Network

I learned today that you really shouldn't take a nap while at work.

I fell asleep for maybe 20 minutes at a max, but it felt like forever because I dreamt about my interview with Caesar Flickerman and divulving my secret crush on the girl that I am enemies with. It didn't go over well with her, but apparently my mentor thought it was a great tactic.

I ran off and decided I was done training with them and just steeled myself for the inivitable and having to figure out how to kill people and still manage to be me. I wasn't going to let the Capitol take control of me and use me as one of their pawns.

And then things moved faster to me being sent up a tube onto my starting block for the Games. And the moment I woke up was when the horns sounded.

Let the games begin.

And now I've been all twitchy all day. Great.

There are some bakers on this thing, right? I'm hoping to find a baker who can do something kinda silly for me on Monday afternoon.

They all drowned
I shouldn't have
I can't
Why would they
Oh god

Has anyone figured out a way to survive without sleeping?


[There will be talk of Hunger Games in the comments! So yes. Be warned.]

I knew I sensed a pattern with these dreams. This is going to be oh so very bad. If only the human body could go longer periods without sleep.

( Filtered to Counselors/Therapists/Psychologists/Etc )

( Filtered to Annie, Finnick, Johanna )

You know you're in for a strange day when you wake up from dreams about living in a whole new world. I wasn't around to see how the US got to the point it's at, but if living in "Districts" with fences and "peace keepers" is what's in store for us then I have a new fear.

It wasn't all horrible, I still have my family and we own a bakery. And that's about it.... okay, maybe it's all horrible. I watched my entire childhood and things started to slow down once I got to about 16, which kind of scares me. But now I know the whole history of a country called Panem and the terrible things they do to their citizens. I can't really see how this is ever going to improve.

Good evening! My name is Peeta and I was told to come onto this network by a friend of mine. Apparently the cool kids really enjoy online blogging, but maybe this is a good way to promote my business in the process.

I run a small cake decorating/bakery called Mellarky. I specialize in cakes, but every day I try some new pastry items, so feel free to stop on by to see what's in the case. They don't usually last *too* long once people figure it out. I'm working on expanding that part in the future. So, if you have some suggestions of things I should try, let me know. And if you need a cake, definitely let me know!

It turns out, no one actually wins the Hunger Games. And if I thought the last few dreams were awful, I can already tell that these are going to be way worse.

I start on a new film project next week and it's looking like it's going to be super busy. But I must be doing something right since they want to increase my team. So if anybody has costume or make up experience please let me know and we can set something up to go through your portfolio.

Peeta, would you be interested? We could work it around your school hours.

I can't say I'm a fan of this kind of social media but I do know it can and will be useful for all kinds of things. The way of the changing world. God I sound old.

So, to get us started my name is Haymitch and I run Abernathy PR.

Well, hello Network! My name's Effie, and I'm sure we're going to make absolutely wonderful friends! This is my first post, so please, be gentle!

I can't believe I have to take summer classes. This is so lame! Not only that, but I have to have a tutor too. I mean, I didn't do that bad this last semester. I mean, come on, it's the summer! This is not the time I should be in school. This can't be legal.

Has anyone ever had the feeling that their dreams were over, but not really? Like it feels incomplete, but finished at the same time? It's weird.

As cool as these dreams are sometimes they suck too cause now I can't help but wonder if Mulan left cause of the last dream. I know she'd had more dreams than I did. I mean, I don't think she lied about having to go home to take care of her father, but at the same time, that last dream has me freaked out a little, so I can only imagine how it affected her. Part of me wants to call her and ask, but not only is it late in England, but I don't want to put her in an awkward spot. God, I miss her.

Oh my god. We did it. We won the Hunger Games, Katniss and I, together. I can't even believe it. I mean, I am actually still trying to process it. I never thought that was going to happen. At all.

My leg is still hurting, though, the limp isn't as bad anymore but it's there. But I'm looking forward to a weekend at Disneyland at the end of the month.

Wow. So much is happening right now, here and in the dreams. The good news is I think I have a chance of surviving these Hunger Games, in the dreams, which is a lot more than I could have said a while ago. Katniss Everdeen is pretty much the most stubborn person in the world, in case none of you were aware of that, but dream-me owes my life pretty much to dream-her.

[Locked from Anna]

The fever's gone. I think it was dream related. My leg got sliced open and it was super infected, and I think being sick and pretty much dying there translated to here. Except now my leg is - Well. It's not bad like it was there. It's sort of red where the wound was in the dreams, and it hurts. A lot. I'm limping all over the house and had to tell my dad I was a klutz and tripped on the stairs.

This may sound
I don't know if you
I know how the snow started
Does anyone know how to defeat a giant snow monster?

I need help getting back into my house.

Ugh. I don't know what happened, but I feel awful today. I was fine last night, then I had some of those dreams last night and now I just feel ... Really bad. Nauseaus and stuff. It feels like a stomach flu. But worse.

My dad's gone out to get me some gingerale and soup but the thought of eating anything right now make my stomach do weird flips.

I spent so much time yesterday baking pie and eating it. I still smell like dough and fruit. I guess there are worse things in life.

