ximilialog | OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ If Yzak thinks something deserves a compliment he'll give it. So he's a good bar since he doesn't lie about things like this!

When Clara reaches out and hugs him, though, she'll feel him tense up in response as he stammers a bit. ]

H-hey—?

[ But despite the reaction, he's not shoving her off or recoiling away from it. It's more an awkward "somewhat unused to this (except for, like, mom)" reaction. So not bad! ]

[Clara's quiet as she looks him over, trying to make sense out of what he's said. He isn't speaking in riddles or puzzles as she's prone to doing when she needs to talk but doesn't feel like she can tell the whole story.]

Can I ask what's waiting for you?

[It's softly asked, almost as if she doesn't want to pry. But he's her friend, and she wants to hear his answer.]

I guess I'll have to give you something to tolerate, then.

[She dryly retorts, trying to sound as flat as he does.

Since he's basically given her permission, she doesn't hesitate to lean right on in and hug him. She and the Doctors have worked so hard to make this party absolutely perfect, regardless if people celebrate Christmas. It's important to her that the people here enjoy that party, and enjoy having time together. The fact that he's going to attend means a great deal to her. More than she can properly say.]

Thank you. [She whispers.] For going, even though you didn't want to.

[ erik shrugs. ]

I'm fighting for equity. To end the systematic exploitation of black people under the system.

Or all systems. I'm not a big fan of 'em.

[ erik brushes his thumb over the curve of jim's cheek. ]

Nah. No time like the present.

[He gets a roll of the eyes for that first part. And she brushes past him to try and climb back up on the bar. Only she's short and the bar is tall and -

Sigh.

She looks back at him with puppy eyes and outstretched arms.]

I could use a lift.

[It's far less of a suggestion than it is pure bossiness. But she has every intention of dragging him on up after her so they can sing and dance again. The more fun everyone's having, the better off she'll be.]

I promise, I won't walk off the end of the bar again. And if I do, I won't tell a soul that you were here.

[She promises.]

Lots of unpleasant bad memories, that orb really was a handful. I hope the ones you got under arrest don't give you too much trouble. [ He's visited the North wing and while it answered some worrisome questions that were going through his mind, some new concerns showed up once he saw the large whispering sphere. ]

Music, you say. [ Ah, the magic word. Peter looks even more cheerful now, if that's possible, than he did a moment ago. ] I've got my Zune with me. [ He starts to paw at his chest only to remember that he's not wearing his jacket but a sweater. So he must have put the Zune in a different place ]... somewhere. Give me a second, I really need to carry around a bag to keep all my stuff.

[ He used to, back home, and stopped because Rocket started calling his knapsack a purse just to annoy him. After looking into the back pockets of his trouser, Peter pulls out a small,black device with a little screen on it and a pair of earphones. ]

Ah, here it is! Look...this plays music, I've got like 300 songs, and they're all bangers. I could download you a copy in a USB or something for you to listen. Consider it a Christmas present. Have you ever listened to David Bowie? I think you'd love 'Starman'.

Hell.

[ Simply put. He isn't joking or making fun - he means what he says, and the more he's been thinking on it, the more he's realizing that while what he's doing here is important, the relationships don't matter so much. What's the point of meeting people, making friends, falling in love, when all that waits for you is torture and pain?

There's something to be said for living in the moment - he'd spent a whole year doing that. Random hookups, cheeseburgers for breakfast, as much pie as he could feasibly stuff into his mouth. In the end, it had all tasted stale, left him hollow inside, because he knew what was coming - and he knows now what's waiting for him at the end of this road.

Fire and brimstone, the stink of sulfur, and the sharp point of a demons blade. ]

Edited 2021-12-30 12:45 (UTC)

Sounds like I'd have trouble with that. Can't keep my mouth shut to save my life.

[ He's ~*sAsSy*~ but also, ew, bugs. god he hates bugs. ]

Um -- yeah. Maybe just a little. Then I want spiked cocoa. [ he can do it, he can do it. don't fall, dean. you can do it. Let go of his hands and wobbly a little, then punch the air like a little kid in celebration, and promptly end up on his ass again.

Well. He did it a little, anyway. ]

Cocoa time.

Yeah, well. I pretty much raised him, and Lucky Charms 24/7 wasn't gonna cut it.

[ Dean frequently gave Sam whatever was left and went without cause...it was Sammy. His kid brother that he'd carried out of their burning house, that he cradled and kept him from screaming in the wake of the blaze. ]

How could I ever forget? [ He grins, shaping another meatball and carefully setting it on his tray. ]

[ kovacs raises a brow at his sudden new company, though his surprise stems more from their bold presence of energy than the rather unique appearance. he'd begun to get used to this body's taller height until his arrival at the station, and now it's become more commonplace to see even larger figures about. though even that hasn't had him bat much of an eye since synth bodies can allow for all kinds of bodies including the horned one in front of him.

he's nudging at the go pieces, plucking some stones from its basket as his lips give an amused smirk. ]

Played it quite a bit growing up. Family tradition, you could call it. You got it where you're from?

[ it'd be easy to roll his eyes at this whole tradition, especially since kovacs isn't much of a holiday guy in the first place, for all that he's plenty familiar about christmas and its concepts. growing up most of his years in ctac's ranks meant the warm snuggly feeling people boast about wasn't really in the cards for him.

but considering the shared company around, it's easier to fall victim to opening up to the festivities here, to wearing a ridiculous sweater than doesn't fit him and keeping it on rather than instantly yanking it off and grumbling about it.

then again, there's still a bit of a reluctant expression on his face, eyes pursed like he might actually disregard the whole outfit thing. but when he sees shaun's almost mirrored appearance to his own, sweater nearly gripping on his abdomen, kovacs' face lightens like he might almost like. ]

I like the dinosaur. [ almost on reflex, he moves to cross his arms, the attempt just tightening the sweater against his chest further. ] Would've been nice if they could at least get the sizes right. I think I already lost my circulation in this shit.

