tooth_n_claw:

"Come on," Alex said. "You can use the restroom in here." Alex opened the door to the pub and held it open for Mason. Mason was underage to drink, but not to use the restroom. Besides, Alex was thirsty and could grab a soda while Mason took care of business.

nextgen_holiday:

There's a piece of paper and a pen attached to a bulletin board. Across the top is written:

New Year's Resolutions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Anonymous Entries Accepted

nextgen_holiday:

Christmas. Yule. Saturnalia. Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Many cultures have celebrated and still celebrate a winter festival. There have been many names for it over the millennia. No matter the name it is a time to come together and celebrate with feasts and gifts with friends and loved ones.

Each culture has a legendary figure who would deliver gifts to children during this time. In Russia and some Slavic cultures he is known as Ded Moroz, Grandfather Frost, and comes not on Christmas but on New Year’s along with his granddaughter Snegurochka, or ‘”Snow Maiden”. In the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe he is known as Father Christmas. In the Netherlands and Belgium he is known as Saint Nicholas or “Sinterklaas” and in France he is known as Père Noël. In the United States we know him as Santa Claus.

No matter the name or who is delivering gifts, it is the season of peace, joy and togetherness. It is the season for thinking about loved ones, friends and those less fortunate. It is a time to witness the goodness and generosity the human race is capable of. It is a time for peace on Earth and goodwill toward man.

tooth_n_claw:

It was a rare occasion for Alex to get mail. He didn't have any bills, he didn't order much from online and he didn't have any family to send him things. This time he was expecting mail. He had taken his GED test two weeks ago and the results had finally come in.

Now he just had to open the envelope and see what his results were.

Except he couldn't do it. He just stared at the envelope in his hands.

nextgen_holiday:

All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as it has been come to be called, is a popular holiday with children and adults alike. It is a holiday that had its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer's End. Samhain celebrated the end of the "lighter half" of the year and the beginning of the "darker half".

On this evening the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be thin and the spirits, good and bad, of the dead could pass through. The spirits of the family's ancestors were welcomed in while evil and bad spirits were warded off by the wearing of masks and costumes. The costumes and masks disguised one as a harmful spirit and avoided harm from others.

It was also a harvest celebration and time to take stock of food stores for the winter. Livestock were slaughtered and the meat prepared for storage. It was the final harvest of the year and the crops were then stored for the winter. Celebrations included bonfires and tales of the family's ancestors.

It was a celebration of the dead and of the harvest.

Today we dress up in scary and not so scary costumes and masks and go door to door for candy or attend costume parties. It is a night for revelry, pranks and fun.

purplegeist:

Mel had researched, and called Dad and really worked on this. She'd gotten the recipe for a traditional Georgian style of baklava. When it was ready, she haunted the air filtration system and let the scent get everywhere in the base.

nextgen_baddie:

A bright light appeared over the Defenders compound and two figures emerged in the sky. A multitude of explosives rained down on the buildings below. A moment later numerous explosions broke the quiet of the day. The Earth trembled and fire and smoke filled the air. A crater now took the place of the Defenders Compound and the two figures in the sky disappeared.

Far below the Pacific Ocean the brides were clad in white and lined up in front of the altar. A semi-circle of priests stood behind the brides and were chanting. The magic in the air became more powerful as the priests chanted. A small circle appeared in the air before the brides and started to get bigger.

All around the chamber deviants fought heroes while the portal grew so the god Set could make his entrance into the world. Another portal formed on the far side of the chamber and the two beings that had appeared over the Defenders Compound were now in Lemuria.

got_the_touch:

It wasn't easy keeping secrets from your big brother when he's the team leader and practically in charge of your whole HQ, but Mason had done his best. He'd hired a DJ that was practically elated to get to work with the Temple's pre-existing sound systems, gotten stadium-style catering of hot dogs, burgers, and other heavy foods, and even sent out invites to a handful of other super-teams that Alpha Flight had fought alongside, just to beef up the bodycount for the festivities a bit.

As for his gift for Jordie, he'd spent weeks getting in touch with former Alpha Flight members with his parents' help. They'd ultimately put together a scrapbook about Jordan's biological parents for him. Mason had also put season tickets to Jordan's favorite teams in the same packaging.

tooth_n_claw:

To Alex one of the hardest things in the world was selecting gifts for people. He didn't have much practice with it and it showed. When he was young he had his mom and brother to get gifts for, but in those cases it was usually a homemade gift for his mom and a small store bought toy for his brother. His family never had much money so gifts were small. Now he had money, he didn't spend much of his Alpha Flight pay on himself, and it was Mel's birthday.

He wandered the local mall aimlessly wondering what he could get his girlfriend. There was only so much ABBA things he could get her and something non-ABBA would be a nice change. Though he had no clue what that non-ABBA thing would be. So he walked up and down the mall looking for something to catch his eye or make him think of Mel.

