lost

[mayapatil]

[ pallavi sharda | 30 | cisfemale | she/her ] Hey, look! It’s [MAYA PATIL]. Did you know they [WORK] as a [PROGRAMMER]? I guess they’re from [NEW JERSEY] and have been in town for [1 MONTH], living in [DOWNTOWN]. I also heard they’re a little [DETACHED], but also very [FOCUSED] which definitely makes sense.[ jess | 29 | gmt | she/her ]

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Maya was raised to believe that happiness came once you were married. Her parents were an arranged marriage success and Maya always felt that that was the best way to approach love, pragmatically.

She worked hard in school, encouraged to pursue harder classes and always tackle new challenges.

Maya made friends but she weighed them up like mathematical problems. Testing if they were good or bad for her like a science experiment.

She never really allowed herself to feel, focusing purely on statistics.

Computers became her comfort place, they were simple, they had a right and wrong way, they told you when you’d done something wrong, she related to that.

By the time she finished High School Maya was a pretty proficient computer programmer, which was rather rare. Luckily her parents had had a friend who could afford a decent computer, so Maya got her practise in there.

She studied computing at college and got herself a job at a rather big company.

At 16 Maya knew that she didn’t like boys the way that her friends did but she kept it to herself, knowing how much it would break her parent’s hearts.

She was already going against them by pursuing a role in tech, rather than becoming a doctor, she couldn’t tell them that the whole future they’d envisioned would never happen.

Maya continued to rise up in the company and by the age of 26 she’d started her own programming charity alongside her job, wanting to ensure that women in tech were given the same advantages that men had.

Two years ago Maya met the love of her life. She hadn’t planned it, they’d started off as friends but Maya could only ignore her feelings for so long. It was perfect, the kind of feeling that Maya thought was only in movies.

She ended up living two separate lives, one in the city where she was out and proud. The other back in New Jersey with her family, where she was the quintessential daughter, avoiding the many dates her mother attempted to set her up on.

Maya struggled to keep up her two lives, losing parts of who she was in both.

She found herself drinking more, using alcohol as a way to ignore the problems that she was facing.

It grew strained though and the relationship couldn’t cope.

The relationship blew up dramatically and Maya ran from it, always struggling to balance her emotions.

She got herself a new job, based solely online and picked a town at random to move to, East Haven Vermont.

Wanted Connections

Friend: Unless they are from New Jersey or New York this will be a new friend. She needs someone who sees through the bullshit.

Old Friend: Someone from NY or NJ that has known her a while.

Hookups: Maya is gay but she's also pretty repressed. She's kind of in a tail spin at the moment so she's hooking up with girls and guys. She's attempting to convince herself to be straight but also, then she meets girls at bars and ...

The Ex: Big drama

Drinking buddies: Maya is currently drinking rather than feeling, so anyone that is willing to do that with her will instantly become a friend.

The one that notices: someone who notices that perhaps Maya isn't coping/doesn't have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

[mayapatil]

Who: @dean-walker Where: 4th July Celebration

Maya still hadn't really made many friends in town, probably because she spent most of her time working at home and the rest of it getting drunk alone in bars. She was lonely but she forced herself out to the Carnival because she knew that she needed to actually see daylight and perhaps socialise with some real people. She grinned when she spotted Dean, one of the few people that she'd actually bonded with since the move. "Hubby!" she exclaimed, beelining towards him. "I'm so glad I've run into you because I've been searching for a macho man to win me a cuddly toy."

[thejospring]

"Well, there you go." She nodded. She wasn't sure anymore whether she liked East Haven or not. She hadn't moved back in because she liked the place. She didn't come back for the amazing night scene or the friendly neighbours or the dynamic events. So it was hard to say. "I don't keep a list but I've probably had a drink in all of them. Frankly if I've only had one, I won't be recommending it," she said with a laugh. "What's most important... Hm... I guess you could rank them by price, by best beer... Well this one could depend on your drink of choice actually... Drink range can also be a scale, I guess. Then there's ambiance of course."

[mayapatil]

She laughed at the options that the other suggested, they were all pretty fair ways to categorise bars. "Only having one drink could be a good thing if it was because you got talking to someone and decided to bail on the whole bar idea," she suggested. "Beer is a pretty solid choice," she agreed, though if she wanted to get drunk she tended to choose something stronger. "Oof this is tough," she claimed, "maybe top ambience and top drinks?" she asked, two suggestions seemed to be a good place to start.

