nextgen_holiday:


You are cordially invited to attend the 28th annual Maria Stark Foundation's Winter Charity event.

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

Friday 21st of September
Seven O'clock pm - Midnight

Formal dress required.

Please bring a donation for Toys for Tots.


The grand ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel on 57 East 57th street was festively decorated for the holidays. A series of lit candles on every table gave off warm light and the dulcet tones of a jazz ensemble filled the room.

People, the upper elite of New York society, Hollywood celebrities, musicians, politicians and even superheroes moved around the room. People sat at tables and talked, while some moved gracefully around the large dance floor.

Tables loaded with unwrapped and unopened toys lined one wall and at one end stood a very large decorated Christmas tree. Wrapped presents sat under the tree, but they were just empty boxes wrapped for decoration. Mistletoe hung from the ceiling near the tree and people stopped to kiss.

The air was light and the mood happy and festive.

nextgen_holiday:

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart." - Seneca

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.

magic_hands:

There was not enough Marlow Appreciation. This needed to be fixed.   

Other people had birthdays and such where you could get them all sorts of presents and show how much you liked and appreciated them but Marlow didn't have a birthday. It wasn't fair that people didn't have that day to show her how awesome she was. So Martin usually picked a random day each year to get her a present (though sometimes he forgot if he'd brought one that year and she ended up getting more than one). This year though he was determined she'd get a whole Appreciation Day.

Arriving on the grounds of the Defender's compound, Martin is positive he has the right location. Usually with teleporting there was always a little doubt but the place had her magic all over it. So with his usual blue flames he'd arrived right outside where he could sense her magical protection spells.

Of course it was still within the scope of the non-magical security.

Yep, right place. Those blaring alarms couldn't be wrong. It worked so much better than a doorbell too.

son_of_hercules:

Irina having dropped him off, Argo felt the need to visit his friends and fellow gods of the Defenders.  It had already been a good time since his return to the mortal realm (though he had been unusually quiet in discussing what, exactly, had caused him to leave Olympus).  He had drank many beers, he had told many stories, and he had been with many women.

Some of the fangirls had been rather enthusiastic about his return.

But for now, he wished to see his other friends.  He'd heard there had been a baby born while he was gone.  To Svalin, no less!  He'd thought her only slightly less frigid than Asleif, unable to be warmed even by the Lion Cub of Olympus.  Who could have reached her so?  His helm was off to such a master of woo, whomever he may be.

He rang the bell.

marlow:

Everything had been checked and double-checked. Marlow had practiced the spell until she could see the runes in her mind in just the places she wanted them. It was going to be GREAT. She'd help the team by increasing her own size for limited periods so she wouldn't just be a puny human sorceress learning to fight. She'd be an /Asgardian/ sized sorceress and really show the bad guys who they had to watch out for in a fight.

Sitting on the grass in front of her bungalow, she closed her eyes and recited the words and waited.

She didn't feel anything. Not a thing. There should've been some sort of sensation when her body became bigger, but everything seemed fine. With a sigh, she mentally prepared herself to work on the spell some more and try again later.

When she opened her eyes, a sense of euphoria and wrongness filled her. She was looking down at a body that wasn't hers. The spell had worked, sort of, but... whose body was it?

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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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.

At the Defenders compound the ground was covered with snow and the Defenders celebrated Christmas and Yule playing outside in the snow.

nextgen_holiday:

“We’re here outside the Four Seasons Hotel in New York where the who’s who is gathered tonight. Celebrities, royals and superheroes have all turned out for the annual Maria Stark Foundation Winter Charity event benefiting Toys for Tots.

The stars and celebrities are out tonight to help a good cause.

Donald Trump arrived with his wife and is one of many other famous faces to arrive. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Ryan Reynolds, Julia Roberts, Chris Evans, Patrick Stewart, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift are just a few celebrities who have made an appearance here tonight.

Miss Anya Stark, the organizer of this event arrived with Mr. James Rogers and both had arms full of gifts. Other public heroes are out in attendance and supporting a good cause. Members of the Avengers, Defenders, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four and other teams are in attendance.

