OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

[lateness]

CHARACTERS: the doctor (12), the doctor (11), clara oswald, river song, and all of you
LOCATION: the mess hall, the kitchens, the simulation room
DATE: december 24th, 25th
CONTENT: team tardis throws a big christmas party for the station
WARNINGS: none for now, will warn as needed (no fires!!!)

PART I
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS ...

1.0 Inside the kitchen and mess hall, Orbers will find the entire place decked out to the nines (Or elevens! Hohoho). No one knows how this all came together, but you will find almost everything Christmas related decorated along the walls and tables.

Hanging all around the walls are blue Christmas stockings! Each stocking will have the name of Orber etched in gold knitting. Inside each stocking is an array of personalized treats (if your character is a smoker, for example, then they will find a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, etc.)

On the tables at each place setting there are various coloured paper crowns for Orbers to decorate on their head – courtesy of Clara Oswald and her assistant, the Doctor (the chinny one) – and Christmas crackers to share with friends. Go on, then! Pull that cracker, see the assortment of sweets and surprises you’ve received. As far as refreshments go, there is plenty to share amongst everyone! There is eggnog, "naughty" eggnog, cookies, cakes, candy canes and sugar gumdrops. It is a downright delightful spread of treats to indulge and tide you over for before you feast with your teammates.

2.0 Before the main feast is prepared, there are plenty of activities to keep you (or a friend or two) occupied. Do you see those Christmas trees on almost every corner of the station? Yeah, the Doctor(s) got awfully distracted (something about if a hot dog is a sandwich) and these bare trees could use some decorative love. Or perhaps you can express your creative talents in the kitchen, where you may want to test out a new recipe to share with the rest of the class. Whether it be a savoury or a sweet dish, there is sure to be at least one person who might like it.

There is also a magician’s kit lying around if you want to take a crack at learning a few new tricks to show off to others! Or if you wish to partake in any group activity, there is a stack of board games and a deck of cards to play a friendly game of Go Fish! Who knows? The game-world’s your oyster.

3.0 By evening, the mess hall will be set up with napkins and plates and cutlery of varying Christmas-y colours. It isn’t perfect, but nothing ever really is, is it? Especially after the Doctor (the cross Scots one) might have very nearly burned the kitchens down a little earlier – something about improving the heat for the roast. Still, it’s finally time for the Christmas feast! And oh, what a smell there is wafting through the large space. There’s plenty of delicious food to go around – especially using much of the ingredients that had come in through the last supply drop. There are varying plates of savoury and sweet dishes, some recognizable, some a little more ... eclectic (you use what space ingredients you’re given, after all), but all of what the hosts have prepared look ... surprisingly edible, some of it even delicious. Roast veg, gravy, stuffing, biscuits, gingerbread, hot cocoa, marshmallows, something mulled, and sweets!

Of course, the more food, the merrier! If you’ve taken part in the cooking and baking from earlier, arriving with your own special Signature Dish, the Doctors (yes, both of them!) will be so pleased to see it join the rest of the feast.

And for those who might have run across the Doctor’s enthusiastic ramblings on Jammie Dodgers at one point will finally get a chance to try them. They’ll be stacked up to resemble a tree on a plate, sprinkled with (edible) glitter in blue and silver.

PART II
SIMPLY HAVING A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

4.0 Christmas Morning finds everyone with an open invitation to the simulation room to attend a very merry Christmas morning. Step inside and be taken away to a warm and cozy living room that is elaborately decorated for the holiday. You’ve been decorated for the occasion too, decked out in pajamas and a robe. With slippers to match, everyone that’s a part of Christmas morning will look like they’re ready to play their part in the festivities. There’s a fire crackling in the fireplace, the smell of cinnamon and clove in the air, and the distant sound of traditional Christmas songs playing on an antique radio over in the corner of the room. There’s also a tree, of course, one that almost seems too large to be in such a quaint place. It’s fully decorated, absolutely covered with a variety of kitschy ornaments like Santa Claus on a T-Rex or bears in tutus. There also happen to be ornaments of every single orber present on the station, presented in the form of ridiculous looking little elves.

Around the tree and scattered around the floor are opened gift boxes, wrapping paper strewn about. Toys from the boxes are discarded on the floor and around the room, plastic dinosaurs and robots that come to life when you wind them up. There are ridiculous looking squeaky alien toys, marshmallow launchers, and even a giant stuffed giraffe. Who could all of these toys belong to?

There also happen to be gifts beneath the tree for everyone. There aren’t any labels on the gifts so feel free to choose whichever one you like (but only one, there won’t be any greedy Scrooges here on Christmas!). No matter what size package that is chosen, big or small, there’s a sweater inside: an ugly Christmas sweater for everyone. One that can be put on over your pajamas to take part in an ugly sweater contest once everyone has unwrapped their gifts.

And of course no Christmas morning is complete without some sort of breakfast. Set up in the corner of the room is a small table with pastries and cocoa, with a big bowl of mini marshmallows. There’s coffee present too, for those that prefer their breakfast with a little less sugar. There’s plenty of seating around the living room to grab a leather chair or a spot on the fluffy couch. Or maybe sit in one of the red velvet chairs over by the windows to watch the slow and steady snowfall over a picturesque view of the British countryside.

5.0 As the events of the morning slowly come to an end, the simulation shifts to a quiet little town. There’s snow on rooftops and colorful lights lining buildings that manage to glisten and glow even in the daylight. The entire street is completely over the top with decoration; fresh garlands that smell of pleasant pine, miniature christmas trees decorated from top to bottom, and vibrant red bows are just about everywhere. There’s no hustle and bustle here, just a relaxed afternoon in the most Christmasy town ever.

The smell of cider and gingerbread baking are in the air, brought on by a bakery that’s open for a visit. Want to make a gingerbread house? There are materials set out to do that. There are things for gingerbread people too, if that’s more your bag.

There’s a bookstore filled with all kinds of books. If you’re not from Earth and are curious about Christmas, there’s plenty of children’s books on the matter waiting for you to enjoy. They’re set up on an elaborate display up front, though anyone is free to browse around and look through what else they have to offer.

A toy store, magician’s shop, and a boisterous pub round off the shops found on the street. There’s street vendors selling chestnuts that have been roasted over an open fire, wassail, and marshmallows for roasting. There’s also a band playing live music, Christmas carols of course. Join in and sing along or don’t. No one’s going to judge you either way. Take your time to enjoy everything or rush through because it’s too much Christmas, all in your face at once. Either way, the marketplace is present for hours in the afternoon and leading into the evening hours.

6.0 As night falls everyone is guided out of town and down a candle lit path that leads to a frozen over pond. It’s been set up for ice skating, with skates set aside for anyone that wants a pair. There’s baubles of lights set out all around the area, and the moon hangs high overhead. No seriously, the moon looks incredibly huge tonight. It’s blue glow reflects on the ice along with the warm yellow glow of all the lights. It’s a welcoming atmosphere, inviting anyone that’s brave enough to put on skates and take part.

The band from the Christmas market earlier are back to play throughout the night, playing quieter songs mixed in with lively pieces that are meant to get people speed skating around the ice.

Set a short distance away from the ice is a long table, with plenty of mismatched seats. Fairy lights twinkle overhead, and are also glowing from inside glass canisters that make up the centerpieces on the table. There’s dark blue galaxy dinnerware at every place, and a small feast spread out so no matter where someone sits there’s plenty within reach. It always manages to stay warm, and nothing ever seems to run out. It’s a perfect place to take a break and grab a quick meal, or just sit and chat with someone while you both enjoy a drink.

The area around the pond can be explored, so go crazy playing in the snow or whatever it is you want to do there. Just don’t wander too far off from the group. There may or may not be razor-toothed snowmen keeping you from going too far. They may hiss or blow snow in your face, but they probably won’t try to bite anyone.

🎄 After all of that is said and done, Orbers may find themselves drawn towards a small bonfire billowing from the center of this quaint little town. But it isn’t just the scent of warm Maplewood dancing underneath your nose. There sitting on top of a milk-crate is The Doctor (12) playing a jaunty little tune from his electric guitar. Orbers are more than welcome to sit around the bonfire and reflect on these past few months and where they might find themselves in the future.

If you find yourselves by your lonesome fear not! The Doctor (11) will be there offer you a hug (or smooch if you’re feeling saucy).

No matter what strife you have been through this year, just remember ...

Each and every one of your lives is a story. So best make it a good one.

Comments

takeshi kovacs | altered carbon | ota

[kovach]

CHRISTMAS EVE —

---

1.0 ( ota ) — [ if asked, he's not here because he chooses to be, having been easily coaxed into the celebration by one clara oswald (with very little effort on her part, really), but somehow he knows he would have found himself here, whether he was urged to come or not. despite his efforts in appearing as much of a withdrawn loner as he could be, he enjoys a good gathering of people, particularly if it's a collection of people he actually likes.

he even puts a pink paper crown atop his head, which is likely to be the most festive thing he's wearing, adorned in his typical dark clothing otherwise, long trench coat atop his clothes, which always tends to give him an even taller appearance than he already naturally has. he chuckles quietly to himself when he checks one of the stockings with his own name, finding a fresh pack of cigarettes inside, primed and ready with a lighter to make use of tonight.

for now, he's going to need to start off with a drink at least, shuffling over to the refreshments to get a cup of "naughty" eggnog. as soon as he tastes it, his nose scrunches. ]

Shit. [ his tongue smacks against the roof of his mouth as he tries to get used to the taste. ] We got anything straight here? Something with less ... milk? Or egg?


2.0.A ( ota ) — [ he might not typically do much with the tradition of tree decorating, but it isn't as if he's immune to the sort of good feelings that come from it. the ornaments that hang down, particularly the crystals and the tinsel give the vague impression of the branches of a songspire tree, a memory that's both pleasant and slightly heartwrenching to draw himself back on.

though he'd mostly wandered over to gaze, he notices someone of a smaller height hoping to reach up and put up some ornaments or lights and he snickers briefly before stepping over. ] Need a hand?


2.0.B ( ota ) — [ his eyes mostly glaze over the board games on offer, most he's unfamiliar with, until his eyes land on the go board pieces. it draws him back to days long past, to playing with his sister, even as kids, to the days in stronghold, playing within the rebel hideout.

with plenty of the naughty eggnog in his system now (he's caved into the taste) and another glass of it in hand, he sets it down for a moment so he can begin setting it up, welcome to anyone who might be interested in joining. ]


3.0.A ( close cr only, cw: weed use ) — [ of course, takeshi kovacs wouldn't be complete without his familiar pink backpack, hanging off of his shoulder. by now, his trench coat has long since disappeared somewhere, the sleeves of his dark button-up rolled up along his arms as he spins the back around to hold in front of his chest.

when he sees a familiar face, he slides in close to them, a sort of goofy smile on his face (clearly plenty drunk), as he unzips the back, the fluorescent glow of the inside only barely showing off the contents within before he reaches inside and just barely pulls out a small ziplock bag of what's evidently rolled blunts. ] What do you say? Wanna ... light up the Christmas spirit a bit more?


