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My shadow has returned to its rightful place and I am once again able to go out in the sun. Oh, how I have missed the sun. I meant to post this last week...or perhaps the week before, but I have been attempting to catch up on everything I missed while more or less confined to my home.

Oh, Andraste's sagging arse, I'm quite over the likes of Thedas. I suppose it was good that I was warned my lover would volunteer to stay behind in the Fade in some act of heroism or some shit like that. Because otherwise, waking up to find the letter from his best friend regarding his death there on the nightstand would be a really bad fucking surprise.

I need a few of Dorian's sparkly balls to take my mind off this.

But the lighter part of it all is that I got a new outfit? One with actual trousers this time, a very grown-up swashbuckling outfit, complete with gigantic pirate hat. I feel about a thousand years old by the time the Inquisition happens, but I look great and am still stabbing people so I suppose that's also a good thing.

Gods. As if the proverbial shipwreck couldn't get any worse - but actually, in my dreamspace, there was a shipwreck. It involved a very rare treasure called Eye of the Storm and the unfathomable things my own brother did to grant us passage on a Naval ship. I suppose he felt like he was responsible for giving us a better life, after our father literally sold us into slavery for a rowboat, so desperate people do desperate things. It was certainly a lot better, serving the King by joining the Royal Navy, than being a slave aboard Captain Silver's ship.

But regarding the Underworld nonsense, that's over. I hath risen from the dead there too. Apparently being in good with Zeus is beneficial in a few ways. I can only imagine what's in store for us next.

In other news, I'm rather giddy thanks to the recent appearance of two very important things - the rest of my beloved ship, the Jolly Roger, and the approval of the application for my PI licence. I'm currently studying to take the exam, with the lovely 14-pound study guide and 1,100 practise questions. At least we've come up with a name for our business - JR Investigations. Brilliant, no?

Am still taking applications for a pirate crew. My little sister automatically gets to be the Quartermaster.

I would like to report that the Doll that has been wandering around Orange County acting like me has been found and returned.

Salt, of all things, is the key to getting my shadow out of the doll and back to me. The problem now is figuring out how to get a doll without a moving mouth to eat a packet of salt. We are considering using a salt bath.

If anyone is interested in meeting my little "Mini Me" prior to then, please let me know.

Alright, remind me not to scroll back to more than a few weeks here - you just get lost in a cesspool of who knows what. Only thing I've managed to take from it is that I'm a little concerned my teenage kids are also on this forum and reading about your issues, your dick jokes, and your internet hook-ups.

So what is it, really? What's the percentage? Like 40% dream talk, 40% Plenty of Fish, and 20% Craigslist?

Name's Hades. Was mostly working and making movies in Europe for the past few years, then moved Stateside to direct a gem called Inferno. We're about to go into post-production, so I'll just take two seconds to be useful and say, hey, putting out the call for post-production jobs and internships. Hit me up if you're interested.

Being without my shadow and unable to go out in the sun has left my days rather empty and I've been trying to fill them by finding new and interesting things to read and learn about. In my findings recently I have discovered the canon that my Dreams come from. I'm really very excited about this! Finally I can show people the world that I dream about! I've wanted to do this ever since the dreams started!

I've also discovered the wild and interesting world of fanfiction. Oh my goodness, there is a lot of fanfiction for the canon my Dream self comes from. Some of it is fantastic while others are...well not so fantastic, and a lot of what is called slash fiction. I'm not sure I understand why, but writers like to pair up our cook and our swordsman. It doesn't make any sense, but it's interesting to read.

It has come to my attention that there is a doll wandering around the county, perhaps going to places I would go and visiting people I would visit. If anyone should happen to see this doll, please do not harm it. I think it may be possessed with my shadow and I would like to have it back.

Apparently without my shadow, I have a nasty habit of bursting into flame when I go out in the sun. I realize that may not make much sense, but it is dream related. I would also very much like to have my shadow back since I've been stuck this way for a few weeks now and I'm tired of it.

