Page 41 of Cozy Prisons
Nataly
Combing her hair out after using the cleansing unit, Nataly stared at the information square she’d propped up on a pillow. It was slowly scrolling through her domicile's schematics. She’d decided to try a new program, but that would require adding some data and power conduits. It’d be a big project, but she had the time.
She had all the time.
Not only could she not go outside, but even stepping close to the open door was triggering her anxiety. If she was going to be stuck inside, she might as well do something useful. Her experiments might end up being helpful for the construction of future domiciles.
Even more important, they’d keep her busy.
Finished with styling her hair, she tossed the comb aside and decided to start this newest project the same way she started every project, with a big mug of strong tea! It might be lateafternoon, but unlike what most others thought, tea wasn’t only for the morning.
Humming, she picked up the information square and headed to the food preparation area. She hadn’t eaten much for the last few days, so the food being sent from the communal meals was piling up in her storage cabinets. At first, she was able to simply open her front door and toss it around the ground at night, knowing that the wildlife would find it tasty.
That wasn’t an option any longer, now that she couldn't even open her front door.
“I’m pathetic,” she grumbled. She really didn’t want to think about it, but maybe she should think about talking to someone. Not Falkilm. He was like Daxus, unable to listen to her.
No, she’d talk to another human. Probably Sima or Dalia. They wouldn’t judge her or force her to do anything she wasn’t ready for.
God, she wished she could talk to Daxus. She missed him. It hadn’t taken long for him to become an important part of her day.
“Why did you have to be so dumb?” she grumbled. “We could be spending time together right now if you hadn’t acted like an idiot!”
A chime at her door display interrupted her conversation with herself.
Leaving her tea still brewing, she crossed the room as far as she was able before the anxiety stopped her steps. From her workbench, she ordered the door open.
The late afternoon sun shone so bright around the figure standing there that Nataly was blinded for a moment.
Her eyes adjusted to the point she could see Ula standing in her doorway, dancing with excitement.
“Are you busy?” the young girl asked. “We have a big surprise for you! If you’re busy, I guess we can do it later, but it took a lotof effort and practice, and I’d be a little sad if you couldn’t watch it now.”
Ula’s enthusiasm made Nataly laugh. “Of course I want to see it! Is it a new trick with Iffy? Bring the bot in, I can’t wait!”
“No, it’s not about Iffy,” Ula said, shaking her head and sending in her long, single braid whipping around her shoulders. “You gotta come outside.”
Ula rushed into the room and grabbed Nataly’s hand before she could get a good panic going. She dragged Nataly to the door with surprising strength.
“Daxus said it was important that you not have to go outside,” she said. “But you have to stand in the doorway or you won’t see it all.”
“Daxus?” Nataly asked, her voice alarmingly high and squeaky.
Ula stopped short. “Oh no, I wasn’t supposed to say anything yet. Please look surprised when you see him, so no one knows I messed up!”
“That won’t be hard,” she murmured as the little girl finished pulling her to the door. The anxiety was there, but with Ula at her side, it was low and not debilitating yet.
It mostly faded away as she looked out her front door to see Riff standing in the area in front of her house wearing the same kind of baggy pants and shirt Nataly preferred. Riff was facing Decard, who was wearing a healer’s green tunic.
After taking in Riff and Decard, she noticed that they’d drawn a rectangle in the dirt taking up most of the area in front of her domicile.
Loud, dramatic, and not perfectly coordinated music started up, making Nataly lean out her door so she could see the band gathered near the edge of the rectangle.
Before she could ask what was going on, Riff faced Decard and started singing.
“Falkilm, you must leave me alone!” Riff sang. “I’m perfectly healthy, I didn’t even moan!”
She had a beautiful voice, and Nataly was caught by the sound before she understood the lyrics. It also wasn’t a surprise that her friends had decided to put together a musical to cheer her up.
