nextgen_misc:

The moon was rising over the city of New Orleans, however, it wasn't the only thing rising in the city tonight. Corpses were rising from their resting places and starting to move through the city. Decaying flesh hung from rotting bones as they shambled through the streets. At first the tourists thought it was a joke or some sort of production, but when the zombies started grabbing tourists and started biting they knew otherwise.

Elsewhere restless spirits moved around and in their anger and anguish stirring up objects and moving them around. Some discarded trashed hit tourists and sent them running. The spirits were encouraged by this and became more and more violent.

The source of this unrest moved through the streets behind Baron Samedi in the form of a cult. He controlled the zombies and the spirits and they had summoned him. The leader of the cult was quite pleased at the chaos that was now present in the streets of New Orleans.

ng_avatars:

Wrath, being the most feared of the seven, led the ceremony in the abandoned warehouse. The seven demons stood around Harold Jenkins and chanted while their followers stood in a circle around them. Harold was a criminal of the worst sort and had just finished killing a family of four when the demons grabbed him and offered him great power. They chanted along with their demon masters.

Wrath held the Medallion of Power and with it they would being a new Vengeance into the world. This one would serve them and their goals and hopefully distract the Ghost Rider and his companions. The city wasn't big enough for the demons and the Champions and New Orleans was the perfect city for them. Vegas was too showy and over the top for most their tastes.

The voice rose in volume until the ceremony reached it's climax. There was a bright burst of flame around Harold and when it died down Vengeance stood in place.

"Go," Wrath said. "Your job is just beginning. There is a city awaiting you. We have even provided you a motorcycle."

Vengeance nodded and climbed onto the waiting bike. The bike roared to life and Vengeance rode out of the warehouse.

anyastark:

Anya loved birthdays. She loved shopping for people and loved watching their reactions when they opened their gifts. Eliza was always hard to shop for, but Anya had tackled the problem with gusto. Anya had selected a new uniform made of some new fabric developed by Stark Inc. It would withstand knives and bullets.

She had also selected a diamond and ruby tennis bracelet.

She suited up and flew down to New Orleans.

nextgen_holiday:

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

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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.

sandcastlegod:

Corey had his booksack over his shoulder when he knocked on the door to Argo's room one Saturnalia morning. "Argo? Can we talk?"

next_avenger:

With Charlie gone and as a male member of the Avengers, in addition to being the leader, it was up to James to uphold a few traditions that didn't have to deal with battling bad guys. Though he had to admit that he would rather be fighting bad guys than doing this. It just wasn't his thing.

He wasn't as industrious as Anya, but James had managed to collect the necessary photos. It hadn't been easy and a part of him felt like he was cheating on Val.

Invitations were sent to the Avengers, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, Champions, Excalibur the X-Men and the Defenders guys.

With the help of Jarvis food and drink was laid in. James made sure they had a wide variety of pizza, chips, pretzels and drinks.

He loaded the photos in and took care of the security systems. The girls were not allowed to watch. Now all that was left was people showing up.

perenawska:

Irina had gotten to know Lyta pretty well in the past eleven months the Champions had been together, including finding out when her birthday was. The day had finally rolled around. Irina had gone with a pair of Prada Motorcycle Boots for if and when her boyfriend took her for a ride. She also gave her a card that promised transportation to anywhere in the world, a trip to the spa and a night of drinking.

She coordinated with Corey for the food for the celebration. Corey was cooking dinner and Irina had taken the responsibility of getting the cake. Finding Lyta's favorite kind of cake had been a little difficult to find out, but she had managed to do it. She and Corey got everything ready, assembled the Champions and called Lyta downstairs.

son_of_hercules:

It took Argo, Andy, and Corey no time at all to make their way to the cemetery where he had met with Pluto.  The Lord of Hades had been true to his word as well, for as soon as they crossed through the gates, a great hole opened up in the ground, flames spewing out of it for a moment, before those subsided.  When the flames had cleared, they could see stairs leading deep into the "earth."