Alex was just about to give up when he spotted Williams-Sonoma. A store dedicated to cooking and kitchen stuff. It was /perfect/ and totally Mel. As soon as he entered the store he was even more hopelessly lost. There was just so much in the store and he had no clue on Earth what exactly to get her. A saleslady took pity on him when she saw his confused face and asked him if she could help. Even with her input he still didn't know what to get Mel. He opted for a gift card with an extravagant amount of money on it.

He thought gift cards were a little impersonal, but he would make up for that fact by taking Mel here and the two of them could make a day shopping and grabbing some dinner afterward.

The gift card was put into a card and he went to deliver it to his girlfriend.

heroic_dynamo:

Anyone at the makeshift camp where the Winter Guard was convening with Shield were likely to see a red-armored figure stomping past them, muttering a string of Georgian curses. This was utter garbage! After the Guard had contacted home regarding what had happened, the government decided that it would be a good idea for someone to remain in the West to make it easier for the two countries to coordinate efforts. The idea was sound, Zviad didn't dispute that, but what angered him was apparently he was being voluntered for the job. Of course by voluntered he really meant ordered. Technically it made no sense, he was the newest member of the Guard and thus knew less than any of them. Then again maybe that was the point. Plus he imagined more than a few of the brass leapt at the opportunity to keep him out of the country for as long as possible. Personally he would have liked it if he at least had a say in the matter. Zviad found a sturdy looking rock and sat down. Deciding it was pointless to keep his helmet on, he took it off. For the most part, people kept their distance, as Zviad's anger was palpable.

nextgen_holiday:

"A father is a guy who has snapshots in his wallet where his money used to be." -- Unknown

nextgen_russia:

It was a risky move, but it had to be done. Shostakov was no friend to the royal family and if he was taken into government custody decades of work would be lost. If his comatose body could be grabbed by those who had the same interests, he could possibly be revived and work on the projects could resume. That 'son' of his knew what his father had been doing, but the kid didn't know half as much as his 'father'. No, they needed Shostakov and they had to get him before others did.

The warning was sent from a small internet cafe computer and bounced through two dozen different nodes around the world before it reached its destination in Canada. They had to be warned that the Russians were coming. Hopefully they would respond appropriately to the incursion into their land and during the conflict and chaos Shostakov could be taken out of there.

There were a lot of variables, but it would go as planned. It had to.

nextgen_holiday:

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. ~Marion C. Garretty, quoted in A Little Spoonful of Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul

tooth_n_claw:

Alex had made a promise to Mel that once she was done with physical therapy he would take her out and now that the time was upon them, he would keep that promise. He left a note in her chambers to be ready to go out tonight. With Jordan's help he made reservations at a nearby restaurant and he purchased movie tickets ahead of time.

When it was close to the appointed time, Alex showered, shaved and put on his nicest clothes. He went to Mel's room and knocked on the door.

tooth_n_claw:

Alex wasn't one to sweat the little things. He considered himself a pretty laid back guy, but lately he had been fretting over something. He didn't tell anyone of course. Alex had a hard time opening up to people in general and this was something really embarrassing. There was a solution of course, he just didn't know what do to or how to even get started.

Which meant he had to ask for help.

There was only one person he could go to. He went searching for Jordan.

tooth_n_claw:

Alex wasn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box, but he knew enough to remember birthdays. Marrina's was the next one to come up and Alex was at quite a loss of what to get her. He thought about it for quite awhile, but still couldn't come up with anything to get her.

He went with a gift card and a note for a promise for a swim or a flight anywhere she wanted. He left the items on her bed along with a birthday card.

nextgen_holiday:


I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Hath led me -- who knows how?
To thy chamber window, Sweet!

The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream--
And the Champak's odours
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart,
As I must on thine,
O belovèd as thou art!

O lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast:
O press it to thine own again,
Where it will break at last!

Percy Bysshe Shelley

tooth_n_claw:

Today was a big day for Mel and Alex was going to be there by her side the whole time. Today was the first day of physical therapy for her and Alex was going to play cheerleader for her. He'd even get pompoms and use them if it helped.

The day was going to start out on a good note. He made breakfast for her that included scrambled eggs, toast, some fresh fruit and freshly squeezed orange juice. They items were placed on a tray and he carried them to her room. He knocked on the door with a foot since his hands were full.

not_adorable:

Angelo had done some preparation for this. He knew that he and his sister had divergent views on the group occupying his thoughts, but he was confident they could approach the situation like rational adults. Of course, he wasn't above cheating, just a little bit. The jug of homemade cider he'd buried in the neighborhood garden had finally been dug up after fermenting long enough, and some was currently on the stove with butter and cooking brandy milling in it. He'd also just finished dusting some krapfen with powdered sugar as he approached his sister, who was going over his latest home-school exam.

