Second Chances: the Network

Well, that’s certainly one way to start my birthday! A side quest unlike my usual ones.

It’s lucky my colleagues are used to my sudden dashes from the office. Though I was speedier in my return this time.

Who needs therapy when there's a dungeon full of kobolds to clear out?

And y'all didn't even have to miss me.

Weird couple of days/two minutes.

With enough time, patience, and filament, a person with the right machines can 3D print anything. Fidgets. Game console holders. A shell for the computer I'm building in the literal form of a tower. An army of tiny ducks to hide around the apartment building.

I got a new toy.

Good luck finding all the ducks**.

**Hint: They're all inside, so you won't go fishy.

This non-stop rain is getting a little tiresome. What is this? Seattle?

The tails are curious and kind of fascinating but the novelty has turned into tedium. It's more a "how can I avoid transforming during my day to day activities"? Of course, I confess to trying to figure out exactly what the parameters of the transformation are.

[Natasha]

So the rain might put a damper on any weekend plans you might be plotting. Pivot to a weekend in?

[Ben]

Thanks for the cupcake! 🦕🦖 You're welcome in the lab anytime.

I'm not coming out until the fish tails are gone.

I...don't deal with unicorns well. And if someone is going to be magically transforming my dog, I'd rather be the one to do it, thanks.

I'm taking my meds and getting back into bed.

[Filtered away from anyone who believes in the Easter Bunny]

Morgan might be questioning the Easter Bunny, but she is not too old for Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets, thank goodness. Of course, Peter is not too old for an Easter basket either.

I don't know why I thought a paleontology dig spring break trip wouldn't be popular. Clearly there's just as many dino loving folks here.

Anyways, week one just wrapped, and we're heading into week two, and I'm reminded how few things beat being out on a dig. Even if raccoons did run off with a chunk of our supplies in week one. (Don't worry, we didn't starve.)

The t-shirts (this & this) seem to be a hit, which makes me happy. You never know how these things are going to go.

We're at a good site so those of you coming for week two, don't worry, there will still be plenty for you to dig up.

---

[OOC notes because I am too lazy to make a pretty post again:]

• They're digging at Hell Creek Formation; "Participants in the full-day digs here can expect to find bones from Tyrannosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Triceratops, Brachychampsa, Dromeosaurus and Didelphodon." It's based out of the North Dakota museum
  
• the colleges spring breaks were last week; high school is this week.
  
• If you need ideas for what your character(s) might have done on the trip, here are some suggestions: an animal(s) gets into the food, so x leads an impromptu road trip to get more supplies, someone loses their luggage and has to borrow clothes for the trip, someone(s) finds a fossil that doesn't belong to the dinosaur and gets to name it (lots of possibilities for this)
  
• I'm not keep track of who signed up, so if you didn't get to sign up before, no worries about handwaving and saying your character was there)

I have two drastically different questions for the masses, answer one or both, if you like:

1. Since we know time travel/alternate universes are obviously a thing, if you could actually pick where to go temporarily, where would you want to end up?

2. Crunchy or creamy peanut butter? This is a hot topic of debate in our apartment and there is a wrong answer.

So, I'm not sure if folks have their spring breaks planned out already or not, but the museum has given me a grant to go on a dig and have said I'm allowed to take students with me. I'll be there for close to two weeks - around March 23 to April 3.

UC Berkeley & Stanford have spring break the first week and the high school is off the second week. Folks are welcome to stay as long as they want during that time. I'll also need chaperones, so adults, if you want to come, we can make it happen.

As for sites, currently debating between Montana, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Should have that finalized in a week or two.

Anyone interested?

We all agree that the best part of Valentine’s Day, or Halloween, or Easter is the day after when all the candy goes on steep discount, yeah? Had a grand time raiding the leftovers at the CVS this morning. There were still a ton of those candy hearts with words on it like ‘sweetheart’ or ‘true love,’ but as they have the consistency of chalk and generally taste like what I’d imagine chalk would, that’s not a surprise.


(ooc: hi guys, the internet situation is somewhat resolved — work sent me a Starlink Mini, and my neighbors have had theirs restored and are happy to let me use it, so I’m gonna dip my toes back in. Will still be somewhat slow on responses as the Starlink is data capped, but supposedly I’m on the list for repairs and will hopefully get my fiber connection fixed by the end of the month.)

I stole got you candy.

Nobody panic, I’m here!

Ignore any temporal anomalies, they’re fine.

They're probably fine.

No wings on me yet, but I'm seeing a powerful need for some wardrobe updates for those of you afflicted. I've got some designs I'm still toying around with, many of which involve tunic cuts and wrap around ties.

Hit me up if you want to try a couple out or want me to take a stab at altering your tops so you can stay decent when you're out there winging around this fair city of ours.

I get traditions are tradition. I do. But leave that poor groundhog alone. No matter what happens with his shadow, we have six weeks until the Spring Equinox.

It has always been six weeks no matter how you slice it.

Six weeks till Spring.

Six weeks left of winter.

Six.

Weeks.

[18+ FILTER]

Getting real stir-crazy. Not a great look on someone like me.

Any of you invulnerable types willing to let me hunt you reenact The Most Dangerous Game underground tonight?

For "enrichment" or whatever.

Hey, so, everyone who wished for snow and cold weather? I'm not magicking it anymore, thanks, I feel like we're good for a year or ten.

[Filtered AGAINST Chris and Una]
So...my parents are getting married. And I don't really know if there's anything special I'm supposed to be doing? I'm so truly, genuinely excited and happy for them but like...what's the traditional way to show that? And does tradition matter when two of you are from hundreds of years in the future and the other isn't even from this realm??

I assume gifts are a thing but is it just gifts for the wedding? Are engagement gifts a thing, too? Are engagement parties a thing? If Fig were here, she'd know what to

Suggestions, please! They're amazing people who took on a kid that isn't theirs and made her into theirs and I want them to know how appreciated and loved they are!

Yes, Hi... hey... I'm Zoe Hart. This cold has been going on longer than any of us expected, I'm sure. The clinic... is here. We, like many, are running low on a few things. If anyone can spare a blanket or pillow, it would be much appreciated.

Also, if anyone can provide something warm to drink, that would also be greatly appreciated. Take care of yourselves, and if anyone needs anything, just give me a shout.

....

I cannot claim to understand any of this but they insist I am not kidnapped, yet I am also not free to go home? What happens to home? My sister ...

Hello? They told me I can use this phone thing to talk to folks. They told me it's not magic, but glory, it's as good as, isn't it?

My name's Daine. I don't really know what else to say, I guess, except that me and Kitten really need to get back home as soon as we can. If we can. They said there's no way to do that.

Oh. I guess I ought to warn you all, especially the ones I'm living with, but Kitten can pick locks. I've told her time and time again it's rude, but she's just a baby and she can only mind her manners so much. So I'm sorry if she ends up where she ought not to be, but if she does just call for me and I'll come get her.