Ancient runes were carved into those steps, in some language none of the three would be able to read.  Roughly translated, however, they said things such as "I meant to do it this week," "I was only trying to help," and "I'm going to make a New Years resolution..."

Argo looked down those steps and thought of the woman he loved.  Harmony came easily to mind and he felt his blood boil.  Mephisto would learn that the Son of Hercules was not to be trifled with.  He would free her even if he had to bring all of Hell down upon their heads.

"Shall we?" he asked his companions.

son_of_hercules:

Argo returned to the Champion's headquarters not long after his conversation with Pluto.  The consequences of his decision today would probably haunt him for some time, he knew, but he did not see how he could make any other decision.  The woman he loved was in hell, suffering torments that no one as pure and innocent as she should have to endure. 

He would rescue her.  Because he was the hero.  And the hero always rescued their beloved, no matter where they were or what the hero had to go through to get there.  Because that was how the universe worked.

He would worry about paying the price when the time came.

He had his brother, Andy, and his worshiper, Corey.  There were no better he could ask to fight beside him this day, no better he could ask to accompany him into the bowels of the underworld itself.

"I thank you both," he said simply, "for what you do for me today.  I know not how I shall ever repay you."

son_of_hercules:

A part of Argo told him he was being foolish, that he would come to regret his actions this day.   That part of him was his head and in any case, he seldom listened to it.  Far too often, he had listened to other portions of his anatomy.  But he had also learned to listen with his heart, and his heart told him that for Harmony, he would gladly pay any price.

He had left Corey back in New Orleans to call his brother.  With the sorceresses on the Defenders, he had little doubt that Andy would be in New Orleans in no time at all.  Which left Argo little time to do what needed to be done, but time enough if he did it right.

New Orleans, by nature, had a strong affinity for death and death-gods, even those not particularly associated with the culture.  Cemeteries even more so. 

So he had found the nearest one from where he had left his friend, stepped inside, and looked heavenward.

"Lord Pluto... Great-Uncle...  I beseech thee... here my words and answer."

ng_olympian:

Oceania had kept quiet and out of sight since she had last failed to kill the mortal woman, Harmony Watkins, and had instead only succeeded in injuring her true love, Argo. It pained her deeply that she had hurt him, but he had insisted upon defending the weak, pathetic, brief mortal creature, when all she had wanted was to bring about her quick death.

How could Argo not understand that she was the only one for him? She knew it from the moment she had laid eyes upon him in her mortal disguise of "Sheena," had known it even more after a night of passion beyond her wildest dreams.

Argo would be hers, now and until the end of time, and that was all there was to it.

She would not make the mistake, however, of attacking the mortal bitch where Argo could, in his foolish, but ultimately lovable heroic way, try to protect her. No.

Instead, she had learned Harmony's comings and goings, until she could find her alone...

perenawska:

Their first planned shopping trip had been a disaster. Not the end of the world type of disaster, but enough of one to qualify as a disaster. Now that they had been home for a short while, Irina grabbed Lyta for another shopping trip. This one, however, would be in New Orleans. No teleporting or portals involved what so ever.

Shopping was an active sport and it required drinks and food. There was a pause from the day's activity to grab some food and a few drinks in the French Quarter. Irina let Lyta pick the place and within no time they were seated and cooling off with some potent drinks.

"The best part about shopping," Irina said with a grin before she downed her shot of vodka.

lytaworthington:

A portal opened in front of Champions headquarters, and Lyta and Irina stepped out.

"Home sweet home," Lyta said, grinning at Irina. "I'm taking a shower and then asking Corey if he wouldn't mind cooking dinner a little early." She had no idea what time it was, though she was guessing mid-afternoon, early evening. You lose track of time when you're locked up in another dimension.