3.0.B ( closed to clara ) — [ as the night nears closer to its end, kovacs has somehow turned from the impending grinch to someone who seems like he's not carrying as much weight on his shoulders, like the alcohol and the buzz of it all has actually made him ... have fun the past several hours, something he definitely hadn't been anticipating when he'd caved to coming to this tonight.

though his coat is still long lost somewhere around the mess hall, his pink paper crown is still perfectly topped on his head, but while he's still surrounded by plenty of company, plenty of new friends or acquaintances, as he'd prefer to call them, there's only one person he wants to see, one person he can find through the crowd.

when he locates clara, he sneaks his fingers into hers, giving her a gentle but eager pull, saying nothing until he can guide them beneath a doorway with a hanging piece of mistletoe. taking both of her hands in his, smaller ones warm against his palm, he leans down to match her height, pressing an affectionate kiss to her mouth as the rest of the room simply falls away. ]

CHRISTMAS DAY —

---

4.0 ( ota ) — [ he isn't much for christmas traditions but he joins everybody else in the simulation, something very quaint about it all, the appearance a cozy little room that feels light years away from the station.

as people start passing gift boxes around, one shoved right into his arms, he gives a puzzled look as he opens it, pulling out the sweater within. ]

Oh, hell no.

[ it's clearly not that he's against the pink or the rainbows or the unicorns, as evidenced by the bag that he typically carries on a day to day, but even the prospect of wearing any ridiculous sweater is beyond what he's willing to play along with, no matter how much any pair of doe eyes from the number of small women he's befriended over the last several months try to plead.

but of course he caves, practically grumbling as he tugs the sweater down over his chest. it technically fits, only in that it's a little short, the bottom portion rolling up a bit to show some belly. ] I'm not fucking doing this.

[ too late. ]


5.0 ( ota ) — [ though he's not one for a crowd, kovacs is appreciative of the town setting, of the appearance of a peaceful little marketplace, an improvement from the sort of grim, musky cities he typically finds himself in.

typically, he'd strut straight off to the pub for a drink, but instead, he finds himself shifting around the bookstore, fingers tracing along the spines, not to look for anything in particular, but to just look. it's been a long time since he's settled to read anything, not since in more recent days, old paper books like this have become a bit of a relic in his world.

of course, he wouldn't know where to start so if anyone notices him pensive along the aisles, maybe someone can offer a recommendation. ]


6.0 ( ota ) — [ surprisingly, when kovacs puts on a pair of skates, it's not from anyone's influence, no need for someone to nudge around the tall, brute man to engage in something that's probably a little more fun than anyone might expect him to volunteer by his own will.

but as he slides along the ice, with an impressive sense of grace, his envoy instincts kick in upon noticing the strange shift of one of the other skating orbers. whether it's because it's their first time or they just caught off balance, he could perceive the way their skate is set to bend the wrong way, prompting them to begin tipping over.

he moves fast on his own skates, snatching their hand swiftly to halt their fall. ] Steady — ! Just don't ... fucking drop me too.

WILD CARD —

---

( if anyone would like to do anything in particular that isn't listed above, just go ahead and ask, either through pm or hit me up at hepburns. i've got a permissions post too, with some of his more typical warnings, along with some information on his envoy abilities (which come into play in 6.0 a bit). )

3.0A

[morethan084]

[Daisy's been all over the place, emotionally, since the last mission. For obvious and less obvious reasons. The memories she had to relive were bad enough, but then everything happened with Newton and that's left her feeling pretty damn stressed and depressed. On the other hand, things seemed to be going well with Kirigan.

She came to the party, as promised, but she's been standing off to the side for a good portion of it.

Spotting Kovacs, Daisy smiles a tight smile in his direction that doesn't quite reach her eyes. The last time the two of them had seen each other was pretty emotional on the both of them. She notices the look on his face and realizes he must've helped himself to eggnog,]

Hey.

[The backpack wasn't hard to spot either, and she knows exactly what it holds. Eyebrows lifting when he shows off the blunts, Daisy looks around as if it mattered that they could get caught.]

Uh, sure.

[A few hits couldn't hurt. Daisy scoots over to give him space to sit down if he wants to.]

Haven't seen you in a minute. How're you doing?

clara oswald | doctor who

[bossily]

1.0 - Closed to Itachi

[As the Doctors say things are ready and people start to trickle in, Clara slips away to go make sure one of the newer arrivals is going to be in attendance. It isn't too hard to figure out where his room is, given how many other people here she knows. And she waits outside his door to see if he'll pop out.

When he doesn't, she has no problem knocking]

I hope you're not hiding away in there, determined not to have a good time!

[Yeah, she's not giving up on him easily. He's going to this party.]

1.0 - OTA

[As people come to get their paper crowns, Clara makes sure each and every person gets the one she specifically made for them. She took a lot of time to do it, so she wants it to be perfect. So whenever anyone approaches the crowns she offers them a smile and holds up a finger to signal that they wait.]

Hold on. I've got the perfect one for you.

[And sure enough, the crown is just the perfect color with some thoughtful little decoration on it. She put a lot of thought into this, and she's definitely not a stalker that remembers tiny little details about everyone she meets. Nope.]

2.0 - ota
[So maybe sometimes Clara is a little bit of a perfectionist. And decorating Christmas trees happens to be one of those things that has to be done just right. She enjoys getting the others here to take part, but occasionally she'll quietly slip over and move an ornament someone else placed to somewhere new.

Or she might softly cough and point to a bald spot on the tree that needs an ornament placed on it.

And she definitely approaches anyone tall and strong enough to help her out with something. It's with a glittery paper tardis ornament in hand that she very awkwardly asks:]

You're not against lifting me up high enough to place this, are you?

3.0 - ota

[Clara disappears to the kitchen for a while and eventually comes back with tray of souffles that she made using her mother's recipe. The night is starting to wind down, but there's still plenty of people here she can inflict her cooking upon.

The good news is, that she's actually a talented baker. The bad news is, she's going to give you sad eyes until you at least take a bite. So when she stops in front of you and just holds out the tray, it's probably going to be easier on everyone involved if you just indulge a little.]

4.0 - ota
[Everything about this is absolutely perfect. Clara doesn't even mind being in her long flannel nightgown in front of other people. She just sits in a chair over by the windows and watches everyone enjoy their time together. There's a sad sort of smile on her face as she observes everyone around her, realizing that so many of the people here are like family to her now.

She thinks of Christmas with her own family, something she'll never get to celebrate again. She thinks of the fact that every Christmas is last Christmas, and can't help but think of all those times she fantasized about a last Christmas with Danny. It's in those moments that a stark realization comes to her, and she spends the vast majority of Christmas morning quietly trying to sort out her thoughts.

However, she's good at pretending that everything is fine. She greets people who approach her with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes, and moves in for a quick Christmas morning hug.]

5.0 - ota
[Clara's a little more energetic by the time everyone takes to the small market area. She's trying to wear her usual smile, though it slips from time to time. She pours nearly an hour into her time in the bookstore, reading through various books that she pulls from the shelves. She even decides to pop into the pub to see exactly how much she can drink before she gets tipsy enough that she's nice and festive.

Once she's feeling warm and fuzzy headed she's in the perfect sort of mood for dancing. Which means that when she walks past the band playing she's quick to grab hold of someone's hand and pull them into a dance.]

6.0 -ota
[Clara isn't exactly good at skating, but she isn't hopeless either. She moves across the ice with the skill of an adult that used to do this sort of thing a lot as a child. She isn't practiced, but it's like riding a bike, she supposes. You never really forget how to skate.

She's laughing and smiling as she joins hands with someone to help them stay balanced, and laughs even louder when she tries to speed skate along to the music with someone else that's able to stay up on their feet.

As the night wears on, however, some of her merriment has died off. She can be found sitting in the snow at the edge of the pond, looking up at the moon. There's tears in her eyes as she does it, though she's quick to wipe away any that fall.]

bonfire - closed to Kovacs
[She's been dreading this moment all day. Ever since this morning, she knew she was going to have to talk to him. She remembers the exact moment she glanced across the room to spot him standing there, looking so young and handsome and absolutely perfect. Everything in the simulation room made life feel absolutely normal. It was as close to what normalcy with Takeshi Kovacs was going to feel like. It was what she had wanted with Danny, but something that she couldn't have because she never was going to be able to choose him. The realization that she was going to put Takeshi through the exact same situation she had Danny hit her all at once. That was the exact moment her heart broke, shattering into thousands of pieces. She knew right then and there that she couldn't keep doing this, that it wasn't right to do.

Clara Oswald could be selfish, and she could be fickle. But she never intentionally was cruel. And even on Christmas, important things had to be done. No matter how much she knew that it would hurt. She had no right to care about her own feelings or broken heart. But knowing she was going to cause him pain had her acting off all day as she tried to sort out the best way to talk to him. She couldn't just come out and say it, not when he was enjoying himself and everyone was there.

Their first Christmas was their last Christmas. Everything in Clara's life is meant to be beautiful because it's intense but fleeting. This is no different, she tells herself, quietly approaching him at the bonfire.

She stands beside him for a minute or two, letting her fingers brush against his as she takes the last few moments of this calm time together to say goodbye in her head. Never be cruel or cowardly, she tells herself, and her hand slips into his so she can pull him away from the crowd.

Nothing is sad until it's over. Then everything is. Her heart has no right to be broken right now. But she's very nearly choking on her words and her feelings as she manages to get out a very quiet:]

I know that you know we need to talk.

[He reads her too well to not know.]

[blackfire]

（ he isn't the most sociable of men — and never was, in truth, even prior to joining akatsuki. his life was subsumed by work, and power set him too distantly apart from his peers to make the social barrier worth overcoming. here, people seem less inclined to keep their distance from him, seeing as how none but shikamaru know the depths of why they should.

he hears the steps outside the door, the way they pause, the knock that follows. but he wasn't expecting clara's voice, and he hesitates in between turning a page of his book of poems.

he sets it aside and opens the door to greet her. his room is almost bare enough to be unoccupied, with only a few books and a steaming pot of freshly made tea to make it seem lived in at all. if one were to remove those scant objects, he's little more than a ghost in this space. ）

Clara-san.

（ he says it politely, by way of welcome. ）

I'm not hiding.

（ ... is the dumbest possible thing to say, and also the thing that happens to fall out of his mouth. ）

Megatron » Transformers IDW

[flickerandfade]

2.0

Megatron is staring at the Christmas tree with a feeling of growing familiarity and uncertainty. There had been the whole cloaking device that had been put together to hide the crew from anti-mechanoid organics back on the Lost Light and it had looked distressingly like this human Christmas tree, right down to the ornamentation. Anyone who comes upong Megatron will find him staring at the tree in deep and contemplative thought. Perhaps pondering the strange whims of the universe. Or maybe just what the hell Brainstorm's convenience engine actually ended up doing.

[ Happy to write other starters or to go with a wild-card if you've something else you want to do! ]

[spoilers]

Plenty of orbers had paused to admire the Christmas trees scattered throughout the station, or even to help decorate them, but there's something different about the way Megatron seems to be staring at it, lost in thought. River recognizes him from their first conversation, considers perhaps such a very human ritual as Christmas might be stretching his understanding of organics.