So I'm curious. This is really for anyone who has had someone they've dreamt of show up on Valarnet. Did you wait to say anything about the dreams till they had them or did you say something before? I'm just trying to figure out if I should say something and risk looking crazy or wait. I mean the dreams I've had, with the exception of what happened to me after Prom, haven't really been bad. So there really isn't anything I need to warn him about. I guess I'm just a little impatient.

In other news, I finally made a doctor's appointment to have my hand checked out. I'm guessing it's gonna mean another CAT scan. Those are always fun. Not really.

My dreams give me the best little presents. I woke up and there was a framed Queen Alexandra's Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) butterfly on my mantle. It's stunningly beautiful, and I hope I'll get to see one in my lifetime. I don't want to know how dream Me got it, either.

( trigger warnings: Bomb talk )

Oh my God.

It happened. In the dreams. I finally started dreaming about the actual games. It's even worse than you'd think. A thousand times worse. The horn goes off and you run and it's an instant blood bath, and watching all those kids my age die for no reason is

It's really awful. There aren't words.

Mall food courts at lunch. Bad idea.

Hello. I'm told I need to be a bit more social. So..yes. Hello. I said that already didn't I? Well I did say this was going to be an attempt in any case. My name is D'Artagnan. I know if you give me a chance we'll probably get along.

It looks like I've chosen the perfect time to open up my new pie shop. I've been so busy that I completely forgot it was National Pie Month. Just have to hope there aren't any set backs between now and the grand opening.

I'm Ned and in about a week, my new pie shop, The Pie Hole should be opening in Huntington Beach. And before you ask, yes, it is only pie. All homemade pies by yours truly.

Working around all this ice makes me think of going somewhere warm. Where would be the best place? Maui? Jamaica? The Sahara Desert? Not that I've ever been anywhere warm, save for the beach here during the summer. And with that recent volcano it made the weather a little warmer than usual, although not as pleasant as a sandy beach. Still, everything seemed to work out alright yeah?

Looks like it's gonna be a long night for me. It feels like I barely closed my eyes before I got hit with new dreams. It's so ... I don't even know what to say. The way these people in the Capitol look at this. We're paraded around in front of them and, I mean, I guess we're supposed to make them like us somehow? It seems sort of pointless, considering they'll watch most of us die and cheer when it happens.

Still. I think we definitely made an impression. The fire thing was great - Also, Portia, I finally met you, in the dreams.

Anyway, every time I doze off again I see us all in the training center, practicing how to survive and how to kill, and I think maybe I'll just stay awake and not even bother with school in the morning.

So, I'm waiting for class to start this afternoon, and this girl sitting a few chairs over from me gets a deliver of two dozen roses. Really, really nice roses, the ones you pretty much only ever see in movies. And everyone's looking at her as she reads the note, which was a Happy Valentine's Day, signed "P." Then she says she has no idea who "P" even is.

Then, the professor comes in and he makes a comment about how he's stressed out because he lost track of time and has to stop at the gas station to get his wife whatever flowers they have left. The girl ended up selling the bouquet of roses to him for $70, then said if anyone knows who P is, to thank him for the cash for her.

What even.

Tonight is a good drinking night, who's with me? There isn't anything that can't be fixed with a drink or two and no, Portia, I don't want to talk about it.

Huh. Talk about a way to kick off the new year. I think I might have had those dreams everyone here has? I mean, I don't really know how else to explain it. It was just ... Weird. And usually I'm all right at realizing that I'm dreaming but this was different.

I hope it was just a fluke and not really those strange dreams, because I can't say I'm exactly excited to keep dreaming about a place where, apparently, they send kids into some sort of massive death match.

Right there on my nightstand is a picture frame with a gold bow on it. The face its enclosing is quite...

... well. I was going to remove the picture and keep the frame. I still have no idea how it ended up here, but the frame is quite nice. Only I don't know the man in the photo at all...

But I can't seem to make myself throw the picture out. There's just a certain something about it.

My dad is currently doing desserts for a holiday themed wedding, which means that I am in taste-tester heaven at home right now.

( Cut for image of delicious cake. )

Orange and almond cake, with cranberries, and a lavender sugar icing. Yes, please.

Trying not to freak out. Trying not to freak out.

Finals start today. I have my first exam in 2 hours. I barely slept last night because I'm psyching myself out. Thankfully my exams finish up on Wednesday, but these next couple days will be filled with way too much studying. And the library is full of people and almost impossible to find a spot to sit. I've never seen so many people in there at one time.

No one prepared me for this properly. Arrrrgh. I better sign off of here and get back to studying.

Hi! I guess this has been a long time coming. I mean, I've lived here for about four years now, and I kept hearing about this, but I guess I didn't really have the drive to join until now. It looks pretty customary to do the standard introduction, so, here goes.

My name's Peeta (yeah, I know), I work at Baxter Bakery. I actually might even know some of you without actually knowing you. I also go to school in LA, doing fashion and art (yeah, I still know). I've always been told that life's about being in the right place at the right time, and it's who you know, and this seems like a pretty good place for all that. Career wise. Even though I'm still a while off from a degree, let alone a career. But, hey, never hurts to start early, right?

