no-one speaks
Durban and Moscow are the first up
one occupies the ensuite of the room they share
the other goes to one of the apartment bathrooms
when they are dressed they go to the common area
both of them stop when they hear the piano
without a word they slowly walk to where Seoul sits on a couch facing the windows and the city
they stand behind her looking out
Durban sighs, turns and goes to the kitchen
Moscow places a palm on Seoul’s shoulder
she reaches up with both hands and takes his in them
after a moment he relaxes his hand and she releases him
he joins Durban in the kitchen
after showing the children where towels and bathroom needs can be found, Vitoria joins the others in the common area
in the kitchen both Moscow and Durban give her a brief embrace in turn, then Durban makes her a latte
she walks to living room and settles beside Seoul, tucking her legs beneath her up on the couch
with her free hand she takes one of Seoul’s, their arms parallel and resting against each-other
when the children are dressed, they each sit at the bar
the men lay out plates with bacon, eggs, sausage, tomato and toast
they leave them to be taken by whoever should want it
as an afterthought, Durban goes to one of the cupboards and brings out several small boxes of cereal
then to the fridge and for milk, fruit and fruit-juice, placing them on the bench
Moscow makes up a plate with small portions of everything and takes two forks
he walks to the living room and gives the plate to Vitoria and Seoul
as Durban finishes up in the kitchen, Cairo enters and walks slowly to him
he stops what he is doing and the two embrace, Cairo’s face towards the bench and living room
as they stand together she looks over each person in the apartment, then the city beyond the window
eventually they let go of one-another, and Cairo looks back to Durban
he raises his eyebrows, but she shakes her head gently
Durban nods, then gives Cairo one of the plates
Moscow returns and takes one of his own, then the two men and Cairo go to the dinner table and eat
Auckland sits on the edge of the bed staring out at the city
softly from the apartment, he hears the muffled sounds of cutlery on ceramic
clinks and scrapes at random intervals
accidental percussive strikes against glass
from vents low in the walls,
slightly warm air drifts into the room
the toneless whispering of climate control
he gets up
goes to the ensuite and turns on the shower
as he removes his underwear he feels his actions are wooden
it reminds him of how Venice looked that last day
Auckland stops
the high-pitched percussive slap of water striking ceramic
something triggers his mind to shift track
he lifts his shirt to his face
the faint scent of Cairo’s body
when Auckland enters the common apartment, everyone has finished eating
some have cups of coffee in their hands, juice or water
when he appears everyone turns to him and he realises they were waiting for him
he exhales
sees the dishes by the sink and walks to them
as he begins to prepare to wash them, Cairo steps behind him and places her hands on his shoulders, gently pulls him away
he turns to look at her and she gives him a small smile, turns to the sink and resumes washing
Moscow hands him a glass of water
the dull clank of crockery submerged in water
the exhale of climate control
sitting or standing, leaning against bench-edges or walls
everyone waits without saying a word