"We meet again. Am I interrupting?"

shikamaru nara ( naruto )

[mendo]

CHRISTMAS EVE

[ he saw the video announcement detailing an upcoming party to celebrate christmas — some kind of winter holiday he surmises. his initial response was disinterest, but then he figured that it would be a good opportunity to assess the rest of the orbers onboard.

it turns out that it was somewhat worth his while to attend when he picks up a stocking with his name inscribed on it in gold stitching. it contained a pack of cigarettes, a small bottle of lighter fuel and a couple of hairbands.

pocketing the items with a light chuckle, shikamaru returns the stocking to its place before he moves onto the refreshment tables. he won't be there for long, stopping by only long enough to inspect the drink they're offering. somebody called it an eggnog. lifting a cup of the concoction to his nose, he takes a tentative whiff of it. well, it doesn't smell too bad and it isn't like he was really planning on drinking it anyway.

he's mostly using it as an accessory to blend in.

for the duration of the night's festivities, shikamaru will be observing the people around him. occasionally, he will pause at a table with an interesting board game — mainly ones that require stratagem — and watch the players make their moves. he may even join in if invited. ]

CHRISTMAS DAY

[ missing for most of the morning, shikamaru doesn't join the group until later in the day when the simulation of the town has already gone up. he is slightly thrown by its realism but quick to adjust and even enjoy the festive atmosphere.

in the afternoon, he spends his time exploring the bookstore. he can first be found flipping through the pages of christmas books, his brows raised in mild amusement at the tales. some of the traditions aren't too different from the rinne festival in konoha. the rest of the time, he meanders through the aisles, his eyes skimming over the spines of various literary works. ] Anything good? [ he may venture an ask for anyone holding a particularly eye-catching cover. ]

☁ ☁ ☁
[ in the evening, shikamaru can be found sitting on a bench with a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips as he watches people ice skate above the frozen pond. he doesn't really get the appeal, so if invited to join in, he will simply decline.

(but who knows? maybe if pressed enough, he may relent and try it out.)

all in all, he's pretty comfortable just admiring the strikingly large moon in the sky and soaking in the hustle and bustle of laughter and good cheer all around him. he may even decide to go on a stroll around the pond, a thin trial of smoke following in his wake.

if he sees anyone in danger from those razor-toothed snowmen or at risk of taking a hard tumble on the ice, he won't hesitate to lend a hand. ]

WILDCARD

[ ooc | i've left the prompts open, so feel free to plug your character in wherever and whenever. want to do something else that wasn't mentioned? go for it! don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or ideas. ]

christmas day + wildcard and this is absolutely a 'come bother me' prompt and i do not care

[blackfire]

（ he is not skating. he sees little use in it — shinobi can move faster with the body flicker than by sliding, and no self-respecting fighter would risk their balance by willingly letting them slip around on ice without reason or cause. he supposes he can understand the appeal as a fun exercise but, like shikamaru, he has little desire to engage.

itachi is wearing what is possibly the worst ugly sweater in existence and has, somewhere along the way, acquired a headband of reindeer antlers with little bows.

he looks spectacularly ridiculous, but there's absolutely zero sense of self-consciousness about being so. instead, he's got his hands cupped around a steaming mug of cocoa. while tea is always his beverage of choice, and this is perhaps too sweet even for him, he finds he does not mind it.

the marshmallows are ... a quaint touch.

he's aware of the presence of shikamaru's chakra, and when the man approaches him, itachi turns his head faintly to observe him. ）

It seems a great many interesting things can be done with this illusion.

Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED

[coordination]

PART 1

A. The Festive Fun
[ Despite the comfy or casualness of the events at hand, Yzak Jule is Extra™ and thus is dressed in a very nice suit. Always gotta put his best self forward and look presentable!

In the kitchen and mess hall, Yzak's stocking isn't incredibly impressive. If anyone happens to take a peek while he is, there'll be a couple of books, a little notebook and some pens, some socks. Boring as hell but he doesn't seem disappointed.

He will be ignoring the paper crowns because they don't go with his suit! And he curiously fiddles with one of the crackers when he comes across one.

He'll also be at one of the bare trees, very carefully considering a balanced placement of ornaments. If he sees someone else placing too similar-looking things too close to each other, he'll bark out an order such as move it a little more to the left, or maybe that one's small, you can't see it as well when it's there!, or even that branch is starting to sag, move that one over there!

If they're playing games, he'll observe, and could be invited to join! He ... he's not as much as a terrible sore loser as he once was, so he won't be ruining game boards (but if Athrun is playing, too, he might look like he wants to, if he's losing). ]


B. Mistle-no
[ Somewhere deep, deep down, Yzak Jule would, perhaps, actually quite enjoy a nice kiss. One could even say that somewhere deep, deep down, he's a bit of a gushy nerdy romantic. But heaped over that are a bunch of twisted up issues that result in him taking note of any mistletoe hanging around, since it's already been hung all over the station, as if it's personally offending him. ]

Overkill is really an understatement.


C. A Real Tough Cookie
[ Yzak was involved in a bit of the baking prepwork for the party. Namely, a set of cookies out for people to take. But they're not plain cookies or gingerbread men. They're ... familiar. A presentation of his genius, great skill! (and like, actually they are pretty impressive looking, all of Yzak's ego aside) Different types from sugar cookies to gingerbread, they resemble the crew in some way - be it little simplistic versions of their faces, a notable weapon they carry, a helmet. Kaiju and Charter marks and automail, maybe someone's favorite animal or a thing they've spoken about liking. It reflects a clear observation of his team, and you'll probably see something that is very much For You! (feel free for it to be anything) ]

PART 2

A. Good Morning
[ Yzak is decked out in some PJs and sitting comfortably over near the crackling fire. There's an opened gift box with ... this... next to him, being completely ignored. He's sipping at a steaming cup of dark coffee and otherwise seems quite relaxed and content for a change. ]


B. Good Afternoon & Evening
[ Once the warm, cozy morning is done, Yzak is back in the fancy digs and can be found in various places throughout the afternoon. Taking a slow stroll through the town to take in all of the scents filling the air. Browsing through the bookstore and the magician's shop to see what he finds. He even stops to listen to the musicians for a few minutes. He nods a couple of times as he does, focusing more on the violin player in particular and muttering a 'not bad' after the end of a song. And then adding: ]

But it wasn't terribly complicated. Those take a lot more skill.

[ At night, he feasts, he nurses a drink as he watches others iceskate. He can be convinced to join if one turns it into a racing challenge or tries to imply he's not good at it (or, maybe, if they just ask him for a skating partner, because he might be in a slightly less dour mood today in the spirit of the holiday, or something). He can also be seen wandering too close to a snowman that blows in his face, resulting in him yelling. ]

HEY FUCK YOU!

[ And punching its head clean off. But as it's a simulation, a quick little gust of powdery snow surrounds where its head was, and poof! It's back, but with a vengeance, blowing ten times as hard and knocking Yzak into a snowbank. Otherwise he ends up at the bonfire, looking up at the familiar sight of the moon quite nostalgically. ]

PART WILDCARD

[ Throw something else entirely different at me here! Anything goes! More than one tag-in for different prompts is fine and encouraged! As we have all month and I want to do different things with CR. Contact with a PM here, at gaignun, or Tara#1768 for anything! ]

1.b because targeted bullying

[firstroar]

Is it a bad omen? In your universe.

[Blue has caught glimpse of Yzak being Disgusted at yet another dangling mistletoe plant nearby, himself seated on the sill of one of the windows in the corridor.]

blue (toward the terra), ota

[firstroar]

12/24

13:00-14:00
Blue makes a brief appearance in the kitchen to heat up the last of the stew Sabriel had made for him, lingering mostly because the buzz of festivities has him curious. Sensing that buzz at all...it's a relief, it means he's getting better.

"Is...there another holiday happening?" he asks, directing the question to whomever might be there in the kitchen with him.


18:00-22:00
That was the last of Blue being physically around for festivities on the 24th. He returned to his quarters to rest his body, to give his form a safe place while he once again stretches that extrasensory muscle. This means that, amidst the goings-on of the later hours, a pale ghost may be perceived lingering around, observing the happenings with bright red eyes. Spooky? Probably. Dangerous? Not at all.

The specter seems to be simply a curious watcher, lingering amidst the clusters of merriment of strangers and familiar minds alike. When he is noticed, those eyes naturally fix toward the source, quiet and curious.

To stranger and friend alike, a thought is passed along: Hello. What is it you're doing?

---

12/25

11:00-13:00
'Bright and early' isn't very feasible for him, and even then, it takes a while to make his way to the simulation room. Since the shift to that snowscape, he's been more amenable to the place, even though there's still something foreboding about it - something too close to the Mother system back in his universe.

But so many are there...enough anchors to reality as to not lose himself to any potential AI traps, right?

...

While the sweater is warm and the slippers comfy, Blue is unnerved by the shifting of his physical senses more than he was in simply walking into a snowy landscape. It's countered by the general states of mind by the others already within - real people, not simulations, which can give him some solace. He'll gravitate toward those people to watch them interacting with the Christmas morning spread, seeking the value of it all in those around him.


18:00-20:00
He couldn't explore everything even if he wished to, given his physical limitations. After some time to retreat and rest, Blue makes an effort to return, still striving to connect with people here.

That was the intention, but...this place - the pond, the candlelit path...it halts him, quiets the wandering of his mind and gives him a brief moment of reflection in a solitude that isn't frightening. It leaves the Mu silent and still, staring skyward at this false sky in the midst of the mental ambience around him, wondering on how far he's come in such a blink of time.

So much has changed...so fast. And somehow, he's still kept his head above water. It's taken others to pull him up above the choppy waves of circumstance, and that isn't something to take for granted, either. He's only alive...because of those people.

Is that what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown?

He can't sit there forever: The longer her lingers, the harder it'll be to leave on his own. Eventually his gaze will pull away and he'll look to others, look to catch an eye, perhaps seek the help he'll need to get up and get out of here.

12/24 - 18:00-22:00 (for!! now!!!!!)

[coordination]

[ He happens to catch Yzak at the start of things, when he's just arrived with his cookies and is putting them out. He looks quite pleased with himself, too, with the end result.

(there's totally one of Blue's cute lil face among them) ]

Making sure everyone gets a good look at my hard work, before they enjoy themselves!

[ Gloat gloat. But in his defense, he is good at this, and they do look well-made. ]

River Song || Doctor Who

[spoilers]

Christmas Eve

Mingle (OTA) -- [ It isn't that River doesn't enjoy Christmas, but it doesn't excite her the way it does the Doctor. It helps, though, having people to spend it with, and she lets their joy fill her hearts. She's given into Clara's paper crowns as she lingers near the drinks table, "naughty" eggnog in hand. Those approaching might be greeted with suggestions (welcome or not) as to which of the sweets on offer they should try first.

Eventually, she'll wander towards a more social setting. Perhaps you're looking for an extra player at Candy Land. Or maybe you'd like to start a friendly poker tournament. ]

Christmas Day

Christmas Morning (OTA) -- [ They really have created an ideal Christmas. Quaint, traditional, and homey. It reminds her of too few Christmases spent with Amy and Rory and much quieter celebrations in the dark of Darillium. She stands near a window, cup of cocoa in hand, letting the odd sense of melancholy settle over her as she takes in the view, but she'll greet anyone who approaches with a smile. ]

This is nice, isn't it?

Afternoon Stroll (Closed to 12th Doctor) -- [ It's hardly taken any effort to talk the Doctor into a mid-morning walk, and she realizes how grateful she is he hasn't argued for once. She knows she's been harder on him than she should have, blaming him for choices he doesn't even fully remember making yet. Blame she hasn't placed on his younger self. It's unfair of her.

Quietly, she takes his hand in hers as they walk, holding a breath. He's always been a little averse to touch in this body, even if she gets away with more than most. When she speaks, her voice is soft. ]

I know it isn't real, but it's beautiful.

Evening Tour (Closed to 11th Doctor) -- [ As it moves on toward evening, River finds the younger of her husbands (in both age and appearance) to spend a few hours with before the nights ends. She hardly remembers the last Christmas they spent together. She wonders if he does.

Offering her hand to him, she smiles. ]

Come along, Doctor. I think your friends can spare you for an hour or two.