[marbledmayhem]

The previous night with Maya had been… interesting. In all honesty, after she ghosted (which in itself wasn’t all too surprising) Alex had never thought he’d see her again. They’d had fun flirting - he had, at least - but there was something about her that he couldn’t put his finger on that told him there was no chance of anything happening between them even if she hadn’t ghosted. Alex was fine with that. It was none of his business what she was dealing with in her personal life or whatever else had given him the vibe that this was just a bit of flirty fun. In fact it was easier for women to ghost him. Letting women down after things didn’t work out got a bit tiring.

He laughed at her comment. “Well, I’m glad I didn’t scare you off so much you decided to never come back altogether.” While he didn’t know what was going on with her, he didn’t get the feeling that she had ghosted him for any personal reason. Perhaps that was naive of him as he knew there were a lot of guys who completely misinterpreted their interactions with women. Still, he wanted to think that she hadn’t hated their conversation so much she never wanted to speak with him. “Feel free to tell me to fuck off, but I’d be happy to buy you a drink or two. Completely platonic, zero-expectation drinks. Things may not have ended in fireworks as you said, but I still thought the company was decent.” Alex wouldn’t blame her if she said no to his offer. She intrigued him nonetheless, and he would rather be drinking with a friendly face than alone. There was little for him to lose.

[mayapatil]

Maya had been pretty full on with him, that much she did remember, the flirting had been pretty intense and Maya had not been at all subtle, but that was because it had all been a performative act. Then Maya's actual self had kicked back in and she'd retreated home to her safe space. Though it wasn't really that safe as she'd pretty much sent herself into an existential crisis.

"It would take a lot to scare me off a decent bar," she retorted, but she hated how true that sentence was, bars were her real happy place and she certainly spent too much time at them. She nodded, "the company was decent," she said, wishing she was more drunk as this conversation would be a lot less awkward, "I can deal with that," she agreed, "but I'll buy my own drinks."

[mayapatil]

Maya had been pretty full on with him, that much she did remember, the flirting had been pretty intense and Maya had not been at all subtle, but that was because it had all been a performative act. Then Maya's actual self had kicked back in and she'd retreated home to her safe space. Though it wasn't really that safe as she'd pretty much sent herself into an existential crisis.

"It would take a lot to scare me off a decent bar," she retorted, but she hated how true that sentence was, bars were her real happy place and she certainly spent too much time at them. She nodded, "the company was decent," she said, wishing she was more drunk as this conversation would be a lot less awkward, "I can deal with that," she agreed, "but I'll buy my own drinks."

[tomasxcooper]

He chuckled a little "It's just part of LA and things are quicker that way" most of the time safer too. So they could take you to a spot so you could get in without being stopped at times, with fans who can be crazy. That driving was such a pain he just never liked to do it, it was all easy that way. "Yeah well" he shrugged. Since Arya got it for him he had it, and still did. "I mean I had other cars then my truck... we did drive just not a lot" you did drive when you wanted too and when at times to you wanted to show off.

"It's not always money that makes you an asshole, I was one before I made anything..." he had no idea if she knew who he was. he guessed not since she seemed surprised by what he had been saying. But in LA he did have money friends for sure, that he knew because both had money.

[mayapatil]

"I don't think it's a thing for regular people," she pointed out, "uber perhaps, but not a driver that you use regularly and they know your name and all of that," she stated, "did they wear a hat?" She felt like drivers should wear hats, it felt appropriate. "Multiple cars and you barely drove, got it," she smirked.

She laughed at this comment, "well that's true, I am also an asshole and lord knows I am not rich," she explained. Maya had hurt quite a few people along the way, which certainly landed her in asshole territory.

[dean-walker]

"I did guess you were a heartbreaker without prior knowledge, so I should get some credit for that at least" he said before smiling. "See I'm playing the long con, if you're not in love with me already you'll slowly fall for me because I'm such a good listener" he joked, having fun with their conversation. He enjoyed talking to her, so he was already making a mental note to actually take her out kayaking. He needed more platonic friends- and having a platonic wife seemed new and fun for him. He shook his head at her next comment, "I don't have any family so there's no honor to go for there" he shrugged, "I'm a very poor lawyer, I only take pro bono cases" he joked with a laugh.

[mayapatil]

"Well, I mean that much was obvious by just looking at me," she grinned mischeviously, it was pretty clear that her attempt at being vain was purely a joke. "Oh, we love a man with a long term plan," she smiled. She raised an eyebrow at his comment, "no family?" she questioned, "do you at least have friends, because otherwise I am a little concerned..." Maya hadn't felt this comfortable with someone in a while, definitely not since she left New York. Chatting to Dean was like they'd known each other for ages, both happy to jump onto whatever 'bit' the other was playing.

