Ryker almost collapsed from the sheer shock and surprise of the question, but then stopped, sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, before shaking his head.

"First off, let's define some things." he said.

"Have I started to drink alcohol when you're not around? Yes." he admitted. "Have I started to drink excessive amounts of alcohol when you're not around? No." he clarified.

"Alcohol really isn't something I want to make a coping mechanism. I've seen too many people like that, and it's... frightening, to say the least." he went on.

"Beyond that, the other me can just turn on some weird kind of super alcohol absorption thing, making the stuff pointless. And I'd rather not spend tons of money on alcohol in the first place, let alone alcohol that'll do nothing for me." he explained.

"Last night was... more of an experiment, to see if drinking would help relax me a little." he went on. "Short answer? Yes. Longer answer? Yes, but given the massive headache I have right now, even though I'm hiding it, I think I've learned that it's not worth it."

Ryker just sighed and scowled to himself.

"Because you attacked someone? No." he said.

"Because of the mental hospital? Yeah, kinda." he admitted.

"That was the worst thing that could have happened to you. And I let it happen." he said further. "You only got worse, and it took a demon to solve that problem." he continued.

"...I can't help feel that I failed you." he admitted quietly.

"That I'm a terrible brother..."

Again, Ryker sighed.

"Yes." he said.

"I can't... I can't help but feel that may be a good idea." he told him.

"I'll see what I can afford." he continued. "Because I doubt this is a service your talents will get you for free." he warned.

"At a discount, sure. But not free."

"............" Ryker was silent, and just accepted the tea.

"Huh." he said, sniffing it.

"Smells good." he commented quietly.

He then went and boiled some water, making the tea for Eke. He then brought the tea to him, alongside anything he might want to add to it.

"Here." he said.

"Breakfast will be finished in a couple of minutes."

Ryker just gritted his teeth and growled.

But he then nodded and sighed.

"I know." he said.

"To whatever God may or may not exist, I know." he reiterated.

"I've had to be an adult ever since I was a child, I shouldn't be acting like this." he said further.

"So what do we need to do to get this nurse?"

Ryker accepted the paper, and then returned the hug.

"Yet." he said.

"Hm." he then mumbled, looking at the paper.

"I'll see what I can do." he told him.

"By the way, are you going to bring Aly here at some point?" he asked, shifting the topic.

"Are things getting serious between you two?" he then teased.

Ryker just laughed out loud when Eke made his flustered exclamation.

"Hey, I was just asking." he said.

"And not like a woman would want to deal with a demon anyway." he then shrugged with a small sigh, before looking at the food.

"Aaaaand it's done." he commented.

"I made sure to make extra meat for you." he assured Eke with a more sincere smile.

"Oh, and how DID that date go, anyway?" he asked.

Ryker just smiled softly as Eke said all he did.

"I'm glad." he replied.

"I'm very happy that you may have truly found someone." he told him.

"And I hope she IS that one." he added.

"You just gotta make the most of the time you have."

Ryker nodded.

"I am, sadly." he said.

"So you'll have to do it yourself." he told him.

"Sorry about that." he apologized.

"Try not to push yourself TOO hard."

Ryker just laughed out loud.

"Oh, please." he said.

"I'm gonna peak at age 30." he told her.

"No, seriously. The other me said that." he then said further. "That's when he's gonna stop the aging process and pretty much start grooming me and my body for taking the underworld throne." he informed Eke.

He then cleared his throat a bit... more loudly than one would expect.

"But I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." he said.

"I hope the calls prove fruitful."