Network

People are crazy and all I’ve been hearing about is Black Friday shopping. It's the third people. Black Friday is in a few weeks!

I also commend all the establishments that are remaining closed on Thanksgiving.

[Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Lancelot (if you think they’re friendly enough!)

Does anyone have plans for the holiday already? Maybe we could all do something together?

I've been hearing about these dreams for awhile now and I've finally had one of them. It's so weird but at least certain things stayed the same. Except Arthur. I'm not sure if he's a bigger brat now or in my dreams!

And it seems my Halloween worries have been for nothing. The magical dream fairies left me some fancy new clothes that will be perfect to wear for Halloween. They are quite pretty too even if the style is a bit out of date.

Why are there so many things that can go wrong with a pregnancy? The internet details every single one of them.


[OOC: Just slapping a warning on here that the conversations within might discuss topics that could be triggery regarding miscarriages/things going wrong in birth.]

I'm not dead, I promise. Just being affected by Orange County Weirdness. Hanging out with my new best friend Hiccup.

Anyone have any idea what's going on this time?

We've all belonged to another time, another place. We've each been someone else. Do any of us know who we really are?

I've been given a name with a history. A man's name. How much of what I know of him will come to be true of myself?

I am ever so curious.

I can't believe I've been away from the OC for over a year. But I'm back! And I've returned with presents for my friends! In exchange for you all filling me in on everything I've missed while I was away!

It's been awhile since I ordered any takeout from around here. Anyone have a good recommendation for me? Tink! Isn't this your specialty??

I thought it would be harder to get used to being back since I was gone for so long. I've only been back a week and it's already starting to feel like I never left. Or almost like I never left.

[Arthur Pendragon]

I've missed I made Hi. I promise I'll come by and pick up the things I left as soon as I find an apartment.

Not to make Lina feel any more or less guilty, but... I couldn't get a jar of pickles open today. Though, I've got the go-ahead to go back to work from my doctor. I'm supposed to "take it easy"... apparently that includes not opening jars of pickles.

The wrist is mending. I can't wait to go back to work. I hate just sitting around with nothing to do.

Head injuries, though. They take those really seriously.

So should I be worried about my team or is it normal for people to give names to their laptops, phones and other electronic items? Because it's rather amusing to listen to them.

I suppose it's time I enter the age of technology. I finally caved and got myself a shiny new smartphone. It was hard to retire my flip phone though. That thing has been through everything. This will just be much easier to check email more often.

I'm rambling. Anyway I'm Emma.

The only problem with contracting an illness from a dream that doesn't exist in the waking world is that the antidote or at least the drugs that are now keeping me alive don't actually exist in the waking world. When I got sick, I received a box that I keep the drug in in the dreams and inside was enough of the drug for about two months. I got sick at the beginning of April, which means I only have about a month to three weeks left of the drug. If my illness is exactly like it is in the dreams then without the drug, I'll die and I have no idea if it will replenish on it's own because of the dreams or not. I don't exactly want to wait and find out when it's too late that it won't, but I'm not entirely sure what to do.

I know there are a lot of different people out there and I was hoping that there might be someone out there who could help me. How, I'm not entirely sure, but I know that I don't want to die.

I missed my mom a lot this weekend. One of those funny things. I spent the last few Mother's Days with her, so to be away? It hit me kinda hard, actually. Harder than I expected it would. Maybe because of what happened to my Dad in my Dreams

I probably ate too many chocolate truffles. I had her share and my own. Maybe it's time to plan a trip back there to see my family.

Has anyone else dreamed of magic?

And then...done something while awake?

Happy Star Wars Day everyone and May the Fourth be with you.

While I'm incredibly excited about the prospect of raising a family with the woman I love, there is that tiny needle of doubt that keeps pricking at the back of my mind.

What if they look like me.

SUNDAY. May the Fourth. I'm having a Star Wars marathon. Who's in?

Apparently I'm a baker in my dreams as well as in real life.

I won't be in to work today. I'm afraid to drive. I might get pulled over, and how would I explain this??

My cat is extremely odd sometimes. The last two times I've done laundry, he has sat in front of the washer, simply watching the clothes spin around. He has sat there the entire time. He's never done this before, so it's rather amusing. I'm curious, what is the most amusing thing anyone else's cat or dog has done?

