The Art Of It – Daniel 42

 

For back story go here: Story so far, and definitely this one.]

[Relevant back story links also within text.]

Daniel walked down the street in the sunshine. Mid winter it may be but it felt good to be able to experience the rays of partial heat on his face and hands. Real natural light was at a premium at the moment with the shorter days and instructions to stay home. And there were times when getting Daisy out of the house felt like trying to pull an elephant out of a phone box.

He walked past the shopping arcade which was open and despite everything, buzzing with business – or as much as it could. There were fewer people around he guessed but those who were there seemed happy enough. There wasn’t the same air of worry and apprehension that he’d felt on previous walks. That said, everyone was masked so you couldn’t really tell any signs of anxiety or otherwise on their faces.

The journey took him further, down past the reclaimed warehouses where a new hub of start-up businesses had been encouraged to take advantage of cheap rents and ecologically sound renovations. Some people were too cool for their own good, thought Daniel, although this was the kind of thing Trinny would love. And then he wondered why he thought that and on what basis he was now judging both her and everyone else – Trinny was someone he’d never actually stood in the same room with, and yet somehow he felt entitled to have a view on her.

At the end of the lane was the contemporary art gallery where he was to meet his contact. Daniel wasn’t a huge art buff but he liked the laid back chill nature of galleries, and usually there was at least one thing he liked the look of. He didn’t know what the current exhibition was but he knew it was a range of artists rather than just one so maybe there would be someone there he liked.

The electronic doors slid open to let him through – nice touch he thought – removing any idea of anyone touching the same surface. There were stairs and a large arrow inviting him to ascend which he did.

The first floor offered an entrance into the main hall and as he walked in he almost stopped breathing. There were people. Lots of people. Comparatively lots of people. To find himself near surrounded was a shock to the system after all this time. Daniel checked his thinking and pinched himself. He was not dreaming. Not dreaming.

Mask on, he scanned the crowd and thought he might venture forwards, just to see what would happen. Would he get to a certain point and be stopped by someone? Would his own sense of self preservation kick in and lead him at speed from this location? Would the police turn up? They could already be on their way.

And then at the far side of the hall he saw her. She had wavey shoulder length brown hair and was a little shorter than advertised – advertised, for heaven’s sake these weren’t advertisements! – but it was definitely her. The smile and eyes that he’d noticed on the app were there and even now as he caught her eye, the look he got back reaffirmed his belief.

As he approached she masked up as well, having just taken a sip from her glass of free wine, taken from one of several serving people. Daniel decided to waive the refreshments. It was enough of a risk, he felt, being here let alone actually consuming anything offer.

“Hello,” he said. “You must be Mary?”

“I am,” said Mary. “And I’m thinking you’re Daniel.”

“Correct,” said Daniel. “Glad we found each other.”

“That remains to be seen,” she said with half a smile.

“Have you been here long?” asked Daniel. “Has it been a good event?”

“That remains to be seen,” repeated Mary with half a smile.

Daniel gave the other half smile beneath his mask.

“Tell me about yourself. I know you’re a musician, a performer, bit of writer, yes? I guess you’ve not been able to play publicly since this all kicked off?”

“That remains to be seen,” said Mary with half a smile.

“Dammit we’re glitching,” said a voice in his ear. “Hold on one second.”

Daniel stood, watching, waiting. Mary stopped smiling and then smiled at him again.

“OK,” said the voice. “Let’s try again.”

“Have you been able to play publicly since this all kicked off?” asked Daniel.

Mary paused before giving her answer: “That remains to be seen,” she said.

Daniel took off the VR headset and sighed. It was way past midnight and he was tired.

He pulled up the message app and wrote: – Background and setting near perfect but we have to get the interaction right for it to work.

– Roger that, came Trinny's reply. – But you have to admit a virtual reality dating service could be the way ahead, right?