Brotherly Affection

((Note that this thread takes place in late February, but things got all crazy and poor Nate got pushed under the rug with the changing of the seasons!))


The hotel room that her brother had reserved for him was small but clean and very bright and friendly looking, Twyla decided. Since her grandmother had booked and paid for it she was sure that it was clean and the service would be good. So at least she didn't have to worry about Nate getting into troubles at his hotel--at least the girl sincerely hoped that her older brother could not find too much trouble in such a nice and yellow place as the hotel. She, of course, put nothing past Nathan Ashby.

"So, I like your friends." They had spent most of the bus ride and the walk up to the room in companionable silence, just enjoying each others sibling nearness. Thus far Nate had said nothing about meeting Gawain Morris and Henrietta Braun. "That Henri girl seems a lot like you and I guess the Morris kid ain't so bad...he's very...honest. Honest is good." Nate smiled to himself as he began throwing the contents of his suitcase into the drawers of the dresser provided.

"I'm glad." Twyla smiled, pulling things back out of the drawers and depositing them on the bed to be folded and placed nicely and neatly into the drawers. "Henri's not like the girl's from school, she's into a lot of the same things as me, ya know? We get along good because of that, similar taste and personality and all that. I'm glad you like--"

Nate suddenly cut her off mid sentence and mid fold. "But if that kid ever does anything to hurt you I'll kick hiser a** and I won't feel bad about it. He may seem honest but he's still a teenage boy half of the time--and I get the feeling he's into more tricks than he lets on." The man didn't explain himself, just kicked off his boots and plopped onto the bed, TV remote in hand. The fact that he spoke so calmly and matter-of-fact made Twyla believe his words, but she rolled her eyes and kicked off her own shoes anyway like he was joking.

"I am so tired." Nate mumbled as he shifted through channels. "Plane rides are really weird, ya know? It's like being trapped in this giant tube of nasty air and it's cold. I think the trip is making me sleepy or something." His speech became decidedly slower as his head sunk lower on his chest. Before his sister could even say anything in reply he was snoring softly, remote still clutched in hand.

"It's good to see you too, Nate." Twyla said softly as she used the coverlet to tuck in the hulking form (or as much of it as she could). A moment later she was out in the hall, shoes clutched in hand after tip-toeing out and locking the hotel door behind her.