[callum-jackson]

"Butter wouldn't melt?" He asked, curiously, wondering if that was some new thing he was gonna have to keep an eye out for. "Honestly, Addi is a pretty good kid most of the time but sometimes she shocks me with the shit she gets up to." It was mostly because she had a few friends who were dragging her into the 'popular' crowd and he knew damn well how dangerous that could be. Callum was trying not to think about her going into high school next year and the effect that was sure to have on his sweet little girl who was growing up too quickly before his eyes.

[mayapatil]

"Oh, that may not be a common phrase here," she said, blaming her family friend who she had grown up with, Maya had spent so much time with her that her sayings had made their way into her everyday conversations. "Saying she looks like 'butter wouldn't melt' is like, looks so pristine and adorable and sweet but actually is not all that," she admitted, though she was sure that she'd butchered the explanation. "I mean I'm 30 and I'm still hiding shit from my parents."

[tomasxcooper]

He nodded "I didn't a lot back in LA it always made me to mad so I always got a driver" it made things easy, and seemed quicker for him. Then him having to drive, park and having to deal with all of it. "I mean I do have my truck here... that I had in LA" he did have it shipped since he liked his truck but no way was he going drive it across the country.

He nodded, acting was a job but it wasn't the normal job that most people had. He had fame to him and that wasn't as common, even more around this small town. "I mean I have met some at parties and crap and they are all assholes" he shook his head "and that coming from me is something since I know I can be a dick" he could be rude and bit stuck up but the trust fund, just born rich kids were never that nice.

[mayapatil]

"Oh a driver, things were going well for you then," she chided, but with a smile to hopefully show that she was just messing around. "You had a truck in LA that you never drove?" she asked. Maya had also lived in a city where she hadn't driven, so she'd saved money by not having a car.

"I mean, I'd probably be an asshole too if I had that kind of money," she mused, you wouldn't have to worry about being fired, or pissing people off who could fuck up your chance at a decent job, if you pissed off your friends you could probably just buy some new ones.

[tomasxcooper]

He nodded "The lack of being able to order food and things and have it show up at your door is sad, I miss it" he smirked lightly. "I say I do like not having traffic LA is the worst for that takes forever going any place" he didnt drive always himself he used drivers a bit since he got to annoyed at the other drivers.

He shook his head. "Nah I went right into acting, so sort of a job but not like a normal real job?" he went to school then worked his way up acting tell he landed some real roles. "But nah I worked for my money"

[mayapatil]

"Yeah, it's definitely a downside," she agreed, she really did love delivery. "I didn't drive in NYC, I'm still getting used to having my own car," she admitted. Maya had never felt the need for a car when she lived in New York, and she'd get the train back whenever she visited family in New Jersey.

"Ah, that makes more sense," acting probably wasn't a 'real job' in the typical sense, but Maya knew that she'd be terrible at it, so she wasn't going to discredit it. "I mean, it'd be pretty sweet to be a trust fund kid, they're living the life." Maya's family supported her financially more than most, but she knew that all it would take would be one conversation and it would all fall down.

[marbledmayhem]

With: Maya Patil @mayapatil​​ ​ Location: Tequila Cowboy

Between how busy things were at the farm and finishing up his home, Alex hadn’t been out as much as he usually liked to. Now that his house had been completed he felt he deserved a bit of time to go to a bar and relax. He opened the door and stepped into the bar, surveying the area. Tequila Cowboy wasn’t empty by any matter of means, but it wasn’t too busy that he could still hear someone without having to yell over all the noise.

Walking up to the bar, he took one of the empty seats and ordered himself a neat whiskey to put on his tab to start the night off. He thanked the bartender as they set down his drink. Settled in for the time being, he looked around and was surprised to find someone he recognized a couple of seats away from him who looked to be alone at the moment. “Hey. Maya, right?” he said, leaning over the table towards her in order to get her attention. Alex wouldn’t be forgetting their relatively distinctive first meeting any time soon. “I was wondering if I would ever see you back here. How’ve things been?”

[mayapatil]

Maya was back in a bar, a sentence that was becoming all too familiar. She made a point to rotate around the bars, not letting any bartender see her too often and also making sure she didn't develop a routine. She rationalised it though, she was getting out and meeting people, though that wasn't really the case. In fact she'd actually met quite a few people, and had some rather interesting conversations but usually Maya's gut kicked in and she shut it down, on the rare occasion where alcohol got in the way Maya found herself with a suitor for the evening, but she did not want to make that a regular thing.

