old_saint_nick:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.

Christmas Day is a Christian holiday, it's true, but it also has become increasingly secular. It is an opportunity for love, charity, and goodwill.

There is some debate within mystical circles if there is indeed such a creature as the embodiment of Christmas Giving known as Santa Claus. But whether or not there is such a being, the spirit of giving itself is very real, be it incarnated in a fat man in a red suit or not.

Throughout this small blue planet of Earth, people have brought trees into their homes, decorated them with lights and ornaments, and placed them in locations of honor. Stockings have been placed on the chimneys. And gifts have been placed under the tree.

Some are looking forward more to the receiving than the giving. But for many, it is the act of giving which warms them, which fills them with the holiday spirit.

Each person, in their own way, becomes a part of this spirit of giving. Each person, in their own way, becomes Santa Claus.

Titans Tower is well-decorated with lights and tinsel, along with a massive tree in the common room. As for the Titans themselves...

deadlyhemlock:

From the green, the kid's unseen adversary silently watches the assembled heroes.  He wasn't expecting any of them to be able to come at him through the green, let alone turn into a giant Dinosaur.  It's a fascinating turn of events, and he has every intention of sitting back and watching safely.

dc_eldritch:

The world knew about the strange dream that had over taken the world. Some people had actually woken up with white hair though their bodies had not aged like they had in the dream. They felt very tired though and had been taken with the sudden urge to create strange images that if looked upon too closely it made even the most well grounded man feel as if something was watching him.

Then things seemed safe. For a week there were no strange dreams or mass hysteria in the night. But then it happened again.

At first it seemed so innocent. The dreamers had visions of clear skies and pleasant things that made them feel better. Other dreamers who were not quite human could smell a sweet smell in their dream that caught their attention. They couldn't help but wander away until they found themselves walking and talking together happily as they walked through a strange market place.

What was strange was the people. They spoke to the dreamers in many languages and often strange beings with tentacles over their mouths and in place of their hair kept trying to offer the dreamers shining beads and crowns of gold.

Finally they make it to a far too bright shore and they see a tower that is unnaturally white. On the tower stands a figure dressed in yellow. They are suddenly aware that this figure is far too beautiful and far too horrifying to be seen. It must never be named but from the tower it watches them with it's eerie yellow body and it does the most terrible thing that it could it does not stare at them with hatred but with amused affection.

"This will be your end if you do not stop it. Awaken dreamers, for Cthulu lies dreaming in R'lyeh." Another message is spoken to a select few.

"Read the diary of Randolph Carter if you wish to save your people," a voice whispers to the few who have the journal who are among the people who were taken into this dream.

And so anyone who is not human awakens knowing something more. This time while they are left with a sense of wrongness in the world they know they have a piece of the puzzle.

For the rest they are dragged into another horrifying night. Snakes and cultists hunt them and a terrible burning eye watches them. Some are taken to the temple and fed to the terrible thing that they have burned into their memory. Others find themselves fed strange and terrible things knowing it is a twisted form of what they used to enjoy eating and upon waking will swear off their favorite foods forever. The chants are heard and a few people wake up having written the chant down. They smile knowing their god has chosen them for a great thing. The Church of Dagon has risen once more! All fear Cthulu's might!

dc_eldritch:

No one in the world on this night escapes it. They find themselves wanting to just curl up for a few minutes for some sleep. Weather it is just a nap or actually going to bed they find themselves sleeping. They do not get to sleep well. Screams of hosts long since dead haunt them and many of the dreamers find themselves herded up like cattle by strangers in heavy robes carrying pitch forks and guns.

"Where are we going," a man asks.

One of the robed men speaks. "To see our lord. You do not know the way. We shall guide you."

A child cries that she wants her mommy as they are separated. A man is shot for trying to run away and the smell of something burning fills the air.

The world is on fire and no one can escape it. They must go with the strangers to see their lord.

The dreamers are brought to a boat that goes across a sea of blood and gore. They find themselves marched across an island and they enter a tall nd terrible temple. When they try to really look at it a few go mad and start to gibber nonsense as their hair turns white and their skin wrinkles and shrivels up. They are suddenly very old.

The chanting is heard as the dreamers enter the temple.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn," the terrible chant is burned into the minds of people who are truly insane. People who are blessed or cursed with knowledge of the magical world find themselves puking both in the dreaming and the real world. For reasons they can not explain in the dreaming world they know that this place is terrible.

And then they are brought into the main chamber of the temple. A scream goes out as a great clawed hand comes down and begins to grab people by the dozens and brings them into the mouth of a terrible creature. The people who are eaten are lucky if anyone who can be called that. They wake up.

The are not so lucky. They think they are awake. They think are safe. But there are things lurking in the darkness of their dream world, waiting.

young_swimmer:

One thing about living with so many people that Cait didn't like was that there was always someone around. It felt like it had been ages since she had some quiet time alone with Ty. Every time she tried to spend some time alone with Ty, someone showed up. It was frustrating to say the least.

Back in their apartment it had been just the two of them and quiet alone time was in abundance. They could sit for hours and play chess and never see another living soul. They could read book after book or just talk quietly to each other and no one would interrupt.

Cait appreciated having a place to live that wasn't Atlantis, but she did wish that on occasion not so many people were around. It felt like she was living in the royal palace in Poseidonis again.

Determined to spend some alone time with her boyfriend and keeping a promise to let him see her in a bikini, Cait went looking for him. A nice relaxing swim in the Pacific would do nicely.

imperiousamazon:

Outside of the Titan's Tower lands yet another number to be added to the growing team. She isn't here willingly but the young Amazon sets her shoulders back with pride and scans the island with a critical gaze. She can not belive that she has been sent here still. Mother can not be serious about this!