Lyta made her way inside with Irina.

a_blessing:

This was starting to get annoying.  Argo had repeatedly explained to the Fan Club that they needed to move on, he was no longer available for their entertainment and their fangirl lust.  He'd done it nicely even and the majority of the girls had been very gracious about it.  One had even gifted Harmony with some lingere that had made her turn so red that the color took two days to fully leave her face.  However, there was one woman that was insistent upon staying put and more than that, was insistent upon giving Harmony complete crap.  Today it was another note about being a "filthy Jesus freak" pinned to the door of HQ. 

"Argo?"  Harmony tracked him down note in hand.  She hoped she'd seen it first as she didn't want any of her teammates seeing it. They'd leap to her defense, which was noble, but she didn't want them having to deal with such petty drama.

"She's at it again."

nextgen_holiday:

New Orleans was all about great food and Labor Day was a great excuse to indulge in great food. The Champions, like the other teams and people across the United States, were celebrating Labor Day. Their celebration was on the rooftop of their headquarters instead of on a beach or a lawn.

Having a teleporter on the team meant that they didn't stick to normal cookout fare. Food from all around the world was bought and brought back. Fruits, vegetables and all different kind of meats were prepared for the celebration. A table and chairs was carried up to the rood in addition to a large grill.

son_of_hercules:

Navigating the heady waters of a true relationship was foreign sailing to Argo, but he believed it was one he was proceeding through smoothly enough.  He had, true to his word, attempted to disperse the Fan Club.  Unfortunately, many still gathered outside, though the number had thinned somewhat.  Some had taken it well, others had seemed disappointed, others had gotten angry, and a number acted as though he had not spoken at all.

He would seem to do something about that, though he was not sure what as of yet.

But tonight, he had other things on his mind.  Or rather, he had someone else on his mind: Harmony.  He had vowed to do whatever he could to make her happy, even if he did not always understand the whys and wherefores.  Case in point was tonight.  She had asked that he attend a church service with her and he had agreed.  Argo did not pretend to understand the God that Harmony worshiped, save that He was more unknowable, in his opinion, than the gods of his own pantheon or any of the others who existed.  No god that he knew of could claim to have met this God.

Out of deference to allowing Harmony to keep something of a low profile, he had dressed in mortal clothes (which he did possess), though he feared he was still too recognizable.

He waited in the living room for her to finish getting ready.

son_of_hercules:

Following his conversation with Corey, Argo had spent quite a bit of time thinking. He was still uncertain what to do with the fan club (perhaps he could get them to transfer their attentions to Corey? The boy was currently without female companionship of his own and women liked artists, did they not? Yes, if it could be done, he decided this was the best plan, and a wonderful reward for his loyal worshiper), but he had, at least, resolved to do something about the rest of the situation.

The problem, of course, came in locating Harmony. It had become rather difficult of late to find the two of them in the Champions HQ for any significant stretch of time, or even in the same part of it when they were.

This would take cunning. ...Or possibly just sitting in the living room with an eye on the door. That plan was also good.

son_of_hercules:

To say that Argo had been conflicted of late would have been an understatement. Oh, he still ventured out and he still visited bars, but if anyone was paying careful attention to his comings and goings, they would find he had spent virtually every night at home for a while now. He seemed less interested in the fan club, though they still gathered outside daily, and those that were prone to still continued to throw their undergarments. And Argo greeted them cheerily, but if you watched carefully, you could tell his heart was not in it.

In ancient times, mortals prayed to the gods for assistance and guidance in their lives. In modern times, it would seem, the gods, or at least, this particular god, would need to turn to a worshiper for advice.

So. He needed to find Corey.

son_of_hercules:

Argo had woken late, with snoring that probably would have been loud enough to wake the dead if there had been any on the property.  Fortunately, his snoring caused no zombies, but he did seem to find himself alone in the Champion's headquarters when he did wake.  After a shower, he dressed and headed into the kitchen.

Corey had left a note stating there was food in the fridge for him, with instructions--patient, careful, and precise instructions--on how to reheat it.

