(no subject)

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy and Helen step out of the phone box into a street in Holby. It's cloudy, and looks a little like rain. Passers-by push past, in a hurry, without caring if they barge into anyone. There is a gloom about the place.

Guppy smiles at Helen.

"Welcome to Holby."

Comments

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen's eyes widen as she sees Holby. The clouds are a bit disconcerting to her, but she tries to keep up her bright attitude. This is interrupted rudely when a pedestrian hits her shoulder. "Ow!" Helen rubs her shoulder and curses softly in Greek. She clings to Guppy. "Interesting..." she says. "Kind of...dark, but still interesting."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Sorry, these people have no manners."

Guppy puts his arm around her and tries to avoid the pedestrians.

"Okay, guided tour starts this way."

He leads her through the crowds to a less densely packed area, with men in green taking people out of ambulances.

"Not the best tourist attraction, but this is where I work. Holby General. It just happens to be on the way."

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen nods, wincing as a patient is carried out on a stretcher. She looks the building up and down. "I guess I should just hope I don't have to go there while we're here." She smiles, trying not to look terrified by the strange new place.

[guppy_sandhu]

"I hope so too."

Especially as you won't be on the records

"Anyway, let's move on." Guppy says quickly, noticing the fear in Helen's eyes and hoping that he had made it clear enough before that he came from a bit of a rough area. He takes her by the hand and leads her to a bus stop.

"We'll have to get a bus to go to the animal shelter. It's too far to walk from here."

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen nods, happy to be moving away from the hosital. "Alright. I have seen a bus, but never been on one before. Anything special I should know?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Erm... if you have to stand, hold on tight. When we are ready to get off I'll tell you and you can push the little button on the hand rail. I'll pay, so don't worry about that."

As one comes he sticks his arm out and it stops.

"Two for London road please." he says to the driver, smiing reassuringly at Helen.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen smiles back, trying not to look too overwhelmed, and especially not look too wierd to the other passengers. She sticks close to Guppy, following his lead.

[guppy_sandhu]

The bus luckily isn't too crowded. None of the other passengers seem to be taking much notice. In one corner a young boy is blowing bubbles with bubble gum, whilst a few seats in front two ladies are talking loudly about some soap opera or other. A woman with twin toddlers gets on at the next stop and sits down behind them. One of them bawls his eyes out until the mother gives him some E-number infested sweets.

"Are you okay? It's not a long ride." Guppy asks Helen quietly, putting his arm around her gently.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen smiles bright, taking in her new surroundings. She tries to listen in to the Ladies' conversation, while watching the boy with amusment and smiling sympathetically at the mother with the twins. This is taking quite a bit of effort, but she still manages to nestle into Guppy's arm and say, "Yes, I'm fine. And you?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Used to it." Guppy grins. "This is my home, it always has been."

One of the twins starts kicking the seat until his mother shouts at him to stop and gives him a bottle of coke to shut him up. Guppy restrains himself from wincing at a child that age being given fizzy drinks.

"It's no wonder those two are behaving so badly. She's filling them up with additives." he whispers to Helen.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen grins. "I guess it does take some getting used to." Helen shrugs. "Additives? What do they do?" she whispers quietly back. "The next time one of them acts up, should I say something?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Additives are things put in food to make it look pretty, last longer or taste better, but they can make kids hyperactive and badly behaved. It's in the media all the time, so chances are she knows. Anyway, this is our stop."

He gets up and shows her which button to press.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen shrugs. "Her fault if she ignores it." she says, possibly a bit too loudly. She pushes the button fairly hard and then follows him.

[guppy_sandhu]

As they get off the bus the woman scowls at Helen. This area of Holby is a little quieter than the busy street they had first come out into. Rather than bustling pedestrians, there are people quietly taking a walk, buying ice creams and looking at the boats. It's the dock. The sea is a murky blue, as the black clouds hover over it. Guppy suddenly becomes slightly uncomfortable. There is a fence post that has been covered with police tape to protect people from the jagged edge of the broken wood.

"This is the dock." Guppy says, still a little quiet. "If you look over there, you can see Wales from here."

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen likes this area of Holby much better. She gazes out across the sea, suddenly feeling a bit more at home. "This is like home...but less sunny." she smiles, but it is broken by Guppy's unsettledness. "It's beautiful." she says. "Why the long face?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy points to the tape on the fence post.

"That's where Claire drove herself into the sea. Otherwise yes, this is a nicer place."

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen nods slowly. "Oh." she says. "Right. I'm...very sorry to bring that up." Stupid, Helen! Very stupid!

[guppy_sandhu]

"Don't worry about it. Come on, the shelter's just down here."

Talking of Claire has made him nervous. Holby is a city of repeated disasters. He doesn't want any harm to come to Helen. He takes her hand and watches out for muggers, terrorists and crashing planes.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen squeezes his hand and walks by his side as he leads the way. She walks calmly, just taking in her new surroundings.

[guppy_sandhu]

There is a sound of many cats and dogs meowing and barking as they approach a large building, with 'Holby Animal Sh lter' written above the door. Guppy holds the door open for Helen.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen's eyes widen like a child in a candy store. "Wow...." She breathes. "This is amazing..."

[guppy_sandhu]

The receptionist looks up.

"Can I help you?" she asks, smiling at Helen.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen smiles back, trying not to seem too overwhelmed. "Ah, yes. I would like to adopt a cat...or a dog...or both." she smiles warmly.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Well you've come to the right place. I wouldn't advise adopting both at once, but we'll see. Feel free to have a wander around, and then when you've made your decision come back here and I'll find a kennel hand to help you."

She indicates a door to the left.

[prettyhelen.livejournal.com]

Helen smiles. "Thank you!" she grabs Guppy by the hand and opens the door. Think: Child entering toy store.