PARABOLICAL GRAFFITI

Another year survived. Here's to surviving 2007. Well, most of you.

I'm wondering... if after all the dust it was buried under... if it still works.

I more than anyone should know better than to abandon things. But, well... oops...?

Knowing this place, I'm almost scared to ask this but, what have I missed?

Yesterday it was one year since I arrived in Los Angeles. Many of you thought you were children at the time and started calling each other such names as 'stupid head' and trying to steal each others candy. I believe I spent much of my first day encouraging Sam to steal his candy back.

This city is definitely unique.

Still, I would never want to leave it. Not only because going back to my own galaxy would be quite bad for many reasons, but because I have grown to love it here. This place has given me the chance to have a life with my wife, to live free from the burden of leadership and to connect with people again. To feel and love the way I used to.

So, a couple of days early, happy new year, everyone.

Does 'Survived a supernatural uprising and war', 'can draw powers (and just draw)', or 'teenage girl; want money' qualify as skills for Starbucks? Or any sort of coffee shop? Anything not fast food?

I think liking coffee should be a good enough qualification. None of my other life experiences are going to help with this job hunting business.

I took a chance and went out today. First time in a week now. I just wish I could sleep I thought staying in was going to help, but it didn't. It only made going out harder and for a stir crazy me. I needed a new phone, the last one met an untimely end with a wall, so I bought one. Finding a red and black one just the way I wanted it was difficult. So I settled on a black and red LG music phone. The touch pad lights up red. It's kinda awesome. You guys on my contacts list will get a text with the new number.

I also tried Starbucks for the first time in almost a year. Now I remember why I stayed away for so long. I don't understand how people can handle that crap. It's like drinking a frickin coma.

[Private to Domino]
Cleared it with Faith.

I've spent much of the last couple of days in a state of constant sugar high. Having finally crashed, it was definitely worth it. There was too much good to pass up.

[Filtered to Angel Investigations and allies]

All right guys, I need a little help. In the spirit of getting organized, I have a tenative list going and I need to double check. A little like Santa Claus.

I need to know who the core researchers are and who does/is willing to do research when needed. I'm pretty sure I have most of you down but it's better to double check than leave someone out, right?

Fluffy white wings. Look out, I'm that much more of a badass angel now. I think they even sparkle in some places.

I'm going to wear these things the next time I take down a demon. All fear the fuzzy.

The Hyperion is standing and the only people who died are a mass amount of turkeys. They died for a good cause. Nosferatu Dracula is staring me down and demanding to be watched. First one is so weird looking. At least he doesn't have fruit punch mouth.

I'm going to try calling outside this city again, and then I'm going to find some demons that need to be hit and introduce them to some shiny new weaponry.

It's been an interesting past few days.

I've decided I need to repaint my apartment. Putrid green walls just don't cut it anymore, neither does this 1960s wallpaper - or the eggplant coloured bathtub. Any suggestions on colours?

And would anyone like to help fix up my place once I pick them. I know I could use magic to do it, but doing it the Muggle way seems more fun.

Are you o Are you up for some ice cream?

And thank you. For my Christmas present. It's It really meant a lot to me. I'm not sure there are even words to say just how much.

So, truth spell?

I have noticed something in this world, especially over the last couple of days. Many of you seem drawn to declare allegiances to one corporation or another. Why is this? I wish to know more about the various sides that seem to exist here. If it is true and Azazel is not here, then what is the purpose of the corporations that operate in this city?

and if Jin is not here, then what is my function supposed to be?

Entirely overreacting here, but I want to throw something at Faith for talking about Willow to Kennedy like that.

Talk me down, ladies. Talk. Me. Down.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be bad for my whole Redemption to off a few of those hippie witch types that come in and out of the shop all the time. They have no idea what the world is and I think it'd do us all a favour.

Decided it'd be a bad plan, Still I hated the sixties. Full of them. Did have Jim Morrison though. He was allowed be a hippie.

[ooc: And Ruby is Truth Spelled as per Sam and Anya's cunning plan. I think it will last over a day correct me guys if I'm wrong before wearing off. Its not a publicised thing but might not be too hard to figure out she's being more blunt than usual!]

Man, Christmas was awesome. I'm never making fudge with anyone else again, but it was fun this time. I think we probably should have stopped when the blender and a whole bottle of rum got involved, but that logic was beyond us by the time we got there.

Still, the apartment complex still stands, and the headache and sugar overload are finally over. Milkshakes are an activity that should only be undertaken sober. Anyone want runny fudge made with rum?

Are you sure?

With the gift. I mean there's some pretty heavy duty stuff in there and I'm me and you have to have heard...

I just, I guess I don't get why?

Guess I should do this too, with New Year's coming up soon. But.. anyway, here it goes. My name is Scorpius Malfoy. Son of Draco and Astoria Malfoy. I'm a wizard. I'm good at charms, defense, hexes, curses, dueling. I can apparate, which is a fancy way of saying I can telport anywhere I've been before. Also had a bit of practice at occulmency and legimens. Ohh, and I'm single too. If that counts. I like hotties, who wants to have some Malfoy lovin'

I live at an apartment complex called The Weir. Just me, mostly. Actually it is just me. I'm not entirely positive how the wards work, it was more someone else's specialty. I just lived there. But it was originally the idea of Harry Potter. Was home to him, his wife/fiance, son, Ron, Hermione, their kids, etc. I think the wards are to allow only magic users to enter the property, and to stop unwanted attacks, though they can be lowered to let in a friend temporarily. I guess it was only for people from my world. I think.

