The Doorway: a panfandom game

[Filtered to Neal Caffrey]

Neal. Here's your first gift. I'm not going to tell you about a few of the other things I accidentally found on Google, and I see why Sara warned me about fan fiction.

Second gift, which probably isn't nearly as laughable, I thought maybe you and Sara might want to have dinner with El and I. You pick the place, I pick up the tab. I should qualify that. I'll pick up the tab if I can afford it. Unless you and Sara would rather have some private time, then we can postpone until tomorrow or this weekend.

Happy birthday, buddy.

[End Filter]

[Filtered to Diana Barrigan]

Are these new FBI badges heavier? They feel heavier.

We need Jones to show up.

[End Filter]

Added Later: [Filtered to El]

I invited Neal and Sara to dinner tonight, I hope you didn't already have plans. Unless they reschedule, that is. I should have asked first, sorry hon.

[End Filter]

I can't say that I completely disagree with the protesters' plight. A skilled workforce arriving from out of nowhere and you've got more competition for an already tight workplace - I haven't run the numbers, though, how many of us have actually taken jobs outside of the Tower, SHIELD, or Stark Industries? It doesn't seem as if it would be an alarming amount.

Maybe I'm over-thinking it. I'm probably over-thinking it.

This is just embarrassing. Not only will it not hold up to the mildest of scrutiny, but you've officially attracted insects. I guess if you're going for a certain artistic "look", then all bets are off, but otherwise... sloppy and sad.

Put me with the others suffering from DST. Maybe I'm just cranky.

Note to self: Aforementioned whole in the wall Chinese restaurant? Not as great as previously thought. My poor stomach.

I finally found a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant that is comparable to the one that I loved back home that apparently doesn't exist here. Greasy noodles at a cheap price that makes me wonder if I'll get food poisoning, but is totally worth the worry because they taste so very good.

It's a blessing in disguise, of course. I foresee a lot of extended runs in my near future.

I'm considering seeing if I can just re-start my business here. Event planning of all different kinds of events.

I had thought about going back to an art gallery and as much as I enjoyed the work, it feels like a step back.

[ Filtered to Peter Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Sara Ellis, and Diana Berrigan ]

Brussels! I've got some options for us. Some are more promising than others.

- Manon Peeters: owns a B&B in the center of the city. Big fan of the show. Shockingly normal. I've looked up pictures of the B&B and it looks decent enough.

- Camille Janssens: has a townhouse downtown that looks great. Marble counters, her father's in the wine business, very posh. Has a stipulation that I'm not allowed to wear a shirt while on her property, so I vote no.

- Léa Wouters: will be out of town the next week to visit her boyfriend in Germany. Sounds ideal, right? She made the point of mentioning she has cameras in every room in her house. I don't know if that's her being careful about thieving or if she just likes to watch.

For the record, I'm still fine with smiling our way into a Four Star and seeing where it gets us.

[Filtered to El, Neal, Diana, and Sara]

I've received a callback about my inquiries into rejoining the FBI here. The good news is that I'll be going Friday to pass a formal interview and sit for the exam they generally pass out at the end of training in Quantico.

The bad news is it's been a long time since I took that exam, so I have until Friday to prepare for it. If I fail, I have to take the 20-week course all over again. Even if I pass, it will take upwards of a few weeks to process and get back to me. Part of me thinks it's because they want to make sure I don't up and disappear back through that blue box.

[End Filter]

[Filtered to El only]

Are you getting restless yet? I was thinking we could take a long stroll and see who can spot the most differences between here and home. You know, make a small game of it.

After that, there's a club called The Iridium here that's featuring Bucky Pizarrelli tonight at 8pm (and 10pm) and I know you wouldn't want to miss seeing a jazz legend. I may have already picked up a pair of tickets.

[End Filter]

Not to be an alarmist, but either I saw Spider-Man in downtown Manhattan last night or an extremely good cosplayer. Now while it's been a really long time since I've attended a con, I don't think they've come far enough along to actually swing between buildings.

Add to the fact that I've had a chat on here with Captain America, this really has to be a dream. A dream within a dream. El, why did you make me watch Inception? This is what happens. I overthink things.

