eagleofthebow:

She was feeling pretty good right now. She had gotten Greg to come over and just stay with her for a while. The Asgardian had an arm thrown around his middle as they relaxed after the mead she had insisted they both needed. She had much less than him as she had been feeling a little lazy and had taken her time drinking and now she is just watching him.

This is incredibly comfortable. It had been sometime since she had felt this comfortable around anyone. It was nice and had been very nice.

"Art thou comfortable, Greg," she asks out loud while peering at him. She was willing to get something else to drink or to move if need be.

skald_iona:

Iona had spread the word through The Defender's base: Any ladies who were free and cared to join her were welcome to come on a shopping trip. She needed clothes. Midgard clothes, and wished to see more of the world, in general. Halbjorn would be taking her to his set, she wanted to fit it...and a small part of her wanted to look good with her, she'd seen the women they put in movies, they were truly beautiful.

So at the appointed time she was waiting in the garage, hoping someone else would accompany her, to lend a guiding hand...and show her where the mall was.

anyastark:

For a lot of people the day after Thanksgiving meant hitting the stores and getting great deals on items that would most likely be Christmas presents. For the female Avengers and others the day after Thanksgiving meant a different tradition. They would gather and rate the hunkiness of the male members of the various teams.

Anya had sent out invitations to the females on the other teams well in advanced and made arrangements for food and refreshments.

Once the day arrived she and the Thunderbolts traveled down to New York and gathered at the Avengers Mansion. Anya readied the slide show and waited for everyone to assemble.

shield_maiden:

The sun was bright and the air was crisp with the hint of the cold that was to come with winter. It was the perfect day for hunting and it was exactly what Svalin had planned to do. She walked easily beside the others and was eager to find prey.

She had been awake with the dawn and had been anxious to go. Nine months of sitting around and doing little were past her and it was time to get back out there. The days since Solver's birth had been spent getting back in shape when she wasn't spending time with her family. Hours in the practice yard with anyone who would spar with her and miles of running. She was a bit determined to get back into top shape as quickly as possible.

A bow was in her hand and Vigfrior at her side. She would have loved to bring Tryggvi, but horses and her brother didn't get along well so they walked. Svalin didn't mind. It would only help her get back in top shape.

nextgen_parent:

The fight was a brutal one. The dead have been gathered, and they are many. But even more of their enemies have fallen, and will not have the strength to attack again for a long time.

Odin was plunged into the Odinsleep, battling some foe that none of the other have found sign of, aside from obvious verification that it was a massive and fearsome fight... and the Lord of Asgard was victorious... but how long he'll sleep is anyone's guess.

Thor has ascended to the throne, sign of the continuance of the kingdom. Sign that Asgard was bowed, but did not break. They continue to defy all foes, all endings. And when they fight, even when they fight and die... a celebration is still called for, including recognition of significant heroes and events.

And today, there were at least two.

Thor calls his eldest daughters before the throne, and Vernique with them.

nextgen_asgard2:

Asgard. The Golden Realm. The Realm Eternal. One of the nine worlds. Home of the Norse gods. Darkness covered the land and the realm's inhabitants had retired for the evening. Peace and quiet had fallen over a land frequently subjected to strife and violence.

A blinding light shattered the darkness and Kang and his followers materialized from the portal. Kang took a second to survey the scene. The reshaping of worlds started here. Tonight he would have the one who would be a thorn in his side decades from now. Tonight gods would fall and die and the babe would be his. The last weapon to be collected and one that would help him reshape worlds in Kang's image.


"Kill them all," Kang said to his gathered forces collected from various worlds from various points in time.

The ones that had given the so-called-heroes the most problems. The new Mandarin, son of the former, at the height of his power before he made the mistake of getting involved with the Stark girl. Apocalypse plucked from time just before his defeat at the hands of the X-Men, X-Factor and the Avengers. Hyperion the titan of myth plucked from time before his defeat at the hands of heroes. These joined the deviants he grabbed before their defeat and a being named Mongul.

"The babe being born this night is mine," Kang said. The child would serve Kang and be the implement of Kang's will.

nextgen_vampire:

Dracula had many run-ins with the Defenders over the years, but this incarnation of the team fascinated him. There were Asgardians on the team and he wanted one of them. He remembered decades ago what it was like to feed on Asgardian blood when the Goddess Sif was under his thrall. It had only been a short while, but she had supplied him with blood he had never tasted before. Blood that made him even more powerful.

Now he had a chance to have some of that blood again. Thor's daughters were on Earth and Dracula was determined to have one for himself.