The doll also apparently does not understand or realize that she is a doll and may actually believe she is me. Seeing as that is the case you may be able to lure her with coffee and sweet cakes or a trashy romance novel.

Any help any one can provide would be most appreciated.

Thank you

Recent Dream cross over has required that I stay inside while the sun is out. During my time indoors, I rediscovered that I have a Netflix account and have been binge watching mysteries, as of late Murder, She Wrote. Jessica Fletcher has the worst luck ever and should never be invited to parties.

Dream!me hates to sleep because of his dreams. I can relate. But it’s starting to feel like Inception with this dreams within dreams bull shit. Has that happened to anyone else?

I have a turtle. He does not pair well with an apiary, but he will prove most useful, inexplicable by logical conventions though he is... My first dream, my first 'gift' to be bestowed.

Nonetheless, I require a meeting. It is overdue. In the meanwhile: how many of you have received fauna (or flora) from your dreams?

Jumping in on this network. Seems difficult but I'm going to give it a try anyway.

Hi, I'm Maxwell Trevelyan, will take most variations of either name. I'm not really new to the area but I'm new to the forum - and just bought a house to fix up in Anaheim, so I guess that means I'm staying for awhile. Sometimes I travel for work but I'm originally from Seattle, so that means I'm sort of missing the constant rainclouds.

I've also got my office situated in Anaheim - I'm a counselor, therapist, not a shrink, and while I have a couch in my office I don't really insist people lie down on it. I prefer to sit face to face and talk.

What else? Should I ask about coffee shops, the local ones? Always up for finding new caffeine suppliers.

How many of you consider yourself a specialist in any given field of noteworthy import?

Since my inquiry for baked goods was well answered the last time, I thought I'd try again. I need something sparkly for my Valentine, where does one get...baked goods that are glittery? I assume there is such a thing, yes?

On the dream front, it's been a whole metric tonne of things. Snow queens and spells where we all hated each other and the newly-formed Triumvirate of Evil (that didn't stay a threesome for very long, mind you), and dragons and alternate lives - good god. But in terms of 'gifts,' I also hope someone on this network is a botanist of some kind. I've a sort of strange plant that should be studied and contained it killed my brother, since it can be dangerous - well, the thorns are, I should say. Then again, no one should be getting themselves scratched with poisonous thorns unless you're Charming and stupidly manage it somehow.

My Dream adventures continue. My Dream Self survived being electrocuted by that...that...terrible man who dared call himself a god and - as I suspected he would - our captain defeated him gloriously. Saved the entire island while he was at it, as well, although that wasn't really his goal. We rewarded ourselves by taking Skypea's treasure. Well, the Straw Hats did. While they were doing that, my dream self finally found the poneglyph she had been searching for. Like the one in Alabasta, this one didn't give us any information about the Lost History, but we did discover that famous pirate Gol D. Roger had been to Skypea once. I find that very interesting.

We then left Skypea with the entire population chasing us, as you do, and returned to the Blue Sea where we were almost immediately roped into some ridiculous games by some ridiculous pirates. The Davy Back Fight in which the losers have to give up crew members to the winners. Its like being Shanghaied, but without being drugged first.

In other dream-related news, I think I have my Devil Fruit powers now. Good in the fact that I will always have enough hands to carry things and have eyes and ears wherever I want, bad in that I can no longer go swimming.

Pride and Prejudice was first published on January 28th 1813 so it's been over two hundred years of enjoyment that book has brought.

I have to admit I am kind of looking forward to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies being released at the cinema, I'm not sure if that makes me a heathen or not?

Because of the busy holiday season among other things, I haven’t had the chance to really talk or think about the dreams I’ve been having. I also didn’t really want to talk about them while Mother was here.

I’ve come to the realization that we are some very odd pirates.

