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.

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.

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.

touchesthepast:

Leo had gotten a call from Kal about something she wanted him to look at with his talents that was related to all the gang violence going on. He was up to do whatever he could to help end all of it. It was getting really annoying and cutting into his business as a private eye.

He had mostly recovered from when he had help deal with the gang war that had erupted though some spot were still sore.

He also remember that Abigail Hawk the of the PI had also been looking into all of this and gave her a call letting her know what was up and if she had any info or just to help she could come over too.

jackmurdock:

A hard looking kid dressed in a new fancy-name jacket held up a corner of the building opposite from the one Jack crouched on. Five stories up, Jack could see his silhouette pretty well from the lone street light halfway down the block. The kid, and the four menacing figures ranged around him in doorways of rundown brick buildings, were ‘taking care of business‘. Even the cold couldn’t put a damper on the need to score that last hit. Cars made a slow but steady cash flow trickle as Jack watched them ease to a stop at the corner. A few seconds to exchange tiny baggies for folded paper, and then back to lean against something and wait for the next.

( He scanned the gloomy black of the neighborhood )

no_relation:

He knew he should be laying low, both Marcia and Maggie were worried about him, and the former was letting him stay with her for now. It wasn't like he took up that much space. He'd managed to figure out how to get that thing where his costume disappears and reappears into making different clothes, so he was pretty much set. He also seemed to stay pretty clean without trying. He'd tried not to be eating too much also.

But right now, he had to get out. There was crime afoot, no doubt! He also really needed more practice with those cord things he shot out of his hands. Great way to get around town, combined with sticking to stuff and bouncing off it.

He heard shots being fired, and hustled down the street and around a corner.

bornlucky:

About a week ago Casey had made a passing mention of how in Ireland on the day before Ash Wednesday they would celebrate Pancake Tuesday. Well apparently one of the higher up though it was neat and would be a good event to have at Finnegans.  The bar had done some mild advertising for it and they were hoping for some increase in business which is why Casey found himself working a longer shift than usual he barely had time to get to work after teaching his recitation but at least he was certain to make a lot of money today.

When he got there the place was already hopping and the waitresses looked busy. Apparently they were giving out free pancakes and were hoping to use that to make people buy more drinks. By the time Casey got behind the bar he could tell their plan was working with the amount of drinks he had to get. He was definitely making a lot of money today which made him very happy with how crazy it was going to be this afternoon.

lady_hood:

"Melissa, you have the makings of a great student, if you'd just apply yourself to this course. To that end, I'm going to suggest a tutor for you. She's the daughter of an old student of mine, and she's picked up this subject as easily as her father did. If anyone can help you understand this class, it's her."  Doc Connors said.

That was three days ago.

Melissa Frost sighed just as loudly now as she did then, sitting in the study hall waiting for May Parker. The first name lost points, but the last name made up for it. Melissa didn't want to fail Chemistry, but she also didn't want these tutoring sessions taking up too much of her time. John King was still out there, and the Boss could call at any time with a job for her; she needed to be ready to move.

But she also had to keep her promise to her father.

She sat at the table, staring down into the Chemistry book, waiting for the symbols inside to mystically make sense. This was nothing like spellcrafting; she understood that with no problems.

Any day now, Parker. I still have a life to lead after this. she thought to herself.

no_relation:


John "Jack" Smith... well, he was pretty sure that was his name. It was one of the things he know; one of the very few specific things he knew. He could fill out crossword puzzles, he could set a table, he could tie his shoes, he could tell time, he knew what times of day were harder to hail a cab, but nothing specific. There was no personal history in his head.

Of course, right now he was a little more concerned with the fact that he'd just flung someone across a room, pulled a costume from out of nowhere, and now was flying across down on lines he shot out of his arms. Normal people don't do this! Not even amnesiac normal people!

The fact that his instincts are telling him this is supposed to be happening is what freaked him out more than anything else.

He could tell he was supposed to be doing something, but what was it?

And why were all these people yelling 'Hey! Spidey!' at him?

( Read more... )

(joint-posted with permission from Beth)

ng_marauders:

Winterkill keeps close to the buildings. She's had plenty of stealth training, and now its critical it gets pushed to its limits. Her scouting has turned up the information they needed. Spotting just the person she was looking for. She sneaks closer, looking about nervously.