He had been watching the Defenders compound and was waiting for the right moment to strike. The time finally came when one of the Asgardian females left the compound and he followed her to a club. He entered after her and watched for awhile. When the time was right he went up to her.

ng_olympian:

Between Marlow and Dawn the Defenders had managed to track the shadow demons who had abducted Svalin to the gates of Hades. Countless shades wandered on the shores of the river Acheron. These were the paupers and the friendless, those who did not possess an obolus to pay Charon.

A small boat floated on the dark waters of the river and the cloaked figure of Charon stood in the boat waiting to ferry souls across the river. A skeletal hand clutched a pole and the other was outstretched waiting to receive a fare for crossing.

On the other side of the river stood a large three headed dog and a large two headed dog. Cerebus and Orthus guarded the entrance into Pluto's realm.

nextgen_misc:

Night had settled over the city of Los Angeles. A waning gibbous mood had risen and the light of the stars was blocked out by the thick smog that usually blanketed the city. The hours moved on and the city slowed down. Citizens were asleep in their beds and off to dreamland.

The same held true for the residents at 1800 Palos Verdes Drive.

They wouldn't stay asleep for long. Something stirred in the darkness outside.

brit_sorcerer:

There had been an invitation for Excalibur to attend a cookout with the Defenders for Independence Day. Quinn was a Brit by birth, but he had spent half of his life in New York. He considered himself a Yankee as well as a Brit.

When it was time he teleported all from Excalibur who wanted to go to the Defenders compound. Quinn was looking forward to a day in the sun, on the beach and watching girls in bikinis with a lot of good food on hand. Not to mention Asgardian mead. It would truly be a wonderful day.

They arrived in a flash right outside the gates to the compound. It was rude to arrive inside the gates and Quinn didn't feel like fighting. He was a lover, not a fighter.

team_mascot:

Zoey was always happy when there was going to be a party. The Asgardians didn't have an exact birthday, but it was sometime in the spring. So today they were going to celebrate the Asgardians' birthday. Zoey of course wanted a party with balloons, streamers, ice cream and cake, but Mom had said that they would be having dinner of their favorite foods and then cake. Not a regular birthday party.

Zoey did help Sarah and Malinda make and decorate the cake.

Dinner came and the Defenders gathered around the large dining room table.

"Happy birthday!" Zoey said and handed each one of them a card she had made herself. She went shopping with Mom and the two of them had gotten the Asgardians some clothes.

butterflybullet:

She'd never really pictured this happening. Of course, she'd married off her dolls as a girl, but the idea of her wedding had always brought with it the idea of really settling down with one guy, which had never been much on her agenda. This, of course, was different. This was Svalin. And she loved Svalin, and honestly wanted to be there for her and be a family with her. And while there would be sacrifices involved, it wasn't the same as Really Settling Down. A platonic marriage that still came with a fancy party. Nothing wrong with that!

Her parents had been brought up to Asgard, along with the Avengers and the Defenders.

The first royal wedding in a generation was the Event of the Season, with quite a bit of bustle about it.

...And the dress was going to be perfect.

But first, Spa day with Mom and the Mothers-in-law --two of them. Oh gosh.

She hoped Svalin was okay.

nextgen_misc:

Daniel, Zoey, Scotty, Ellie and Rufus had told Thor and Sif about what happened in Hel while Einmyria made sure they ate and rested. The Thunder God's face wore a scowl as the children told the tale and Sif's expression mirrored his. They left the kids with Eimyria and returned to Odin's great hall. A dark cloud loomed on the horizon and Asgard would prepare to face it.

The host of Asgard started preparations for a battle and the sons and daughters of Asgard on Migard would be called back.

sydney_ashcroft:

Grace's birthday was on Thursday and Syd had made sure she they acknowledged the day, but they were saving the big party for Saturday. The Defenders as a team had gone out to dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse. When they returned home anyone who wanted to watch movies camped out in the living room.

Syd had the two chefs, Hugh and Malinda, make Grace's favorite food for dinner and her favorite cake for dinner on Saturday. When dinner was over, Syd and Zoey brought the cake out with the candles lit.

"Happy birthday to you...." they sang as they brought the cake to the table.

Syd ignored her own birthday.

nextgen_misc:

The Seven Heaves Casino and Resort was the newest casino in Vegas and business was booming. Tourists and locals alike came to the new casino to check it out and to see if they could hit a jackpot. Some came out winners while others came out losers. Some came out completely changed and had a new outlook on life after finding religion. It was an unusual place to find religion, but then again the owners were very unusual themselves.

eagleofthebow:

Aridis had stayed back as her sister got used to being 'home'. It was not her way to demand attention from her family. She thought it was best to let them do things in their own time. But it had been long enough. Aridis had decided it was time to see her sister.