As he let that reheat, he checked the external security camera.  Mitzy, Cindy, Candy, Mandy, Daphne (Mmm... Daphne), Sheryl, Carol, Bessie, Alice, Caitlin, Caitlynn, Cait Lynn, Mary Anne, Ginger...   It was a light crowd today.

And yet...  debauchery was not in his heart today.  Oh, certainly, he had partaken in it from time to time in recent history, but he was not as sure his heart was as in it as it once was.

His food finished heating, he headed into the living room to turn on the TV.  Clash of the Titans was in the DVD player still, and he decided an additional viewing would be acceptable fair.

a_blessing:

Harmony discovered rapidly that walking and trying to help Argo do the same did not mix well with the meager amount of the Olympian wine she'd consumed.  She felt floaty, then giggly, then weird.  And touchy.  Getting to her room wasn't an option.  It was too far down the hall.  But she could get Argo to his.  She hoped.

"Here...here we are!"  She stumbled into the room with Argo before tumbling into the bed.  Everything was spinning.  And warm.  "Hot.  In here."

perenawska:

Irina sat on the barstool in a bar down the street from Champions' headquarters. She didn't feel like going back there just yet, but this place was close enough to make her feel like she was home. Since the incident with rescuing the kids and with her father, Irina hadn't been back to the Champions' headquarters. She didn't want to see the stares or the look of accusation in their eyes.

She didn't blame them. The man who had experimented on children and had done many other horrible things was her father and she hadn't told them. Granted she didn't know about the horrible things he did until Nicholas worked his mojo on Alexi, but it didn't matter. He was a horrible man, a monster, and she had stuck up for him. She protected him from them and didn't hand him over to the authorities like she should have.

Irina gulped down a shot of vodka and refilled the glass.

Maybe it was time to move on. It's not like the Champions were going to forgive her any time soon and quite frankly she didn't blame them. She had in a way betrayed them and she deserved everything she got in return. Leaving Russia and home hadn't felt this bad.

Irina sighed heavily and drank down another shot.

It was time to call the Winter Guard and get reassigned.

lytaworthington:

Through clever research (also known as sneaking a quick pick at her i.d card when she wasn't looking), Lyta had found out that it was Irina's birthday. While it wasn't thirty, twenty-nine was still a pretty big reason to celebrate. Lyta'd bought her a new pair of brand-new, top of the line throwing knives, and fully intended on taking her out drinking with anyone that wished to join them. It was all on her.

Small box containing the knives in hand, Lyta knocked on Irina's door.

perenawska:

Irina had to concentrate on the image that Lyta had sent to her, but after a few moments she had been able to open a portal to a spot just inside the main building. Her knives had been out and ready when she stepped through. They went flying through the air heading toward the two guards that had been standing near the door. The knives hit them in the chest and they fell to the ground. Stepping through portals and into trouble was quite common for her.

"Let's go," she called back to the others.

nextgen_citizen:

Four, as the girl was known as, looked at the boy standing next to her. Her stomach was twisted up in hunger and she needed to eat. Soon. It had been a few days since the last time they managed to find some food. Dumpsters outside of restaurants were great places to find something resembling edible, but they were usually chased away before they could really find anything worth eating.

The boy shrugged.

"We have to eat," Four said.

"I know," Ten, as he was called, answered. "There's a building there that looks like a club. Maybe there's something in the dumpster out back in the alley." She was right. They had to eat soon. It had been a week since they escaped from the building that had been their home for the past few months. They had no memories of anything before that.

There had been an /incident/ and the two had managed to escape. Ten had always been curious about the outside world. They had made their way to New Orleans and lived in the streets.

Four and Ten made their way to the dumpster behind the club and started rooting around in it.

temperence:

Alisa could not help but find herself frowning as she lay back on the Therapist couch. Every session was pretty much like this, since Nick got her to actually go. She was never happy to be there, and never happy to hear what her therapist "tried" to recommend to her. She put her arms under her head, and just listened to Doctor Kimes go on, and on...

