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

[karaoqi]

[ If only it were easy enough for him to talk about his own childhood, or anything relating to his past. Like Clara, thinking about what he used to do as a kid is mostly laced with feelings of sadness, though there's a healthy amount of guilt and fear too.

He shrugs a shoulder, suddenly looking just a little less at ease with himself. ]

Oh man, I don't know — [ That's mostly the truth, but it's rehearsed in a way like maybe this isn't the first time someone's asked him about his childhood. He plucks a memory from when his mother had still been alive and the Xu family had been relatively happy. ] — well I used to celebrate New Years with my family. It wouldn't be anything big, nothing like this, but there was always a lot of food. We'd light lanterns, that kind of thing.

[bossily]

[She can instantly tell she's made the moment uncomfortable. For someone as perceptive as she is, and someone that's as good at dealing with people, his uneasiness stands out to her and makes her frown a bit. There's a moment where she feels guilty and thinks of interjecting before he can answer, suggesting that it's silly they talk about the past.

But then he's speaking and she doesn't have the heart to interrupt him. She does smile though, because it takes courage to speak on something that makes you uneasy. So rather than speak on it and as more questions, she gives him the tiniest nudge.]

Come with me.

[With a crook of her finger, she beckons him to follow along after her. Where she'll lead him directly to mistletoe that's hanging nearby. Experience has taught her that something silly sometimes can form friendship and bonds better than having to trudge through emotions when they aren't wanted.]

You don't mind it, do you? The mistletoe?

[karaoqi]

[ Oh, okay.

It's not that he's ungrateful for the change of direction in their conversation, but it's a little sudden. But that's cool, he can roll with it. And he does. He blinks and then he's moving his feet forward, following after her, stopping right by a sprig of a plant pinned beneath the ceiling. ]

I don't, no. I mean, I know what it represents but I've never — uh. You know.

[ Participated in it? Believed in it? He isn't sure how to describe, 'I've never kissed under the mistletoe before' without sounding a little weird about it.

He shakes his head, huffing a laugh. (Way to be a spaz.) ]

No, I don't mind it.

[bossily]

[She definitely thinks he means he's never kissed before. So her eyes momentarily go wide, because she's not about stealing someone's first kiss beneath the mistletoe. But she plays it cool, nodding a bit in understanding.]

Never ever? Or never beneath the mistletoe?

[It's important to clarify, she thinks, because the sort of kiss she gives him depends on the answer. She may use flirting to disarm people and deflect others away from seeing the real, but she's not about to just swoop right in and steal something that could very well be an important first. Not as a means to distract him from the fact she put her foot in her mouth talking about family and traditions.]

[karaoqi]

What? No — [ Ohmygod, no. He laughs, and if it sounds a little embarrassed, it's because he absolutely is embarrassed.

Does he look like a guy who's never kissed anyone before? Christ, he hopes not.

He lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck. ] No, I mean under the mistletoe. [ He has absolutely! Kissed people! Maybe not many, but you know. A handful. Over the years. ] Never grew up with this kind of thing before.

[bossily]

[she arches an eyebrow as she watches him explain, biting at her lip to keep from laughing. she's not making fun of him as much as she is being charmed by him. He's absolutely precious.]

Then I'm honored to be your first.

[so he's kissed someone before. she gets that. but she still keeps this kiss under the mistletoe short and sweet, chaste so he doesn't think she's trying to make out with him when she barely knows him. she just wants this to serve as a distraction, a way to maybe even make him laugh.]

[karaoqi]

Yeah. First — for the mistletoe.

[ Just to make that fact perfectly clear — and oh, god, his continued assurance is only going to make her doubt him, isn't it?

He doesn't have time to make a fool of himself any further, though (thankfully), when she rises up on her toes to kiss him. It's certainly sweet, and really not a bad kiss, and it's brief enough that it doesn't veer into uncomfortable.

It's a friendly kiss. A mistletoe-kiss. ]

So is there a reason why this is a tradition?

[bossily]

[It's a perfectly chaste and friendly kiss, but nice enough that she believes he definitely has kissed someone before. Which puts an amused half-smile on her face, as she steps back enough they can each have their personal space and not feel awkward.]

There's a few explanations for that. One's rooted in Norse mythology. The other comes from druids in...1 AD, I think. At least I think that's the year it was when the Doctor brought me there for a visit.

[She has to think on that, nose wrinkling up as she can't quite remember.]

Doesn't matter. Point is, mistletoe was the only plant that used to blossom in the winter. So they sort of viewed it as a fertility thing.

[Her eyes glance back up toward it, her smile a little more warm and genuine as she feels in her element teaching someone something.]

But I think people today just enjoy finding any reason they can to kiss and be happy.

[karaoqi]

A fertility thing —

[ Shang-chi laughs, but he genuinely appreciates the little history lesson. Consider him taught, Miss Oswald. ]

Glad that's not really the case anymore. [ His eyes go back to the parasitic little plant as well, shrugging a shoulder. ] Or that might have been a little awkward.

But thanks. That was nice.

[bossily]

[From across the room, she spies her bowtied Doctor chatting someone up. Her eyes meet his, and she smiles. Attention shifting right back onto her current conversation, the smile is turned onto Shang-Chi.]

It wasn't bad, for a first mistletoe kiss.

[yes, she has to tease him. Her eyes look back over to the Doctor, spotting that he's standing alone for a moment.]

Take care to enjoy the rest of the party. I'll be personally offended if you don't.

[She begins to back away then, flipping up her hand in a little wave. She's got a time lord to slide up next to and open a cracker with. Clara offers one final glance in Shang-chi's direction before hurrying over to grab another cracker and make her way to the Doctor.]