"Hey hey hey, don't go tugging at that. I need that."

It keeps his face warm. He lazily chases her hand away, not too upset by the grabby hands. He reaches out and grabs her hair because it's there and he wants to retaliate.

"I don't got worry lines either. You tryin' to get on my bad side? Callin' me old and decrepit's a good way to do that."

Come on, get up.

( he reaches for her hands and pulls her up easily, steadying her with a hand on her back. he waits to make sure she's not going to go swaying or staggering before he tugs her back towards the bar. )

I appreciate you doing your level best to not get me into some shit with other people for lettin' you fall off a bar.

( not that he's afraid of any of them. )

You want me to come up there with you?

"How gratifying to know that there are at least some places that have thrown off the chains off capital," Megatron says with a casual look at Jim.

"Did it require a revolution?"

（ ah.

he supposes he can see how that was taken as a challenge. he has enough advance warning that his instinct to either go for one of the knives in the pouch at his thigh or to use a replacement technique to provide physical distance to which he is accustomed is quiescent, and instead he simply.

stands there. his arms remain at his sides and though his body language does not get any more stiffly rigid, there is not much reaction at all. he simply, as he says, tolerates it. it is not even especially awkward tolerance — just stoic endurance.

his mother was the last person he can recall hugging him outright. he had been taller than her by then, and she had pulled him in against her shoulder after she heard of shisui's death. you were close, right? she asked gently, and he had simply extricated himself from the embrace with a backwards step. not since we were children, he had told her, and turned to go. the lie had all but killed him, though it was not the first nor the last he'd told her.

his eyes close briefly, and when clara steps back after what feels like a small eternity: ）

It is not a matter that requires thanks.

（ he says that with a slight bow of his head, and then he gestures along their path to the party itself. he can hear the merrymaking even at this distance. ）

Shall we?

Oh. Right. Not grease as in oil. Greece is a country. Gretsiya.

[She makes a point of saying it in Russian because that might sound slightly less like a cooking ingredient to him.]

( If he knew what she was thinking, Leonard might bristle for it, for how quickly it would break his damn heart. He'd tell her he doesn't see her for her weakness. All of them have hurts, all of them falter, and all of them have strengths surpassing the weakest days of their lives.

Instead, he turns his hand to touch hers, a brief capture with his damp fingertips, a squeeze to her wrist. )

I know you can. ( he believes her, he's not just saying so. )

While you're here though, you don't have to do it alone.

[ there's no real reaction when marta reaches in. andy doesn't mind touch, and she isn't afraid, so she just lets her have at it. ]

Oh, I think they're definitely here on purpose, but maybe the programming ran away with the idea. We could go look if you want to see them. [ a beat. ] From a distance, if you prefer.

[ though she'd definitely try to fight one again too. ]

[ oh man now she considers this, taking a drink from her eggnog thoughtfully. ]

Leftover pig carcass that's been sitting there for a few days. Edible, technically, after cooked on a fire, but I don't recommend it. [ a beat. ] And flamingo tongues.

[Are we just pleasantly jamming?

We're just pleasantly jamming!

Man, he hasn't played music with someone like this in a long time, just two people hanging out, no pressure or anything. He's beaming up at Yzak where he's sitting, and as the last note plays and seems to ease them into a finished tune he holds up his guitar and hoots:]

Dude, kickass!

You're a pro!

[ there's a flicker of recognition. ]

One of them mentioned you. Said you traveled the stars together. And something about phone calls and timelines, but honestly I didn't really follow so don't worry about any deep dark secrets. It seemed easier to just let him talk.

[ that's still her method when the doctor starts rambling. ]

I'm Andy.

[ Yzak himself hasn't really done something like this in a while, either. And even back when he was learning and playing, it was more for the learning or in a more professional setting than something like a casual jam session with someone just for the sake of it. So ... this is nice for him, too, even if he doesn't say it outloud.

But what he doesn't say outloud is shown in the way he gives Newt a little smug smile in return to his compliment and his own enthusiasm about this. Because it's a little softer than it usually is, definitely something rarer to see and it doesn't stick around for long. ]

I told you.

You sounded pretty good, yourself. [ Wow even a compliment back. Which, coming from Yzak, means it's real since he doesn't dole those out unless he actually feels that way. ]

It's well done, certainly. I appreciate the thought.

[ Even though people giving him gifts is just... weird in a lot of ways. ]

Mm. Well, the Cybertron of my universe was destroyed by Unicorn, so the only extant Cybertron is technically the neo-Functionist Cybertron which was brought into our universe through... complex means.

( he hums in acknowledgment. the places he's been have been a lot warmer than this, too. he doesn't hate it, but he definitely prefers warmer weather. especially considering his clothes — or lack thereof. he's taken to wearing different things around the station since he hasn't really had to fight or anything.

anyway.

the image of cuba he conjures up in his mind is mostly... not correct, but some things would be similar enough. he wonders, briefly, if any of the books scattered around the station have anything about ""earth"" and the places on it. )

Places don't fundamentally change that much. ( he drags one leg up so he can rest his arm against his bent knee. he watches the fire for a few moments in silence. ) People make places more than anything. ( he glances over at her with an encouraging sort of expression on his face. ) It probably hasn't changed as much as you think.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 47 of 76

OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sorry for the lateness!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject