. Most of my outings into town with Morissey I hadn't really noticed much that seemed unusual or out-of-place, and most of that most was at night anyway with nobody in general to be seen. Something about this piqued me-- Daniel went into town in the middle of the day and usually on weekends, and that's when he'd notice more of the organization staff around town. When I went out, to the contrary, was typically at night, but the times I went during the early evening were still while accompanied by Morissey and I'd still not notice much to write home about.

Maybe this were just speculation, but I couldn't help but wonder if Morissey's presence had anything to do with it. Maybe not his presence, but rather the lack thereof?

Ah, none of this meant anything, at least not by itself. If the organization members weren't causing any harm, did it matter? So far I'd only heard that they were around, not that they were actively doing anything aside from standing guard in some places from the sounds of it. That by itself didn't seem like a bad thing, but Daniel's concerns still shone through all of those suggestions. Only time would tell, I suppose. For now we did what we could to sleep soundly, both of us still sharing my large bed, while the house staff watched the home and our ramiotran friends watched the house staff. As long as this balance could be maintained I had few worries, everything seemingly settled down to some semblance of normalcy.

I'd drift off the night following a typical Thursday of work, snug up against my partner's front in our warm bed. Before long, just like the previous nights, I'd become one with my dreamscape to prepare for the next morning.

---

The following morning would begin like any other, performing my first chore of separating my face from Daniel's chest to start another workday. It was one of the hardest things to do, pulling away from my source of warmth and comfort. The larger man would laugh as I audibly groaned and protested the morning, wanting "just five more minutes" before getting up. With enough nudging between my ears I'd finally relent, sitting up to slide off the bed and start the day. He'd grab his clothes and I'd grab mine, our changing in the bathroom before heading downstairs to put breakfast together.

The same old routine as it had been for a number of years now, about eight years since the home opened and those from Stipa joined the home. Riv was fourteen, Sura was thirteen, I was forty, and Daniel would be thirty-eight before long. Hard to believe so many years had passed, those years lost to turmoil and tension, but also to growth and closeness all the same. Some bad with the good and vice-versa, and certainly an upgrade from the life I knew at their age.

...I hoped they saw it similarly. While I never told them of my childhood, diverting the subject when it arose, I hoped above all their life left them wanting for little. Daniel and I tried to provide what we could to keep them safe and happy, but as long as my memories still wore on me I would always worry if there were more I could do, more I could give. Though they were getting to the age of independence I'd still hug, cuddle, and nuzzle on them as often as possible, even when it clearly annoyed them. The last thing I wanted was to cause them to feel like I loved them less for not being my own blood when that couldn't be further from the truth. Daniel's warning from years prior never left my thoughts and I'd do anything in my power to alleviate any source of tension that might stem those feelings.

No matter what, and no matter our relation, they were my children.

After breakfast followed a typical Friday, my thoughts wandering to ideas for the weekend as I idly worked through Morissey's daily stack of paper. I'd also requested a bit of extra work for the weekend if only to pass the more dull parts of the evenings, the man issuing the handoff as he came by before our weekend walk around town. It was a nice, cool evening complete with a salty sea breeze sweeping between the buildings and trees.

Something about tonight, though, gnawed at me in the back of my head. I couldn't say what it might be, just a strange feeling that I tried to ignore. Perhaps I was just coming down with something.

After about an hour's walk around town we both ventured back to my residence, my waving Morissey goodbye before he left to return to his own quarters. It did bring a little smile to my face seeing him so much more relaxed these last couple years, once he started to open up and work through what all had been wearing on him. He and I were similar in a lot of ways so such a thing wasn't foreign to me.

I took my weekend work from the children's table and back to my desk, deciding to get an early start on it to free up more time for the weekend. Opening the desk door I slid in, plopping down on my chair and grabbing my pen to get started. I figured it was already late enough I might as well capitalize on what remained of today and let the others enjoy the evening with their hobbies.

I worked into the night, a couple hours passing as I scratched my pen across a never-ending pile of paper. By now I was getting quite tired, considering turning in for the night. Looking over and my desk clock it was about the time the children would be heading to bed anyway--

BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!

Four loud knocks slammed against the front door. I jumped and gasped, my pen falling out of my hand and hitting the floor.

"What on earth?" I said to myself. "At this hour?"

The glare from the lobby light was too bright to see past and at this hour I had no idea who it might be, but a strange feeling tugged at my core.

...The same feeling I'd get when that corrupted staffmember from years prior would follow me.

---

Previous: www.deviantart.com/silasagnost…
First: www.deviantart.com/silasagnost…
Next: www.deviantart.com/silasagnost…

If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting it through Patreon or Ko-fi so I can continue making it and keep the bills paid. Supporters get early access to chapters/illustrations as well as exclusive access to WIPs.

www.patreon.com/ratte
ko-fi.com/ratte
paypal.me/silasagnostos
Discord server