( cut for length; readable by all )

The Too Long; Didn’t Read summary: I dreamed of flying up a giant geyser, finding island in a sea in the clouds, being whisked away by a giant crab, a ruler who calls himself God and searching for a city that may or may not exist, but supposedly has incredible wealth and answers I’ve been searching my whole life for.

Also, I forgot to mention, apparently there is a civil war going on between the denizens of Skypea over ancient homeland, but we don’t really seem to care much about that.

The one night I sleep soundly, I feel like I've had my skull unscrewed and a metric tonne of rubbish has been dumped in. We escaped Neverland (awful place, let's hope I never set foot on that island again), Pan met his demise, Crocodile slayed and Crocodile returned, now we're back in Storybrooke after time traveling, crashing a ball, and the last thing I saw before waking up was Swan trying to shoot a giant snow creature. With a gun.

It didn't go well. The thing sprouted spikes. Then of course after all of that migraine-inducing nonsense we went to go watch Netflix, which makes perfect sense.

How the hell could no one leave that cesspool of a town and yet Netflix is streamed in?

At any rate, it's early but I've got an interview for a job down at the docks that is actually legal, I'm setting a good example. A perfect combination of heavy work and customer service. Perfect amount of exhaust fumes and paper dust breathed in. I'm quite looking forward to it.

So a friend told me about this website, said it was the place to be in the area. Since I'm new around here, I figured I would try it out.

So, I'm Remy LeBeau, comic book artist and writer, newly moved up from Los Angeles to get away from the big city and telecommute. I mostly work all day, hang out in coffee shops, and hike a lot.

How's the world treating all of you, this winter?

My mother made it home for Christmas! She said she just had the urge to come to California!

I have not been this happy in ages!!

Er

So this is a bit weird a request, and I'm sorry if I'm not posting this in the right place. I'm here for a conference for the next two weeks during Christmas of all and I'm trying to find something to do. Unfortunately, it's snowing outside so all the standard California stuff seems to be out for the moment. Does anyone have some ideas for something fun to do?

so i'm supposed to talk about my dreams, yes? alright here we go. i woke up missing a hand, it was a bit awkward.

there is absolutely nothing to do during the day when you're laid up in a hospital bed, drugged, and not wearing much beneath the thin gown. it's also bloody freezing.

i've taken to learning new medical terms and using them in conversations multiple times, counting how many. today's is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia which is really the term for an ice cream headache. the nurses are quite impressed.

and now i'm giving up on typing one-handed so

forgot where i was going with that anyway

FUCK. YES.

I am building a damn snow fort and anyone who wants to help is welcome. UCI Quad, be there or be somewhere else. Whatever. I'm not your damn mother.

Good Morning!

I am still so full of turkey and sides and delicious pie I could burst! I didn't want yesterday to end at all! I hope others had an equally fantastic Thanksgiving with equally as fantastic company.

Sadly, back to work bright in early this morning. It's chilly enough that I'm actually wearing the coat I got from my dreams. I love it, it's so warm and comfy!

If anyone is out shopping on Black Friday, everything in my shop is 20% off. As usual, mention Valarnet and get an additional 10% off the entire purchase.

Happy Return of the Season, everyone!

There's a glorious, glorious man I met in the dreams last night. Could perhaps benefit from a nose job, he's not all that tall (he's a dwarf), but he can probably talk me out of my own pants and has chest hair so majestically curly I can't take my eyes off it. I'm sure the phrase 'my eyes are up here' applies to him in this situation. He's also the only person I know who names his crossbow and treats it like a lover, but alright.

I've also paid off my servitude after a year for gaining entrance in that charming shithole of a city, and apparently am making strides to get on board with an expedition that takes you underground for treasure. Assuming we don't get killed by dark spawn things and ogres before we get to the loot.

Oh, and get this. One item I get from that wretched place: a cheese wheel caked in a year's worth of mold. No, really. It's a legitimate thing that stayed in a corner of my Uncle's dirt cave for an entire year. I swear it's alive.

Just in time for the holidays. I'm so blessed.