But I don't see why we couldn't allow practitioners of any form of magic to come here. To practice, hang out, or even live here if you'd want to. I'm the only one there at the moment.. so I don't know for certain how it would go, but I guess the others who were there before wouldn't mind. I can't imagine them closing the doors to anyone magical that wanted to come in. My door is certainly always open. Maybe the Weir could be open too.

Since this looks to be trendy I'll hop onto the wagon but in a different sense.

This is to gage need within the various good guy teams and as a whole for a freelance computer tech, I'll be with AI the bulk of the time but I know the rest of the good guys along with the city at large may be needing help on the computer front.

I won't have things up and running till the first of the year (between paperwork and my arms needing to heal up a bit more) but I'll charge a by the job fee along with being fair (in other words no price gouging).

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

It's become all kinds of trendy being so close to the New Year and all so I guess it's our turn now! JUSTICE LEAGUE ROLL CALL.

We don't really have ranks except maybe if you're Batman and I hope I don't get yelled at for doing this if he wanted t But I was curious to who all is here. I think you all know me, I'm Virgil Hawkins. Static to the Justice League. I think it's time we have a headcount and possibly a recruiting session. There are a few new faces in the city, so this seemed like a good plan.

We work together with Angel Investigations and cover the more human side of big bads in the city. Just because our specialty is more with the citizens that doesn't mean being part of the Justice League will get you out of vampire-duty. We were given powers and with that the ability to help anyway we can.

Being part of the Justice League means exactly that. Helping others. Making the world a safer place and doing as much good along the way as we are able.

That being said don't be shy, we don't bite (much). If you prefer a "screened" response that's fine too, I wasn't to keen on the sharing of my identity at first either.

Thanks everyone for all the gifts, I really like them all. If you need me, I'll be in the kitchen hitting people with flying my new helicopter!

Alright, I am going to follow Angel's example here and make up a list of exactly who is on my team. This is going to...
Put it off for months now.
And now it comes down to...
So Buffy. Where do you even stand?
And a second list of who is interested in joining my team. (either in a primary capacity, or a secondary capacity to Fred's research team- this means you report to her first and then to me if she doesn't need you and I need to make up the numbers.)

For those who don't know, I am Faith and I run the Offensive Team at Angel Investigations. Being on the Offensive Teams is a full time commitment. It's not easy and it's not casual. My team covers every single area of the city every single night without fail. This is regardless of who else is in the city at the time, we at AI make sure we cover the city, every night. We fight demons and vampires and do everything we can to protect the citizens of Los Angeles. Joining my team means three things.
1- Nightly patrols in pairs, on the route I assigned.
2- Training sessions with me, three times a week. This is not optional.
3- Reports after every single patrol. Again, this is not optional. I need to know exactly what was seen in which areas, and take the reports to Fred if more research is needed.

This is the regular routine, in addition there are complications if a new and improved bad guy hits the city. Also, we have the walk in-clients. The files get looked at by the command team and cases get assigned by us according to the relevant skills needed. So, let me know now who you are, so I can make sure this city is as protected as it can be.

Right, Now that we're past the big day and all that I'd like to know what comprises AI right now. Who's on the team, what they do, who wants to be on the team and what they can offer. Who lives in the hotel?

I'm still new at all this with this many people and this seems the best way.

[Spike]

Are you actually ever gonna take this seriously and discuss what we need to do, or do I get to do all the legwork. There might not be conveniant heroic necklaces to wear next time there's a threat

Found a job. It's a security guard gig for some big time laboratory on the other side of the city. The pay is surprisingly decent for a job like that, so I'm probably going to end up looking for an apartment out there within the next couple days. I'm gonna need to live closer to work if I want to get there on time every day. I'll miss the house, but I really need the job. Plus, it's a foot in the door. History on a security team might actually stand for something solid if I decide to pursue some of the careers I was considering.

Now I'm off to sign up for internet classes. Not the same as going to a campus, but I'll settle for now. It's a start.

Oh, and thanks for the Christmas gifts. I really enjoyed them.

[Filtered to Fred and Lindsey]
Any chance of either of you being able to help me with an issue that I have as far as crediting me for classes that I've already taken in another universe are concerned?

I miss home...how is that even possible when the people I consider my home are all here?

i need more things to occupy me.

You and I need to talk. Now.

Happy holidays. Yeah, yeah, I know.. it's late. Arm feels a lot better now. Spent a lot of time designing some new shirts for work. And shopping, too. And cleaning. Ohh, and having a new hot tub put in at my place. That's gonna be fun. And looking for a computer expert, no luck yet, but I will Happy Yule. Christmas. Hanukkah. Kwanzaa. Whatever the occasion. This place really isn't all that bad. It's actually good. Sometimes. I guess. Although the Vamp Santa thing still has me in giggles from time to time

Naming seamonkey's is harder than it looks. We've got Aquaman, Batman, and Terry. But there are six in the packet that Bart gave me, it even says they are trainable. I think they should be like the Justice League of Seamonkeys. Each one with little super powers.

