All was quiet across Savepoint. The celebrations were over, the guests had left and everything was going back to normal. But there was still some movement. Not everyone had gone to bed. Someone had sneaked out for a midnight snack, but they seemed unable to work out how to use the omnivending machines.
Of course, Litvir decided to go over and see what was going on. After all, he had also been plotting on getting a midnight snack, and now he had a reason to leave the office while on night duty. Admittedly, night duty had been completely silent and uneventyful, so Litvir was also glad to have a distraction.
Helkas seemed to be rather frustrated. He was very quietly getting annoyed, and by his side was an empty plate. Also present were several plain slices of bread and a large block of something orange, as well as several knives. Pieces of the block had been badly cut off.
“Is something wrong, dear?”
Litvir’s voice had made Helkas jump.
“Oh… Um…” Helkas stuttered, trying to think about what to say. But after a few more stutters, he just gave up and apologised. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” Litvir asked. “You seem to be having some difficulties.”
“I’m up past curfew, I shouldn’t be up…” Helkas sighed.
“The curfew is to stop vok from being naughty and drinking or having parties or anything during the night, general disturbing the peace when everyone else is asleep. Coming out here to get a snack is perfectly acceptable.”
“Oh…”
Helkas didn’t say much else. Litvir inspected what Helkas was doing, then decided to try and help out.
“Were you trying to make a cheese sandwich?”
Helkas gestured at the large block of cheddar. “Yeah.”
“Are you having difficulties?” Litvir queried.
Helkas frowned. “Yeah. I am. I feel really stupid. I’m, like, some sort of god, and I can’t even slice a block of cheese properly or work out how to toast it.”
Litvir shrugged as he made his way over. “You are not stupid. You are just sleepy and hungry and not thinking straight. Back when Retvik, Arkay and I were Decaylings, I once found Arkay slumped over in the kitchen, crying because he had messed up when making macaroni cheese.”
“Really?” Helkas stuttered.
“Yes. Compared to Arkay, you are a little angel. He had break downs all the time.”
“He did?”
“Mhm. Arkay was not a happy Decayling. He had a lot of problems, and Retvik and I helped him through them. Right now though, do you want some help?”
Helkas frowned some more, then nodded. “Can you help me please, mister Litvir?”
Litvir smiled, then patted Helkas on the head. “You do not need to call me “mister”, and of course I will help you. How would you like me to help you?”
Helkas inspected the equipment around him, then grunted. “I don’t know how to get ketchup out of the magic food machine and I don’t know how to open the toasty maker. I’m also kinda struggling on slicing the cheese properly.”
“No worries, I shall assist. So, firstly, Helkas, if you want to get ketchup, you need to navigate to the jam menu, because, for reasons unknown, ketchup is considered a jam. The toasty maker is locked in the closed position, there is a button on the handle that unlocks it.”
Helkas tutted, but he did manage to get the toasty maker open. While he fetched some ketchup, Litvir delicately sliced quite a lot of cheese, then buttered the bread and laid the slices of cheese on top.
“I got it.”
“Good, squirt some on top.”
Helkas did as he was told, then finished up making the sandwich. He opened the toasty maker, shoved his sandwich inside, turned it on and then waited.
“Is something wrong, dear?” Litvir asked, not for the first time.
“Kinda…” Helkas sighed. “I feel like you and mister Retvik are… are too good for me.”
“Why?” Litvir queried.
“Are you treating me special? Sometimes it feels like you are. I’m… not sure if I like it or not.”
Litvir shrugged. “We are not doing anything special. We are just giving you the help you need.”
“I feel like I need extra help and I don’t like it.”
“You do not need extra help. Beings in general just need different amounts of help at different times. After all, you have needed very little help with your Decayling studies, but occasionally you need a tiny bit of help with something small. It is only natural that sometimes people need help.”
The toasty maker binged, signalling that it was done. Helkas frowned a little, not sure how to feel as Litvir opened up the machine, placed it on a plate, cut the toasty in two, then handed it to Helkas.
“Thank you…” Helkas muttered.
“Not a problem. Enjoy your midnight snack!”
Helkas hungrily eyed the toasty, glanced at Litvir, muttered a thank you, then wandered off.
Litvir wasn’t alone for long. After not even a minute, he heard those familiar plodding footsteps and felt that warm aura.
“Is everything alright, dear?” Retvik asked. “I noticed you were not in the office.”
“Yes, I was just checking in on Helkas. He was struggling with the food generators. He also seems to be a little upset, as he seems to think he is getting special attention.”
Retvik thought for a moment, then grunted. “I can understand him thinking that. Mentally, he is one of the youngest people here, and he is a Synaisthyn.”
Litvir glanced at Retvik, then breathed a sigh of relief. “I am glad you and I are on the same page for once.”
“We are. If Helkas wants our help, he will ask for it. If he wants more of a relationship, he will ask for it. In the mean time, all we can do is support him as and when he needs it.”
“Exactly!” Litvir smiled, happy that Retvik seemed to not be thinking anything too rash. “In the mean time, Helkas has been fed, everything is calm, did you want anything?”
Retvik shrugged. “I suppose we could go and stand on the balcony overlooking Savepoint and chat?”
“That!” Litvir perked up as he put an arm around Retvik and led him off. “That sounds wonderful…”