Network

There's all kinds of weird looking artifacts that Lara's found and I've taken something like... I don't even know, 50 hours of video footage now? It's going to be fun to edit when we're done! I feel like an actual film producer or something. I'm just still bummed that I couldn't get Lara and Rogue fighting the panther on tape. Sigh.

I'm some kind of badass 'cause I figured out how to jerry rig things so I could plug my curling iron in. Hey, we might be out in the jungle but that's no excuse not to look your best!

SO wishing I had a pair of gloves like the ones Portia made for Rogue, though. She's bug bite free on her arms and she doesn't have to keep applying sunscreen. Lucky!

We had a productive day yesterday once we made camp. The ruins are fascinating. They date back centuries but there is evidence of occupation as recently as two hundred years ago, which is completely unexpected.

My primary goal is to understand the daily life of these people, but there have been some interesting artifacts. We're tagging everything because it needs to go to the Costa Rican people.

A common theme I'm seeing here are symbols. Faces really, most of them contorted in either mocking laughter or agony. They're not out in the open, most of them are hidden. And there are none in the local temple.

There was also a circular symbol carved into some of the pillars in the temple, but I've yet to decipher it's meaning.

Due to some faulty equipment and out dated maps we're a few miles off of our expected arrival. We got the GPS working after Renji hit it repeatedly fiddled with it, and we should arrive at the dig site early tomorrow.

I'm excited for what lays ahead, but my thoughts lay with those hurt by what happened yesterday.

OMG YOU GUYS WE MADE IT BUT TODAY SUCKED.

I hope everyone over there is all okay and stuff. We spent like most of last night and today without any contact with the outside world. Yeah, you know I about died. I thought for sure my fingers were going to fall off because they kept checking my phone for signal.

Thanks to equipment, we're back up and running.

There are a lot of bugs and sweating here, omg. It's a sweat-fest. It sucks. I hate roughing it.

Also? Lara killed a panther with a bowie knife, it was so totally hot. <3

Lara's making us write these, and like... I am so bored, so whatever. Might as well write a thing!

But there's nothing much to really say, other than I am still on an airplane and losing my mind. This isn't the longest flight I've ever been on, but the last really long one involved a seven hour layover in New York. That one was fine because Sam Nishimura knows how to entertain herself around a bunch of hot traveling guys. Yup.

But we don't have a layover here so I'm just like... playing bejeweled.

And catching up on the news holy fuck what is going on over there!?

(possible triggers in the comments over the current plot)

We have a flight early tomorrow morning and I think I'm going to throw up, because this is my first expedition and my entire career is riding on it. It can't possibly turn out like the dreams, though. But I'm going armed. Which is a relief.

Oh. oh now ah get why people keep mentioning a certain someone around me. Well ain't that a kicker. It's sad it made me want comfort food almost immediately. Maybe ah'll start up a big ole pot o'gumbo.. Something from home. Maybe some dirty rice, too.

Raven, ah'm totally takin' o'er the kitchen. Ah need comfort food. And time ta think, oui. And maybe a night out to punch people in the face for fun. Gotta digest this new dream.

Okay, well, guess I should probably look into this dumb job thing, huh?

The dumbass Renji is probably going to agree.

Well, whatever.

Just got an offer at a local gym for being a martial arts instructor. So yeah. Anyone interested? Not much, but the pay is good.

I'm restless and can't sleep. This is ridiculous.

Okay so what the hell is up with this holiday thing here? I mean, I know Japan has plenty of traditions, but this one I'm not getting for whatever reason. A day to say thank you? I don't think you need one of those. Every day should be to say thank you.

[Orihime

So, Orihime, doing anything for this holiday thing coming up?

So my dreams were okay. I mean, everyone and their mother warned me not to move here because I'd get creepy scary dreams of horrible things. I'm looking at you, Shepard. At first I thought there was no way I could dream of anything that bad, and then I thought: Well, Lara's dreams are pretty bad, but she shouldn't have to do this alone.

Then I got here, and I dreamed about being daddy's little girl and having more adventures with Lara. I was like... These dreams? I can so handle these bitches. But now the ship's crashed and Lara's missing and there's this creepy guy. And my real life me is like "SAAAAM why would you trust this guy, he's super creeepy!" But she's not listening to me.

So... whatever. Stupid dreams. Here, have a video about an adorable spider instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsGvT2DYJMc

Can we talk about how adorable this spider is? Omg. It's all: " D8 what is that? Oh god it's going to eat me! My life is so hard and scary!"

BRB, getting a laser pointer to distract the spiders in the bathroom with.

