InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "walking fast faces don't pass"

Maia | Μαια (starry_sky) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2016-08-08 11:11:00

Entry tags:

maia, william shakespeare

Who: Maia and William Shakespeare
When: Backdated to when the blackout started
Where: The dark, scary streets of NYC, then Kings College
What: Blackout

Usually when Maia made her trips into the city it was a one-day event in which she made sure to drop by and seen her son. Her plans for today were no different, apart from the added bonus of seeing her parents and the ultrasound pictures she had demanded they share with her. It was always a treat to see her family, especially since she didn't really have much of a social life. She was far too shy to go to the city more often than was necessary. However, her trip that day would soon turn into something entirely unexpected. At first it was difficult to gauge how dark it was. It seemed different. The entire city seemed quieter, darker, and yet it was still daylight when she arrived. Her first stop proved unsuccessful, as the store was without power and she wouldn't be able to purchase her supplies until power was restored. Maia headed off to her next stop, finding they too had no power. Her third and final stop had the same problem. That was odd, but it got even stranger when she heard the entire city was without power. Had there been a storm before she arrived? It didn't appear that way. Nothing seemed off to her apart from the power simply being out.

Well, if she couldn't buy supplies she would go visit her family. By the time she left the last store night had fallen and Maia was very much aware of how dark the city was without its lights. There were several crashing sounds as drivers plowed into each other. Surely they could drive without the streetlights and not hit other cars? Apparently that was unspoken of in New York City. If she had been on the country road near her farm she wouldn't have had any issues, seeing as it was dark at night and she was used to that sort of driving. However, she felt uneasy about getting in her truck with these lunatics on the road.

Maia stepped back into the store, if only for shelter and to feel a little safer. She texted her son first, letting him know she was in the city and would find her way to him in a couple of hours. Next, she texted her mother to let her know she was on her way now and would (hopefully) be there shortly. However, fate seemed to have an entirely different plan for her as she made her way cautiously down the sidewalk. Maia was used to the night sky. She could navigate it from almost anywhere, but the tall buildings made it incredibly difficult to find her way. She felt more and more uneasy and she felt her hands tremble as she looked over her shoulder from time to time. Every so often she imagined someone as following her, and for all she knew there was someone close by.

There was a scream nearby, crashing, the sound of glass breaking. That sent Maia into a full sprint down the sidewalk as her survival instincts kicked in. When she was out of breath she forced herself to slow down and stop at an old looking gate. There was a sign that indicated she was at The Kings College. She groaned. That was nowhere near her parents apartment. She had somehow managed to go the opposite direction. A noise nearby sent her through the gate and into the nearest building. She wandered aimlessly, peering into classrooms and trying to open doors. None seemed to be opened at this hour. Something about all of this reminded her of old days, when she lived in that Arcadian cave so many years ago. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and were still settling when she thought she saw an open door. Yes, she could see moonlight peering through to the hallway. She hurried along the hallway and into the room, shutting and locking the door behind her. She took a deep breath to steady herself as she looked at her phone. "This city has gone crazy," she muttered to herself as she found a message from her mother, indicating they too were without power but were alright. She never doubted once her mother and father were alright. If anyone could survive without power and not completely lose their minds it was them.

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theworlds_stage
2016-08-10 10:39 pm UTC (link)

William had taken advantage of having his classroom to himself. It was eerily dark and that much time alone (save some stragglers who crashed other rooms for refuge), well it could make anyone look a little on the crazy side.

His phone was on it's last legs, so he used the handheld flashlight and pointed it towards the stage. It gave an ominous spotlight. He'd lived in a time when there was no electricity (a time he was much more comfortable with), so he lit a few candles and placed them on various desks and then put on what was considered a costume hat now, a cape and used this as a chance to recite as if he were on the Globe stage again. He used to act, people often forgot that.

Believing no one else was around he just let loose and started to act a scene from one of his own plays. Maybe it would evoke some newfound sonnet or play that had been buried deep down inside of him. He hadn't been able to write (really write) for centuries. The world took it from him to the point that he was just a weak rubber band that had been stretched as far as it could go. Now it couldn't even be launched across the room. But this? Acting and reciting things? Maybe that would be a newfound avenue. A new platform and stage to set. Maybe all this time he had been trying to go down the wrong path. Maybe the darkness wasn't evil at all, maybe it was a gift.

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starry_sky
2016-08-11 12:43 pm UTC (link)

Maia hadn't taken the time to make sure whatever room she had taken refuge in was entirely empty. In fact, she hadn't yet taken the time to make sure there was only the one door. She tucked her phone back into her pocket and began peering around the seemingly empty space. Her eyes settled on the man just as he began reciting. She didn't recognize it. She wasn't all that familiar with works outside her own pantheon.

She stood there in the darkness, pressed firmly against the door and her hand on the lock in case she needed to flee quickly. She was a quiet presence, watching silently as this man performed for no one. She found it odd that someone could be so calm when the city was falling into disarray around them. But that was when she realized she could feel his presence just as well as she could see and hear him. He was like her. She didn't recognize him, but there was no doubt in her mind that he was immortal.

Maia just stood there, watching curiously and trying to figure out if she could work out who this man was. He wasn't Greek. They gave off a specific vibe. However, Maia hadn't gone out of her way to figure out any other pantheons. She just knew he wasn't familiar. The shadows could hide her, but surely he would detect her eventually. Her breathing had slowed down, and for the life of her she couldn't figure out why she hadn't turned tail and run away yet. There was something mesmerizing about this man and she suspected it had to do with his immortality. He must have been someone famous.

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theworlds_stage
2016-08-18 02:22 pm UTC (link)

William was completely engrossed in his own speech that he had no idea someone was watching. He shuffled back and forth across the stage, pretending to be all the parts that he was reading lines for. He was a one man show, but he knew the words with such ease, he made this look effortless.

There was a small flicker to his light as she moved and he cocked his head to look. He saw a shadow and instantly stood tall. "May I help you?" He didn't know who he was calling out, but he hoped they were of no threat to him.

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starry_sky
2016-08-18 02:34 pm UTC (link)

For the next few minutes, Maia forgot about the darkness and the rioting that had begun over the last hour. She was no actress, so it was rather intriguing watching one man perform various roles with such ease that for a few minutes she was entertained despite her own anxiety. For those few moments she forgot all about the danger outside these walls.

Maia stood perfectly still, stiff against the door after he called out. Her eyes widened and for a few seconds she just stood there like a deer in headlights. She swallowed before taking a deep breath and answered timidly, "No. I just wanted a safe place to hide. I can go somewhere else." For Maia, it was difficult talking to anyone she didn't know. Particularly if they weren't family.

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