This interrupts my planned day. It's not everyday you're told you are from a TV show or feel that level of-.

Has anyone seen my husband around? Peter Burke?

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. $50 million worth of diamonds in five minutes. No one killed, a smooth in and out, and the faces they have on camera are useless. Just smooth.






Horrible criminals, villains, etc. I thumb my nose at them, sirs.

I'm at least thankful for the fact that if a mysterious portal was going to take me anywhere, it'd pick New York. I'm almost certain I want to own everything in the Diane von Furstenberg fall collection coming out.

Now if it could just teleport me over to London for the rest of that fashion week, I'd be eternally thankful. I could use the break from working 14 hour days from now until the end of time.

FILTERED TO NEAL CAFFREY, PETER BURKE AND DIANA BARRIGAN:

Guess who made friends with the lead on the NYPD Art Crimes unit? This lady. We're working with them on a missing painting this week, and it has all of us completely stumped. Deputy Inspector Charles Neacy, sweet fellow that he is, took me to lunch yesterday so we could chat a little more candidly.

He thinks it's internal in the family that the painting was stolen from, but so far all the evidence points away from that.

I may have alluded to the fact that I know a few people that could help. He may or may not be a fan of the show.

What do you say? Anybody want a job for the week?

[Filtered to Neal Caffrey]

Neal.

I'd really like to believe this is some elaborate con you've set up for a potentially good reason, that you somehow forgot to tell me about it, and that I'll come around a corner to find you and Mozzie doing something you really shouldn't.

But.

I think this may be beyond even your ability. No offense. Television? I did not see that coming. I'm fairly certain all those years at Quantico weren't completed with an 80s montage, so it's a little hard to swallow. I feel like I'm we're through the looking glass.

You are there, right?

[End Filter]

[Filtered to Diana Barrigan and Sara Ellis]

Diana. Sara. Tell me this isn't as weird as I think it is. Tell me it's a huge prank, because I'm pretty sure I was just at S.H.I.E.L.D... and there was a guy there I would swear reminded me of a comic book character named Thor. Hammer and all.

I should probably mention that I read comics when I was growing up. I suspect you may have already guessed that. Judge if you want, but you should know Captain America is why I love my country.

Don't tell Neal.

Oh, I forgot to say hello. Hello.

[End Filter]

Hello. My name is Peter Burke and I'm overwhelmed right now.

Neal Caffrey's Guide to Valentines Day

If you're from this and similar 'verses, Valentines Day is enough to make you want to hide. If you're not from this world, you're probably wondering what the big deal is. Valentines Day is, historically, a celebration of spring planting and life-giving, though our culture capitalized more on the love aspect of the holiday rather than anything having to do with planting.

If you're single, Valentines Day is impossible to ignore. This can be a good or bad thing, depending upon your attitude toward being single. If you're longing for love and human connection, your best bet is to drown yourself in a bottle of Chardonnay from the Hyde Vineyard and say "oh, I didn't even notice". If you're single and loving it, check out some of the wilder bars NYC has to offer (check out the Summit Bar in the East Village and ask for the Alchemist's Menu, if you're one for mixed drinks).

If you're in a relationship, however defined or undefined, Valentines Day is always, always something upon which to tread lightly. You can go all out, but it'd better not look like it takes much effort unless your sweetie's into that sort of thing ("pity love", I believe that's called). Burning down the kitchen may be endearing, but it's temporarily so, and if you don't have something else up your sleeve, you run the risk of being cute and not romantic. However, on the flipside, don't expect to toss a bear and some chocolates at your SO and get away with it. Lazy. Lazy. Get personal. "Classic" isn't necessarily the way you want to go. Consider if your lover is actually into whatever you're getting him or her. Sky-diving may be memory-making, but would they actually like it, or is that something you're into? Does your sweetie want to go out on the town to the most expensive, exclusive restaurant, or would they be happier at home with their favorite horror movie and you making your world-famous scrambled eggs? Make it count, if you want to do it.