She made two very large mugs of hot chocolate and went to seek out Svalin.

"Mine sister. I wouldst speak with thee. Art thou free," she calls just outside the door to Svalin's room.

shield_maiden:

The view from the highest tower in Asgard was the same as she remembered it, but this time it didn't offer the calm and peace it usually did. Svalin's heart and mind were heavy and the beauty of the Golden Realm didn't offer the solace she had been seeking.

It was good to be home and good to be back in Asgard, but at the same time she was sad to be home. She'd probably never see Jon again. He had been right when he said they each had duties to see to and she would do hers. She just wished it didn't hurt so much.

Momone had been happy to see her return and Sif being Sif was proud Svalin had proved herself worthy and would take her proper place in Asgard. Momtwo had practically smothered here with TLC and had noticed she wasn't herself. Svalin had told her about Jon and the time spent with him. It got her a good dose of home cooking and a generous amount of mead. Nothing helped heartache than some TLC from Momtwo.

She swore Astrid and Eir had grown a few inches in the months Svalin had been gone. Skari had grown a lot. Soon he would be taller than Svalin, but she would still be able to kick his ass if needed.

Svalin had made a quick stop to pay respects to Lord Odin and Lady Frigga, but for the most part she kept to herself.

nextgen_media:

Rome, Italy – The Vatican is addressing the recent rash of robberies at a few churches and monasteries throughout the world. Two churches and two monasteries were broken into during the night and ransacked. Many valuable religious artifacts were destroyed and some are reported missing. The Vatican is not saying what artifacts were stolen, but it will only confirm that some objects are missing. Authorities are investigating, but so far there are no leads. CONT PAGE 2A


Almeda, TX – Miracles continue to happen in the small town of Almeda, Texas. People are being miraculously healed by Maria Sefanos. No matter the injury or sickness, it seems like Ms.Stefanos is able to heal or cure them. She has decline every interview request, but there is word that she is able to do this miraculously healing by the power of the goddess. People will not say which goddess it is, but people have started to convert to the worship of this unnamed goddess. A small cult is forming and local officials have not taken any actions. CONT PAGE 3A


New York, NY – Hell's Kitchen is seeing a surge in it's goth population. Goths have flocked to this area of New York and appear to be forming some sort of cult. They gather each night in one of the small community parks and hold some sort of rites for the 'Dark Goddess' as they call her. They will not name this Dark Goddess, but the air has a cult like feel to it. Authorities have yet to take action. CONT PAGE 4A


Los Angeles, CA – It seems like people have found the Fountain of Youth in Los Angeles outside of plastic surgery. A new treatment at a new clinic has rejuvenated the stars. This new treatment is provided by New Beginnings Clinic. A trip to the clinic has the customers coming out with ten to twenty years off of their appearances. Details on the procedure are unknown and so far the owner, Ms. Abigail Pederson, has been unavailable for comment.



San Fran, CA – The new drug Nirvana is becoming more and more popular in the streets of San Francisco. The people using the drug have claimed to have seen “the Goddess” and have started worshiping her. The name of this goddess is unknown and these so called worshipers will not release the name. Police are trying to stop the spread of this drug, but so far their efforts have been unsuccessful.

anyastark:

Anya didn't have many traditions in her family, unless you counted being a bastard as one of them. The Avengers however did have a few time honored traditions that must be kept going. Sure saving the world from alien invasions, beating up the world level threats and other heroic things were some of those traditions, but not everything could be about beating up the bad guys. One such non-heroic thing was Rate the Hunk.

Each year the female Avengers got together and rated their fellow male Avengers. The new generation had eagerly picked up and kept this tradition going. However, they had expanded it a bit.

The day after Thanksgiving was a perfect day to avoid shopping crowds, take over the rec room, banish the males and look at pictures of them. Anya had run it last year and she took it upon herself to do it again this year. Invitations went out to fellow female heroes. Avengers, X-Women, Defenders, Champions and Thunderbolts all got invitations to come to New York to Rate the Hunk.

Food, drink and snacks were laid in. Signs were put up on the doors and electronic surveillance was set up to see if males dared to interrupt.

Anya settled in on one of the couches and queued up the stash of photos she had collected in the past year.

nextgen_misc:

You are cordially invited to attend the 27th annual Maria Stark Foundation's Winter Charity event.

