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

How is it in your world?

[He skirts the question about Baghra, eyes going from the fire to Daisy's illuminated face, golden and beautiful in the flicking fire.]

I know you mentioned that you were- made. [Experiments, cruel and inhuman, visited upon Daisy's unwilling body] Are you the only one like you?

As far as I know, yeah.

[Daisy's eyes drift back to the fire, thinking about what could be happening to her friends right now.]

There are people where I'm from with abilities that aren't Inhuman too.

[Like the Hulk, or Captain America.]

You're not-

[But he lets his weak defense of Daisy's humanity fall in to the snow around them, the words dying before he can find the right way to frame his argument.]

How did they get theirs. Were they born with it?

[Daisy smiles sadly when he almost argues that she's not inhuman, this time looking back to him.]

It's not a bad word. Not to me, anyway.

[Sure, there are people who use the word with disgust. It's why she's taking the word back, to make it something that they can't use against her.]

It was passed down through my mom's side of the family. But I didn't actually gain my powers until I went through this thing called Terrigenesis, there are these crystals that when exposed to someone with the Inhuman DNA gain there powers.

[Or kills you, if you're a regular person. Daisy leaves out that part.]

How could it be anything but. Calling yourself inhuman as if you're not the same-

[How to articulate his disgust and his hatred of that word. Of hearing Daisy cast herself as something lesser, something unnatural, when her powers were her. Like a heartbeat or the breath in her lungs.]

You are human, and you could never be anything less.

[Powers activated, and that part he does get. How pain could be the trigger to the Small Science already lying dormant within.]

We use pain. To find Grisha.

But we're not the same. I mean, not completely.

[She knows by now the word offends him, and she can understand why, but...]

Unless I missed the memo where regular humans can create earthquakes, or create shadows.

[It's an attempt to lighten the mood and Daisy nudges her elbow into his playfully.]

Why? I mean, seems pretty barbaric.

[It's not a dig at him necessarily, just the whole situation.]

No one are the same, but the differences are not enough to make you anything less.

[Bristling, he straightens, cocking his head to watch her face.] I am the norm. It is theorized that all men were created with a connection to the Making at the Heart of the World. Ties that binds us to everything- think of it as a string, that flows with power. Vibrating and almost alive, and it binds us to every other thing.

[Years of Small Science boiled down to a few short sentences.] Somewhere along the way, as time went by. Most lost this, they are blind. Orphaned from the Making and from the world. That is why we call them otkazat'sya- the abandoned.

You are more, Daisy. So much more.

[A short pause, his gaze falling from her face to his own hands.]

Because sometimes a little pain brings the string to the surface. It can't hide. A reflex, if you will. To protect themselves. It is less painful that getting stitches. We do not seriously harm children. [He holds up his hand, the clawed ring glinting in the light of the bonfire] I use this. All it takes is a little prick, a drop of blood.

[Daisy listens intently as he explains his theory about his kind in his world, and while her knowledge is limited it sounds like it could be plausible. Frowning when he brings up that word again, Daisy continues to watch him even when he breaks eye contact.]

I don't see myself less than anyone else. I used to--

[Daisy looks towards the fire again.]

At first, I was terrified of what I could do. I was so desperate to get rid of it. I was brought to a safe haven for people like me, and I learned how to embrace it.

[By her own mother.

Looking at the ring, Daisy remembers him briefly talking about this before.]

Do they even know they have powers?

There are many Grisha like you. Who feel like you must have felt - alone, desperate and... wrong. That is why we now have a home, the Little Palace. It welcomes all Grisha, so that all may learn to control their Small Science and learn that this is as much as part of them, as the beating of their hearts or the air in their lungs.

[Daisy had seen how his world treated those who controlled the Small Science, or held it in their blood. The mass grave and the saints, the cruelty that the world heaped on them so easily.

He gives her a small squeeze.]

Not all of them, no. Some have been taught to hide it away, to push it down deep and forget that they're special. They have learned that to be what I am, is to be unnatural. Unwanted. An abomination against the saints, and the only right way to handle it, is to never use it.

It makes us sick. Not using the Small Science- [he explains] when we do use it, it will invigorate us. Keep us young and healthy, but if we stop- we die.

[The Little Palace sounds a lot like the Afterlife, right down to the teaching Grisha how to control their powers.]

