Colin's posts

Hal raised an eyebrow when Angela said the first part.

"......I see." he said.

"Well. I cannot say I am surprised." he told her.

"Seriously. He's not been subtle about it." he commented, shaking his head a little. "No matter how much he THINKS he's been." he added.

"Well... good for him." he said.

"And good for you." he went on.

"Think Olivia will be all right with it?" he then asked her.

Hal just chuckled.

"They are. But they're the least I can do to make up for this a little." he said.

"And they don't put me out of pocket." he assured her. "But you already knew that." he said further.

"Also, pizza? Homemade by Zeke?" he then asked.

"Sure, I can stay." he told her, before pausing.

"How have things been since he decided to help around here, anyway?" he inquired.

"Hmmmm." Hal mumbled.

"Well, I know someone." he said.

"I can give you their information, and you can see about getting it right from them." he told her.

"And no, it's not illegal. It's just more of a private brewer and bottler. Like a small-time entrepreneur." he explained. "They value their privacy immensely, but I'll ask if they're all right with you being a direct buyer." he then said.

"There's no harm in asking, at least." he shrugged, before digging into the bag and handed Angela an assorted box of luxury chocolates that were considered the premium of the premium.

"To apologize for my stubbornness in having you stay home." he chuckled.

"A concert pianist?" Ryker asked.

"Well... maybe..." he said.

"We don't have a piano though. I don't think so, anyway." he went on.

"Could probably get one, though." he then added, thinking about it.

"What sort of piano would you want?"

"Oh! Well, that's good." Hal responded.

"And I came by to see how you both were doing." he said. "Check up on you, make sure you're recovering and such." he reasoned with a smile.

"Oh, and I have something for you both." he then added, reaching into the bag.

"First, for Olivia." he said, pulling out a bottle of soda pop. It was one that wasn't sold in the city... but it was one that she absolutely adored. It had a nice citrusy flavour, and had tiny orbs inside it that burst with flavour when they were bit into.

"Here you go." he told her, handing her the drink.

Hal nodded at the girl, before they stepped through the door.

"Angela!" he called out to the woman.

"Hello!" he said.

"You're certainly looking well." he commented when he regarded her.

"Better than I expected." he then admitted.

"Is this a result of you not focusing on paperwork completely while on sick leave?" he then asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, hello Olivia." Hal greeted Liv with a smile in return.

"Actually, would you mind joining me in the backyard with your mother?" he asked.

"I have something for the both of you." he told her. "Which is to say, something for you, and something for your mother." he clarified.

"Or would you like to do this inside?" he then asked her.

"Either one is fine with me." he assured her further.

Zeke watched her go, and couldn't help but feel the happiness swell within him.

It was amazing. It was euphoric. And he was feeling like he was actually up in heaven right now. In fact, he felt that this feeling SURPASSED heaven.

But he knew he had to remain calm and collected. He wasn't a schoolboy.

However, after looking around, he allowed himself a silent arm pump.

-A few days later-

Hal approached the front door to the house that Angela and Olivia called home, a bag in one of his hands. He stopped at the door, paused for a moment, and then rang the bell.

Zeke froze when she said that.

She said it so earnestly and readily, he almost couldn't believe it.

"Ah... really?" he asked.

"...heh." he chuckled.

"That's... that's great!" he exclaimed.

"That's... heh." he chuckled further, before shaking his head.

"I was so nervous... for nothing, it seems."

Zeke's eyes widened when she said that.

"Ah..." he stammered.

"Ah, yes. That." he said, his face turning a little pink.

"Right. We... kept getting interrupted." he said further, scratching the back of his head.

"A-anyway... I... well... I remember when you said that I would make some woman very happy in the future." he told her. "And I remember you saying that... you meant it." he continued.

"Is... well... is there any chance of... uh, well..." he then stammered further, before shaking his head vigorously, taking a deep breath, and exhaling it loudly.

'FOCUS! And SPEAK!' he barked mentally to himself.

"Is there any chance of... YOU being that... 'some woman'?" he asked her.

"....." Ryker was silent, and then sighed.

"Yeah." he said.

"Well... um... hm." he then muttered.

"Do you like kids?" he asked.

"I know there's a few places that work with kids, and I think they're looking for people." he told him.

"Like, starting out as a volunteer, with the potential to be hired on full or part time."

"I'll get the ball rolling for that." Zeke told her.

"And yeah, in an hour works for me." he said.

"Also... I wouldn't worry about a payment plan." he then told her. "His prices are... well... always more than reasonable. Sometimes he undercharges... well... a LOT." he muttered.

"Then again, money's not really a problem for him." he shrugged.

Ryker looked at the steak, then looked at Eke, then back to the meat, and then back to Eke.

And smiled softly.

"It's done." he said.

"Rare." he told him, plopping the large piece of steak on his place.

"Go on and eat up." he said further.

"You want more after that?" he asked.

"Hmmmm, very well." Zeke responded.

"I'll make sure to have that all set up very soon." he told her.

"Someone stealing from you is unacceptable, and video footage of it will be just what you need." he reasoned.

"Hmmmm." he then mumbled, thinking about it some more.

"Odds are I can get a friend of a friend of mine to help, too." he went on.

"He's really tech-y, and should be able to give you a very sophisticated system."