"Miss LeBeau... I seriously think you should go to a more therapeutic environment. Perhaps an In-Patient program." The Doctor sat behind his desk, tapping a bright yellow pad with some expensive looking pen. His free hand adjusted his glasses as he continued to speak. "Though you have made great progress, you still are a bit emotionally stunted. You easily get frustrated and angered at some people... mainly this "Lyta" person you keep mentioning. You also seem to maintain a rather... well... unhealthy relationship with this "Nick" person. Though I applaud him for managing to get you to come to therapy twice a week. I fear you degrade yourself around him; he is a tool to lower yourself to how you view yourself. And that is not fair to either one of you."

"Ah take dat as more o' an opinion an' non a diagnosis." She continued to frown, her red on black eyes narrowing quite a bit.

"Miss LeBeau. Some of the things you are going through are from the trauma of the sexual abuse you suffered." Doctor Kimes sighed, leaning back in his plush leather chair, while pinching the bridge of his nose. "You repressed much of it, and once it came out... you have not been able to figure out how to handle it properly. You refuse to go to survivor meetings, you rarely speak about it anymore to me, and you bottle up your rage and anger in a bottle much too small to contain it. One day, that bottle will shatter, and I fear you will, as well."

"Now dat is jus' a hypothesis." She smirked a little, finally closing her eyes. "Ah've met you halfway. Ah come here, ah talk, an' den ah go. Ah take some o' what you say under advisement... de rest ah pretty much drown out."

"Stubborn as always." He groaned, looking back over at Alisa. "You have a high IQ, but you are allowing your emotions to dictate your logic at times. This is what I am trying to get into your thick skull. You have the emotional age of a twelve year old child! You have locked away those emotions for so long; you do not know how to handle them. And because of that, you act out in what I consider to be "odd ways". Alisa, I know I cannot force you to go, but there is this lovely facility in Canada that deals with what you are going through. From the life of a street child, the sexual abuse you suffered from, as well as your own mutant powers..."

"Wait, what does bein' a mutant 'ave to deal wit' all dis shit?" This caught her attention. Alisa raised an eyebrow, carefully looking at Doctor Kimes. This was something she had not done, even since she started to go to therapy here.

"Well, I do not think you have even dealt with the fact you are different from society, in more ways than one. For children who discover they are mutants, a majority of them to not seek help with the emotional damage such a discovery can cause them." Doctor Kimes opened up his desk, taking out a brochure. "This place is specifically for mutants, ones who were thrown away by society and lack any direction in their life. They offer emotional support, counseling, a nice scenic environment, as well as four star accommodations. It's a charity run organization, so you would not be charged for going. I think it would be a good place for you to go."

"Ah'll look it over. But no promises..." That frown was pretty much set in stone as she sat up from her couch. Doctor Kimes walked over, handing her the brochure.

"Look, I think this would be the best course of action, Miss Lebeau. I really do not wish to read in the newspaper that you beat up this "Lyta" woman because you are jealous she gets to live the kind of life you were denied. Or that you died from some kinky game with this "Nick" fellow." He folded his arms over his chest, watching as Alisa slowly got up off the couch and started to head for the door. "Just think this through, Miss LeBeau. You can offer this world so much, if you just got the help you needed."

"Like ah said Doc, ah'll t'ink about it. No promises." She rolled her eyes as she made her way out of the room. She really did not want to listen to anymore of what this guy was telling her. He kept pushing this place each and every session now for weeks! Before he could chime in with something else, Alisa cut him off. "Ah'll see you in t'ree days, ah guess."

"Oh... of course." The doctor just stood there, nodding his head as Alisa left the room, giving off a sigh of relief once she left. She was, probably by far, one of THE most difficult paitents he ever tried to treat. Now he just needed to see a therapist of his own!

*************************

It took Alisa sometime to get back to the Champions Base, she stopped by "Papa Gumbo's" and picked up something for everyone to eat. She closed the door with her hip, and made her way into the kitchen, shouting.