How do they find this place? Or do you bring them back there once you find them?

[She had absolutely no idea that the Afterlife even existed until Gordon took her there. It was meant to be kept hidden in order to keep Inhumans safe.

Frowning as he explains how they're treated, Daisy's hand gently strokes up and down his back as she can imagine how much this hurts him. Her hand does slow to a stop, however, when he explains how he's managed to stay alive for this long.]

What?

[So it's not something he and his mother are capable of. Immortality, more or less, is common among all Grisha.]

How long after you stop does it...?

[She trails off, not wanting to finish that question.]

Everyone knows of the Little Palace by now, it's been there for a hundred years. When it started, yes. We travelled across Ravka and brought every Grisha who wanted that protection with us.

[And it blossomed, his second palace. Flawed and faulty as it was, the targets it painted on their backs, it also offered protection. A sense of community and belonging. Matching keftas and tall walls surrounding it.

Leaning back in to her hand a little, he cuts her a wry smile.]

It depends on how strong you are. The stronger you are, the longer it takes. But even the strongest of us can be brought to our knees with enough time. In children, it takes no time at all. They grow sickly in a matter of weeks, but it rarely kills them. But it still makes it a priority to find them, and bring them to safety. To allow them to grow to their full potential.

That's amazing.

[And impressive, and shows that he does care. She won't embarrass him by pointing that out, he keeps his emotions and feelings close to his chest. It's something she noticed pretty early on.

Frowning when he explains how the process works if a Grisha stops using their powers, Daisy can only imagine how many parents might've let their kids suffer. Just so they wouldn't use their powers.]

Has it happened to you?

It is all that we have.

[The for now might be evident in his voice, the pride he takes in his accomplishment. One that will have to be repeated...]

No. I've never stopped using my Small Science for long enough to feel any ill effects. That and- [a deep breath, less of a boast than a statement of fact] there is no one as powerful as me in my whole world.

[Except Alina, with her heirloom amplifiers and her complimenting Small Science. Theoretically, she could be his equal.]

[Daisy frowns when he explains that he's the most powerful Grisha in his world.]

That sounds--

Lonely.

[Daisy is pretty powerful herself, but she doesn't consider herself the most powerful person in her world.]

[Despite the onlookers and the less than public venue, he turns to look at her, his hand coming up to cup her face by the warmth of the fire.]

Yes. Yes, it was. It is.

[Leaning into his touch, Daisy's eyes flick from his lips to his eyes before she's leaning in to kiss him.

She's been hesitant to show any PDA, what with this still being new between and all. But right now? She doesn't care. All she cares about is making him feel less alone.]

[Does it even matter that most of the station is seated around the fire? That this is is in plain view of anyone who might want to turn their heads?

No.

And his grip tightens in her hair, face tilting to invite her to deepen the kiss, his lips opening over Daisy's until it's more passion than comfort.]

[Her own hand slides up his arm to cup the side of his face. Forgetting completely where she is and who might see as she pulls herself that much closer to him.

It would be a lie to say that all this is with him is to stave off loneliness. At least it is for her. She just can't bring herself to say how she really feels in fear of rejection, or worse. Losing him.]

[It's warm, it's kind, in the strange way that so many things on this station turned out to be. A kiss that serves no other purpose than to taste her lips, to stay close.

Seated as they are, it's a twist to keep his mouth on hers, knees knocking but under the star-filled artificial night, he doesn't want to let go. Wants the heat of her kisses, the hold she has on his face. Wants her soft hands and the press of her breasts against his arm when he winds it around her.]

[Her body feels like it's on fire and her heart is pounding in her chest from excitement. The fact that they're sharing something so private where anyone could see. It has to mean something, right? That there's something here, between the two of them and it's not just Daisy who feels that way.

Flush against him, Daisy pulls away just enough to be able to talk. Eyes still closed, her lips brush against his as she speaks.]

Let's get out of here.

[It's more of a demand than it is a question.]

[Forehead pressed to hers, he pants softly, the warm air of their exhales mingling between their mouths.]

Yes.

[She is temptation, the lick of fire at the base of his spine from her mouth. The promise of more that lingers between them as he laces his fingers through hers to pull her to her feet.]

My room should still be empty.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OPEN ● ● ● Every Christmas is Last Christmas

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