[ There's no romantic strolling here. No, this Doctor, she leads straight to the toy store. ]

Wildcard

(Toss up your own prompt or hit me up on plurk or discord with an idea!)

evening tour — ;

[lateness]

Of course, of course — it'll be like the old times, then, eh? You, me, those late night —

[ And what's this? He's mostly just going along with River's plans because it's been a spell since they'd spent some time together alone. So, he's hardly got any reason to protest, now hasn't he? Especially when — ]

Ooh! Ooh!

[ The Doctor doesn't even have the time or wherewithal to complain or act (falsely) offended for being assumed a child, because what could be better than fiddling about with the toy dinosaurs and airplanes? Really, adults have no idea what they're missing. The kids know where it's at. And he might have passed by the shop in the designing phase of this simulation, so he's definitely seen some of the inventory through the windows.

(And what he'd seen looked so cool.)

He turns to give River the brightest beaming smile, then back at the shop, and then back at her once more, squeezing her hand in his. ]

lan xichen | the untamed | ota

[calmness]

1.0

[while his mood hasn't been one for celebrating since the last mission, nor the one before that, xichen looks around the mess hall and feels warmth in his heart. while he's not familiar with the holiday, some things have been explained to him about christmas.

it's more of an ostentatious celebration than anything held at cloud recess for any holiday celebrated by his clan, but the spirit of togetherness and cheer is one he appreciates. it earns a soft smile as he glances around the hall, mostly watching.

the stockings are a curious thing, really, and he glances at the row before realizing one's got his name on it. which is-- well, unexpected. it feels somewhat rude to glance inside but others are doing the same and what surprises him most is to find a set of brushes and paint inside. he furrows his brows and smiles, turning to someone near by.] Did you also receive something unexpected?

3.0

[his clan's teachings state not to be picky about food, to eat what is offered. even if the food isn't what he's used to at home. considering what he prefers is also bland and plain compared to the standards of most even by his home world's standards, the food brought to the banquet--- well-- there is a chance it will be overwhelming.

the food at the banquet isn't familiar but xichen can tell that effort has been put into it, that his fellow shipmates are surely enjoying it.

he's not one to not try, even if he'd prefer to stick to what he knows. he hasn't brought anything though, domestic tasks are better kept to others if the crew doesn't want to see the ship burned down.

he'll manage.

xichen's not sure what he's trying and until he takes his bite, isn't aware that he's chosen something soaked in a spice he's unfamiliar with. it take a second before his face turns red and he's sweating, trying to hold back a cough and keep the panic from his face as he turns around and bumps into an unsuspecting teammate. sorry if some food or drink is lost, dear friend, the man before you is turning an unnatural shade of red and may need a bit of help here.

is the eggnog safe to drink? will it soothe the burn? ]

6.0

[ice skating reminds xichen of his home in the mountains, covered in snow and streams frozen. it's his first time in skates such as the ones they're offered, yes, but he's got natural balance and practice.

he's taught his nephew and the young children who come to learn within the halls of cloud recess. so when he sees someone struggling along somehow in the center of the pond and looking like they're a fawn lost and unstable, xichen slows down and stops to help. he offers out an arm for support, a gentle smile on his face.] Are you alright? I can offer a few tips to stay balanced or help you off the ice?



[the bonfire is warm and the music pleasant. it's a welcome distraction from spending the evening alone, worrying and lost in thought.

the mint flavored drink he's sipping on surely helps, it warms his chest and chases away the worries. now he understands the appeal, why wei wuxian drank so often and why his brother turned to alcohol to chase away the pain once. it's easier than remembering the blade going through jin guangyao's chest or the way his only friend held on to xichen's arm and drove the blade deeper.

the drink's warmed xichen up enough for him to turn to his companion, the smile on his lips brighter and more open than the gentle one he normally uses as a mask.] Is this also celebrated in your world?

wildcard.
[ooc: feel free to start something random or hit me up on plurk to discuss any ideas!]

1.0

[droide]

[ Once she'd realized that given the number of large socks, and the names inscribed upon them, chances were there was one out there with her own, Elthree sets about finding hers. Turns out that L3-37 is very close to Lan Xichen, alphabetically, so she ends up nearby the tall gentleman with long dark hair as she reaches into her stocking to pull out... ]

...A can of oil. [ She looks at it appraisingly. ] It's the good stuff, too.

I'm not certain whether this is meant to be sincere or someone's idea of a joke.

itachi uchiha | naruto (ota)

[blackfire]

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫;
 𝖼𝗁𝗋𝗂𝗌𝗍𝗆𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖺𝗒

（ he has not yet met the odd man himself, but has seen enough of him on the network to have a rough measure of what he may be like. still, itachi has little desire to interact, and would not be here at all if not for clara. when he sees the doctor (the chinny one, he supposes) he gives him a faintly considering look.

then: ）

How closely have you paid attention to the crew, that you can confidently acquire them gifts that suit their tastes?

（ yes, hello, this is now an Interrogation. ）

𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞;

（ he's unaccustomed to festivities, and not terribly social to begin with — he seems to be lingering on the edge of the celebrations like a shadow, less out of self-consciousness or unease and more due to the sheer unfamiliarity with the scene. he will politely acknowledge anyone nearby with a nod, but as to a pleasant conversational starter? likely not. the writer is aware he is the living embodiment of COME BOTHER ME and apologizes profusely for his obnoxious antisocial nature.

he can be found examining the contents of his stocking (which seems to be nailpolish and a black silk... hair... scrunchy? and a sleeping mask with a helpful note 'for those lines!') or in the furthestmost chair of the common area reading a book of poetry and taking occasional sips from a mug of hot chocolate. perhaps your stocking is hanging behind him tacked up on the wall and you'd like him to pass it to you? or perhaps you catch him at the gaming area where he is reading a rule-book for chess. he's clearly never played — maybe he'll be an easy mark?

(he will not, dear reader.)

or, perhaps he is quizzically turning over one of those christmas crackers in his hands, and will say to anyone passing him by: ）

Excuse me — what is one meant to do with this?

𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲;

（ he's been harassed, cajoled, threatened and otherwise browbeaten into opening a gift (exaggerations may apply) and is wearing... the most hideous sweater in existence. despite its odd look, he seems perennially unbothered by how absolutely ridiculous, a fact driven home by the placement of antlers atop his head.

when the powers that be were handing out both shame and style, they skipped clean over this asshole, that's for sure.

he can be found with an odd amount of cabbage on his plate and literally... nothing else? does he love cabbage? is he possessed by a cabbage-eating poltergeist? a strange subset of vegan that thinks only cabbage deserves the cruel jab of a fork? who knows... haha, unless...?

one might come across him in the bookstore where he is very intently and perhaps too seriously studying a book about reindeer. ）

Ah... thus the antlers.

（ this seems to be said mostly to himself, and is obviously about... the ridiculous headband he's wearing. ）

𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲;
  𝖼𝗅𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖼𝗋; (2 person limit unless otherwise discussed!)

（ one may find him setting odd little animal figures, shouryouma — little cows and horses fashioned from eggplant and cucumber respectively, with toothpick legs and cornsilk manes and tails — which he leaves on a wooden plank near the fire.

odon does not exist in his world, but the traditions of the rinne festival align very nearly to it, and the uchiha were strict traditionalists. it was a habit he developed young — lanterns were too obvious, and mourning the family he massacred would have exposed a weakness the akatsuki would have been all too ready to exploit. instead, on december twenty-fifth, he would fashion these little creatures and leave them somewhere they were unlikely to be found, and send a silent prayer for the uchiha who lay together in a mass grave on the outskirts of the city.

this is no different.

he does not seem especially bothered to be noticed, nor furtive in his actions as he sets them down. he's simply deliberate, and entirely unselfconscious. do you dare? ）

Shouryouma

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel sees, and she wonders, because this seems entirely too whimsical from what she knows of Itachi.

So she wonders, but doesn't say anything just yet, instead settling down next to Itachi, wearing a frankly hideous sweater featuring skulls with bright red hats and Christmas lights.]

A holiday tradition?

[It's a bit of an odd one, but perhaps he comes from a place with a warmer climate, where such vegetables are harvested in the winter.]

Finn | Star Wars

[hatejakku]

[ CHRISTMAS DAY ]

^4.0 Finn had enjoyed the little party from the night before, always a willing participant to a good meal, but he was still pretty curious about the actual day all of this had been leading up to. So when he's told to meet everyone in the sim room, he arrives bright and early... in confusion...

But it's nice. It's super nice and cozy and has great company scattered around. He takes a seat and watches from the sidelines for awhile, cuddled up in his new pajamas. But he can't take it and finally decides to open the long box that's closest to him wrapped in bright blue paper. And then he... stares into the box for a long moment...

Eventually, Finn pulls out a sweater and unfolds it, holding it out in front of himself, still with a blank face.

"I don't get it." Are they the invaders???


^6.0 Apparently having decided he likes his new sweater, Finn has been walking around the fake town for awhile in it, not really interacting as much as taking in the scenery. But night eventually falls, so he makes his way to the frozen lake, watching a few of the other Orbers skate.

He... takes a long moment to look at a pair of skates someone left behind and... looks between them and the ice several times, seriously considering this. Surprise, he's never ice skated before but... he's gonna.

Feel free to catch him trying to put them on or trying to figure out how to step on to the ice. You might have to literally catch him, though.


^🎄 After the probable disaster that was ice skating and the second feast he's had in as many days (he hopes that's becoming a trend), Finn sits around the bonfire and just... watches it. It's weird to think about how long he's been here. If he ends up leaning against you with a forlorn look in his eyes, sorry.


^Wildcard [ ooc: Finn is also around on Christmas Eve for stockings and food if someone wants to see him there. Otherwise, you can catch him in town, at the Christmas dinner, or anywhere else. Prose or action is fine. ♥ ]

[firstroar]

[watching Finn attempt to ice skate was...an event. thanks to the bit of energy Itachi had to spare him, Blue was at least able to throw out one bit of psionic cushioning to keep Finn's face from eating shit once; the rest of those spills were entirely on the man's own terms. hell, if there was a glimpse of being able to keep upright or avoid a worse spill by the Force, Blue wouldn't be able to help but feel a swell of pride.

as the artificial light shifts from a tawny dusk to the pinks and purples of twilight, Blue lingers near the edge of the rink as Finn seems to be winding down.

he holds out a hand for him to catch.]

alina starkov / shadow & bone / ota!

[peasant]

CHRISTMAS EVE.

1.0

[ it's not terribly surprising that the former orphan finds herself hovering in the kitchen, making a direct line for the desserts. everything that would never be found in ravka, too indulgent and sweet for a country that only knows the taste of stale bread and herring, to keep full through the harsh winters. the way she gathers pastries is evident of that, a little too close to hoarding as she curls over the steaming tray in front of her, lined with plain cupcakes and christmas cookies waiting to be decorated, like an animal that's used to being starved.

maybe ximilia has spoiled her, in that sense. still, alina looks as enthused as a child that's only freshly discovered desserts, a lopsided grin garnishing her mouth as she tugs her supplies over. a tube of culinary glitter that she uses in excess, sprinkling down until her hands are coated in green and gold flecks. whipped cream she can be caught dipping her fingers into, licking it from the tips of her fingertips, when no one seems to be supervising her. if she does catch someone's eye, she smiles guiltily — a secretive thing, holding her finger up to her mouth, to hush them. ]

Don't tattle on me.

