"..........." Ryker was silent for a moment, before smiling.

"Good." he said.

"It's about time you had something good in your life." he told him.

"After your life of nothing but hardship, you finally have something to be happy about." he went on.

"Or... at least, get you closer to feeling something akin to happy."

"See? You're not alone." Ryker told him.

"So many people care enough to help you." he said.

"Your home and furniture are proof enough of that." he went on.

"So let's go." he then agreed.

"You have a home to get to."

Ryker was silent and still for a moment, before returning the hug.

"Yeah." he said.

"Come on, before it gets too dark." he told him.

"And the clouds look like they're gonna rain." he went on.

"Should be nice to watch the rain from a safe, dry place." he then commented.

"Enjoy a warm drink while doing so."

Ryker saw Eke smile, and smiled back.

He then quickly set to putting what he was able to procure away.

"There." he said.

"Done." he said further.

"What now?" he asked. "What's next for you?"

Ryker was silent, before going and making Eke the tea that he'd wanted.

"Here." he said, giving it to him.

"Be careful, it is hot." he warned.

"I am going to clean myself up. I'm filthy." he then said.

"Then turn in for the night."

Ryker froze for a moment when he heard that.

"........" he was silent, before sighing quietly, and continuing.

He took his shower, and then made his way to what he was told was his room.

He stared at it silently, biting his lip.

'....why do I deserve a room...?' he thought.

'How can I have a room? What have I done to get this?' he asked himself, before shutting the door and sitting down on the floor.

"...damn it all." he cursed at himself angrily.

"........." Ryker was silent when he heard Eke.

"Sure." he said back, having moved to the window, sitting down in the chair that was there.

He'd been watching the rain come down, and listening to the thunder, as well as watching the lightning.

"Come in." he told him.

He then sighed and looked back out the window.

Ryker returned the hug, and sighed.

"Preoccupied." he said with a shrug.

"Feel free to lay down in the bed." he told him, getting up from the chair and making his way away from the window.

"Why are you here?" he then asked.

"Can't sleep?"

"...................." Ryker was silent again, before sighing and changing out of his shirt, putting on a rattier shirt... and taking off his jeans, revealing his plain boxer shorts.

"All right." he said.

"I was just going to head to bed anyway." he lied.

"....well, maybe not... but I know I should sleep anyway." he then came clean, making his way over and sitting down on the bed, the flashes of lightning illuminating the room now.

"Want me to close the curtains?" he asked.

Ryker bit his lip a little, and sighed.

"...heh. All right." he said.

"Let's try and get some sleep then." he suggested, as he got comfortable on the bed.

'Come on." he told him.

"Get comfortable, and try and fall asleep to nature's sky symphony." he finished, the thunder roaring once more.