"Gio?" He set down a plate of Italian pastry and cider in front of her. "There was something I wanted to confer with you about."

nextgen_holiday:

The beginning of a New Year, a time for new hopes, new experiences to come. A time to reflect on times past, remembering fond memories happily and trying to put less pleasant thoughts and experiences in the past.

It is a time of renewal, a time of rebirth. And for much of the world, it is a time of celebration. This is no less true for the super hero set as anyone else. If anything, they just have that much bigger of things to look forward to.

nextgen_holiday:

There's a piece of paper and a pen attached to a bulletin board. Across the top is written:

New Year's Resolutions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
+

Anonymous entries accepted.

got_the_touch:

Mason was wearing two parkas as he and Marrina waited at the set coordinates on the Nova Scotia shoreline. An official envoy from Atlantis was supposed to pick them up here. He was holding her hand, and what of his face could be seen between his scarf and his hat looked worried. He nodded to her.

"Just in case I get killed..." He squeezed her hand. "I love you. And you were worth it."

ng_atlantis:

"This is humiliating!" Vishin shrieked at Draconia, although still outside of arm's reach from the bars of her cell. "We've lost nearly every candidate to this surface dweller's genetically-aberrant tricks, and Lord Kerouac would already have faced him if he weren't otherwise engaged at present. Our only saving grace is that they've all been too shamed to reveal you as their patron.

Still.... we have Kerouac. His house is the highest ranked of any of the candidates, but still..." He fixes his gaze on Draconia, stroking his beard to calm himself. "..He has an unfortunate habit of insisting on fair fights. I will not risk our pl-- I will not risk the future of the Atlantean ruling family on fair odds."

purplegeist:

Mel was in the temple, using Jordan's modifications to Rock Band to sing ABBA's "When All Is Said and Done."
It was an Anni-Frid song. She loved Frida's singing best.
There was, in fact, some grooving going on. Foot-tapping. Hip-wiggling. Mel didn't need the words at the bottom of the screen, so her eyes were closed.

nextgen_holiday:

All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween as it has been come to be called, is a popular holiday with children and adults alike. It is a holiday that had its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain or Summer's End. Samhain celebrated the end of the "lighter half" of the year and the beginning of the "darker half".

On this evening the barriers between this world and the Otherworld were believed to be thin and the spirits, good and bad, of the dead could pass through. The spirits of the family's ancestors were welcomed in while evil and bad spirits were warded off by the wearing of masks and costumes. The costumes and masks disguised one as a harmful spirit and avoided harm from others.

It was also a harvest celebration and time to take stock of food stores for the winter. Livestock were slaughtered and the meat prepared for storage. It was the final harvest of the year and the crops were then stored for the winter. Celebrations included bonfires and tales of the family's ancestors.

It was a celebration of the dead and of the harvest.

Today we dress up in scary and not so scary costumes and masks and go door to door for candy or attend costume parties. It is a night for revelry, pranks and fun.

nextgen_holiday:

In Canada today is a day for being thankful for the things in people's lives. Today was a day to celebrate family, friends, prosperity and health with food, family and friends. It is a time to reflect on what is important us and to recognize the gratitude we hold for having those things in our lives.

got_the_touch:

It had been a few days since Marrina got back, and outside of practicing his transmutations and studying some chemical formulas more intently, Mason had been determined not to let this shadow take over his life. He was taking a break and trying to beat his time-attack record in Capcom vs SNK 2 when there was a perimeter alert.

purplegeist:

This time, Mel had not encouraged the making of too much of a fuss. She suspected Alex wouldn't like anything bordering on over-the-top. He hadn't told anyone, after all. They'd just happened to see it in some paperwork.

But it seemed only right to do something. So she'd baked an apple pie and some cheesey quiches. And she let the scent waft through the building.

sea_shelly:

Marrina and Mason were just leaving the movie, having just seen Scott Pilgrim vs the World, staring Canada's favorite son, Michael Cera.   It had been a pretty good movie, overall, though the fight scenes were a bit over the top.  Giving the super-villain battles they'd been in, it was hard to find them realistic, even with the over the top attitude of everything else.

"You know," Marrina told him, as she took his hand, "Michael Cera kinda reminds me of you."

nextgen_holiday:

Like their American counterparts, Alpha Flight was also celebrating Labour Day. Now that they weren't Canada's Most Wanted, they could relax and celebrate and not have to worry about being arrested. After their recent trials, Alpha Flight needed a day of rest and celebration.

The volleyball net was set up on the lawn and other things were set up in preparation for the cookout. Tables had been placed out around the pool and the large grill fired up to get nice and hot. Burgers, hot dogs, sausage, ribs, corn on the cob, pasta salad, salad, poutine and fruit salad were just some of the food available to eat. Soda, water, fruit juice and other beverages were on ice.

Chaise lounges were set up for those who wanted to kick back and relax. Music was filtered out through the base's communication systems and even Mother Nature had cooperated by giving them a nice warm day.