I'm thinking of organizing a toy drive for Christmas this year.

Would anyone on the network like to help out?

So a little update on the dream front. I'm no longer working for a criminal organization. After my boss stabbed me with his poison hook and then was subsequently defeated by Straw Hat Luffy, Straw Hat saved me and I more or less invited myself onto his crew. He of course had no problems with it, but the rest of the crew was suspicious of me. They, of course have good reason. I was their enemy until just a few days prior. Convincing them to let me stay was surprisingly easy, however. All I had to do was buy off the Navigator with a small bag of jewels I'd taken with me from Baroque Works and charm the Doctor and the Long Nosed Sharpshooter. The Cook...well, all I had to do was be a girl, apparently. He practically fell all over himself to bring me coffee and some cakes.

The Swordsman is another story. He isn't nearly as easy to persuade. He follows his captain's orders, but I can tell he doesn't trust me. He's a tough one to crack.

At any rate, we've come to port called Mock Town and have heard stories about a fascinating place called Sky Island. It, just like its name implies, is in the sky!! Our adventure seeking captain wants nothing more than to go there. While we were in town and Straw Hat, Miss Navigator and the Swordsman were looking for more information (and apparently getting beaten up for some reason), I was able to find a map of the island. It's real! Oh, I can't wait to go there!

I was reading a bit about 'fun' Thanksgiving tidbits, you know, to educate myself a little. In addition to learning that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest for plumbers (to handle all those clogged drains/toilets?) apparently whatever is commonly eaten on Thanksgiving wasn't even present during the first anyway - you lot are strange.

But I suppose that leads into my question. Where's a good spot to get a pie? I'd try making one myself but I live on a houseboat and my kitchen is somewhat small. It would lead to fires, surely.

Have you done your Silly Walk yet today?

Now, unless I've been wandering in a hazy hallucination for days, then all of this madness is real. A bit much to welcome a newcomer with, especially one who has crossed the ocean just to settle in this lovely corner of the world, but as a person living in the States for the first time at least it's not boring. Yet. Is it ever?

Though I would welcome tips about the usuals - dirty pubs, mostly, but I'm collecting as much info as I can get about day-to-day life here and things to do. Which pretty face(s) wants to assist me there? I'm quite a sucker for a pretty face.

I've had a few more dreams recently. I fought a marine lieutenant who had demanded the release of King Cobra and I nearly killed her. I feel very poorly about it. She was only doing her job to protect the kingdom of Alabasta.

Then I purposefully mistranslated the poneglyph for Crocodile. I had really hoped that it would tell about the Void Century. It didn't, though. It spoke about a weapon and Crocodile simply couldn't learn that. Somehow, though, Crocodile knew I was lying to him, so he stabbed me with his hook.

I woke up this morning with a horrible pain in my side. Thank goodness there was no injury.

I did find this outfit in my closet, however:

( Cut for Picture, Open to All (SFW) )

Its the outfit I've been wearing in my dreams. While its perfectly acceptable to wear in my dream world, I'm afraid I would get more than one odd look if I attempted to wear it here. I do really love the coat though.

This is, surprisingly, not a post about pumpkin spice or Halloween.

I'd call it an introduction. Not a blind one, however - no, I've scrolled back many pages to revel in all this...uniqueness.

Dr. Ian Malcolm, resident Chaotician at your service. I teach a few classes here and there at UCI, and recently moved to the area with my daughter who is a budding Olympic gold gymnast.

But that's only me. What about you? Lots of dream talk. I like it.

This is always a busy time of year for Sanctum Sanctorum. Too many poorly informed hobbyists or people looking for a Halloween thrill. It gets exhausting, warning people not to dabble in things they have no idea of.

So with Halloween just around the corner, I thought I'd share this article about the Mummy of Lady Dai, the best preserved ancient mummy in the world.

Pursuing the news during a slow day and I come across this article regarding a new seating design from Airbus.

My one question is where are people's carry-on items supposed to go?

