Sept. 2nd: Books Are Safe, Right?

by **Maya Mills** » Thu Oct 02, 2014 12:13 am

In the late afternoon, Maya takes a trip into town to do a little shopping. She stops at a small used bookstore, a bit off the beaten path but with some interesting books on history and folklore; two of Maya's favorite subjects. After looking around a bit (and alphabetizing some out of place books), she stops to glance through a tattered hardback on some long-forgotten culture.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 5:28 pm

Around a corner, Barbara peered at the other girl.

by **Maya Mills** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:41 pm

In one of her nervous glances around the store, Maya spots Barbara. Awkwardly, she waves at the girl.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:59 pm

Barbara awkwardly waved back. "Don't I know you from school?"

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:06 am

"Probably?" Maya says. "I'm Maya. Maya Mills."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:19 am

"Barbara Kirby. Are you new here, too?"

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:21 am

"Yeah. A little," Maya says. She hugs the book to her chest, like she's afraid someone might steal it from her while she's talking. "I just started. I haven't even really figured out how to do...power things, yet."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:22 am

"Power stuff is...overrated, anyway."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:37 am

"Yeah. It really is," Maya says.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:52 am

"But that's all they want to talk about, it seems."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 12:53 am

"Well, it is kind of important. It's why we're, you know...here," Maya says.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 3:13 pm

"I thought we were here to learn."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:02 pm

"Maybe. Sorry," Maya says, wincing. "It's just, well, I mean....we could go learn anywhere? Right? There's a reason we're here."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:00 pm

"Not all of us can go anywhere," Barbara moped. "Stupid MRA."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 7:49 pm

"Exactly," Maya says. "We're here because of our powers. One way or another."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:06 pm

"Yeah. It sucks."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 8:12 pm

"Well, it could always be worse. I mean, we're not being constantly tortured. Or experimented on. Or murdered," Maya says.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:20 pm

"Maybe they ARE experimenting on us. Haven't you seen the Danger Room?"

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:54 pm

Maya sighs, "Yes. Unfortunately."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:57 pm

"Don't tell me they're not recording that."

by **Maya Mills** » Tue Oct 07, 2014 10:08 pm

"I assume everyone records everything. All the time," Maya says.

"It is terrifying."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 12:34 am

"Well, that's more or less true here in England. Did you know they have one camera for every 11 people?"

by **Maya Mills** » Wed Oct 08, 2014 1:11 am

"Well, I guess we'll all just have to learn to share then," Maya jokes weakly.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 2:23 am

"I think it's dumb. Everyone's expecting Harry Potter, when it's really more George Orwell."

by **Maya Mills** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 11:52 am

"They're going to lock our head in a cage?"

by **Barbara Kirby** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 4:20 pm

"Nah, probably just keep tabs on us at all times. Creepy telepathy things and whatnot."

by **Maya Mills** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 4:38 pm

"Yeah. That makes sense," Maya says. "I mean, if they want to keep us safe, they need to know what we're doing, where we are, stuff like that."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 4:44 pm

"Not to mention that, according to the student info pamphlet, the headmistress can read your thoughts, the English teacher knows what you will do, and the X-Team leader could be anywhere. No, nothing suspicious about that at all."

by **Maya Mills** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:52 pm

"They can't help how they were born," Maya says.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:37 pm

"Yeah, but putting them all in power is suspicious."

by **Maya Mills** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:55 pm

"I don't think it takes a conspiracy for the most powerful and dangerous people to end up in power," Maya says.

by **Barbara Kirby** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 10:58 pm

"No, just the permissive culture of "Jolly 'ol England."

by **Maya Mills** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 1:37 pm

"You don't like England?"

by **Barbara Kirby** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:59 pm

"Like I said--everyone else here expects it to be Mary Poppins or something. It's not a fantasy land, it's a real place."

by **Maya Mills** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 6:03 pm

"Maybe. But I don't think you're giving people enough credit."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:38 pm

"Oh?"

by **Maya Mills** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 10:55 pm

"People are smart. They know what's going on," Maya says. "Sometimes they feel too powerless or too scared to do anything. And sometimes they don't want to see things that'll hurt them. But you shouldn't underestimate them."

Maya glances over at an older gentleman across the store, "That man right there? Every day, everything in the world is trying to kill him. He could be hit by a bus or get cancer or stabbed or a man with the ability to throw rocks around could level an entire city block around him. And that's not even getting into all the radiation in space or stuff like that. But he faces it every day. Just like everyone else."

Maya hugs her book tightly, "I think that's amazing."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 3:29 pm

"Yeah, but at the same time, you have idiot high schoolers filming themselves jumping off buildings or holding on to ropes tied to ends of cars. Those are the kinds of people I'm talking about."

by **Maya Mills** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:19 pm

"And some people smoke or eat junk food," Maya says with a shrug. "It doesn't mean their dumb. They just have different priorities."

by **Barbara Kirby** » Sat Oct 11, 2014 10:54 pm

"People who smoke are dumb, though."

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