[ or, if someone draws too close to where she's set up her supplies, they've unfortunately made themselves a target for alina's christmas cheer. without warning, she gently ambushes them in the midst of icing her cupcakes, wiping bright red frosting against their cheek — only for her to lift her eyebrows, a little cheeky when she offers, ]

You've got something on your face. [ another swipe, as her grin grows. ] Right there.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

5.0A

[ once she arrives, alina naturally orbits toward the peaceful coziness of the bookstore first. it's comfortable in its familiarity by the grandiosity of the party around her, quiet when she feels overwhelmed — though a heavy melancholy seems to hover over her, for a moment, as her fingers brush through stacks of books.

it would have been a dream come to life, for the girl she had been. for alina starkov, and her fantasies of traveling through the wonders the world has to offer. if the university of ketterdam truly houses a library as grand as this one, she'll never know it — never have the freedom to see it, never have a life that allows for that selfish adventure.

eventually, she'll end her exploration through the aisles and tuck herself away into a plush sofa in the corner, ideal for reading as she drapes herself across it. a large set of novels rests on the table in front of her, though if someone stumbles across her, she's quick to snap the book she was reading closed, with a criminally dark flush to her face. there's no hiding the contents of the book in question, when the rose petals and shirtless hero stamped across its cover certainly gives her away, but she still fumbles for a — ]

It's not what it looks like. I thought it was about — [ quick, alina. she flushes darker, fumbling to put the book in question — aptly and condemningly titled tied up, tied down — face-down on the table. ] ... botany.

[ a+ lie. smooth recovery. ]

5.0B

[ later, when she's had her fill of books — when she's searching for more company than words on a page — alina wanders into the pub. it's a noisy scene, endlessly rowdy, as glasses clink and strangers taunt one another over games in the corner — but it does the job of taking her out of her head, filling her mind with just the miserable buzz of her own thoughts.

undeniably, it helps that her mind is pleasantly humming, the lines of her body feeling weightless, with a shimmer of fairy wine still clinging to her lips. with a smile, she slides into a seat at the bar's counter, beside the familiar face of one of the orbers, seemingly amused with her own stupid joke when she turns to them to ask, ] I guess I can't ask if you come here often.

5.0C

[ by the time she's exited the pub, her glow is still there, humming beneath her skin — bringing little flecks of light to the surface of it, in her ability to fully control her sun summoning when she feels as though she's floating. euphoric, alina can't resist spinning herself in circles by herself to the lively sounds of the band, only pausing when she's tired of twirling alone.

her face is a flushed mess, from happiness and exertion alike, when the music slows and she snags the nearest wrist to get their attention, using their arm to spin herself around with a girlish laugh. ]

Tell me you have time for a dance?

6.0

[ there's only so long her elation can last before it crashes. once alina finds herself alone, she settles herself on one of the many benches, feet aching — shoes discarded, barefoot and aimless as she drifts away into her guilt. it doesn't feel right, nor fair to mal to enjoy herself so thoroughly without him. to forget that he isn't there, when she turns to the side and finds herself met with empty air or a different face.

the curl to her mouth is pensive as she watches her breath chill into a misty fog in the air, light bouncing between her fingers. the fairy lights above flicker tellingly as sunlight forms in alina's palms, gracelessly spinning itself into golden threads — until she forces it to focus, forming lazy shapes of rabbits from keramzin, hopping to their own rhythm, watching as they blink in and out between her fingers. ]

7.0

[ it takes time to gather herself, but gather herself she does. she curls around the bonfire without needing a nudge, a bag of marshmallows balanced on her lap, as she picks through them absently. when she spies an approaching orber, she lifts the blanket draped around her shoulders — inviting them to slide closer and share it with her as she sidles over to make space. ]

Cold?

WILDCARD.

[ feel free to adjust any of these scenarios to your liking, or hit me with your own! i'm easy peasy. c: you can hit me up via PM to plot or nereids with any ideas or questions. ]

7.0

[bossily]

[Clara's trying her best to hide the fact that she's crying. Trying and failing miserably. She's really set her mind to just heading straight out of the simulation and calling it a night. She's emotionally spent and so tired. But Alina doesn't know that, and she offers Clara a perfect excuse to act like everything is fine.

Or try to act like it, anyway.

She slips right into the offered blanket, pressing in close against Alina's side. Her head promptly leans over to rest against her friend's shoulder, and she stares straight ahead at the fire.]

Freezing.

[Both inside and out, she thinks.

It's not good for her to stay. She really shouldn't. But she stays rooted right at Alina's side, taking some comfort in the fact that not everyone hates her.]

marta cabrera | knives out | ota

[naloxone]

christmas eve.

[ the feast was lovely, as was everything leading up to it, but it's in the quiet wind down of the evening that marta finds herself getting a second wind. maybe it's one too many naughty eggnogs in her system, or maybe it's the pang of loneliness realizing she's just spent her first christmas eve without her mother and sister— whatever the reason, she's feeling particularly restless, almost jittery with energy.

so what does she do with this extra energy? help clean up A, of course. she won't be hard to miss, helping sweep up errant christmas cracker fillings and strewn tinsel, stacking up plates to walk back to the kitchens, picking up all the fallen cards from those wild games of poker.

but after? after, she indulges. grabbing herself a wayward bottle of champagne, marta ducks into the southwestern wing to partake in what has steadily become a new hobby of hers: supply drop diving B. feel free to follow or wander in on her combing through the piles and piles of miscellaneous items from past delivery day drops, catch her dumping some finds (mostly books, nerd) into her tote. or, hell, join her. she'll even let you have a sip of her champagne. ]

christmas day.

[ the day of will find marta donning her gifted sweater (crude, perhaps, but marta has enough of a dry sense of humor that she can appreciate when someone's poking fun at her expense) and quietly taking in what the simulation room has got to offer. mostly she'll be wandering around in awe, probably discreetly trailing her fingers over every surface while muttering to herself, How can it feel so real? C

the bookstore, of course, draws her interest first. D but despite the temptation, marta doesn't actually indulge in any of the books themselves, arms notably empty. it's only when a familiar name peaks out from one of the spines of the books that she pauses. stares. carefully, almost reverently, she'll trace a finger down the name: harlan thrombey.

by the bonfire, as everyone starts feeling the wind-down of a day full of festivities, marta can be found huddled over in the corner making a small doll out of twigs E. awww. and look, she's even bringing it over to the fire, how sweet! she's probably wanting to show it more of the surroundings, really give it a proper lookoh my god is she burning it?

towards the end of the evening, she'll get a little turned around. her attempts to step out of the room go thwarted by the sharp-toothed snowmen F, who keep rolling over to get in her way every time she tries to step around them. — Listen, she'll tell them, because talking to a snowman just seems right on par with everything else on this station, I'm just trying to leave. Okay? You're fake. I know you're fake. You can't scare me. — okay, maybe they're scaring her a little. ]

obligatory mom friend™ toplevel.

[ both days will find marta keeping a watchful eye on those who may be partying a little too hard G. so whether you've jammied your dodger a little too much on christmas eve and you need someone to hold your hair back as you get acquainted with the toilet bowl, or someone's got to keep you from tipping into the bonfire because the doctor's tunes are getting you a little too jaunty, or you've snuck away from the infirmary newton winnifred geiszler and need to be escorted back — marta's your gal. ]

etc.

( marta will generally be along the fringes of the merriment, sticking mostly to herself and looking on at the crowds — you know, as wallflowers do. while she won't refuse anyone who encourages her to be a more active participant in the festivities, she won't exactly go out of her way to do so. that being said, while marta may be reluctant to participate, the player is not so all forms of coaxing/needling/strong-arming are encouraged! throw a snowball at her, slaps some ice skates on her, find her under a mistletoe for some cheek kisses and only cheek kisses (hahaha— unless?), the fake sky's the limit! if you'd like to plot something out first feel free to pm or reach me at baechwita. alternatively, drop a request and i'll write us a starter! 🎁 )

🅐

[blackfire]

（ he was always a dutiful child — he would often stand at his mother's elbow as a child to assist her with the cooking or tidying or whatever else was necessary — sometimes that meant minding sasuke, and others it meant minding the house. he had never minded it. work was work, whether it was his own missions for the village or necessary things in the home.

thus, when a variety of (somewhat drunken) individuals begin to clear out for the night, he likewise begins to tidy in quiet concert with her. he seems content not to clutter up the silence with unnecessary chatter, but eventually: ）

May I borrow the broom?

Daisy Johnson | Agents of SHIELD | OTA

[morethan084]

1.0

[Daisy almost doesn’t show up, everything she’s gone through and learned in the past month weighs heavily on her. It was either stay in her room and be consumed by her thoughts, or come to the party and try to distract herself. Wearing a purple paper crown someone had put on her head after opening up one of the crackers, Daisy’s off to the side of the room with a cup of spiked eggnog in her hand. Taking a sip she almost spits it back out,]

I don’t know why I keep trying to convince myself that I’ll like this stuff every year.

[Daisy says to the person next to her, nose wrinkled in disgust.]

What are you drinking?

[Hopefully it’s better than this.]

2.0

What do you want to bet?

[Daisy asks as she shuffles the cards. It’s been a while since she’s played poker, but she did it for a long time as a way to swindle people out of money back when she lived on the street. This time, however, she’s not hiding the fact that she’s good at the game, and if she spots a friend playing whose struggling she might try to help them. Or, you know, take advantage of the fact that they suck at the game.]

You might want to work on your face.

[She offers, ever so helpful as she pulls their chips towards her.]

3.0 CW: High

[Having gotten high, thanks to Kovacs, Daisy has gone back to the table for snacks. Shoveling two Jammie Dodgers into her mouth, she catches sight of someone staring at her as she pockets two of them for later.]

What?

[She asks around the mouthful of cookies in her mouth, crumbs falling out of her mouth before she manages to swallow the rest of them down. Anyone whose been high or been around others who have been will likely notice the redness to her eyes.]

6.0

[Daisy’s only been ice skating a handful of times in the past. Which means she’s far from good at it. In fact half of the time she’s clinging to the wall. Eventually, she feels brave enough to push off and go more towards the middle, nearly falling a few times before someone grabs hold of her.]

Thanks.

[Daisy laughs off how awful she is as she straightens up.]

Bonfire

[At the end of the night, Daisy’s sitting at the bonfire listening to the Doctor as he plays the guitar with a cup of coffee in her hands. Staring at the fire as it dances around the air, Daisy zones out for god knows how long before she realizes someone is talking to her.]

Sorry, what?

Wildcard

[Have something else in mind? Feel free to write something below or PM/message me on plurk]

Bonfire

[cruelyethuman]

[This, at least, feels familiar. The crackling of the fire, the sparks flying. The scent of cold and pine sap in the air around them as he walks towards the group of people huddled around the bonfire at the center of whatever this place is.

The wintery imagery of snow covering the ground, the dusting of it on the trees around them, the crunch of it under his boots before he sits down on a log next to Daisy.]

I asked if this is Christmas?

[The strange gifts, the ugly but warm sweater in the box he opened earlier and the man playing an instrument. The bonfire and the ice skating.]

rhysand. — a court of thorns and roses, ota

[business]

✨ CHRISTMAS EVE —

➊
( by the fae's perspective, all celebrations should've concluded on the 21st — the winter solstice. longest night of the year. feyre's birthday. it's the latter which has a damper on his spirits, an otherwise chipper and chatty man rendered instead to solemn quietude, a melancholic air about him. brooding, one might say, by the swell of thick shadows that seem to follow in his footsteps, crowding whatever corner he decides to occupy inside the mess hall.

to say he's surprised by a stocking gifted to him is an understatement. curiosity penetrates his sour mood and —

when he pulls out a small velvet bag, he manages to crack a smile, dipping his fingers inside it. to the nearest person, he reaches out — playfully dotting their nose with a iridescent green glitter. )

Stardust. ( he explains, lightning up at the sight. ) To make wishes on.