She was sipping her drink adn minding her own business when she heard her name, turning to see a very familiar face. They'd spoken for a long time, at this same bar, and the flirting had only increased as the night went on. Then Maya's mind had taken back over and she'd found herself completely ghosting him, if 0 to 100 is a thing then Maya went from 100 to 0. "Yeah, that's me," she admitted, "I know it didn't exactly end in fireworks but it wasn't quite 'never set foot in that bar again' bad," she replied.

[dean-walker]

Dean nodded, "Oh yeah, I'm like an expert" he exaggerated, turning toward her, "Okay so I can tell that you're.... from New Jersey. You don't spend a lot of time outside, and you're an overthinker" he said, smiling because he knew he was just listing things she already said about herself. "My image and my credibility? I hate to break it to you but I don't have a great image or really any credibility so I don't think I'm a good target" he laughed. "I'll have you know that I actually passed the bar and I'm like the best lawyer in the city so, I look forward to kicking your ass in court" he obviously joked, since he'd already told her his profession.

[mayapatil]

She listened raising an eyebrow as he spouted facts, facts that were correct but also facts that she'd shared with him throughout the duration of this conversation. "I wouldn't say I'd deem you an expert, but I will admit that you're a pretty good listener hubby," she declared, "you may win my heart afterall." Maya liked this, it felt easy and that wasn't a feeling that she'd had in a while. Being in a new town without any friends kind of sucked, but maybe she'd found someone who was nice to have around, and who hopefully enjoyed her company too. "Darn," she groaned, "what about your families honour, I could ruin that..." she mused, as if she really was considering a way to take him down. "Ooh, farm boy is a lawyer now, guess there is money to be taken."

[tomasxcooper]

He had to rub the back of his head. He wasn't used to any of this. But he knew that news papers where really going out of style as the paper form. That they were online and everyone liked it that way better. "You and me both, the fact you cant order food and car here as easy is big change..." that they had it but much more limited. "Wonderful" he let out a breath.

He thought that in smaller town maybe it wouldn't have changed like the rest but had been really. That it was the same as a city but just not as big at all. That he was so used to a big city and acting as job, but here he was in a small town out of work. Somewhat thinking that he wanted to go out and find a job. Not for the money but just to keep busy. "I guess since I've never really... had a real job or lived in small town this is all weird to me" he shook his head.

[mayapatil]

"Oh yes," Maya groaned, "the lack of food delivery here is honestly horrific," she said with her trademark overdramatic flair. Back in NYC Maya had pretty much lived on take out, she loved the ease of it, but here she was forced to actually leave her house in order to get someone else to make food for her. It was probably good for her socially to have to leave her house but it was also rather frustrating when she had to put on real clothes.

She raised an eyebrow as he said that he'd never had a real job, "never had a real job?" she questioned, wondering what he meant by that, "are you a trust fund kid?" she questioned.

[tomasxcooper]

He was into the new things, that he did have tablets and headphones all the normal things. He have podcasts he have on when he was working out and other times. But he did like to sit back and read the paper. But he was well used too a big city paper that had a lot of news and things going on. But this small town didn't have a lot going on as he read on in the paper. That he did like to get the news from that it was old fashioned but he enjoyed it. Maybe from the time he was filming on his TV show that was set in the past. That his character would read the paper a bit, so it was old habits now.

"Yeah" he turned the paper and sighed. "I know what you mean, I am used to Los Angeles has alot more going on then this" he sat down the paper now with a sigh. He didn't want to have to look things up online. "I guess so but I just find it weird how much it all changed..." he had find something online later. "So my guess if you want a job you cant walk into a store and fill some papers out..." he was sure that wasn't a thing anymore.

[mayapatil]

She nodded, it was nice to find someone she could relate to, even if he was from the opposite side of the country to her. "I'm from New York so I get that," she admitted, "I haven't quite adjusted to small town life." Maya wasn't sure if living in a small town suited her, but she was willing to give it a little longer before she judged it too harshly. She shook her head, "I don't think so, think they'd direct you to their website.

Maya was defintiely not the kind of person who yearned for the past, but it was always interesting to think about things had changed over the years. Being in a town like this was allso an interesting look at society, people here cared about one another, they all knew their neighbours and took time out of their day to get to know one another, in New York people were busy and focused, it was a different experience.