"Ah'm back! Ah got everyone some food if you wan' it! If non... well... it'll go ta waste an' Corey will be pissed off! An' we all wouldn' wan' dat!" She smirked, taking out the stupid brochure her therapist gave her. As she waited for the others, she started to leaf through it and mutter to herself. "Seriously ain' dat bad!"

nextgen_holiday:

On the last Monday in May the country pauses to mourn its war dead, the spirit of redemptive sacrifice is extolled and pledges to American ideals are renewed. Flags are placed on soldiers' graves and those who sacrificed their lives for their country are remembered.

The holiday first began in the 1860s to honor the Civil War dead and took place near the day of reunification after the war, it has since come to encompass all war dead. People observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time and another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at National Cemeteries. The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol where music is performed, and respect is paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

Families and friends come together for barbecues and cookouts. Kids rejoice at the opening of pools and knowing that summer has begun and school is ending.

nextgen_holiday:

Mothers are the place that we call home.
On them we rest our heads and close our eyes.
There's no one else who grants the same soft peace,
Happiness, contentment, sweet release,
Erasing nighttime tears with lullabies,
Restoring the bright sun that makes us bloom. - Anonymous

a_blessing:

Harmony always opted to go to St. Vincent's for mass on Sunday mornings.  They were one of the rare Catholic churches that still did sunrise services once a month, services that had been Harmony's favorite since she was a little girl back in Kansas.  Nowadays they were more than just favored; now they were practical, given how nocturnal Sin generally was.  He'd been very honest from the beginning--he didn't do the "God thing."  Much to her surprise this hadn't put her off.  Harmony chose to accept it and not to press.  He never stopped her from worship and she appreciated that.  It was just an item of life they could not share but had found a middle ground.  This was, she thought, how relationships were supposed to work.  It didn't mean that she had to completely leave Sin out of the little things that made her sunrise mass so important to her.  Coffee and pastries were also part of the routine for her and sunrise services played to her advantage: this early in the morning there were now crowds, only the devoted slipping from the cathedral and onto the morning-lit streets.

Smiling to herself, she paid for breakfast before slowly walking up the street and back to Sin's.  Her mind was already on surprising him, thoughts far from anything more than that.  Distracted, she misses the way the shadows pull from the corners of buildings and that the birds have stopped singing.   She misses everything until she hears a rustle of wings and then a blood-curdling screech-like noise right behind her as a dark, winged creature descends from the sky and heads right for her sending the other people on the street scattering.  And the winged beast is not the only one, just the largest in what appears to be a small army of gargoyles come to life.

Harmony screams.

temperence:

Alisa did not really tell a whole lot of people when her Birthday was, there was no need to, really. It was just a day she was born, no big deal. Though she did manage to tell Corey and Argo about it, since they were close friends. Nick, well... he knew about her Birthday since it was on her work file. But those were the only people who ever knew besides herself, and her twin brother.

Twenty one years. How the time flies. Ennie was away, missing their birthday this year. Well, physically at least. Alisa took every dime she earned from working with Nick and had his new Harley sent to him, with a big red bow on it and a Birthday card. It was the very least she could do for the brother who gave up everything to protect her. Now, she realized there would be no cupcake this year, no present, no Ennie.

A bit down, Alisa decided to throw her own party... even if she was the only guest. On the roof of the Motorcycle shop, she set up an old boom box she found and fixed up on a table. She tuned the radio on the boom box to a rock station that played her favorite bands
, and then walked over to the side of the roof, looking at all of New Orleans, in all it's glory.

"Well... it ain' like Corey's Birthday, but it's a Birthday, neh?" She spoke to herself. "Well, might as well do sumt'ing..." Alisa took out a spy glass she managed to make herself, and began watching all the cars pass by, using a notepad to mark down each kind of car or bike she say, and what color. "Red one.... blue one... anoder red one..."