Slightly belated happy...festivity time.

I feel slightly hypocritical and Hallmark Movie about telling people to remember the good things about the city as well as the bad but its true. There's good sides to it if you let yourself find them. Or them find you.

ETA: Or not, whats Christmas without a little fuck up

[Cas]

Can you come back over?. Please.

Well then it's Christmas Eve, interesting. Well if anything good comes from me ending up here, it means I don't need to go to church and listen to that pompous priest go on and on about our sins.

Even if I do miss my parents. But I guess its better for them, everyone that I'm here, away from them.

So...merry Christmas, I guess.

Not sure what I'm supposed to do now
Should I keep being evil, or just pretend to be the bad guy
I still miss Mark

Could we not do that again.. please? I like a family reunion as much as the next guy, but come on. Not when they keep trying to kill you. Thanks, Dad. Those things really hurt. I hope I never see those daggers again Really gave me something to remember you by. Delusional prick, blind as a bat, so glad you're gone At least my home smells nice once again.

Surprised I wasn't visited from my VP back in Chicago. Or by Neff, my old platoon sergeant. I sort of miss him. He had good lessons at the academy. But not as much as I missed one guy. I just wish my cousin could have stayed until the 25th was over. Really not fair. But, oh well.. that's just how it is. I'm not forgetting him in any case. At least I got to see him. And hugs, we actually hugged, I had missed that most of all. I'm going to remember your every word, Mark.

It would be even better if we got some snow this time around. Seeing him reminded me of it. I had these snowmobiles. They were fun. Could ride all over, even on the lake in Wisconsin. And making snowballs, snowmen, snowladies. New York was good at this time too. Ahh well, back to business as usual. Should probably focus on the computer plans. Or maybe I'll just take a break and go out for a while. Or I could plan a party. Been a while since I went to one of those.

I keep seeing them die in my dreams even after the ghosts....

I guess they're all gone.

.. I miss her, my mom. it's not fair she came. I wanted her to stay.

Does stuff like that happen all the time? The ghost thing, I mean.

I'm not seeing them anymore. The ghosts. How about everyone else? They gone? You're not still seeing images from your past? I hope things can get back to normal.

Mine were.. alright. Saw a few from my own past. Lex was probably the worst of it. I was suddenly reminded how delusional he really was toward the end. Thought he was the hero, that it was his sole right to save everyone by himself. His views were.. warped. Still wonder if I could have done better And he had that ring. Traded punches after every other verbal dig into my past mistakes.

***

[Filtered to Bart]
Hey, I probably already did this. But I want to thank you again for your help. I probably would be a lot worse off if you had not shown up when you did. Maybe even dead That was a sweet trick, though. But damn.. Lex was a real fruitcake, wasn't he? I think I understand now where Tess got a few of her traits from.

Did the footage help anyone with the ghost puzzle?

Ein somehow figured out what happened and got onto my laptop complete with sending footage from my webcam. My arms look like they went through a machine since I must have blacked out at some point. But beyond that and being sore from a crash landing I'm in one piece.

Just wish I had some idea why Vicious came after me?

Actually now that its on my mind: what am I supposed to do for my arms?

Mirta and I would like to invite everyone to a New Year's Eve costume party at the Lux. I know the last time we did costumes it all got a bit strange, but that was a Halloween thing, this will be totally different.

Everyone's welcome, we're a neutral place and open to anyone. And in case anyone was even thinking about it, violence is not tolerated at our club. Even if you could break past the wards, my gorgeous partner would actually enjoy getting the chance to kick some ass. So everyone would be completely safe there.

So, we hope to see as many of you down there as can make it. We got the club, the bar, the restaurant, so whatever your taste is, I'm pretty sure we can cater for it!

I will never get use to this place. I think I've gotten lost four of five times. And there are certain parts I am certainly not going anywhere near in the evening.

Does anyone want to go get a drink or something? I could really use one, and I don't really feel like drinking alone. That's never healthy.

[filtered to Faith]
No ghosts tonight but.. Think I can stay at the Hyperion for a while longer? I don't think I can go home yet. I'll just be alone. I'm scared to be a

[Filtered to Sam]
I..don't really know what to say. Just.. Thanks. For everything last night.

I was watching this muggle film not to long ago - Ghostbusters. Wouldn't it be brilliant if they showed up here? They have a really catchy song too.

Not that I have a problem with ghosts, Nick was great, and yeah Myrtle was downright annoying and the Baron was really scary, but he was tolerable if you didn't hang about the dungeons to much - but these ghosts showing up now - just a wee bit much.

That little girl, I see her everywhere...

We've only spoken once and briefly. However, I'm the Lady Morgana. If you aren't terribly busy. I'd like to discuss some matters with you. Whether publicly or over the boards, I will leave the decision up to you.