Four Seasons Hotel
57 East 57th Street
New York, NY 10022

Saturday December 18th
Seven O'clock pm - Midnight

Formal dress required.

Please bring a donation for Toys for Tots.

ng_divine_ones5:

A chasm opened in the front yard of the Defenders compound on Halloween. From which Eoghan walked out of with the baying of unseen hounds coming from around him.

Eoghan then walked slowly but purposely towards the front doors of the compound and rang the door bell. He was fairly certain that this is how things were done in the mortal realm to let people know they wanted to talk.

He hoped he could do this quickly Eoghan had a lot to do today Samhain was always busy for him.

nextgen_misc:

It started out as a normal day in Southern California, but it didn't stay normal. A convoy of tanks and military transports rolled down Palos Verdes Drive and stopped outside of 1800. They spread out along the road in front of the main building of the compound.

General Stihl climbed out of the transport and four heavily armed soldiers flanked him. He walked up to the gate and pressed the buzzer.

nextgen_baddie:

It had taken time, but Dormammu was a patient being. He had carefully planned all of this out and all of those plans were about to come to fruition. Various items had to be gathered and once he had them all, they had to be forged into one item. It would be the ultimate weapon and his agent would enter the realm of Earth with it and lay waste to all before him.

Dormammu would make his entrance into the mortal realm and finally defeat the cursed Sorcerer Supreme and his rule over the mortal realm would begin. Umar had been defeated, Dormammu released from his prison and the Octet was tipped in favor of Krakken and Cyttorak. Dormammu had the Kestrel Key and the Crystal Ruby of Cyttorak and could call upon the powers of Krakken and Cyttorak.

Balor, armed with a weapon forged from the Soul Sword, the Twilight Sword and the Kestrel Key and forged in the Flames of the Faltine, went forth into the mortal realm. The tear in reality he created sent ripples of magic throughout the world. those sensitive to magic would sense the disturbance. Balor stepped into the mortal realm in a location known as Los Angeles. Fitting that demonic beings would begin their conquest of the world in a place called The City of Angels.

The portal was now opened and Dormammu made his entrance into the mortal realm.

ng_offenders:

Hrothgar Hoganson had spent a considerable amount of time preparing for this moment, looking for just the right people to join his cause.  Ever since he had learned the cursed son and daughters of Thor were being sent to Midgard.  The honors that had come to them, the gifts they enjoyed, were all denied to him.  And if he could not have them, then they would not either.  He had made dark pacts, followed them to Midgard, recruited people with as much cause to hate Thor's children as he did.

And when the Grandmaster had approached them about the opportunity to battle and slay them... well, who was he to say no?

The Radioactive Man and the Element Man were with him.  He gripped his axe tightly.

He was going to enjoy this.

Hel.  A fitting place for those he hated most to meet their end.

nextgen_asgard:

Once the players had all been gathered, Loki transported himself, along with Ardis and Halbjorn, the spider-god Ohu, the mortals Grace, Griffen, and Dawn, and the mysterious woman called Marlow, to Asgard. It was a desolate, abandoned region, where few would ever traverse. He himself had only been here to make certain that the Norn Stones had still been in place, should he require them for a future plot. He had discovered the Grandmaster only by chance.

The Grandmaster, the being who stood before them now.

"Greetings again to thee, Elder," Loki said, feigning humility and feeling disgust at doing so. The Elders were older even than the Asgardians themselves, possibly the one set of beings in the universe who might yet give them pause. He it galled him to know there were beings truly his superior. "And again, mine thanks for thine leave to gather mine champions. T'will make for a most entertaining game, I doth assure thee."

nextgen_asgard:

He appeared before the Defenders compound without fanfare or signal, without any of the usual lavish displays he attempted when wishing to make a point. Instead, it was simply as though he was not there one moment and there the next. His features--he would never be called handsome, though some might have called them regal--contorted slightly. Why was so much of Midgard so insufferably warm? A proper place was cold enough to freeze the marrow from unworthy bones.

Well, you know what they say. You can take the giant out of Jötunheimr, but you can't take Jötunheimr out of the giant. He resisted the urge to change the climate to something more to his liking.

He was not, technically, supposed to travel to Midgard these days. But when had he ever cared for the rules? Besides, who would deny him the opportunity to see his niece and grandchildren?

Loki, Lord of Lies, God of Mischief, adopted son of Odin, had come to Earth.

team_mascot:

Zoey loved spring! It was her favorite season after summer. Though winter was good because winter had Christmas in it. Christmas was the best and this year she had met Santa Claus! She even drove his sleigh! But now it was spring. Spring meant a lot of good things and one of those things were the Asgardians birthday.

