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.

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It's a strong allure for all here. Otherwise, we would not be present.

（ he has not spoken of his, though shikamaru asked him point-blank. the truth is, it's no one's business, and he is too intensely private to ever wish to share it no matter how strong a bond may be. ）

（ he casts her a sidelong glance, even though the faint turning of his head makes one of the reindeer horns flop over comically. ）

I was told it was in the Christmas spirit, but not the contextual relevance.

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 :> ))

Edited 2021-12-15 20:47 (UTC)

[ time works so strangely on the station that marta has had to unlearn such concepts like night and day, early and late. save for the tedious task of popping into the sunlight room any time she'd want to clarify the time of day (and even then it's a nebulous guess at best), there's really no way for marta to keep track in a way that would keep her sane.

time, then, just becomes a matter of before and after. every "day" marta picks a moment (significant or not, it doesn't really matter so long as it's memorable), and all other moments get organized into what happens before and what happens after.

on this day, her 25th, the doctors and their party help her cheat. she picks the bonfire, with its mesmerizing blaze and the doctor's mellow little tunes. before that — the village, the bookstore, a few games of go. after that — the quiet of a day's end, the turning of a page in many people's indulgence in a bittersweet illusion.

the infirmary is its usual quiet when she nestles herself in for the night. book already in hand, she'd been just about to begin her nightly reading rounds when movement at the door catches her attention. he's oddly quiet, even with a telltale sway in his step, so much so that she might not have even noticed him enter had she not been so closeby. ]

Kovacs?

[ he doesn't hear her, or maybe he does and he doesn't care. she follows him regardless, half curiosity and half concern, watches him climb into an empty bed without any acknowledgment of where he is, that she's standing there right in front of him. ]

Kovacs. Are you—?

[ no. he's obviously not alright. he reeks of alcohol, and there's a glassiness in his unfocused eyes that she knows is not from liquor alone. and for just a moment, she swears he sees her. or rather — he sees somebody, because the words he says after aren't for her to hear.

when he closes his eyes it's like he shuts himself off, down, and not even the gentle shake of his shoulder has him stirring. ]

...Sorry. You're a patient now.

[ which means she doesn't feel quite so bad peeling the bottle and bag from his hands, rolling him onto his back. or when she wipes at his brow and brushes his hair back, or checks his vitals, his alcohol content levels.

and when he finally wakes — hours, days? later — she'll be there, curled up in a chair, stifling a yawn around a murmured line from her book. ]

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! ))

Edited 2021-12-15 20:53 (UTC)

That's fuckin' creepy.

( billy says it as he drops himself down beside her, leaning over to watch her make whatever she's making. after a second, he realizes that it's a doll and he makes a face. )

That a gift for someone or you makin' a right voodoo doll? Because that I can get behind. As long as it's not me.

( doesn't look like him, at least. he thinks he's safe. )

Ohh.

[ not something long and drawn out to the point of being obnoxious, but it carries enough emphasis that it's implied she's saying less than what she actually thinks. something like oh, that makes sense. like he's somehow recognizable from his curtness alone. ]

Are you the only ninja here?

[ she thinks to add she's never met another before, but that seems as obvious as it is inane. of course she's never met another ninja. isn't that the whole point of ninjas?

though she supposes even ninjas have off-hours. ]

[ halfway through newt's solo acoustic rendition of snow patrol's greatest (only?) hit, marta pops into his field of vision. hovering over him, probably blocking out a hanging ornament or somesuch, she gives him a smile that he's probably seen plenty of times by now — only now it's not under the fluorescents of the infirmary. ]

You have a lovely singing voice.

[ and she can't lie, newt, so you know it's true. not that he knows that about her, but.

she offers her hand to him, helping him get back upright. ]

How is it back in society? Everything you ever hoped for and more?

[Newt, of course, immediately brightens at the mention of the violin.]

Hey! Why've you been holding out on me? We should totally jam out!

[Okay, as much as someone can jam out with a violin and acoustic guitar.]

I'm so jealous; I got so busy with the science part of life, I never did learn how to play anything stringed besides the electric guitar. You gotta show off for me, dude.

[Newt does have a soft spot for their only other song ever, Open Your Eyes, but he is not about to admit that he only knows that song from an anime music video he watched five-hundred times as a teenager. Whatever! Google it, it's a sappy bop, you're welcome.

Cracking one eye open to peer at her from behind thick rimmed glasses, he reads as a skeptical man. In fact, he 'bah's one hearty 'BAH!', like a scrooge, only it doesn't sound all that serious.]

You'd be the first to think it!

[He's not all that fond of his vocals, despite unyielding confidence in guitar and piano and speaking at length about the division cycle of eukaryotic cells. He takes her hand and makes a turtle-like rocking motion until he's sitting back upright.]

Society feels... very bloated and sleepy. So I guess you could say yes, it absolutely is everything I hoped for. And it beats hospital food by a mile.

[He's such a whiner, it wasn't even that bad.]

[ he isn't sure how long it takes him to fall asleep, or even just how long he sleeps for, immediately consumed by the sequence of familiar nightmares that play on repeat from his memory, by a trail of fallen bodies that pile within a cave's depths, faces of dear friends all lifeless and left to their poisoned minds upon the ground. they're covered only by fallen ash, showering overhead like snow, from the ongoing blazes of bombs and gunfire.