I also realized that in a lot of my posts, I've mentioned my cat or Caspian. I think we need to start getting out more.

( [trigger warnings, bombing plot, public post under cut] )

What do you do when you're not really dating someone on Valentine's Day? Is there some sort of protocol for friends-with-benefits that I'm unaware of?

For Christmas, I received a calender where each day is a wafer of pressed tea. When the day is done you pull it off and have a nice cuppa before bed. Or you could do it to start your day, I suppose.

A week in, I have to say this tea is fantastic. And my kitchen smells of tea leaves.

Perfect gift.

I may have had a little too much fun decorating cookies at the bakery over the last few days. I know that it's a bit soon for Valentine's Day stuff to come out, but the "2014" cookies weren't selling. I dare you not to buy one of these babies.

( Cut for Image )

As always, mention Valarnet and get a discount! Or a free sample! Or something else, depending on my mood!

Snow! And cold! We all know what that means everybody - yes that's right I can wear the ridiculous amount of jumpers I brought with me that everybody told me I'd never get to wear.

Thank you weather god!

OH MY GOD

IT IS SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the best thing ever. I haven't seen snow in forever. I'm excited to see if this continues or not.

WHO WANTS TO GO SLEDDING IF WE GET ENOUGH SNOW?!

There’s a term that gets bandied about a lot in my line of work. The phrase “corporate restructuring” falls out of upper management’s mouth and there’s quite a bit of fuss about it.

I can neither confirm nor deny that Pendragon Industries will be undergoing any kind of corporate restructuring.

I can, however, say that I’m going to be holding open interviews over the next three days for a new personal assistant. Please show up at [address] between 1 pm and 7 pm and present your CV to the receptionist. You will be interviewing with me, and I will get to you as soon as time allows.

Should you require accommodations, please call [phone number] ahead of time and we will gladly make them.

Ability to actually make a cup of tea properly, or willingness to learn how a plus.

I'm not really a Christmas person exactly. However I will admit that I miss England during the winter months. It's not the same. It was 80 today. And I was wearing shorts.

There should be snow and hot chocolate and all sorts of things.

Not that I want to go to the East Coast. I should stop complaining.

What's everyone's plan for New Years? Anything good?

I'm usually a fairly patient person, I like to think. But this month very honestly needs to end.

Holy cow, I'm getting married in like, a week or so. Percy, did you realize it was this soon? (Don't worry, Audrey, we're not raining on your parade, we're doing it a few days after yours.)

I just - wow, it kind of snuck up on me.

So...my friend seems to have gotten into a bit of a pickle. They were hit with a curse or something to turn them into a cat. And they've been stuck like that for a while now (at least I think they're still stuck like that I see your attempt to post Obi-Wan since I haven't heard contrary). So, that leads me to this post in an attempt to help.

Who here can turn a cat back into its human form? I think there should be a few other magical people on this network. Please let me know ASAP and I'll try to set something up because I'm sure my friend wants to be human again as soon as possible.

Thanks!

I thought I felt a breeze today, which means I've dug out the warm sweaters and knit scarves.

I'm so very, very ready for it to be fall.

The last couple weeks have been exceptionally busy. I've had weddings and parties, not to mention the every day workings of the bakery. New employees coming in, old employees going out... it's been a bit of a mess.

Merlin and I are just returning from a weekend getaway. It was much needed rest. I feel refreshed. Now it's time to plan our wedding!

Oh, and Pumpkin Cookies are on sale! Mention Valarnet and they're buy one get one free!

God. Home, bored, listening to Radio One, and turns out they're playing Innuendo Bingo. According to Evan Davies, it's now eight o'cock. Spat my bloody drink everywhere.

I had the dream again last night So I've got my first performance here in Orange County and it's going to be a weekly thing. Audrey's letting me play Tuesday nights at Baxter Bakery. Starting this week. It means I lose a night off later in the week but it's worth it

[Private to his housemates]
Sorry if I woke you guys up last night. I had the dream where Frank kills me another nightmare. Treats at the Bakery are on me tomorrow night to make it up to you? And bribe you into coming to hear me play

[Private to Gwen Stacey]
Any chance I could convince you to come and be a friendly face in the crowd?