Oh god. Ah need ta keep my damn fool mouth shut. Ah'm hiding in mah room. Ah almost got my ass arrested.

I've discovered a new favorite hobby - laying out under the trees in the sun. (Don't worry Yumi! I've got only the best sun protection.) I don't even mind going to work after a nap in the sun. I mean, I still hate work, but at least it seems no one cares if I throw fries at Renji.

And I finally got the cooks to stop with their ridiculous nickname although I think... that new one might be more annoying Enough frozen burgers to the head will teach them, right?

Yumi
Hey. Can I ask you something?

Orihime
How are you, dear??

Ah'm bored. What should ah do today? Also ah feel kinda happy that ah ain't had any new dreams lately. it's kinda nice not worrying about what's next.

Private: Toshiro Hitsugaya
I think we've spoken all of like twice but... I think I kind of... remember you?

Private: Yumi
Please tell me I'm not crazy.
Had another Dream.
Though I think I'm missing things, because it made no sense.
and I feel heartbroken.

Private: Gin
(* ˘⌣˘)◞[_]♥[_]ヽ(•‿• )


Public
These Dreams leave you feeling like crap don't they? I actually can't WAIT to go to work. Disgruntled customers beware, I will not be taking any shit from you.

Oh sweet heaven it's nice to have my voice back. I missed TALKING.

Private: Yumi
Yumi, dear, gossip night?

Private: Renji
See you at work tomorrow night~ can't wait to argue with customers!

Private: Gin
Check your phone.
{he has a voice message from Rangiku: "Love you, I bet you missed the sound of my voice, hmm?"}

Hey, dumbass! So it finally happened!

[Filtered by any and every conceivable filter against Byakuya]

Are there any parties or fun things to do on Halloween? I'd like to get out and socialize and do things. Meet people, I suppose.

However my brother does not approve of anything fun and if he had his way, I'd be in the house and reading during Halloween and not even handing out candy.

So I'd beg you all to not tell him. Thank you.

Still can't talk. This is getting tiresome. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE TO TALK. Thankfully I have a wonderful caretaker keeping an eye on me. And cheering me up when it gets to me a bit.

On the other hand, it means I can't go to work. Can't really help customers without talking. Who knew I'd actually miss that place? Yeesh.

Some people are going to say 'I told you so.'

Lets just get that out of the way right now.

Does anyone want ta go drink themselves into silent oblivion with me? Silent cause ah can't talk.

Yer damn well kiddin' me, right, OC? Two in a week? Ah'm not happy with you right now. That was just... damn girl, ah been one awful girl ain't ah?

It's a Halloween prank, ain't it? Bah.

Private: Logan
Ah think ah found some of that bullshit you were tellin me bout in mah damn dreams.
Ah don't like me none.

Private: Raven
Ah'm pretty awful aren't ah? Stealing Thor's powers? ah'm gonna go with that's as awesome as it is awful.

OMG. My best friend just 'Copper Marigolded' me. Today is hysterical!

Hey, dumbass. Have any more of those weird dreams?
[ooc: open to anyone, but meant for Renji. Ichigo just has no tact sometimes *cough*]

[Inoue]

Hey there, Inoue, how's your cooking coming along? You've been quiet lately!

Everyone kept me so busy since I got here that I actually forgot yesterday was my birthday! Can you believe that?

I wasn't even that upset about it. I mean... When you pass 21, birthdays don't seem to matter as much and really the closer you get to 30 the scarier they get. But Lara took me out for Curry and then we had some ice cream cake!

My birthday present from her was amazingly awesome. I now have a brand sparkly new laptop that can edit video footage and stuff! Just the thing I need to record all of her awesome archaeology exploits. Eeeeee, I'm so excited!

Ah can't decide if ah'm going to do Halloween this year or not. a little paranoid about it, to be honest It could be fun, ah've not done a Halloween in quite a few years.

Gin
Forgot to tell you the other week, your housemate's pretty awesome.Ah introduced her to Gumbo. Also this week was fun! Ah helped fight off a cougar ^_^

Raven
Ah think ah need to step it up a notch. Got corned by a cougar last week when ah went out with Lara. You may have noticed the scratches and me not getting out of bed for a day to sleep it off, ah just kind of forgot to tell you. Oops?

Well the other night I had one of those Dreams people keep talking about. Threw me for quite the loop, I admit. but it lead to a wonderful morning, and then a great weekend... but details I'm curious to see if I'll get any more or not. It was such a sad, melancholy start, though...

So, what kind of things are the kids doing these days to keep themselves busy on long car trips and stuff? Lorna, don't say Crocheting, we both know I sucked at that the last time I tried.