True she had been getting mouthy but there were other ways to discipline someone than to send them to strangers. She did not care for Man's world. She may have heard stories of it's heroes and the many adventures that all the Amazons who had left the island at one point or another had but that did not mean Corinna wanted to join in on them.

She starts to walk towards the entrance to the tower and for a moment flashes back to a dream she had a few weeks ago. She knew she was going to come to a strange tower one day, didn't she? The idea rattled around in her mind until Corinna pushed it away as ridiculous right before she stopped and knocked on the front door.

No reason to be rude after all.

lantern_kid:

17 years ago, a zombie invasion of New York City led to Hal Jordan to find an abandoned infant. Eventually, this infant was adopted by Jordan.

While Henry's exact birthdate is believed to be October 24th, he generally celebrates on the day his father found him... and this means he doesn't hold back when he throws his Halloween parties.

He's dressed as a zombie Hugh Hefner as he carefully checks over the snacks and drinks. People should be arriving soon. The decorations are all in place: black walls, different colored lights in each room, a strobelight by the dance floor, balloons and streamers, corpses and skeletons...

People should be arriving soon, and Henry is thrilled. He's got some cute people coming, both superhero-kid and civilian, and he's looking forward to seeing people mingle.

young_swimmer:

Cait stood in the wrecked apartment and looked around. The place was a complete and utter disaster. There was water damage and a huge gaping hole in the one wall. So much for getting her security deposit back. The place was completely ruined and unlivable.

Which lead to the most pressing issue. Where were her and Ty going to live? She didn't have enough money to put a deposit down on another apartment, not that anyone in their right mind would rent to her, and she wasn't about to ask her father for money. Mom was an option, but it would still be asking one of her parents for help. She didn't want to ask for help if she could prevent it.

Cait sighed and started sifting through her personal belongings. The items that were not damaged and the ones that were salvageable were put into cardboard boxes. The ones that had been ruined were tossed into trash bags. Thankfully most of the books had survived and Cait wouldn't have to pay to replace the ones from the library.

deadlyhemlock:

The light of the fire is the only illumination in an otherwise pitch black canopied forest.  The sky above is so filled with stars as to appear ready to burst;  as if hanging just one more light in the sky would make the whole thing come crashing down.  All the familiar aural ambiance is gone, with the noise of cars and plane engines replaced by the much more agreeable hooting of the owl and the crackle of the fire.

An unfamiliar pair of eyes shifts its gaze between the campers, as an invisible and distant watcher takes a moment to observe unseen...

lantern_kid:

There's a flash of green light, and the heroes arrive abruptly.

"Go!" the Green Lantern declares.

all_powerfull:

Applause fills the room, before the man in the suit at the front gestures for quiet again. While clearly pleased, he looks out of place in the suit and tie ensemble, more at home in his lab coat, but dinners like this are part of the requirements of being a STAR Labs director.
"Thank you for the warm reception, ladies and gentlemen. I know you're all as excited by this project as I am. I do want to thank you all for attending... and for your generous donations, of course. Without your generosity none of STAR's fine work would be possible."

There's another round of applause as the rich and powerful congratulate themselves, as usual. But the grants have made his work, and that of everyone else at his table possible. And lately, its been especially promising, leading up to today. He loses track of exactly what's said, briefly lost amidst a swirl of numbers and data, pondering the project, its ramifications, and its risks - but yet again assures himself that he's calculated all the variables - and warp gate travel of a human manned and operated craft, using strictly Earth technology should be possible... and very soon, a reality. He's shocked out of his reverie when he hears his name called.

"...without whom none of this would be possible. Please welcome STAR lab's youngest scientist and resident warp-gate wiz kid. You've all heard his name lately. Tyler, please come on up and say a few words."

The people at his table urge him, despite the blush and hesitance, to rise and head for the stage. On the way he sees his mother's proud smile, and feels Cait's hand brush his, reaching out to give him a supporting squeeze as he passes.

roy_harper:

Roy's checked the brakes, and the tires, and the spare tire on the vehicle. He made sure all the packs had basic medical kits, that the tents were really good tents, and the flashlights were all new, with batteries to spare. He's made Lian go over the lists of essentials twice, and he's lost count of how many times he's lectured her about being in charge, and the responsibility that goes with it.

Because it's making him feel like Ollie, he'll be done now. Really. There's no more he could possibly check with her.

"You have the numbers to all the local ranger stations and the hospital, right?"

lantern_kid:

Henry sits in a corner of the apartment, focusing with his father's ring. He wants to find his father. He wants to find his father.

He refuses to let his desire he's had his whole life, this desire for a green ring, interfere any further. He needs to find his father. He has to.

The ring glows, casting the room in soft green light, but Henry makes certain it won't interrupt any of his sleeping companions.

He wants to find his father. He wants to find his father. He wants to... keep this ring.

Damn it.

He lets out a tired sigh.

young_swimmer:

The small apartment was big enough for Cait and Ty to move about without bumping elbows too much, but with this many people it seemed smaller than normal. Wounds were tended to as best as possible and people found somewhat soft spots to relax. Cait ordered pizzas to be delivered, using up a good portion of her rainy day funds. This definitely qualified as a rainy day. She could always work a little more at the aquarium.

Work. She had to remember to call work. She wouldn't be going in tomorrow and she'd tell them an family emergency had come up. Which it had. Cerdian was family. He had been like another brother to her when they were young. He was closer to her own age than her own brother.

"So what are you all going to do now?" she asked the assembled crew. Yes, she asked what they were going to do. She wasn't a part of this and didn't want to be a part. Cait wasn't a hero.