This party also has royal guests. His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Mikhail Loganovich is in attendance with a lovely lady on each arm. Princess Nimue of Atlantis is here tonight and is being escorted by Mason Jeffries of Alpha Flight. Prince Mackenzie of Atlantis is also in attendance and is escorting Miss Andrea Denker of the Fantastic Four. Vincent Vernard, heir to Latveria, is also in attendance tonight. We even have otherworld royalty in attendance as the children of Thor are here tonight as well.

It is a night to have fun and help a wonderful charity."

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.

nextgen_holiday:

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues." - Cicero

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.

marlow:

Dusk at the Defenders compound. Marlow stood barefoot on the grass in front of her bungalow. She had originally intended to go to the main house for dinner, but had to stop and watch the sunset. For days she'd felt a shift in the world. It had saddened her for some reason she couldn't put a finger on, but the magic won out. It had to go somewhere and if she didn't let it out there would be consequences.

While the sun sank into the ocean, Marlow's body rose from the grass to hover several feet above the earth.

shield_maiden:

Svalin would admit that she wasn't the best at gift selection and gift giving unless the gifts happen to be weapons or armor. Those she could make herself and give to people, but her pregnancy prevented her from working the forge. Thankfully Svalin had some jewels and gold from her wedding gifts and Lady Sydney had helped her find a jewelry maker in the city.

The necklace was beautiful when it was done and Svalin hoped Vernique liked sapphires. She had almost went with rubies, but she thought the blue jewels were pretty and would look good on her wife.

She wrapped the necklace in a black velvet cloth and went to find her wife.

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.

word_of_law:

The private plane touches down at Logan International airport at sundown and Avery's eyes snap open as he comes awake. He looks about wildly for a moment, uncertain of where he is, taking stock of the people around him. He's been feeling strange since the other night.

He's on this plane for a reason, but he doesn't know why. Furthermore, his mouth is so dry that he feels like he could drink a lake.

"Water..." he manages to croak, turning to Sydney.

word_of_law:

It had taken Avery two weeks of quiet research and calling in a few favors to get some access to the traffic cameras on the day of Sydney's accident, but he'd learned the name of the man driving the truck that hit Sydney that day. Selfishly, Avery waited for a day that Titan was out to ask for his help in "getting some information."

The moment Avery told Titan his plan, the green giant agreed with all due haste. They'd made quite the pair heading to David Hawke's apartment building in East L.A. and walking up the steps to his 1020A. Hawke opened the door and promptly tried to slam it in their faces. Titan held the door open with ease, allowing Avery to walk in.

Over the next hour, he explained to David Hawke what would happen if he didn't give Avery the information he was looking for, not the least of which would be that Titan would eat him whole and then forget he'd done it. Hawke threatened to go to the cops, the media and anyone who would listen. Avery nodded and then gave Titan "the signal".

When Titan opened his mouth as though he were about to bite Hawke's head off his shoulders, Hawke sang like a canary, describing the woman who'd hired him and how she'd told him to make sure "the bitch didn't walk away from the accident". Avery's blood boiled while listening to Hawke's account and then he calmly, but sternly, suggested that David Hawke take his ill-gotten money and leave Los Angeles that night. If he didn't, Titan would be back tomorrow to finish the job.

Once they were done, Avery thanked Titan and told him that the dinner reservations for him and Marlow at a fancy restaurant would be taken care of shortly.

Then Avery got into his car and sped toward Cecelia's apartment to lay down the law.

sydney_ashcroft:

Sydney had just enough time to run some errands before she had to pick Zoey up from school. It had been a busy day so far and Syd still had a lot of items on her To Do list. It seemed like her days just got busier and busier. One of these days she'd get the chance to take a real vacation. Her errands were complete and she headed toward Zoey's school to pick her up.

She drove along and sang along to the radio. Katy Perry's "Waking Up In Vegas" was on and quite catchy. Syd found that she rather liked it. The traffic light was green and Syd proceeded into the intersection.