➌
( the feast needed some more alcohol, right? surely it was lacking. rhysand himself is sporting a tipsy lean to his step by the time dinner comes around, and to the table he brings several bottles of multicolored wine — all products from his home, tainted with the fruit of faerie food. of course, the fae like to play tricks with their human counterparts, which means they have effects outside of what one would call ordinary for alcohol. pleasure and good feelings accompany a rose colored wine swirling with gold glitter, while debauchery and mischief take hold of one colored like the night sky, black and shining purple, dotted with silver stars. while the entire side effects of the wine are flexible enough, all wines will have the effect of making people want to get up and dance, the desire almost impossible to resist.

of course, rhys will stand guard and stop anyone from dancing until their feet bleed. but — until then, he's happy to spread the cheer, encouraging people to taste and be merry. )

✨ CHRISTMAS DAY —

➍
( a sluggish smile crests his features while he cups a little self-shaped him in his palm. for awhile, rhysand takes quite a bit of joy out of looking at everyone's dorky ornaments, reaching out and poking some people in their pudgy little faces, feeling an odd bit of tenderness at knowing people. recognizing them. befriending them.

to the person beside him, also looking at their elf — )

Should we make them kiss? ( he holds his visage out, pointedly. )

➎
( in a somewhat hilarious sight, rhysand can be found inside the bookstore, stacks of books surrounding him, lip bitten as he furiously reads through a dozen different children's tales on father christmas. soaking in as much knowledge as he can get, apparently, as if worried it'll all run away from him tomorrow.

he is rapt, in his studies. stick around long enough and you'll hear him curiously hum after grabbing a new book off the shelf, eyes twinkling in morbid delight. )

Aha. Oberon. ( rhys tuts his tongue. ) Yikes.

➏
( sour mood apparently entirely crushed by the time christmas dinner comes around, rhys decides to be bit more of an active participant in the festivities — sitting at the table, drunkenly and animatedly conversing with people, comfortable enough to bump elbows and trade laughter. despite all the food that keeps popping up on the set plates? that brownie in your hand looks extremely good. rhy has been watching this particular treat come in close proximity to your mouth about a dozen times, but you keep getting interrupted, by conversation or laughter or otherwise merriment.

so. he decides he must act, or otherwise face all consequences of missing out on a great fuss of laughter. the next time the brownie comes near your mouth, rhys cranes his neck over your shoulder and steals the bite from your hand, tearing it away and, before chewing, turning to smack a chocolately kiss on your cheek.

and then he doesn't get to eat it at all because he's practically spitting it out on the floor, laughing as he is. such a tricky fae! stealing treats and kisses. )

✨ WILDCARD —

🎄
( anything else! feel free to pm or reach me at trashmouth for any questions! if you have the time, i'd also appreciate if you could fill in my opt in/out post for rhys' mind reading abilities — thank u in advance, and merry christmas 2 all. )

3

[morethan084]

[Daisy isn't trying to get wasted tonight, but she is high thanks to Kovacs. It just makes the food even more delicious, and she's already going back for seconds. Reaching for another roll, someone's holding a cup out to her from across the table and she looks up to see it's Rhysand. Squinting playful at him, Daisy slowly pulls her hand back with the roll.]

Last time you gave me a drink it changed my hair color.

Newton Geiszler | Pacific Rim

[groupiedrifter]

Part I | 1.0 ► T'was the Night Before Christmas

[Newt obviously had to come, though it was — shockingly — not of his own volition at first. Clara had been adamant that he get out, enjoy the festivities and loosen up after... uh. That really not so good first half of the month. Now that he's fully recovered and medicated, he's been feeling better and better with the days. Physically, anyway. Mentally, it's still a lot of stuff up in the air.

But y'know, Clara's right. He's gotta get out there! Especially now that he's been officially cleared from the infirmary and open to enjoying a real Christmas for the first time in... like... a while. The PPDC was pretty hectic in the last years of its existence, and its Christmas parties for the staff certainly weren't grandiose.

He looks a little awkward where he takes up space. Kind of like a magician who has forgotten his own trick or a record that skipped and can't seem to find the song again, glancing around like he doesn't quite fit in. You'd think he wasn't the most energetic, social creature in the room like most other days just looking at him, but it really does feel as if he's a bike that just lost a training wheel, wobbly and inexperienced. He feels... lackluster. Even guilty, maybe, that he hadn't helped with any of this.

He's just off from what happened earlier, that's all. And you know what? Fuck it, man.

After a mental pep-talk, he's donning a bright blue paper crown that Clara's bestowed upon him and cracking open a bottle of really nice wine to soothe his nerves. Somewhere after an hour of thawing that 'social butterfly' part of his personality again, he's got a plate of cookies stacked dangerously high and seems far more loose. In fact, he turns to the nearest concerned spectator of his third glass of wine and grins with rosy cheeks and a far more easygoing, Newton way about him.]

Hey, I'm allowed a couple glasses, okay? A little wine doesn't break the doctor's rules.

[He's more than happy to get pulled into whatever chaos awaits him; totally not gonna let everything that happened screw with their holiday fun. Hell, he might even get himself in the spirit enough to sneak off with anyone who'll take him. Everything outside of the festivities right now is too complicated, too much of a struggle to think about, so if he ends up finding someone who's willing to reciprocate under the mistletoe, he's also goddamn willing to do more than just that, because he's a needy bastard.

Just like the usual Newt, he thinks. Same ol' same ol'.

Get into the festivities and shut that goddamn brain off for a little while!

Hell yeah.]

Part I | 3.0 ►Christmas Feasting (and Overeating)



[... Huuurugh... hell nooooo...

The Christmas Feast was. So good. So good. Too good, as a matter of fact. If anyone's wondering where Newton has vanished to, it's on the nearest couch, splayed out dramatically with his shirt properly untucked. He looks turkey drunk. So maybe he might have overindulged in all of the food? It was totally worth it, even if he can hardly move now.

Jokingly to no one in particular, he hums:]

If I lay heeeere... If I just laaaay heeeere... Would you lie with meee and just forget the world...?

[This is kind of nice, though. He's definitely on the verge of sleeping right now.

But you know, duty calls — and there's someone in particular stuck in the infirmary right now, so he finally gets up after some time to make a plate of food from the still overflowing feast set before him, determined to deliver it to a particular lab partner, even if things are... murky and complicated.]

Part II. | 4.0 ► Anyway, Here's Wonderwall

[Alright, so it's not Wonderwall. Instead it's just Newton, primed in his ugly sweater (which you have to admit is a great ugly sweater), holding an acoustic guitar and strumming the chords with a sort of quiet about him that is pretty unusual; if you've ever wandered by the lab or his room, you'll have probably heard the unfortunate thudding loudness that his electric guitar provides during the off hours on the Ximilia.

Maybe the Christmas mood just tranquilizes him a little, okay? He sits in the cozy living room after people have decorated the tree, looking surprisingly thoughtful. It's not until he notices someone else has wandered over during his absent-minded string picking that he looks up, eyebrows raised, and gives them a grin.]

Got any requests? I specialize in rock ballads circa 1960 to 2025, but I've been known to have a few curveballs up my ugly sweater sleeves.

[... He grins.]

I take payment for my musical labor in the form of mistletoe-free kisses and holiday-themed sugar cookies.

[Newt's kidding, of course; he'll play you whatever.]

Just don't make fun of my crap singing.

Part II. | 🎄 ► Happy Holidays

[At the small bonfire, Newt sits with his chin in his hands and watches The Doctor blasting some notes on that electric guitar, a little gleam of amusement in his eyes. It's not that cold in here, but even the littlest bit of chill has colored his nose and cheeks.]

Maybe I should go get mine, too... The old man could use some competition.

[Newt holds out a present, wrapped neatly for you; yeah, you. If you've spoken to him or given him the time of day in person, you're probably gonna get something from him; it's just fate, and you're not gonna escape it. Now... what that present is, obviously, will entirely depend on the person he's giving it to.

Either way, as he holds it out, he smiles confidently and says:]

Happy Christmas and Merry Holidays.

(OOC: For this prompt, I'll be giving any responses a tailored gifted item! They'll be relatively small gifts, save for extremely close CR, but he'll definitely have something for ya' if you've spoken to him and have a good rapport with him. :))

Happy holidays

[bindsthedead]

For me? [The simulated cold has actually brought some traces of color to Sabriel's normally pale face. But she seems to be enjoying the festivities, regardless.]

Er- A bright midwinter to you too. [Sabriel offers the holiday greeting she's most familiar with, even as she accepts the gift.]

Can I open it here, or should I wait?

billy butcher ( the boys )

[cheapbastard]

01. CHRISTMAS CHEER

( listen, even billy's willing to admit that this is pretty nice. been a long fuckin' time since he's really celebrated christmas so seeing all the decorations and shit in front of his eyes is like a punch to the gut.

last time he did this, becca was with him and he was a different man. and then everything went to shit and here he was, different again. different again and holding up a pea green stocking with bright white tufts of fluff on it. once he spots his name on the top of the stocking, he starts looking through it. if there's another billy around, oh well.

his maudlin mood slips away when he pulls out a very nice bottle of bourbon, a shiny pocketknife and a machine gun. )

Oooh, someone's given me an automatic weapon. Beautiful.

( that wasn't true. it wasn't a machine gun but he wanted to say it loud enough to see what happened. it was actually a wad of thick socks that actually do look pretty warm. )

Merry Christmas, everyone.

03. ATE TOO MUCH, PASS OUT

( the food's good. he's not going to admit that out loud but however the fucks had managed to find a rare steak and a baked potato for him, he doesn't know but he's not going to take it for granted either. he eats every single piece and once he's done, decides he's going to uncap the bourbon from the stocking.

he takes a long pull from the bottle and then even offers it up to a few people around him. maybe the food's put him in a good mood, maybe he's just so full that he can't think straight but hey, he's decided to be nice.

it's not christmas spirit. he's not that kind of guy. he just wants other people to get drunk with him. )

5.0 BE MERRY

( it shouldn't surprise anyone to find billy in one of the pubs that gets conjured up by whatever this whole thing is. he's not going to ask questions because he's in a good fuckin' mood. he's had a few drinks and eaten a donut that's left its powdered sugar mark on his beard.

and now? now, he's standing on the bar countertop, leading the patrons in a raucous singalong of jingle bells. he's not even drunk, he's just in a decent fuckin' mood for once and maybe being away from superheroes, homelander and constant tension is good for him.

he stomps his way across the grainy wood of the bar, swinging his bottle like he's a maestro, directing the denizens.

he's going to deny this happened later but for now, he's actually feeling pretty good. )

6.0 DOWN WE GO

( his ass is going to be so bruised. he doesn't even know why he'd decided to go ice skating other than trying to show that he could skate if he wanted to.

no, he could not. he could not ice skate. he'd managed to stay on his feet for a few seconds and then one leg had gone one way and the other had gone the opposite and he'd done the fuckin' splits on the ice before he ended up on his back.

and that's where he was staying because he doesn't really know how to get the hell up when he's got these shoe knives on his fuckin' feet. he lays there, watching people skate by him when he finally yells: )

Hey, how about getting me the fuck up?

( yes, please help him. )

10. WILDCARD

( for anything that i haven't included above. )

5.0

[bossily]

[Clara's at the pub in order to drink as much as humanly possible. It's completely disorienting how even in a simulation the mind can be tricked to perceiving this as real. But hey - given the fact she's keen to reach a pleasantly numb point, she's grateful for the fact this little Christmas town has a pub at all.