I'm going to be stuck in a bed for a few weeks, and I just know I'm going to go insane if I don't keep my hands busy. I was thinking of buying a gameboy or one of those portable playstation things. I'm not much of a gamer outside of angry birds and candy crush, but I'm willing to try anything at this point.

Also, book recommendations?

I don’t know what I’m becoming. I wake up with a new scar every day. Some of them are angry and raw, others faded. My bones ache, my fingernails, my teeth. I look in the mirror and there’s a stranger staring back. Her eyes… there’s a hardness in them. A darkness, like something that could consume me.

I kill these men in my dreams. They’re hopeless. They’re twisted by that island into something beastial. Most of them are insane. They want to kill me. Kill me, and they have Sam. I want to make them afraid of me. I want them to know I’m coming and I want them to die. Before anything could happen to any of my friends.

I count. One. Then three, then ten. I kill them with a pistol, I kill them with a bow. Oh, I’m so good with that bow. I still feel sick, each time I kill. The worse are up close. When I have to kill with the climbing axe, or choke them with my bow. But I don’t pause, I don’t reflect on it, because if I did, I’d die. And if I died, there’d be no one for Sam.

They’re afraid of me. Last night they saw me coming. They were afraid of me and I made them run.

I feel like I lost control of my life. I thought these dreams were going to be exciting, but they’ve become an utter nightmare. I can’t even relax. Shepard snuck up behind me and I nearly stabbed her with a knife.

She just gave me this look. Like she knew. Like she understood. And that scares me most of all.

There ain't not better feelin' than the few days after a good tussle. Every muscle aches happily. Some days ah think ah was born to brawl - although gotta say, black eyes don't look good on me. Gotta learn ta not get distracted. not gonna lie. it was HARD to NOT get distracted.

Ah suppose ah'll just have to try to behave when Devil's Night rolls around. Good girl like me can't get caught up in all that mischief, right? can't promise that..

ooh ah wonder what ah should dress up as this year! Suggestions?

Lara
Rock climbing? Ah'm already beat up!

Hey. I'm Rukia. Ignore everything my brother just posted. He's kind of grumpy and can't control himself from being that way.

America is kind of weird, but okay.

I am Byakuya Kuchiki, a businessman from Tokyo. I will state that I can not fathom the allure regarding social media, other than to deem it a suitable medium for advertising revenue and that it is might be a useful tool for public relations representatives.

Furthermore, I do not know the quality of character of those utilizing this service. My sister will likely wish to join this network. If she does, then I hope she is respectful and conducts herself according to the rules outlined by this community, and that she does not seek out the company of individuals that have not been through a thorough criminal background check.

I had this whole thing written up but I can’t, I erased it.... I dreamed Dr. Whitman and I were captured by men with guns. They’re the ones who made the shrines, I think. One was Russian, and he seemed like the kind of man who revels in gore and glory. They had other members of the ship's crew. He shot a deckhand in the back. It was all so terribly real. I can still feel the recoil, still see the Russian's eyes go dim. I feel sick.

And then this morning I found a bow and the climbing axe I dreamed about using. When I held onto them, I felt different. More confident.

I don't know if I should keep writing about these dreams, but I feel like it helps me contain them.

Ah had another set of Dreams...

Ah... Ah don't even... Ah... can't...

Ah need a drink. And ta punch someone in the face. Or drink myself into oblivion. Ah was an awful person in mah dreams.

Filter: Gin
Can ah come hide out in yer spare room for a few days? Raven reminds me much of the woman in mah dreams and a h can't look at her right now without twitching...

YUMI

YUMI

GUESS WHAT.


I can afford our spa day!

My dreams took a turn for the horrible. I’m trying to look at this objectively, but my side feels like it’s on fire. There’s this angry wound I woke up with…

I just don’t know how the hell I kept going after that. Getting run through and then crawling through mud and water and rain to escape.

I’m not even going to think about that shrine, or the corpses. Oh god, Steph.

I could really use a jaffa cake.

And rescue from hospital.

Yumi. ARE YOU HAPPY? God. Finally signed up for this network THING. Whatever.


I need a job. My makeup box won't keep itself filled anymore. UGH

Well, huh. Didn't know changing places meant I go new website. I should say my name, shouldn't I?

I'm Ichigo Kurosaki. Kurosaki Ichigo. Whatever way you like, I guess! This place seem strange enough, but I guess every new place must be getting used to it.

Ah will NEVER understand people. Seriously. Who the fuck reaches out and grabs someone's hair and goes "OHMYGAWD IS THAT NATURAL?" in a high pitched squeal, as they be tugging on my white hairs. Seriously. grow up. Leave mah hair alone. Don't touch. Don't gawk. Ah've got ENOUGH problems, ah don't need yer damn advice "oh dye it to match the rest?" ah tried that once. it didn't take. Ah don't need to hear six different types of dye to try. Get yer damn hands off my damn hair.