She didn't see the pickup truck coming from her left, but it plowed into the side of her car. Glass broke and metal was pushed inward. Her car skidded across the intersection and slammed into another car. More glass broke and metal twisted. Another car hit hers and by now she was unconscious. She couldn't feel the broken bones that she suffered and she couldn't feel the blood running down her face and would have run into her eyes had she not been unconscious.

People gathered around and a few started to help the injured people in the vehicles. The man in the truck was unhurt and climbed out of the truck. He saw that his job was done and took off running down the street.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

Forty-five minutes later Mr. Cooleridge's assistant dialed Sydney's cellphone. When it went to voice mail she called the next number on the list belonging to Mr. Crittenden.

nextgen_citizen:

Cecelia Wyndam-Crittenden was sure that this was a bad idea when it came to mind, but she had to know. She had to understand why Avery had spent every day for the last seven years pining away for a woman who didn't really know him, leaving Cecelia to the ruins of their marriage. She'd made her own mistakes, certainly, but the reasons for those mistakes had some of their basis in Avery's cruelty to her.

Even after all the pain, the screaming and the betrayal, however, Cecelia Wyndam-Crittenden still loved her husband.

Avery ran back to Los Angeles so fast after handing her the divorce papers that a blind man could have seen the smoke trail behind him. He'd gone after the woman Cecelia was watching from the table at Cafe Rio. All of the information she had on Sydney Ashcroft wasn't much; she had a sister, Bryn, and a daughter, Zoey. She didn't have a picture of the child yet, but she wondered if Avery was bothered by raising another man's child. Or was he willing to deal with it just to be with this woman?

She'd watched Sydney come in and sit down, order, and then begin to eat by herself. Cecelia studied her from three tables over, simply watching her move, eat and breathe.

Finally, when curiosity got the best of her, Cecelia stood and walked over to Sydney's table, hoping to talk some kind of sense into her. Maybe she didn't understand that she was a home-wrecking whore who was standing between a woman and her husband, but Cecelia was going to tell her.

"Excuse me, are you Sydney Ashcroft?" she asks, flashing her best charm school smile. 

Sydney will, of course, recognize her as the woman who bid against her for Avery at the charity auction.

word_of_law:

Avery brought Indian food to the mansion along with a couple of books on archaeology. He'd been trying to learn more about it lately so he could have conversations with Sydney, though he knew he'd never match her encyclopedic memory. Still, listening to her talk so passionately about her love of history was a big turn-on. He loved her and enjoyed seeing her happy.

Once inside, he picked out a bottle of wine for them, and brought the food to the table, then went to go find Sydney.

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_holiday:


I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Hath led me -- who knows how?
To thy chamber window, Sweet!

The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream--
And the Champak's odours
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart,
As I must on thine,
O belovèd as thou art!

O lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast:
O press it to thine own again,
Where it will break at last!

Percy Bysshe Shelley

nextgen_parent:

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first annual Maria Stark Foundation Charity Auction. I'm Alison Blaire and your host for tonight's festivities. Prepare yourselves for a night of fun to help a worthy cause. In just a few minutes many very handsome men will be brought out one by one for your chance to win a date with one of them.

Before we begin I would like to bring out Her Imperial Highness Anya Stark. Miss Stark helped arranged tonight's event and will give you a little more information on the charity organization tonight's proceeds will help."

Anya walked out on stage and smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Blaire. All of the proceeds from tonight's event will go directly to Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières. This organization was created in 1971 in France to benefit the citizens of the world. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation all across the globe. MSF operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas.

I'm happy to announce on behalf of the Maria Stark Foundation, that all money collected here tonight will be matched dollar for dollar by the Maria Stark Foundation."

"Thank you Miss Stark and that is a very generous offer by the Maria Stark Foundation. Now it's time to begin. So open those wallets and let's bring out our first man." Anya left the stage and went to take her seat.