The past couple of days have been really inspiring as far as my art goes. We had that really gorgeous meteor shower the past couple of nights and then last night was the supermoon, the biggest the moon looks in the night sky all year. I got a lot of painting done. It was amazing. I'd never painted at night before, but it turned out okay I guess.

[Portia]

Are you still thinking about doing that art show?

Did anybody else see the awesome meteor shower last night? Alex and I stood in the garden to watch, it was pretty impressive. Like a beautiful light show. I got a few sketches done this morning and if I can make them work there might just be a little meteor inspired collection.

All right then, hello.

Name's Rory. Finally got one of these things, pleased to meet you.

So, last week my girlfriend still get excited saying that had a dream about all of our friends going camping, except they weren't really us. I was some burnout stoner and Jules was a blonde. Holden and Curt were pretty much the same... I guess. Anyway, it was the exact same dream that she had, right down to the dialogue. Mine went on a little further, we were on the road towards the cabin Curt's cousin had rented. Except Curt's cousin is like, seven or something. So that was weird too.

Anyway, I guess my point is: does that happen a lot? Do people have matching dreams?

Um.. Has anyone heard from Katniss lately? I'm starting to get a little worried about her. I haven't heard from her in a few days and it's not like her to not check in with me.

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Posted via Journaler.

Three day weekend and the start of summer! I already have almost my entire Summer spoken for which is kind of crazy. My manager is even talking about getting me a tutor and being home schooled next year instead of going back to High School so I can focus on my swimming career. I don't know if I want to do that though. I'd never get to see any of my friends anymore. I guess we'll see how this Summer goes and take it from there?

Right. I think I am giving my job up as a paparazzi. Really I mean sure the money is really good but I am starting to get super muscular from all this running from security. I should just sell what pictures I do have and be done with it.

Right. I am supposed to be putting together an invite list for a Memorial Day camping trip. Sounds fun right? Who wants to go? I can't invite the entire Net (though it would be a lot of fun) but we have room for quite a few I would imagine.

I have a small problem.

First, the modeling thing is not it. The photoshoot proofs are back. They made me look great, not that I doubted it.

Second, I'm graduating in a month. That's another good thing.

[Filtered away from Clary]
Third, I have a date for the prom. Now the dilemma: I DON'T DANCE. I love music, but I have two left feet.

ooc: Katniss will be collapsing on Peeta in their thread dated for the end of April. If your character is friends/otherwise close to Katniss and Peeta, I think it's fair to assume the news got out - I'm even fine with saying some reporter was lurking and caught it on camera and started some outlandish story about her being terminally ill/pregnant/whatever.

Everyone can stop checking up on me now. I'm fine.

Filter: Pansy Malfoy

Thank you for the spa. It was amazing. I'm feeling much better and I'm glad you invited me. Do you want to grab some lunch later?

Filter: Peeta

I'm sorry if I scared you.

Filter: Elena Gilbert

How about breakfast before school tomorrow?

Rain, rain go away. I'm really not fond of this weather. It's not that cold, I guess, but I could do with some sunshine.

I need a damn drink. No, I don't care if it's only 10am. Judge me all you want. I surely didn't miss this dreaming thing. What is the sense of surviving the slaughter house once if they're just going to toss you back in it? The stupid odds are never in your favor.

Yeah, going to get that drink now.

So, I've been thinking about it and I think once I'm free of this sling, which should only be a few more weeks, I'm going to start taking kickboxing classes. I see the things I can do in my dreams and while I can do the acrobatics, I know nothing about the fighting part. Besides, I want to be able to protect myself if anything happens.

I'm also going to be talking to my coach soon about the possibility of me coaching. I just don't feel like competing again, in the Olympics, is what I should do and I don't think it's fair to all the other girls out there who had the dream that I had. My dream was to win and Olympic medal and last summer I won two. I'm satisfied. It was my father who wanted me to go back.

Besides, I like actually having a social life and friends and a boyfriend someone who likes me. I don't want to give all of that up to be in the gym 24/7.

Grumpy Cat might just be my favorite thing about the Internet right now.

( cut, not filtered )

Seriously, I think I've been sitting here for at least an hour liking everything on that stupid Facebook page. It's like we're soulmates. (Sorry, Peeta.)

The big news this week: We bought a goat for the farm. Now we can start making our own cheese and selling the milk and stuff at the farmer's market. Guess who's responsible for said goat? Yeah, I am.

I know I haven't talked a lot about my dreams on here. They're really personal and kind of dark so it never seemed like I should, but something weird started happening to me this week. I've never baked a piece of bread in my life and I just got the sudden urge to give it a try so I did. I swear to you I made the most amazing cheesy bread I've ever tasted. It's insane, but I'm really good at it. I was good at it in my dreams too. Coincidence?

Oh, hey! I think I know some people here already. Hi! I'm Mavis, and I'm gratuitously perky, and vegan. Sadly, no, it doesn't give me any superpowers. Unless perkiness counts.

Okay, I'll stop now.

Is it Friday yet? Because I'd like that.