All the more reason to go back to travel by train in my opinion.

Much Ado About Books is going to be having some Halloween themed fun days in the week leading up to All Hallow's Eve. We'll have face painting, craft making, costume competitions and each day our very own Capable will be reading stories so make sure you pop on in week beginning 26th October.

I've never felt quite so piratical as standing on the deck of my ship under a blood red moon.

No rum, because I don't like the taste of it, but I did have a glass of very nice scotch.

No comment as to whether or not sea shanties were sung.

Good Morning everyone!

I think it might be time I hired another employee, someone who would be able to deliver larger items from my store to customers. The store has its own van, so you wouldn't need to use your own vehicle.

I'm not sure on the hours or what the pay would be just yet, but I'm curious if anyone here would be interested.

Late night internet searching lead me to this article earliest use of the f-word and in a court case to boot.

If the title isn't warning enough, and even though its historic, this article may not be safe for work.

I had another dream early this morning.

I think in them I'm a bad guy.

I'm not sure what to think about that.

GUYS!!!

If we pool all our money together we could buy a volcano supervillian lair! Click me to read about it. It's not horribly far away - it could be a nice vacation house.

( Cut for talk about schoolyard bullying/children getting into fights. Viewable to all )

Is this what is considered socializing, now? Talking to each other from behind a computer.

I don't mind it. I find it fascinating and bizarre that we can be social without seeing someone face to face.

This is where I introduce myself, isn't it? My name is Francis, I work at the San Diego Museum of Art. I am a curator and an art historian.

I've been on the network about a month and I've heard a lot about the Dreams and what others are experiencing, yet...how do you know when you have one of those dreams?

Hello. My name is Illya Kuryakin. My employer told me I should join this network and properly introduce myself. I am Russian, from Moscow. I have never been to the United States before this time, but it does not seem so bad. I like these palm trees. They look nice. I did not know America could have these, too, only places in the tropical parts of the world.

So now I have done what I have been asked to do. We will see if it is worth the use.

Apartment is get! Apartment is also hella tiny and in a shitty part of Lake Forest, but it's my hella tiny shithole.

Nux, I'm gonna cook you and your brothers dinner to thank you for letting me crash. No arguing.

Hey, Max, wanna have a sleepover like we used to? I've got the horror movies if you bring the snacks.

Its a little early to start playing Halloween music in my store, but it isn't too early for me to start compiling Halloween play lists to play in my store during October.

I have a good start:

Thriller - of course; some Voltaire, The Ghostbuster's theme; music from the Nightmare Before Christmas (which is good to play from Halloween all the way through the holidays in my opinion)

Does anyone have any suggestions they'd like to add?

I'm really skeptical on how great would actually be to join the Kingsman.

Not only did we get drugged, tied up to a train track, and interrogated while a "train" came barreling down, but the last test was to shoot your dog. I ended up refusing to do so and was cast aside as Roxy became the new Lancelot. I then found out that there were just blanks in the gun after I ran off and Harry controlled a car to take me to his place.

Ugh, I still kind of want to help because I know that the villain in these dreams is totally up to something.

We're having a survey at the library through the end of August, and I thought I would bring it here to broaden the group a bit.

Which do you find more convenient for your lifestyle:

Books

E-readers

Audiobooks

In an ideal world (where time and money were not a factor), which do you prefer the most:

Books

E-readers

Audiobooks

Personally, I've been sold on e-readers since they came on the market, but then again, I've always been a fan of gadgets.

Tags: barbara gordon (batgirl), guinevere pendragon, kitty pryde (shadowcat), kung jin, lara croft, loki odinson, matt murdock (daredevil), michael glass, nico robin, rachel roth (raven), tessa gray

I don't understand why I still live here. This place has taken near everything from me, and apparently it aims to take my sanity next.

Last week was intolerable.

No... no no no no no.

Oh god, really? Why would you do this to me?

Guys...

I ...

Well look for yourselves.

( Image under cut )