The entrance was not yet full of people, but the staff were busy preparing for the rush of folks. A ticket-taker winked at the Carroway's and asked how they liked the performance.
"It was a lovely performance, thank you for the hospitality. I'll be telling all my friends to come here!"
Ludwig was exhausted and eager to leave the venue and get home to rest.
"No, thank you, good doctor," returned an usher.
"We'll see you again soon!" Chimed in another.
They weren't aware of it, but that night was the last time they'd hear music in a very long time.
Outside, they were welcomed by the faint but soothing hum of the city, its people, cars, and electric signs. With the fresh damp air, they stepped out into the night. Cobblestones lay underfoot, and above, was sky, a monochrome sheet of black, stars blotted out by the lights of Yharnam's nightlife.
Ludwig hailed a taxi.
"Where to?"
"We live on Courdelaine Ave. It's two blocks South of the East-End clinic" piped up Clara.
"I know the area well miss, thank you. My wife was just in the clinic last week, and again yesterday."
Clara face showed a slight frown.
"I'm so sorry, is she alright?"
"Terrors. She's hardly slept a wink, I don't know how much it'll continue. I catch her often staring at moonlight at the wee hours of the morning when I'm getting home from work."
Terrors were the colloquial name give to the condition affecting much of Yharnam. The state of being most diagnosable was sleep deprivation psychosis. It is a condition often accompanied by delusions, confusion, irritability, an inability to distinguish reality from fantasy, it was a complete shutdown of the nervous system. Exhaustion, as it were, could kill a man. Or many men in the city of Yharnam.
The silence hung heavy in the car. It was only deadened by the buzz of the engine carrying them down the street. They didn't exchange further on the way back. The couple was too tired to also stress about work in a car-ride home.
***
Ludwig and Clara thanked the driver and left a few dollar notes extra atop their fair. As it puttered off, and the silence and solitude of morning air hit their faces, they walked up to the flat they called home.
The residence was in many regards middle of the pack. It wasn't drab, nor opulent. Not dilapidated, nor distinguishable. The ornate concrete was consistent with most other buildings in the area, and the local moss was the only flora visible besides a few meek pieces of grass poking up from cracks in the sidewalk.
The only feature that distinguished this flat from any other, was the deep green hue of the door. It was like a spinach leaf, maybe a shade or two darker.
As the couple entered the home, they were greeted with the strong scent of Mrs. Ford's perfume, the salt and butter combination of one of her pies, and something else they couldn't quite pick up.
Ludwig doffed his coat and hung it over a chair before heading to his liquor cabinet.
Clara pinched the back of his sleeve to catch his attention.
"Pour me a glass love, and hang up your damn coat, I already have two children, I won't be your mother as well."
"I know, I know, though I don't think any God would forgive me for the things we do if you were my mother," he returned.
As they lent in for a kiss they heard
"EWWWWW DAAAAD" in perfect synchronization from the two kids.
"Now what are you two doing out of bed, you both ought to be long rested by now"
Lucas pulled his small shoulders back.
"Oh but we did, and we are very well rested, can't you tell?" He spoke with a bit of youthful overconfidence in this boldface lie he was telling.
"What, no we.."
Lucas pinched Emma before she could finish. She yelped at the sudden pain and began to rub it before looking angrily at her older brother, clearly ready to give him a good one.
In anticipation of this, they were both entangled in a bear hug by their father, his stubble pressing against their cheeks. "It was like kissing a porcupine," their mother had joked once or twice in the past.
If porcupines smelled like brandy, cologne, and wore stethoscopes, a porcupine he would be.
"I love you both, I could just squeeze and squeeze till you pop" He tightened his grip as his hands clasped together, sealing their fate. "Of course, I'd understand if I'm preventing you from sleep." His stubble at this point was leaving red marks on their faces.
Lucas was the first to relent, his hair wasn't quite long enough to protect him like his sister's.
They scampered away, off to bed.
Clara by this point had poured herself a glass
"I'll make sure they're asleep in 10 minutes, now take your coat and wash up, we both have early mornings."
Ludwig rose with some effort, and tried to get the glass from her hands, she however, was much more alert, and deftly avoided his attempt.
"I'll pour you some, but wash up first," she said quite assertively.
He retreated and was on his way when he turned back and asked "where's Mrs. Ford? She said she'd be awake till we got home."
This time, a small voice from around the corner Chimed in, "oh I'm here, though I apologize. I needed to lie down, they've only gotten faster and I can't seem to keep up these days."
Mrs. Ford emerged and reached a hand for Ludwig's assistance. He complied.
Mrs. Ford actually helped care for Ludwig as a young boy, so he had seen her grow old just as she had him.
"I appreciate the concern as well, but it'd be snow in June before I fail to keep my word. Be careful or I'll promise to haunt you."
At this Clara began to chuckle under her breath inaudibly, she loved seeing her husband get in trouble with Mrs. Ford.
"Don't threaten me with heaven," he teased back. "Do you need to spend the night, we know it's late."
"No, no. I'm quite independent you know, I can even change my own diapers."
At this she finally broke him down to a chuckle.
"I'll be alright, the children were lovely. I would however be concerned about their sleep. They need it to be healthy and I'm worried for Emma's constitution especially. She gets winded just trying to keep up with him."
It was true, Emma had hardly been sleeping. Lucas did his best to stay up with her, take naps in the day, but eventually, at around this hour, he would succumb to sleep. Ludwig and Clara took turns staying up with her. He would check her vitals, take notes. He was a warm father, but during these moments, he was a bit exact with his efforts.
Clara on the other hand, would tell stories, stories of things that didn't exist, things that did, even silly anecdotes of the misadventures Lucas had as a baby, or her father as a young man. To young Emma, her mom was the great harbinger of knowledge she was yet to obtain.
Ludwig relaxed his arm as Mrs. Ford made it to the door.
She turned.
"Come over for tea tomorrow, I'll have cookies as well. I want to discuss something with you both."
Ludwig was uneasy and it showed on his face.
"Oh don't worry old man. it's good news actually. But it'll have to wait for tomorrow. You look more old and tired than I do right now."
He smiled wryly at this jab, surely Clara and her had been exchanging a little TOO frequently.
"We'll be there, I'll send the kids before to help set up. Goodnight your majesty."
She hit his shoulder at this obvious retort for calling him old, and she went off towards her flat.
With the night at a close, they too retired after seeing a flash-light under the blanket in the children's room.
Clara lay on her side and softly padded Ludwig's shoulder.
"I'll take over in an hour. You take care of her at 4am love."
"Works for me, goodnight."
"Goodnight"