This is not the first time today that's happened, either. Are people in a mood or something ta be annoying?

Well, the cats are back to normal. I'm sure Lara's friend Sam will be sad not to see them flying around on the webcam anymore. I'm kind of sad, too. Watching them terrorize Renji was amusing as hell. Sorry, Renji, but it's true.

Wrex is probably super happy that Doom the squirrel is no longer trying to bench press the Ranch, too.

Unrelated - Does anyone on here knit? I've got a really weird request for a knitter. I'd pay for the yarn and your time, but I'm looking for handsocks. Or something like that. A long piece of knitted tube I can slide over my wrist and arm, and part of my hand?

My skin is really sensitive so it has to be the kind of yarn that was produced by angel feathers or something, but I'm willing to pay really decently for anyone who can do this for me.

More dreams...

Leave it to my best mate to sun herself on a research ship.God, that swimsuit Also leave it to Sam to talk her father into funding the expedition. I'm not going to give into the temptation here, either with her money or my own. I'll earn my keep

I've read about the place we're trying to find, too. I mean, in the waking world. It's hard not to when you're biggest interests lay in Asia.

Spent the weekend in LA with my father. It's interesting to note the difference between the two areas. School officially begins on Tuesday, though university classes started this past week.

[Filter to Penelope Garcia]

Whenever you're available for lessons, I'd be more than happy to start up with them. It'll be a pleasant discussion from these dreams. As I said, I don't think it's possible to die if you've died in your dreams as I'm, technically, already dead in mine. But apparently, the after life isn't so peaceful in my world.
[/end]

[Filter to Tessa, other shinigami (Renji, Gin, Yachiru, Yumichika)]

I suppose I should introduce myself, as we seem to know each other in the other world. I'm not certain if we know each other well, though. I'm Toshiro Hitsugaya. In this world, I'm just a student, attending university and high school, who spends his free time at a karate dojo. Who are all of you, here?
[/end]

I'm off to Vegas. I can't believe it's only a few days until my fight. I've been training hard, so hopefully it pans out well. If not, always my degree right?

Your attention, please.

I have just closed on the space for my new burlesque club in Huntington Beach. It will be Japanese themed - I myself am Japanese and wish for it to resemble the hostess clubs back home.

I am looking for liberated women who might be interested in working there. I am also looking for two deejays with experience, and a number of security men to ensure that my ladies are not harassed in any way - the latter is especially important. If a security person fails in a significant way, they will not remain employed for long.

Please reply here, or send a private message to me, Oyama Yuriko, if you are interested. I will pay well.

Eee....I had those dreams you all keep talking about! It was fun!

Hello Valarnet. I'm Lara and I'm new to town. It's my understanding this is a great network for making contacts, and that's something I need to do.

I'm actually looking for a room mate. My best friend is still in London, and my family had a house out here that's too big and lonely for one person. It has access to a private beach and a public dock.

Can anyone recommend a good dojo near the Huntington Beach area? I've been out of practice for a few weeks since coming here and wanted to get back into it before school starts again here in the fall.

So I punched my trainer in the nose hard enough to make it bleed....

there was a valid set of reasons!!!

For one, I drove to the gym after finishing up paperwork for school. Turns out my brakes are going on my car, so parking was fun. That's a good way to start my day and so I spent my morning beating up my trainer. He wasn't happy with that hook to the nose but you know, I was a little upset with the way morning went and he was egging me on.

This is what he gets for putting me on a no caffeine diet for the next two weeks before the fight. No caffeine. Pasta only once a week, minimal breads, high protein. I'm a grump without my coffee. (don't worry, I am cheating, I went with Tea. He's grumpy about it, but I told him no caffeine cold turkey would make me turn his face into a mass of bruises!)

Now I'm just waiting for a ride home (Alucard if you're reading this instead of your texts, answer your texts.) where I will go for a long swim in the ocean then who knows.

What does my mama do when I miss Sunday dinner? Turns me coming over on Monday into a matchmaking opportunity chance for me to meet one of the girls kids she worked with while I was away. Sometimes I think that woman just cares too much. She shouldn't be giving them her address. It's got to be against some rule

[Private to Dyson]
I think she might be getting herself in trouble Mama sent you a plate through me. Want me to bring it in to work? Or just keep it here to eat myself one of these nights? Unless you're actually going to come by and see the place.

...shimatta.

More dreams. I can't...these ones were...different.