[Private to Merlin]
Audrey's probably already told you but I'm playing at the Bakery tomorrow night. I'd like it if you two were there. Friends help settle my nerves

I arrived in America over the weekend and have gotten settled in as much as I can in only two days. Church seems a little confused, but that's understandable. Give it a day or two and once he's explored the house, he'll more than likely keep to himself in my room. I do hope he'll get a long with my cousin's dog. I start classes on Monday at UCI. I'm nervous, but excited at the same time. I've been in touch with my professors since classes have already started, so hopefully I'll catch up quickly.

Oh, I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm James Carstairs, but mostly everyone calls me Jem. I just moved here from England and will be staying with my cousin, Jubilee, and her wife for the time being. I honestly can't thank them enough for letting me stay for now. I hope I won't be a bother for them.

Okay, Valarnet, question time!

I know that some of you lucky folks have dreamed about having magic or superpowers and then gotten them in real life... did you know how to control them when you got them? I'm just curious, since... doesn't it take a while to learn how to handle something like that, normally?

I debated retiring recently, but then I realized I'd be really very bored. So that's straight out. I could use a few more hobbies, though. Knitting or something.

You never know how much you miss something until it's gone. The world is in such bright technicolors lately, probably because I'm getting used to seeing things again. I spent about an hour yesterday at the library, just looking through the art books. It may sound a bit selfish or vain of me, but damn I'm happy to be able to see.

Though, I gotta admit that feeling the Earth was pretty awesome.

Well this is the weirdest thing to have happened in a while.

I hope everybody is okay, or as okay as they can be.



Gwen? Flemeth? Morgana? Guenevere? Jane? Percy? How are you all doing? Are you still you?

I have no idea how I'm going to explain this to my employees. XD

You know you're losing your touch when your best friend somehow manages to get engaged without you having even the slightest clue.

Then again, I've always been the oblivious type. Maybe that's why Rei Miss Hino lets me manage her burlesque club whilst she's away - I don't fall for the ridiculous flirting the girls try sometimes.

It's official, I hate this place terribly.

All right, the OC hasn't done anything wrong but it's the general fact that I regrettably must live within the same county as the people who I should supposedly refer to as my family.

( Filtered for family arguments. )


[Filtered to Robert's friends.]

Would any of you care to help me move? I'm not really bringing much, but I'm taking the piano whether they like it or not. And my music collection is very heavy.

Thank you to everybody who offered us their congratulations at the Gala this past Saturday.

For those who couldn't attend not only did Audrey pull off a wonderful day but she also accepted my proposal and we are now engaged :D

JULY 13TH! GALA AT BAXTER BAKERY!

With all the aliens and zombies and crazy things that have happened lately, it nearly slipped my mind that there's going to be a huge party at Baxter Bakery this Saturday. All of Valarnet is invited! Please come and see the local artwork on the walls, listen to our local musicians perform, and enjoy Baxter Bakery sweets and drinks. It's fully catered by the Bakery, and free of charge.

Hopefully after such trying, dangerous and frightening times, we can all let loose a little, celebrate life, and enjoy one another's company.

ATTENTION: Anyone working on recovery in Vegas

There's a Baxter Bakery Delivery Van headed your way with pastries, pre-made sandwiches, soda, bottled water, and bread. It's loaded to the gills, so be ready for a good lunch.

I only wish I could do more.

...I think my powers might be starting to manifest, and... I'm scared.

I don't know what I'm meant to do with them. They're nothing much at the moment, but... even knowing that I might accidentally do something terrible... I blame Uther for this. With all my heart

Ugh, those zombie things taste horrible!

Some of my co-workers were talking about this website, so I thought I might join up too. I've lived here for a year or so, but haven't made many friends yet. But I hear my cousin's on this thing too! YUNIE ARE YOU HERE? And Ben, my co-cousin? COMMENT IF YOU'RE HERE YOU GUYS

But yeah, yay for Stark Industries, woop woop!

How is everyone?

Everyone mark your calendars! July 13th we're going to have a Gala Party at Baxter Bakery. If you're a local artist who would like to display artwork at the event, or if you're a local musician who would like to play, please comment below and contact me!

Also at Baxter Bakery, one of my employees has decided that we need to have a sandwich called "The Audrey"... if you think you have good ideas what "The Audrey" might be, please fill out a form and drop it in the box! We'll vote on the best sandwich at the Gala!

Thanks for your time!