She keeps to herself at the corner of the bar, knocking back drink after drink. It's way more than she typically would indulge in, and it doesn't take long for her to get more than a little tipsy.

Which is exactly why she joins in the singing when Billy starts it up. She's laughing and singing in no time, watching him dance and direct his way along the bar. It's when she thinks she's caught his eye and he might recognize her that she moves forward from the crowd, holding out her hand so he can pull her up with him. ]

dean winchester | supernatural - all prompts OTA

[ruinously]

𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝐼

[ It may come as a surprise, but Dean is actually a fairly decent cook. He can be found in the kitchen, a festive apron tied around his waist as he throws together what passes for marsala meatballs -- provided the ingredients are available, of course. Seems like they might be, though, so everyone is gonna be eating some tasty stuff later at the feast.

And, once dinner is served, Dean is proudly bringing said meatballs out for everyone to enjoy. Cheers, kids. ]

𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝐼𝐼

[ If anyone is happy to wake up in Christmas pajamas, slippers and a robe - it's Dean. He feels like a kid for the first time since he was probably three, so he's here for the festivities, and will be putting on his new ugly sweater over his pajamas and heading towards the festivities.

Throughout the day, Dean can be found any number of places - the little town, for starters, because he can't help but investigate this whole world that's been created for the sole purpose of Christmas. He's also in the bookstore and the pub, and can eventually be found later in a dark green sweater, eating some chestnuts as he wanders towards the skating rink, which he proves not to be very good at, but hey -- give him a hand up?

After dinner, he's at the bonfire, sitting by himself (until you join him, that is), hands wrapped around a hot toddy (very much full of whiskey, the bottle is by his feet), staring into the flames and, for the first time, fervantly wishing Sammy were here with him to celebrate. ]

((ooc; feel free to hit me with a wildcard if there's something else you're interested in doing, or hit up Dean's open mistletoe prompt if that tickles your fancy! i'm easy :> ))

I

[hatejakku]

[ Finn had been hanging back during the party, mingling when he wanted but mostly just watching what everyone else was doing. He did much the same during Halloween.

But when Dean stops by him, Finn has a little laugh about the apron before trying one of the meatball things and oh kriff-- ]

That is so good.

[ He takes another if Dean doesn't swipe the plate away. ] What are these?

raleigh becket | pacific rim -- OTA

[unbreachable]

𝒷𝑜𝓃𝒻𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈

[ After all the festivities that he'd attended earlier (the dinner, the breakfast, the ugly sweaters), Raleigh can be found out by the bonfire, settled in close, holding a cup of hot chocolate (it's possibly spiked, because it's Christmas, and that merits celebration) as he warms his hands and feet. His poor circulation has been a problem in the past, especially in colder weather, but this is a simulation after all, and he isn't struggling with frostbite or numb fingers and toes.

It's a nice change.

There's a spot open beside him, and he taps his fingers against his mug in time with the song. He's not antisocial, not really.

He's just quiet, reminiscing, thinking about a song from a long time ago, of mulled wine and sticky fingers, of Ave Maria and his mothers songbird voice echoing in his head. ]

(( ooc; feel free to wildcard any of the prompts if you'd like! I'm open to any scenario if you've got something in mind. There's also an open mistletoe prompt for him as well! ))

[morethan084]

[With a lot of the spots filling up around the bonfire, Daisy steps up next to one of the people she's seen around the station but hasn't really had the chance to speak to before.]

Hey, anyone sitting here?

Zari Tarazi | Legends of Tomorrow

[catchatting]

2.0
Zari might not celebrate Christmas, but it's hard to resist such a warm invitation. The party feels downright wholesome and the board games in particular leave something warm in Zari's chest, filling in some of the hole she's felt there since the last time she saw John.

With a rueful shake of her head, she finds herself an orange crown and a black marker so that she can make it leopard printed before she puts it on her head.

The magic kit hits a little too close to home, but Parcheesi? She can handle a little Parcheesi so she opens the box and starts to set it up, waiting to see if anyone will come sit or maybe if someone glances her way she'll even wave them over.

"I haven't played board games since I was a kid, except for the one time my ex got us all sucked into one."

4.0
The warmth in Zari's chest only continues to spread the next day as she dons flannel pajamas and a silk robe and helps herself to some much-deserved hot cocoa. She's not as concerned with getting gifts as she is enjoying the atmosphere around here. People are happy and affectionate and Zari misses the loud but loving environment on the Waverider so much right now. She misses her parents, too, but the Legends have become such a part of herself. It's hard to imagine that she doesn't know when she'll actually see any of them again.

So she sits in a plush velvet chair by the window to watch the snow fall, but wouldn't you know it, she may have snuck in a little piece of mistletoe with her and hung it right over her head. Subtlety's just not her thing and who doesn't want a friendly kiss on a cold winter morning?

6.0
It's hard to pass up ice skating, especially when the last couple of years have involved a lot of running and fighting and only finding leisure in the spaces between. Of course, it's not as if she's been worked to the bone, but finding time for specific activities like this isn't always easy, so she's going to lace up her skates and get on the ice, skating in large circles until her knees start to give out.

She's no figure skater, but she is light on her feet and if she has to cheat a little with the totem to make sure she doesn't fall, well who can really blame her for that? She may skate up next to a familiar face if she gets the urge and link her arm in theirs.

If not, then after a while she will trot off of the ice, practically falling onto a bench so that she can get her skates off. She's panting and out of breath, but she can't stop smiling and her cheeks are flushed.

"Forgot how much harder it is than it looks...."

Wildcard
(come at me)

4

[homeostatic]

Would you look at that, ( Leonard notes of her mistletoe sprig, ) How on earth did that get there?

( Having milled around the other orbers for a bit, he's wended his way back Zari, a gift box under his arm and a merry twinkle in his eye. )

Leonard McCoy | Star Trek AOS

[homeostatic]

CHRISTMAS EVE

( Bones makes no effort to resist the festivities– he promised Clara he'd be here so he is, in a yellow paper crown, tucking into the mulled wine with a pleasantly sedate air, people watching and soaking in the ambiance of the early evening.

Once in the kitchen, he's partnered with Jim to make a specialty from home, pleased to work alongside him. Sleeves rolled to the elbows, peeling potatoes and passing them to Jim to cube, or hovering together at the edge of a boiling pot, experimentally poking the cooked potatoes with a fork ('Are they done?' 'I think so.'), between the two of them they manage to assemble a pretty decent sweet potato casserole. Sans sticky marshmallows, plus brown sugar pecan crumble topping, the best. If he's smiling more freely, or in Jim's space a little more, clearly that's just the wine.

Are you finished with your own dish? )

Give me that- ( He'll just relieve your character of any used cookware or dishes to wash, waving off the help. ) Go enjoy yourself, I got it.

CHRISTMAS DAY

( In the morning, attired in his tacky sweater and dark sweatpants, Bones also has a ball of grey fur perched on his shoulder. Occasionally, the little thing lets out a chipper squeak, or softly trills, a sound not unlike a dove's coo, pleasant and soothing to the ear. Almost as relaxing as the real thing.

It's the blanketing snowfall outside that's particularly alluring as the noise levels in the cozy space begin to rise, so he's tucked himself into one of those cushy armchairs to escape. To drowse, most likely, happy and cozy– and to unexpectedly bestow gifts on those he knows.

In the afternoon, he's back in the infirmary–still in that sweater, with tribble–to check on patients and do some work in the peaceful quiet.

By evening he's made it to the bonfire, bundled up against the cold and listening to the Doctor's enthusiastic efforts. Alone or with someone, he's readily at home, enjoying the simplicity, the end of a good, long day. )

( OOC: SO he asked for a bunch of realistic faux!tribbles in addition to his other gift requests for friends. If we've had any cr at all, your character is getting one of the fuzzy little alpha-wave emitters– so they're cuddly little sleep aids, too. )

Bonfire

[morethan084]

[Daisy still had presents she needs to give to people, so when she spots Leonard by the fire she lugs her duffel over. The bottle clacking around as she settles down next to him.]

Hey, thanks for the…

Whatever that thing is, I don’t have to feed it?

[He explained it to her, but she still don’t quite understand it.

Definitely not because she’s hungover or anything.]

I have some things for you too.

Sabriel | Old Kingdom | OTA

[bindsthedead]

Christmas Eve, stockings

[Sabriel's first thought is to wonder why they're only giving them one sock instead of a pair, particularly when it clearly doesn't fit.

Closer inspection of the stocking makes things much more clear, and Sabriel is delighted with the contents of hers- a notebook and pen, along with some toffee and a new pair of gloves.]

That's thoughtful. Did they pick out different things for everybody?

[That's... thoughtful. That or someone in the crew is alarmingly observant. And why in stockings, of all things.]

And are we supposed to wear the stocking afterwards?

[That sounds like the kind of bizarre holiday tradition people here would love.]

Christmas Day, ice skating

[This brings back happy memories of her time at school, of eagerly waiting as the days grew colder for the pond to freeze over, so they could skate.

Sabriel grabs a pair of skates as soon as she spots them and is quickly gliding over the ice- and coming to a quick stop if she sees someone struggling.]

Do you need some help?

Christmas Day, dancing

[Music in the air, a crackling bonfire, little lights twinkling on all the buildings- only one thing's missing. So Sabriel finds someone she knows- or maybe someone she doesn't, who seems like they might be receptive, and takes their hand with a shy smile.]

Would you like to dance?

[Sabriel is, in fact, a good dancer, although her idea of 'modern and cutting edge' is things like the tango and the Charleston.]

Christmas Day, gift giving

[If you know Sabriel- really, if you've exchanged more than a few words with her- you might find her approaching you with something, carefully wrapped in dark blue paper, and tied with a silver ribbon.]

This is for you.

[Sabriel's gifts are, in general, practical things, tools and weapons she's enchanted with Charter magic, or nonfiction books about either magic or various skills, although if she's noticed a particular food someone likes, or a hobby of theirs, that will probably be part of the gift too.]

stockings

[calmness]

[xichen is looking at his own gift, a set of brushes and paint that he's quite pleased with, when he looks up at sabriel.

the gift is thoughtful, similar to hers but different and tailored to him.] It looks like they did. Everyone so far that I've seen has received a gift suiting them.

[elthree got oil, from his understanding, and xichen's glad that wasn't what everyone received.

the matter of stockings though--] Ah, I am not certain. We don't have such a holiday.. but if the stockings are meant to be discarded it seems like a waste. [which is worrying.] It would be strange to only wear one, no? Though... not as strange as other traditions.

andromache | the old guard | ota

[oiorpata]

PART I.
1.0 - 3.0 🗡 FOOD & FEAST

[ andy walks into the kitchen and is startled by christmas. she pauses and looks around, expression like a loading screen while she tries to remember what month it was when she got here, but she honestly doesn't know. okay, it's christmas now, she can work with that. she will forget the next month is january in a few days. ]

[ she doesn't miss the stocking with her name on it, but her priority is simply the goodies. she piles a plate with cookies and cakes and pours herself a big glass of the naughty eggnog. just because she doesn't generally celebrate christmas doesn't mean she will not appreciate the food. the only thing she is missing is the crown, which she has bypassed and someone should definitely offer her one, or straight up just put it on her head, especially while her arms are full. ]

[ later, she will absolutely attend the feast. she doesn't care what the holiday is, and she doesn't care what any of the food is, she is going to try all of it. she leans over, gesturing at a plate of one of the eclectic looking dishes. ]

Pass me some of that weird red meat? With the gravy.