(through it, he can hear the faintest echo of a voice, calm and consistent, friendly and assuring, but too far away to sound it out, like the noise of the war is still too loud to find it—)

it always leads to standing in midst of the forest, to the continued snow of ash, to the replay of watching the escape pod move into the sky, of the fleeting moment in believing two survivors — quell and rei both — had actually survived, only to watch it all end the same way.

and when the energy blasts fire through the ship, its entire frame exploding into nothing —

kovacs jolts awake, hours after his initial doze, eyes wide open and mouth panting hard, sweat on his brow, easily forgetting where he is, confusion in his gaze when he finds himself tucked into a bed, an infirmary one at that. there's a tensing migraine that overwhelms him almost instantly, nose scrunching as he feels the pressure along his head, along with a dry, unbearable taste in his mouth. ]

Where the fuck — ? [ squinting, his breath still deep and heavy, he turns and sees marta there near him, not quite piecing together why she's there. or why he is, for that matter. ] What're you doing ... ?

Not exactly.

[ Megatron frowns. ]

It resembles a cloaking device we used aboard the Lost Light once.

Yes. One they- or the orb, more likely- would like to maintain, given that people can apparently change their regret- albeit at a price.

[Which somehow makes Sabriel slightly less suspicious. Even with magic, all things have their price. Being upfront about it is just more honest than claiming it's for free.]

It gives everyone motivation to cooperate with each other. Even if there's always the question of what happens if someone gets truly desperate.

[High and tipsy is not what Daisy expected to be tonight, and yet here she is...

At least she's distracted from how depressed she's been feeling?]

We have to pull at the same time.

[Daisy explains, holding the christmas cracker out, waiting for Alina to take the other side. She's opened way too many at this point, but who cares? She's got an obnoxious amount of paper crowns stacked on her head, threatening to fall off at any moment.]

[High and tipsy, thanks to Kovacs and Rhys, Daisy is feeling pretty damn good right now. Easily the best she's felt in weeks. Which is making her way more friendly than normal, even with people she barely knows. Sitting on the ground, because getting up does not seem at all appealing, Daisy is stacking all of the paper crowns left around to see just how tall she can make it when she hears sweeping near her.

Looking up, it takes Daisy a minute to recognize her.]

Oh, hey.

[Smiling up at Marta, Daisy squints after a moment as she tries to figure out what she's doing.]

We've got a robot who do that, come sit.

[Daisy says, patting the ground next to her.]

M'trying to see how tall I can make this without it falling over.

[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?

"Not terrible, to tell the truth. It's just very strange. The device was green and conical shaped and was covered in similar baubles..." Megatron trails off, frowns.

"...Why is there such a similarity? It makes no sense!" He's distracted for the moment and finally manages to come back to himself to answer her other comments.

"You are quite correct, of course. Hate breeds hate. But callous indifference also breeds hate."

I did...

[but at what cost?

the ghost seems to lose a bit of form, more transparent than it was a moment ago as his thoughts shift a bit of focus.]

Perhaps I will. I should...try, like you said. There's...nothing like this on the Shangri-La, after all.

[Blue's eyebrows lift. faces? he's...making faces?

...bad faces?

he'd ask, but...Yzak's already pivoting the conversation.]

...Yes. I was going to see the decorations. In the mess hall.

Mm.

( is he desperate? no. would he be, for sasuke's sake?

(the better question, always, would be what would he not do for his brother?) )

Then we will deal with it as it becomes necessary.

[ Raleigh glances up and offers a quiet, shy little smile, shaking his head. He even scoots aside to make room. ]

No, not at all. Have a seat.

（ he's not the only blunt, poorly socialized, oddly polite half-feral young man on the ximilia, but their numbers are few and far between... ）

With respect, （ he says, after a moment's silence ） I would rather not speak to that.

（ it isn't his place to announce shikamaru's presence. he told blue, but that was more because he felt the warning was warranted more than the privacy. otherwise... people may deduce them as countrymen by their headbands (though itachi has only worn his so far on the mission) or the fact that they have similar garbs and shinobi tools, the commonalities between the cadence of their names and their mutual incomprehension at this sudden immersion into what, for them, is civilian life. but he will not give him up casually or easily on account of something so banal as someone's curiosity. ）

My apologies. I will answer other questions if you wish.

[Sabriel does, in fact, try to open it, only to laugh when she realizes what it really is.]

A light? Well, this will look nice in my quarters. Thank you, this is- no one's given me something like this before.

[At school, the dorm room's furnishings were provided by the school, and Abhorsen's house was already fully furnished. Sabriel's never really had the chance to do her own decoration.]

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)

That's a ship, I'm assuming.

But, a cloaking device that looks just like a Christmas tree? That sounds ... weird. But you've interacted with humans before, right? Maybe something inspired that?

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Page 8 of 76

OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

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dean winchester | supernatural - all prompts OTA

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raleigh becket | pacific rim -- OTA

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3.0

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Wildcard

A/G??? A mix.

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Zari Tarazi | Legends of Tomorrow

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