[tomasxcooper]

Max was starting to settle into his life here in New Haven now. It was very different then being around Hollywood and California. He had some places he went to hangout and things to do. But today he was in Davino's Steakhouse. To get lunch and was starting to get a bit bored of doing the same few things over and over. So he was in there to get lunch and he had the paper. A real paper he got at at shop in town. It was so hard to find now it was like paper newspapers were not a thing anymore. No, the paper here didn't have that much news since it was for a small town and not a city but he was better then nothing.

As he sat down waiting for his food he had read most of the paper. "Why put in the paper how much cattle went for..." he more said to himself as he found it news he didn't have to know. He sighed as he looked at some pages and then sat down the paper. "When did the paper stop having so much..." he looked over at the table by him. "Like there is no adds like wanted adds or stuff for sale..." maybe it wasn't a thing anymore he had no idea.

Where: Davino's Steakhouse.

Who: Open to anyone 0/3

@easthavenstarters

[mayapatil]

Maya was doing her usual of eating out, because she couldn't be bothered to cook. It also meant that she had some socialisation time, which was much needed when you worked alone on a computer all day. She was sitting alone when the man next to her spoke, she had noted that he was reading a newspaper, a more classic approach than the podcast that Maya was listening to on her own airpods. She pulled out the headphone from the ear closest to him.

"Cattle prices are in the paper?" she asked. "I'm guessing that's a small town thing, compared to NYC there doesn't seem to be a lot going on here," she admitted. It was rather nice sometimes, it was mundane but there was comfort in the mundane, it was predictable. "I guess wanted ads and stuff for sale is all online now? Much more effective."

[thejospring]

"Don't tempt me," She said with a laugh. "I mean, bad reasons or good reasons, all that matters is that you like where you end up." She shrugged. Jo wasn't the type to regret her choices, which is why she liked being able to move so much. If she didn't like something, she could move on just as easily as she arrived. It wasn't as easy now. "Hard to say, I'm so used to this place. Bars tend to be my scene so if you need recommendations. The lake is nice, the good days are coming. Tends to make things better."

[mayapatil]

"That's true, and so far I rather like it here," she admitted, sure it wasn't New York but it had a warmth to it that Maya was rather enjoying. Her eyes lit up a little at the mention of bars, "well now you're talking my language," she smiled, "I would love a list of all the bars, rated on whatever you feel to be important," she declared. Maya knew that she was drinking too much but in all honesty she really didn't care, drinking made everything easier, and at the moment that was all she wanted.

[dean-walker]

"Aha! See- I knew it, I could just tell" he said, happy that his guess was accurate. "I have an eye for these sort of things- I'm like a master at reading people" he exaggerated, clearly joking. He was pretty good with people skills, but he wasn't psychic or anything. Dean laughed a little, "You can sue me, I don't have much to give you if you win. I work on a farm for a living I'm far from rich"

[mayapatil]

She raised an eyebrow, "a master at reading people?" she questioned, "okay, tell me what you know about me already," she challenged, wondering how much of herself was obvious. "Hey, every little counts, I'll come for your image and your crediability, that'll be just as fun," she laughed. Maya wouldn't even have the first thought of how to sue someone, but this whole conversation had become a farce, it was fun though, Maya was enjoying it.

[callum-jackson]

starter for: anyone! open! @easthavenstarters location: barb's bistro, maple hills

"Have fun kiddo, behave! I don't wanna get any calls from the east haven police telling me you're acting up." He teased as his daughter Addilyn finished her lunch before leaving the little cafe to go spend the weekend with her friends. He waved goodbye to the teen and scrubbed a hand over his face with a sigh as he watched her go. Being a single father to a fourteen year old girl was hard and he was thankful for the people around him who helped him when he was overwhelmed. He went back to eating his lunch and turned his eyes to the table/person next to him and smiled. "She doesn't look like trouble and I get that but you'd be shocked how much trouble that girl gets up to with her friends." Addi was going to be starting high school in the fall and Callum was already exhausted at the prospect of having a high schooler.

[mayapatil]

Maya had barely cooked since she got to East Haven, she'd never been a particularly good chef but recently everytime she attempted to spend time in the kitchen she just felt like she was being kicked in the gut. Memories of her ex were everywhere, but recently they seemed to be in the mere thought of cooking food. Eating out was now her regular thing, and today was no different. She smiled at the voice, "oh that does not surprise me one bit," she admitted with a smirk. "I was the 'butter wouldn't melt' kid too," she admitted. Maya had always had that cute face, which allowed her to get away with quite a lot.