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.

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_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.

got_the_touch:

"And this," Mason declared, as he flipped to the next channel, addressing his companion next to the sofa. "--is MTV. It used to play music. Then America just started getting really weird, and people wanted to follow the train-wreck. Sometimes it's spin-offs play music videos, but it's really rare. Like spotting a tiger in the wild." A pause. "Or a blue whale. Or Namor smiling."

The crab, in the newly installed tank, was apparently too polite to reply.

"Yeah, I don't really like it either. Now this--" Mason changed the channel again. "--is Animal Planet. Awesome stuff. Maybe you'll see someone you know. I'll change it if I think it gets too scary for you."

Frank, as Mason had named him, was good company. The poor little guy had wandered up to the front gate a week or two after the whole challenge thing had been resolved, about to drop of exhaustion. Apparently Atlanteans had crabs that could recite stuff like parrots. Mason had felt sorry for him and set up a tank in his room, along with an extended plexiglass tunnel that ran to another tank in the Temple.

"Now, all these channels marked in red on the channel guide are Jordie's favorites, but I don't know if you're old enough for them. But here's what you really need to learn about." He changes the channel again, to a rebroadcast of the last winter olympics. "Humanity at its best. When we finally shut up about all the stupid stuff and just have a good time competing together."

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.

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
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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.

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."

got_the_touch:

Mason trudges towards the front door after receiving a message over the intercom. He hits a panel to call Marrina as well.

"Latest round's up. Two of them this time."

He'd been surprised to hear the blowhard announcing himself, and his brother practically as an afterthought. He shook his head as he adjusted his jacket and hip-pack.

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.

got_the_touch:

It had been about a week since the altercation with the female Atlantean, and Mason, for the most part, was recovered. Stitches hadn't come out yet, but he didn't need to worry about popping them in the course of his day. Marrina and Jordie had threatened to lock him in his room if he didn't rest for at least the first few days afterwards, so he'd been forced to comply.

Right now though, he was feeling okay, and he had nachos with three kinds of cheese, bacon, and gravy. There was good in the world.

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.

got_the_touch:

For any fool for love, being separated from your significant other feels like a long time.

When said significant other is off talking to her dad who rules two thirds or more of the world's surface, and is discussing a bunch of crazy people out to kill you, it feels even longer.

To keep himself busy, Mason had built an aluminum tree house just outside the base, fastidiously checking the road leading towards it for any sign of her.

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.

tooth_n_claw:

There had been a conspiracy within Alpha Flight. It wasn't to topple the government, get revenge for being framed or anything like that, but Mel and Alex had been planning. Those plans involved the birthday of one Jordan Bochs. Their team leader was turning a year older and the passing of such an even would not go unnoticed or uncelebrated.

Alex had done the running and fetching for needed items and then had helped Mel wherever she needed help with the baked goods and decorations. He could provide a pair of human hands for two hours and was always eager to taste test anything Mel made. The arrangement worked out rather well.

In the end the 'Temple' had been festively decorated and there was plenty to eat.

They left it up to Mason to distract Jordan until they were ready.

With everything done and in place and Alpha Flight assembled, they let Mason know that they were ready for the birthday boy to see it all.

nextgen_misc:

After being on the run for crimes they didn't commit, Alpha Flight finally had a lead on the people responsible for their current situation. It had taken all the know how of the team to track down a group calling themselves Omega Flight.

purplegeist:

The quiet, isolated little spot was a rather sickly lavender color, and a slight feeling of light-headed fear hung in the air.

'Just in case they said anything to all of you," Mel whispered. "My dad's not a terrorist. Anything they said about my grandfather is true, but not my dad." For some reason, it was very important to her to say this.

nextgen_media:

"We are standing here at 207 Bank Street outside the US Embassy in Ottawa where it appears that Alpha Flight, Canada's premier superhero team is attacking. Large sections of the building are being destroyed and even nature itself appears to be attacking as the winds have picked up and large chunks of hail are breaking windows. A member of Alpha Flight zoomed into the building and appeared on the roof with the ambassador. A moment later the member dropped the ambassador and he fell to the pavement below.

Police are on the scene, but are unable to stop Alpha Flight. Police cars and officers have been thrown around and it doesn't appear anything or anyone is going to be able to stop this apparent rampage by Alpha Flight. What has caused Alpha Flight to do this? Why are they doing this? There are too many questions to be answered at this moment.

Wait a minute. What's this? It now appears that the damage is done and lives have been lost, Alpha Flight is leaving the scene. The police aren't giving chase at the moment, but this reporter is sure that the military will apprehend Alpha Flight at some point."

got_the_touch:

A card gets slid under the door to Marrina's room, with a neatly printed note.
There's an additional note scribbled on with marker as well.

tooth_n_claw:

Alex was tired. He hadn't been on a long distance flight in some time and by the time he reached Alpha Flight's headquarters he was exhausted. He wanted to collapse on his bed and pass out, but there was someone he had to see first.

He smiled at the thought of seeing Mel. Alex had missed her a lot and had been looking forward to seeing her again. Emails and phone calls didn't take the place of actually seeing someone and talking to them face to face. Now he could do that for two hours before he had to change back into an animal form.

Alex went through the building looking for Mel.

ng_omega_flight:

The masks had arrived and Omega Flight was ready to enact their plan to bring down Alpha Flight. Madame Masque had out done herself and the masks were works of art. As soon as the members of Omega Flight each put on a mask, they took the identity of a member of Alpha Flight and they had their abilities. Maybe not at the same strength as the members of Alpha Flight, but enough to convince others that they were really Alpha Flight.

It was time to start.

They would start small. Start creating doubt about the famous superhero team and then work their way up to something really big.

They went in different directions in Toronto and each of them held up a convenience store or two before returning to their base.

It was just the beginning of things to come.

They could just imagine the questions Alpha Flight would now get.

ng_omega_flight:

The Canadian National Tower in Toronto stood an impressive 553.3 meters(1,815ft) and was still the largest free standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. It was a popular tourist attraction and many people have taken the elevator up to the top to look out over the city of Toronto.

Today Omega Flight was visiting the tower, but they weren't there as tourists. Today they were going to destroy the tower and turn it into a pile of rubble.

purplegeist:

White dress. White shoes. A way to the church arranged.

Going to Easter Mass without Dad's quiet enthusiasm, and Mom to give 'what're you looking at?' glares to anyone who seemed like they weren't focused on the point of the occasion, felt a bit odd.

She stopped by Jordan's room.

sea_shelly:

They could have swam it, but Canada (and Alberta in particular), was quite the distance away from Atlantis.  And frankly, what was the point of being a Princess if you couldn't ride in style every now and then?  So the daughters of Namor were being taken home (or to the shore, at least), in an Atlantean Royal transport.

It was luxurious, if slightly military, but comfortable to say the least.  Marrina sat on one of the couches, idly munching on candied sea urchins.  Her father had introduced them to her on one of her last visits.

Her sister.  She was bringing a sister home.  There were probably going to be all kinds of diplomatic issues involved (especially once Emma Frost found out), but she would do everything she could to keep her sister safe.

"So..." she ventured.  "You told me a little about you.  Only fair if I talk too.  Anything in particular you want to know?"