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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

（ 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. ）

What are you doing, then?

[She's amused as she says it, and crosses her arms over her chest. He's so polite and withdrawn that she almost worries he might put up a fight. But she wants to see him at the party with the others, enjoying himself. Or trying to enjoy himself, anyway.

She peeks inside his room and takes quick notice of the books he's collected. That makes her face light up with interest.]

Wait, don't answer that. [A hand goes up, and she looks over to him.] Were you reading?

Yes.

（ the book of poems with its soft silk bookmark is in japanese, her ear-piece may helpfully romanize the title as omokage.

itachi steps back to allow her entrance if she so wishes, and holds a hand palm-up towards the book. ）

You may look, if you wish.

clara oswald | doctor who

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