Galinarael leads the golden-eyed boy into the kitchen, gesturing for him to take a seat beside a very low table. Golden Eyes complies, settling on one of the cushions. It is intriguing to him that this great Daeron does not appear to use chairs in his home. Perhaps it is customary of the Shadow people.

"Can I get you anything? Water?" The Daeron's voice is gentle and deep, keeping the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable.

    Golden Eyes ponders, then nods, "Water would be fine."

Galinarael goes to the sink and pumps water into a tumbler, then sets it before the boy. The tumbler is homemade; hand-thrown pottery that is normal at first glance but upon closer inspection appears to have an actual mouth, with actual lips, as well as gnarly teeth.

Golden Eyes doesn't dare sip from it, perturbed a little at the tumbler's uncanny appearance.

"It's a grotesque thing, isn't it?" the Daeron queries, though his tone plainly says he could sense the boy's apprehension. "Adam made it. He has been on a mission to replace all my pottery with hideous creations akin to this one. Why he feels the need, I couldn't tell you."

Golden Eyes merely nods, growing uncomfortable despite the relaxed mood in the room.

"Anyway. You're beginning to grow uncomfortable, so I will just get straight to the point." Galinarael folds his hands together on the table and leans forward slightly on his elbows. "Don't look so surprised, kid. The Shadow can sense your fear."

Golden Eyes looks embarrassed, his ears burning red. "Haha–I didn't know that."

"I wish to understand why you forced my son to bring you home," Galinarael states, his voice never wavering from its friendly and relaxed tones.

"It was part of a bet..."

"Yes, but what possessed you to bring such conditions into it? I know for a fact it wasn't Adam's idea. He'd send all my rescues away if it were up to him."

"Rescues?" Golden Eyes looks up curiously.

"Perhaps that's not the best way to refer to them. They are my children."

Golden Eyes furrows his brow at this, observing the Daeron's long, slender hands and noting the Widower's Band on his ring finger.

Galinarael watches the boy calmly, "They are my children, but not by blood. My wife passed away while Adam was being born. Had I not adopted the others, he would be my only son."

Golden Eyes nods in understanding.

"May I ask your name, son?"

"Oasis," the boy mutters, his heart skipping a beat at hearing the word son.

"Ah, a very apt name for a Vellamo."

Oasis looks surprised, perhaps a bit startled, that once again this man seems to know so much about him right away. It's a little creepy.

"Yes, my ability is water," the boy nods abruptly.

"And why would a Vellamo come to the Great Shadow? I cannot offer you apprenticeship, and I observe you are of age to care for yourself."

"I guess I was just curious about your people," the boy admits. In truth, he'd had no ulterior motives in insisting that Adam bring him home. He hadn't thought ahead that far, and quite frankly, part of him had believed that even in a drunken state, Adam would have been able to beat him.

"We are no different from other faefolk, I assure you," Galinarael remarks, amused. "A bit more reclusive and haunting, perhaps, but all in all we are not too dissimilar."

"I guess," Oasis grins.

Galinarael smiles. "Well, I can see you did not really think things through when placing your bets with Adam. That is fine. You may stay as long as you wish, unless you have elsewhere to be."

"I have no obligations, Sir," Oasis shakes his head.

"Guardians?"

Silence. Oasis shifts uncomfortably.

At this, the Daeron's expression grows briefly sour, "I see. Feel free to explore the place on your own time. I'll have Julian prepare a room for you when he returns. Now, I must put away the goods Adam retrieved."

With this, Galinarael rises to his full height and dismisses himself with a nod to Oasis, leaving the boy alone at the low table with his still untouched cup of water.

Oasis pushes the cup away from himself and stands up, figuring he'll have a little fun. He knows Adam is in the cave someplace, it's just a matter of finding him.

In the bathroom, sunken deep into a frothy, steaming bath, Adam can feel sobriety returning to him. Of course, it comes with an enormous headache and severe nausea. The steam and oils help alleviate some of this discomfort, as well as the dim candlelight softly illuminating the otherwise dark room.

Adam closes his eyes and allows his entire form to grow limp so that his muscles can untense. The hot water is soothing to the cuts and bruises resulting from the various fights he'd gotten into recently. Fights that he, ultimately, lost. The reality of this is a worse wound than any laceration. In truth, he'd much rather be cut open than lose to another kid.

As if summoned by Adam's thoughts, Golden Eyes appears beside the tub. "FOUND YOU!"

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Adam screeches, halfway receding into his shadow for the sake of privacy. As he does so, he unleashes an entire string of profanity which should not be repeated.

Oasis cackles. "For the son of a peaceful Reaper, your mouth sure is foul."

"Shut up," Adam seethes through clenched teeth, "And get out of my bathroom."

"Nah." Oasis stares at the water, then leans forward to take a big whiff. No sooner has he done so than he stumbles back, wheezing and sputtering. "Golly, how much vapor oil did you put in here?!"

"Enough to sober me up. Get out before I tear you to pieces."

Oasis laughs at this, having recovered slightly from the sensory overload, and sticks his finger into one of the candle's flames, "Last time you threatened to tear me apart, you got run over by that merchant's cart."

"GET OUT–"

"OASIS!" Galinarael's voice echoes through the cave. It does not sound so relaxed as it had before. Oasis looks at Adam with wide eyes, and the feral boy just smirks from within the shadowy tub.

"Looks like the street rat is in trouble~" Adam sings smugly, watching as Oasis scrambles out of the bathroom like hell's hounds were upon him. Indeed, an odd chill has filled the room, one which can only belong to his father's shadow. Luckily for Adam, his own shadow and the bathwater are keeping him warm. He laughs to himself at the thought of this stray boy receiving punishment.

Adam spends another good two hours in the bath, to make up for the inconvenience of Oasis's intrusion. Afterward he dries himself thoroughly with a warm towel and puts on a clean tunic and pants. He plods exhaustedly to the kitchen, hoping maybe he can grab a lizard snack before going to take a nap. He does not sleep at night, so he must make up for it with naps.

"Too lazy to bother with the wraps?" Galinarael smirks, looking up from the meal he is preparing as Adam silently enters the kitchen.

"Didn't see a point in tying them if I'm just gonna take a nap," Adam mutters.

"Ah. I just remember you saying how much you despise being barefoot."

The boy merely scowls at his father before ducking into the ice box and retrieving a few lizards.

"Don't eat too much, supper will be ready soon."

"I just wanted a snack, geez." Closing the ice box, Adam bites off one of the reptiles' heads. As he eats, he watches his dad with a dull expression. "Where's the rat?"

"Assuming you mean Oasis, he is with your brother. Julian is preparing a room for him."

"Wait...you're letting that bastard stay with us?!"

Galinarael looks at Adam very seriously, "Yes. He is going to stay with us."

"But he's annoying–"

"And so are you. He has come from a very difficult situation. Be patient with him." Rubbing the boy's head comfortingly, Galinarael turns his focus back to cooking. It does not take superior observation skills nor very much wisdom to know that Adam is very jealous, and understandably so. But the man can't very well turn out a youth in need of refuge; moreover, he would never forgive himself for doing so.

"I knew this would upset you. We can talk about it over some tea, if you like," the Daeron offers. Adam merely glares at him, turning up his nose and disappearing to his room. His father would be sorry for taking in another stray. He was going to make sure of that.