If you're in a relationship that hates Valentines Day, well, too bad. You need to do something for it, even if it's a "We Hate Valentines Day" dinner at the local dive diner. Because you can hate the holiday, and you can be that self-congratulatory couple who high-fives each other and makes fun of their friends for taking it seriously, but if you make a fumble and don't acknowledge it at all when the SO is quietly hoping for something... well, you're just going to be that jerk who didn't even try.

The bottom line? Valentines Day is about showing someone you care, once you get beyond the capitalist hoorah. Do that.

[ Filtered to Sara ]

I discovered a restaurant. This may have been when I was casing the art gallery next door, but the menu was more interesting than the 17th Century prints.

[ /Filter ]

I'm trying to prepare myself so I can best teach contemporary literature as well as 'the classics'. I've been reading about those with homosexuality homosexuals in literature, and I'm rather surprised that there is a lack of said characters in children's literature. Even when one progresses to adult literature, there is a lack of those with homosexuality homosexual characters. I imagine there are many here who are homosexual identify with as homosexual that are not heavily identified in their source Canons as such. In contrast, there are a wide variety of books that discuss the Vietnam war, and the immigrant stories of Vietnamese who fled after the war. It's such a curious discrepancy, and I can't help but get the feeling that homosexuality isn't as accepted as I was led to early believe. I think the emergence of Hiv/Aids might have heavily contributed, though not having lived it, I can't be too certain.

Does anyone have any other insights on this?

/filter to Claire Bennett/
Would you like to get drinks again sometime?

I try to keep myself healthy to a ridiculous degree. I will get the odd cold -- usually via sick workaholics at the office that would rather infect everyone than take a day off and away from work -- but otherwise I pride myself in hardly ever getting really and truly ill. So it would figure that I would catch the flu only after being displaced through time and space.

I felt fine most of yesterday, but then was down for the count by evening. Fingers were crossed that it was just a fluke, but no. Not with me feeling like I do now.

Ugh.

I never thought I'd utilize snow boots as much as I have this month. But even then, even not being a snow boot fan... You'll still never find me resorting to Ugg heels.

I think that my toes might still be frozen from yesterday, but it's beyond worth it to help people out. This city has had more than its fair share of disasters as of the past handful of years -- especially, it seems, this particular version of the city. We New Yorkers are a reslient bunch, but everyone needs a little help now and again.

That said, I don't know when the last time was that I saw this much snow at once. I'm a little disappointed that it didn't hit with this much right over Christmas as I'm kind of a sucker for a traditional white holiday that Bing himself would appreciate, but I'll take what I can get.

I admit it. I'm officially addicted to Words with Friends. Although poor Ruby is my only actual friend right now.

You know what's the weirdest part about the future? It's not the airplanes flying over at all hours. It's not how small the cars have gotten, or how short the skirts have gotten. It's that no one wears hats anymore. I mean, sure, when it's cold outside, everyone's got one on, but on a regular basis.

Is there some kind of LGBT support system in place for refugees? And if not then I think there should be. I never know who I can talk to about stuff. And I

Katie, can we adopt a dog? It can be small and I swear I'll take good care of it so you won't even have to lift a finger. And we'll get one that doesn't shed. I wash dogs five days a week and it's really making me want one of my own.

Seven months ago, someone (names withheld for obvious insurance and legal reasons) stole The Dance of Time, Three Nymphs Supporting a Clock from the Frick Collection while it was in storage and awaiting cleaning. It was right on the heels of the attack, so they were able to get away with it much easier than they would have normally. But it also meant the city didn't have the manpower needed to hunt down a 4ft sculpture when there was cleanup to do.

Luckily, several months ago, they hired me. For those of you who don't know me, I'm an insurance investigator, and the insurance company I work for happens to be the one that insures the entire Frick Collection. So that makes it my job to hunt down and recover anything that we have insured if it happens to go "missing". This sculpture has been a top priority for me since arriving, so I'm happy to say that as of this morning, it's currently sitting in my office, awaiting a truck to return it to it's proper home -- and I only had to flirt with three cops and baton one person to get it back.

For those of you curious about what I have to stare at for the next four hours:

( Cut, not filtered. (statue butt warning!) )

And once it's been safely delivered back to the museum, I get to celebrate. With a new pair of Louboutins.