PART II.
4.0. 🗡 LAZY MORNINGS

[ she got the invitation but she doesn't really intend to go in the morning. she doesn't see the point. but she does have a certain fondness for the doctor (of the doctor fumbles variety in this case), so against her better judgement he manages to lure her into the simulation. her pajamas are cozy first and foremost, plaid pants and button up shirt, her robe haphazard over her shoulders. she doesn't go for any of the presents, mostly she settles and gets comfortable in one of the soft chairs with breakfast pastries and a steaming hot mug of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, obviously). she looks ready for a nap, but the look on her face as she downs an entire pastry in almost one bite is practically decadent as the crumbs spill down her chin. ]

This is the only present I need. [ fuck an ugly sweater. ]

6.0 🗡 CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

[ most of all, andy prefers to be outdoors, so she spends a lot of the evening just wandering the village and lingering near the pond. she windows shops, perusing on the outside, hands in her pockets. christmas isn't really her thing. it's fine. it's not like she hates it, but it's more like something that exists. nicky's the one who enjoys it the most. booker might, she thinks, if it didn't make him think of his family. she herself is literally older than christmas. ]

[ but: of course she knows how to ice skate. she's not particularly sporty about it and she doesn't know any tricks, but the basic principle is a useful skill! or at least it used to be, especially in scandinavia. but it's... nice, she supposes, to simply glide around the ice in the cool air. once in a while she closes her eyes and idly slides over the ice, so... watch out, because she's a little careless about it. if she bumps into someone, however, she will put her arms out and grab their shoulders to steady them. ]

Sorry. You good?

[ or catch her coming back from the edge of the pond, where there's a dusting of snow across her hair and face, because someone got a little too close to some toothy snowmen who decided to vomit magic snow at her. she tried to fight them, but realized it was pretty pointless quickly enough. ] Their teeth are fucked up but I don't think they actually bite.

PART III.
0.0 🗡WILDCARD

[ mix and match! hit me up to plot! romanitas#5368 @ disco or communism or pms!! someone pls put a paper crown on her head and get her into an ugly sweater! ]

4.0;

[attackbrows]

[Mornings, afternoons, evenings… They were all the same for the Doctor. For some unknown reason, someone in the universe decided when it is “appropriate” time to have eggs.

He pads into the living area barefoot. Unlike the rest of the crew, all decked out in matching cozy pyjamas, the Doctor comes in only a ratty white t-shirt and a pair of navy boxers with colourful question mark print caped over by a purple blanket resting on top of his shoulders.

The woman’s voice is familiar. There was some sort of conversation they had at some point. He can’t quite recall what it was (something about fumbling, perhaps). But he takes a seat on one of the comfortable chairs as he cocoons himself with the rest of the blanket.]

The universe would be more at peace if we all settled for a pastry.

[And pulls out a surprise biscuit from underneath his blanket cocoon. Where’d he get that from? 👻]

closed to Erik

[winscenario]

[ It's a little after lunch on Christmas day; Jim's been in the simulation room since morning, enjoyed the first simulation with the Christmas morning theme, and then moved on to visit the village before deciding that he would love to share this.

Christmas may not be something either of them really celebrate, but he doesn't want to waste the opportunity to create a new memory with Erik regardless. ]

Are you free today?

[ Just in case the answer to that message is 'yes', Jim is standing right outside Erik's door, knocking as soon as he gets that reply, a bag with gifts in his hand. ]

[scarcastically]

I'm around.

[ and he opens the door to jim's face, eyebrow raised. ]

Damn, you move fast.

drift | idw transformers | ota

[aurable]

CHRISTMAS EVE.

1.0

[ With a red crown resting tilted on his head, Drift weaves through the organized chaos of the mess hall. Happy to have had the foresight to arrive in holoform or this would have been a rather tight fit. Happier still to drum up what little context for the holidays he had to arrive in the practically expected ugly sweater.

He doesn't linger long around the steadily growing piles of refreshments beyond looking on curiously. Occassionally offering to help clean up or prepare anything. He eventually finds his way over to the line of stockings and is surprised to see his name embroidered into the blue fabric. Reaching in, he pulls out two palm-sized objects that rattle together in his hand. Drift looks down at what he finds, and his face breaks into a wide grin. ]

Citrine and rose quartz!

2.0

[ As the festivities die down Drift meanders retires to a corner of the room and plucks up a deck of cards. The deck falls into his waiting palm and he starts to shuffle them. Cards moving almost faster than the human eye can preceieve as they flow, coiling like snake suspended mid-air leaping from one hand to the other. ]

I'll be honest, [ He says to the first passerby to linger and watch, ] The only card game I know is solitaire.

CHRISTMAS DAY

5.0a

[ Just as the mess hall was standing room only, the 'town' was a bustling shoulder-to-shoulder affair with winding cobble stone roads that also necessitated his usual human guise. In an effort not to stick out, his holoform adapted itself to be gabred in a fitted peacoat the color of spilt ink with a grey tartan scarf tucked into the buttoned up neck.

After wading through the crowded streets of generated and genuine Christmas mirth, he tucks into the corner bookstore. He was drawn in by the novelty of printed books and the seemingly endless labyrinth of Earth-based literature now at his disposal. He regretted having never properly taken the time to learn more when he had the chance. No time like the present, right?

The first book that catches his eye is a thin, album-sized one with a gorgeously painted cover of a young girl. The Little Match Girl girl the title tells him. As he thumbs through it, his face goes through a gamut of enchanted, perplexed, and ends on downright miserable. ]
Well, that wasn't what I expected.

5.0b

[ As the day started to bleed into the early evening hours Drift had followed the flow of the crowd. Where that current took him ended up being a noisy pub already in full-swing of the reveirire. Once inside his holoform had 'dressed down' for the atmosphwere to a grey waistcoat and button down.

As the evening drew on, Drift found himself not for the first time idly wishing this form was more adapt. Not genuinely wanting to be human, but he couldn't help feeling a touch out of place being a part of the crowd without being able to share in most of what people did at a pub—turning down for the sixth time that not a pint of beer that threatened to slosh over onto him. It was disappointing, but he didn't let that dampen his spirits. He was here to immerse himself in the holidays, not wallow.

It was then someone who had either misstepped or gotten a bit too into the 'spirit' of things spun into his orbit—breaking away from the fray of people dancing to the live band and bumping right into him. Drift managed to catch the unbalanced dancer and see them properly back on their feet. ]

Are you alright?

( ooc: please feel free to wildcard from any of the prompts or hmu on bretons or bitchard#0228 for a starter )

5.0b

[bossily]

[Clara's definitely caught up in the music, and is dizzy on both dancing round and round and the drinks she's been partaking. When she bumps right into a man in a waistcoat, she first thinks it must be the Doctor. So she grabs hold of him like he'll keep her from toppling over, laughing merrily as she does.

It's only when he speaks that she realizes it isn't the Doctor, and there's a moment where she feels like she ought to be mortified. She isn't, in the end, since this is all in good fun. Her hand pats his arm as a form of apology for grabbing hold so tight, before slipping down to her hand takes hold of his. She's definitely tugging him along to pull him right into the boisterous dancing that's going on around them.]

I'll be better if you indulge me in a dance.

shang-chi | mcu | ota

[karaoqi]

●●● PART I — 1.0 ;

[ With the kind of life he’s led so far, it isn’t exactly a surprise that Shang-chi isn’t huge on celebrating the holidays, Western or otherwise, and he’ll admit that even living in the United States, Christmas always had a little bit of a Chinese-American bent anyway. Instead of turkey, he’s used to having pork or duck and fried noodle with the Chens. There were a few years of gift-giving, and there was one year when Katy wanted a tree but Wai po didn’t like the pine needles getting everywhere, or the fact that it blocked the sunlight from the window. Most of the time, he’d take on the overtime shifts for double the pay, and then get himself a cool pair of sneakers for reward.

He’ll be found snacking on some of the festive foods, and getting his fair share of peppermint hot chocolates and maybe a little bit of that “naughty” eggnog — and while he’ll remain mostly on the fringes of the party happenings, he does remain open for conversation. Or, apparently, open for something a little more, judging by the sprig of mistletoe pinned above him unawares.

And later, when a Christmas cracker gets stuffed into his hand on his way into the mess hall this evening is … well it’ll be a surprise, but not a bad one. Thing is, he’s a little embarrassed to admit this, but okay, so he’s just been handed this … object? And he isn’t sure how it works. Is it something he goes at by himself? Does he share its insides? It does get broken apart, right?

Trying not to be so obvious about it, he’ll sidle over to you: ]

You ever used one of these before? Not really sure what I’m supposed to do with this.

●●● PART II — 4.0 ;

[ In between the Christmas morning activities: grabbing a breakfast and having a go with some of the toys scattered in the simulation room, the box he picks up holds an admittedly awesome sweater of Santa Claus at a dinosaur’s helm, which he thinks might be something of a reference to his own recent adventures. (Feel free to ask him about it! It involves dragons.) Not that that’s common knowledge or that it matters in any way, because he does like how festive it is when he pulls it on. He glances at you beside him, already in your own apparel, which now begs the question: ]

I guess these aren’t so bad, are they? What do you think? Dorky as hell?

[ He’s grinning though, so it’s pretty obvious the latter doesn’t seem to matter all that much to him. ]

●●● PART II — 5.0 ;

[ Still decked in his dumb Christmas sweater, Shang-chi decides to do a little exploration of the town, stretch his legs, and get a change of scenery from the same stark boring walls of the station. (And while the sunlight room is a frequent favourite of his, it’s still nice to see something completely different to bide the time before their next mission.) He’ll wander around past the shops, grabbing a bag of chestnuts, and a mug of wassail for the road.

He tries not to think about how much he wishes his sister or Katy (or both!) were here, where he could share all of this experience with them. He’s always been great at adapting to new situations and being on his own, but lately he’s been getting used to the idea of having family again, of being a part of one. And now being away from them, he can feel the emptiness left by their absence.

Distracted by his thoughts, he might accidentally bump into you … but eventually he’ll wind up settling around the live band playing music, singing carols he’s only half-familiar with (commercialism sure is a thing) while still sipping his drink. ]

●●● PART II — 6.0 ;

[ At the end of Christmas Day, if anyone were to ask him, Shang-chi might consider himself a fan of the holiday; at least it’s easy enough to admit as much when there’s a warm, happy feeling that settles comfortably in his chest — a result of the contagious cheer common among the other crew members today. The taste of the cinnamon-y things, and the chocolate and peppermint aren’t bad either.

He’s never gone ice-skating before, having only lived in warm climates, but he’s a trained assassin in at least six styles of martial arts, not to mention all the other bits he’s picked up over the years, could kill a man fifty ways before they could utter ‘Rudolph’ — so how hard can it be, right?

Turns out? Harder than it looks in the Olympics. He feels like all sense of balance has been yanked out like a carpet from under his feet, and for anyone on the pond right now, he probably resembles a clumsy, stressed out noodle, flopping around to regain his balance every time his foot makes just the wrong turn. ]

— whoa! Look out!

[ Someone, anyone, please help a bro out. Or at the very least, if you’re as bad as he is, he could use some camaraderie. ]

1.0

[aurable]

[ Before Shang-chi announced himself, Drift was in the process of making sure his party hat was on correctly. For longer than he was willing to admit, Drift had convinced himself the pointed parts went meant to face downwards. It wasn't until he noticed a few others in their own hats that he realized his mistake and hurried to correct himself. Drift had just righted himself when Shang-chi asked him about the crackers. ]

Oh— [ Drift cleared his throat and tried to save face before registering the actual question. ]

I think? I've seen those in movies. They're part of some tradition in the United Kingdom where two pull either end to open them.