I met Ziff yesterday. He's visiting Donna and Alexis from the Great White North, and it involved his first journey by air. In the next few days Donna and Alexis will treat him to the great New York City experience.

But last night we had the New Jersey Experience, which involved getting on a NJ Transit bus with Donna, her two older daughters, Thadius, Alexis and Ziff, and travelling to Medieval Times. Seems like a vaguely appropriate venue for a bunch of Clan Lord people, right? Basically it was a lot like a renaissance fair meets WWF, with a dinner provided and eating utensils not provided. Still, there's not much credit to be had for sitting there an attempting to look ironic with a cardboard crown on your head. So I drank, and screamed, hollered and cheered for our "knight" in the tournament. Thank God Thad was sitting next to me and in the same spirit, or I would have felt like a mental patient. We were in a good section, with another large and rowdy group, and in the end, our knight won. I'd like to think the my complete lack of restraint played some small part in his victory. And, if Ziff returns back to Canada swearing to avoid America, or at least New York, until his dying day, I'd like to think I played some small part in that too.

Actually, I think he had a good time, but he seems a bit serious. I'd probably look a bit serious too, if my head were hurting from trying to understand everyone talking English way too fast. Ziff was good and told me to shift my blathering into first gear soon after we met (my words, not his.) So hopefully I managed to be somewhat understandable to him. Of course, it made me realize why Alexis just sort of nods and smiles at me a lot. Probably half the time he's got no clue what I'm saying either. Which is ok, because half the time native English speakers can't make sense of me as well.

Spent the evening somewhat domestically, organizing my "toy box." Now that I actually have opportunities to use all the great SM gear that I've accumulated over the years, I wanted to make sure it was all clean, and ready to go. Nothing ruins a scene like fumbling around with your gear. I had to actually dedicate three drawers (1 full, 2 half) in a dresser to this stuff. Mind you, it's still not ideal, since most of the drawers tend to wasted. I need to get something to organize the drawer contents better, and keep stuff from sliding around.

I was getting ready to call it a night around 2AM, when I heard screaming. Not just a scream, but several. It was coming from next door. I popped out into the hall, where it is much easier to hear what's going on, and heard nothing. I closed the door and kept getting ready for bed, when I heard more noise, thumping, shouting and more screaming. I went back out into the hall, and could hear some sort of scene taking place next door. My neighbor was standing in her nightgown at door of apartment down the hall one from where the noise was coming from also. We looked at each other, both alarmed by what we could hear.

"This isn't good." I said to her.
"It's been going on for an hour." she told me.

I went over and knocked on the door. There was noise coming from within, but it had gone down a notch. There was no response. I looked at my concerned neighbor. "This isn't right," I said, "I'm going to call the police."

"So you'll call?" She seemed relieved.
"Yes, I'm going to right now."

I went back in and called the doorman downstairs. I told him my apartment, and the apartment of the disturbance. I told him to call the police. I wanted him to do it because it would have a bit more authority coming from building personnel, and I didn't want to be on hold in case things next door got really ugly. I got off the phone, and waited a bit. Sure enough, more screams.

Back outside again. I can hear the couple is right near the door, and I can clearly hear her crying, and nasty words being exchanged. I bang the door, loudly.

Silence. Do they think no one heard them?

"Is everyone all right in there?" I say loudly.

Silence again. Then, "I'm fine." she says.

Fine? I speak slowly and deliberately. "You do not sound fine." For a moment I consider informing them the police are coming. I decide my actions so far have defused the situation for a bit, and to leave it at that. The authorities would come soon. I went back into my apartment.

Ten minutes later, the police are there. I'll give them credit, they were pretty prompt. I listen at the door, to hear the occupant next door first refuse entry, and finally, he agrees to come out into the hall. I can't really hear everything being said. They ask him a bunch of questions I can't quite make out, nor his responses. Then the police make one thing clear. If they have to come back, they will arrest him and take him to the station. The police go, and everything is quiet for the night.

You never know who your neighbors really are, do you?




Oh, and don't worry, I'll finish up on the Paddles story soon.
posted 10:24 AM | link |