Above the City Streets - OPEN
Feb 10, 2021 0:43:21 GMT
Post by Kelathi on Feb 10, 2021 0:43:21 GMT
Nate’s eyebrows jumped up in surprise when the woman allowed them to continue without further comment. He’d been sure that this was the moment she would demand to see identification, or else point-blank refuse to let either of them through. When they were out of earshot, Nathan turned to Dani as they seated themselves, a half-smile on his face. “Man, I can’t believe she let you through so easily!” He praised. “She’s like a brick wall with me. I tried to make her laugh once… it wasn’t pretty. I honestly thought she was going to throw me out for having the audacity.” Nathanial appeared to have relaxed somewhat, Dani’s presence grounding him, as it gave him something to focus on rather than how this place and it’s staff made him feel. Before they could start a proper conversation, a curt voice called Nate’s last name. He stood quickly, glancing at Dani, running a hand through his hair as he moved towards the nurse who had called him. A stout lady, her hair pulled back into a tight, severe bun, giving her a permanent look of surprise. She hardly glanced at the two, handing them both a lanyard that had the words ‘VISITOR’ printed in bright red, before turning sharply on her heel and strolling away. Nate pulled the lanyard over his head as they began to follow.
They passed by many rooms, and at one point a living room. People milled about, slowly, it almost looked like a retirement home were it not for the variable ages of the occupants. The people themselves either ignored Nathanial and Dani, or they glanced up at them curiously. Downstairs, the mood was amicable if quiet. As they were led to the upper levels, the ambience seemed to change, becoming much more sombre. Here, many of the doors were locked, and if there were people residing inside, they made little noise.
There was something very eerie about it.
As they had drawn closer to where they needed to be, Nathanial had become steadily more anxious, his hands going from being buried in his pockets, to crossed against his chest, to running a hand through his hair, to resting one on the back of his neck. Occasionally he glanced sideways at Dani, trying to read her expression, worrying about what she might think, or whether she had worked out where they were yet. But if she tried to meet his gaze, he looked away quickly.
Finally, they stopped at a door.
There was a small window, which the nurse peered into first, before unlocking the door.
It was a simple room, bathed in the light from a large bay window, which looked out over the garden. The space was unremarkable, the furniture consisting of a bed, table, dresser, and a few chairs. It was almost like a cheap hotel room, except much more clinical, characterised by angular shapes and a distinct septic smell. There were no items of decoration, no framed pictures or flowers, and the general colours of the room were muted. Another door, shut, led to what was assumedly the bathroom. The occupant of the room was a middle-aged woman, her long blonde hair neatly pulled back into a loose bun, her locks streaked with grey. She looked up from the book she was reading with a surprised, curious expression. Nathanial entered the room warily.
“Mum?”
When he spoke, there was a strange tone to his voice, as if he were approaching a sleeping bear rather than the woman who had birthed him. In fact, he was trying to gauge her mood. The woman’s face suddenly broke into a sunny smile, and she began to stand, placing the book on the arm of the seat, clearly happy to see him. “Nathanial! My darling boy!” only then did Nate also smile, and there was a visible look of relief in his frame as he moved forward to meet her embrace. They hugged whole-heartedly, Nathanial was about a head taller than she.
“It’s been so long!” Angela exclaimed, her voice muffled by Nate’s shoulder. “Mum… I saw you last Wednesday.” Nate corrected gently, pulling away smoothly, a little self-conscious of the fact that they were not alone. The nurse, having seen the interaction going well, had not joined them in the room, but Dani would probably be able to sense that she stood just outside, rather than moving away. “Mum, this is Dani.” Nate introduced, at which point the woman finally set her gaze on his companion.
She looked quizzically from one to the other for a moment, then with a look of delight, she rushed to embrace her, too. “My dear! Oh finally, Nathanial, I thought the day would never come when you brought back a girl!” She chastised lightly, pulling away to appraise her. “And oh my, she is beautiful! Don’t you take any trouble from him, you hear me?” She winked at Dani comedically, as if they already shared a bond. Nathanial’s face burnt up instantly, his eyes widening as he opened his mouth to object to any insinuation that they might be a couple.
They passed by many rooms, and at one point a living room. People milled about, slowly, it almost looked like a retirement home were it not for the variable ages of the occupants. The people themselves either ignored Nathanial and Dani, or they glanced up at them curiously. Downstairs, the mood was amicable if quiet. As they were led to the upper levels, the ambience seemed to change, becoming much more sombre. Here, many of the doors were locked, and if there were people residing inside, they made little noise.
There was something very eerie about it.
As they had drawn closer to where they needed to be, Nathanial had become steadily more anxious, his hands going from being buried in his pockets, to crossed against his chest, to running a hand through his hair, to resting one on the back of his neck. Occasionally he glanced sideways at Dani, trying to read her expression, worrying about what she might think, or whether she had worked out where they were yet. But if she tried to meet his gaze, he looked away quickly.
Finally, they stopped at a door.
There was a small window, which the nurse peered into first, before unlocking the door.
It was a simple room, bathed in the light from a large bay window, which looked out over the garden. The space was unremarkable, the furniture consisting of a bed, table, dresser, and a few chairs. It was almost like a cheap hotel room, except much more clinical, characterised by angular shapes and a distinct septic smell. There were no items of decoration, no framed pictures or flowers, and the general colours of the room were muted. Another door, shut, led to what was assumedly the bathroom. The occupant of the room was a middle-aged woman, her long blonde hair neatly pulled back into a loose bun, her locks streaked with grey. She looked up from the book she was reading with a surprised, curious expression. Nathanial entered the room warily.
“Mum?”
When he spoke, there was a strange tone to his voice, as if he were approaching a sleeping bear rather than the woman who had birthed him. In fact, he was trying to gauge her mood. The woman’s face suddenly broke into a sunny smile, and she began to stand, placing the book on the arm of the seat, clearly happy to see him. “Nathanial! My darling boy!” only then did Nate also smile, and there was a visible look of relief in his frame as he moved forward to meet her embrace. They hugged whole-heartedly, Nathanial was about a head taller than she.
“It’s been so long!” Angela exclaimed, her voice muffled by Nate’s shoulder. “Mum… I saw you last Wednesday.” Nate corrected gently, pulling away smoothly, a little self-conscious of the fact that they were not alone. The nurse, having seen the interaction going well, had not joined them in the room, but Dani would probably be able to sense that she stood just outside, rather than moving away. “Mum, this is Dani.” Nate introduced, at which point the woman finally set her gaze on his companion.
She looked quizzically from one to the other for a moment, then with a look of delight, she rushed to embrace her, too. “My dear! Oh finally, Nathanial, I thought the day would never come when you brought back a girl!” She chastised lightly, pulling away to appraise her. “And oh my, she is beautiful! Don’t you take any trouble from him, you hear me?” She winked at Dani comedically, as if they already shared a bond. Nathanial’s face burnt up instantly, his eyes widening as he opened his mouth to object to any insinuation that they might be a couple.