Zoey was a little confused about how they didn't know the actual day they were born and Mom couldn't really explain it either, but they were okay with just spring as their birthday. Birthdays meant parties and Zoey had decided that there HAD to be a party.

A party was her favorite thing right after Christmas. She LOVED parties and this would be the bestest birthday party ever!

She knew she couldn't do it alone so she went seeking help. Mom. Grace. Ohu. Any of them, or all would help her. They HAD to.

word_of_law:

Avery followed the directions from his GPS to the mansion, not sure what he was expecting. The place was huge, he knew, but what he could see from the gate was....epic. There really wasn't another world for it.

He'd called ahead to let Sydney and Zoey know he'd be coming, but he still wasn't sure what to expect when he pulled up to the front gate. He didn't see any dragons or, heavens forbid, any Mongolian Death Worms, but one never knew with these types, did they?

He just hoped Zoey was still interested in being around him even after all the awesome she was currently surrounded with.

shield_maiden:

They were gathered at the gates to the city at the foot of the newly repaired Bifrost Bridge. Tryggvi stood behind Svalin and pawed at the ground with a hoof. "Stop that," she said to her mount. He responded by headbutting her arm. Svalin new he was eager to go. He was always like this before a trip.

Svalin was not so eager to go. This would be the last time she saw her siblings for awhile. They would return to the Defenders and she would be going to the Avengers. Father's idea and Svalin had thought it a good one, but it didn't mean it would make this any easier.

She stood a little distance away from her siblings and waited for her chance to say goodbye to them and her parents. Father and the Mothers were saying their goodbyes to the other three.

Hrimhari, Lady Rahne, Moira and Danielle were a little ways off saying their goodbyes to each other.

Amorason stood off to one side.

shield_maiden:

Odin's Great Hall was almost silent. The gathered crowd waited for Thor, current ruler of Asgard while Odin slept, to speak. They were gathered to honor their fallen warriors. The battle had cost many lives and it was only fitting and proper those lost lives were honored.

Svalin stood next the throne and next to her father as Princess of Asgard. She was uncomfortable standing in front of so many people and as the princess. She was a warrior born and had a warrior's heart, not some speech maker. Barking out orders or yelling battle cries were more her style and easier to do.

Her father looked at her and nodded once.

She swallowed against the lump in her throat and looked out at the assembled warriors, her people. It was so hard to stand before them and talk about the ones that she had failed. The ones that had died because of her actions and her disregard of her duty. By Odin's beard this was hard. Her hand shook and she nearly dropped the goblet of mead she held.

"When mine father said I wast to speak to all of thee today, I didst not know what I would say. I wast scared to stand before you all and speak for I art much better with sword and shield than with words." Her voice started out a little shaky, but got stronger the more she spoke.

"Today I doth not stand before you as a princess of Asgard nor as a warrior. Today I stand /with/ you as a daughter of Asgard and the words I now speak art from mine heart."

She took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Sons and daughters of Asgard, we art not here to celebrate victory with food and drink. We art not here to sing songs of our prowess in battle. We art /not/ here for us. Today we do not mourn the loss of our sisters and brothers, but today we honor them. We honor their strength, their bravery, their unparalleled courage, and their sacrifice for Asgard.

Mine father hath tried to teach me and mine siblings humility as his father had taught him, but naught hath made me more humble than to see our sisters and brothers standing up in battle against an enemy that outnumbered them. I wast deeply humbled to see them do their duty to Asgard and to pay the ultimate price for the home and people they loved."

Another deep breath to steady herself. Tears clouded her eyes and she blinked them back.

"We feel the painful loss of our fallen brothers and sisters, but we must take comfort in knowing that they art now in Valhalla with the honored slain. They hath been reunited with our brothers and sisters that hath fallen in battle before them. Take heart brothers and sisters, for one day we shall be reunited with them, whether it be in Valhalla to wait until the final days or at the end of times in the final battle when we once again fight side by side with our honored brothers and sisters.

Honor their memory and their sacrifice each day by celebrating and appreciating the life they have given you by giving theirs. We must not let them slip from our memories or our hearts."

She raised the goblet in her hand.

"Raise your drinks and voices to our honored fallen brothers and sisters and keep their memories alive until the end of times."

She looked out at the people before her and then a quick glance over at her father. "To our fallen brothers and sisters. May you rest well in Valhalla until we see all of thee again in the final battle."

Svalin poured a little of the mead on the floor as an offering and then took a long drink of mead.