"Blake." she calls to the guard in a loud, hoarse whisper. "Blake! Turn your com off, you idiot. Someone hacked our signal, we have visitors. Keep it down."

jackmurdock:

Breathing hard, Jack managed to land lightly on a rooftop and fall down in the shadow of a brick chimney. He’d pushed it with that last dive, but the exhilaration pushed him to take it. It was a high he was quickly becoming addicted to despite the danger of being out in the city at night dressed in gray-black and a mask over his face. Who did he think he was, Daredevil?

He waited to catch his breath before coming out of the shadows to look at the city from his vantage point.

hellfireprince:

The orange-and-black posters are put up at various locations around the city, though they are concentrated most heavily near the clubs and bars that advertise live entertainment, or 20 and under nights.

The fliers read simply: 



WHAT: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST- BATTLE OF THE BANDS

WHEN: 2-7-10

WHERE: The Popular Outcast

WHO: YOU


1st Place- $20, 000

2nd Place- $10, 000

3rd Place- $5,000



BRING YOUR A-GAME AND ROCK THE HOUSE!

(Note: No alcohol served during this event as minors may attend.)



Julian supposed the idea wasn't terrible, but he was skeptical when Paulo brought it up. Then again, how else was he going to find who he was looking for? 

bornlucky:

So far it had been a slow night the bar of the authentic Irish pub that Casey worked at. If any of his family and friends saw this place they would laugh their arses off but they were paying him extra to work here just because he had a real Irish accent.

He was hoping that the action would pick up here so he could get more tips and there was not much more cleaning and restocking he could do. Still the night was young and business could definitely still pick up.

notinplainsight:

Kalypso sat outside a small cafe in Rome and sipped her cappuccino. Normally she would go to a cold place, like the upper atmosphere, when she wanted to think, but today she wanted to be among mortals. She didn't want to feel so separated from them as she normally felt. Like she had been feeling since finding out she was an Eternal and not a mutant.

She watched the people pass by as they went about their daily lives. They were completely oblivious to the danger the world they knew was in. An ancient enemy stirred and none of them had any idea of what was happening. These days she wanted to be as ignorant as they were. She didn't want to know that the deviants were stronger and more powerful than they had ever been. It wouldn't be long until all out war started. She didn't want to know that the deviants wanted to enslave humanity.

She sipped her cappuccino and watched the sea of humanity around her.

notinplainsight:

Kalypso was tired enough that she had to sleep. Normally she could just choose not to waste time sleeping, but today she needed to sleep. She had spent the better part of the past two weeks traveling and for her traveling meant between Olympia and Titan. The Eternals of both Earth and Titan needed to be warned of the threat the deviants posed and her cousin’s dream of Thanos.

Interplanetary travel was quite taxing and her stores of cosmic energy were depleted.

She landed on Jack’s fire escape and barely managed to use telekinesis to open the latch and open the window. Jack would be in class right now and wouldn’t be home for a few hours. Kal would use that time to sleep and recharge.

She crawled inside and fell facedown on the bed.

nextgen_misc:

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

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

Anonymous entries accepted.

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.

notinplainsight:

If they were going to make her a reserve Avenger, then Kalypso thought it may be best to get to know the people she would be fighting alongside. Now that classes were done until mid-January, she had time to stop by the Avengers Mansion and see what the Avengers were up to and get to know them better.

She touched down on the front doorstep and rang the bell.

nextgen_holiday:

“We need to be more grateful. I think there is no true character without gratitude. It is one of the marks of a real strong character to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in the church, everywhere. It doesn't cost anything, and it is so easy to cultivate.” - Ezra Taft Benson

In America 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.

nextgen_misc:

There's a sound of breaking glass as a body comes flying out the front window of a butcher shop, shots following it. Someone, or something, apparently wasn't expecting the owner to be there overnight. A large but lithe body bolts down the sidewalk and into an alley.

nextgen_misc:

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.

The streets of New York saw children and adults dressed up in costumes and moving about.

ng_rgoodfellow:

How dare they? How dare they not see her talent and cast her as the leading role!? It was the performance of her life and they said "a mime could do better". Marylynne was infuriated. How dare they not see how wonderful she was? Were they blind?

She'd show them. Mimes were...nightmare inducing and so...argh! A mime! She'd give them mimes if they wanted mimes!

Times Square was considered the crossroads of the world and the perfect place to pull this off. She strolled through the crowd, smiling and briefly touching each person she passed. One touch and they were hers. They stopped talking in mid-sentence and started pantomiming.

Marylynne smiled as she continued to walk around Times Square turning the lovely citizens and tourists into mimes.