"First we have the son of Captain America Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. James Romanov-Rogers is currently an Avenger and has recently moved to Seattle to lead the West Coast Avengers."

"Let's start the bidding at a hundred dollars."

shield_maiden:

For Svalin getting two new weapons at the same time was like a kid getting toys at Christmas and not knowing which one to play with first. Vigfrior was one of the most perfect weapons Svalin had ever picked up. The sword was...well perfect. The grip fit her hand with perfections, the balance was unlike she had ever seen and it the ability to change into different weapons. Svalin no longer had to worry about carrying a small arsenal with her.

Then there was the Bat'leth. Her brother had done excellent work and she truly didn't deserve such a gift. Svalin had been practicing almost non-stop with the two weapons when she wasn't doing other chores around the compound. At first the Bat'leth felt clumsy and awkward, but Svalin was a warrior and she practiced religiously and took to weapons like no other. Now her movements were fluid, almost graceful and she knew she could now use the weapon in combat.

Maybe soon she would get her chance to use both weapons in combat.

She thought about Vernique as she went through her afternoon training routine. She had left a message with her inviting her out to visit for a few days. Svalin may have said something about wanting some new Migard clothes. If anything brought Vernique out, it would be the promise of shopping and the chance to dress Svalin up.

She hadn't heard back from Vernique, but she had used Sydney's phone because she didn't have one of her own. Though she knew Syndey would tell her if Vernique had called. That she was sure of.

She continued to go through her forms and Zoey mirrored her movements. She could tell the child had been practicing while she was away and had improved. After practice they would see to their horses and then Svalin promised Zoey she would take her swimming.

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.

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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
+

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:

“We’re here outside the Four Seasons Hotel in New York where the who’s who is gathered tonight. Celebrities, royals and superheroes have all turned out for the annual Maria Stark Foundation Winter Charity event benefiting Toys for Tots.

It’s truly an all-star gala here tonight.

New York’s own princess, Anya Stark, was seen being escorted by what appears to be her new flame, actor Austin Cain. Her brother and currently second in line to the Russian throne, Mikhail Romanov, was seen entering the party with Lyta Worthington, heiress to Worthington Industries. Tony and Natasha Stark, parents of a new baby, are making their first public appearance since the birth of their son.

Mackenzie Rider, a prince of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, is escorting Ms. Andrea Denker of the Fantastic Four tonight. Kristoff Vernard, leader of the Fantastic Four, was seen in attendance with his wife Cassandra and their son Scotty. Vincent Amorason, heir to Latveria, arrived alongside his brother and was seen escorting a member of the Defenders, Asleif Thorsdottir. The rest of the Fantastic Four are here too with their dates, though Miss Valeria Richards is not in attendance. Franklin Richards is in attendance and is escorting one Miss Gill.

Los Angeles’ own superhero team, the Defenders are in attendance as well. Arriving with her team is Grace Danvers, daughter of Hollywood hunk Simon Williams and she is being escorted by teammate, Eiltin. The two Asgardian princesses and daughters of Thor, Asleif and Aridis, are also attending the festivities with their team.
Akilah Munore, the crown princess of Wakanda, is here tonight with her steady flame, Daniel Sherwood a member of the Young Avengers. The other Young Avengers are in attendance tonight with their dates, alongside the adult Avengers.

Donald Trump arrived with his wife and is one of many other famous faces to arrive. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Hugh Jackman, Jack Nicholson, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift are just a few celebrities who have made an appearance here tonight.

It’s truly a party of the who’s who and it’s all for a great cause.”

sydney_ashcroft:

With Zoey with Avery for the weekend Syd had used the weekend to finish her paper for a class and wrap up the Scion end of quarter stuff. It had been a productive weekend and thankfully the chaos had been kept to a minimum as well. Maybe she was getting a Christmas gift early.

She poured herself a glass of wine and retreated to the library. Zoey would be home soon and Syd would spend the last few moments of free time with a glass of wine and a book. She curled up on one of the large couches in the library and dove into a book.

son_of_genius:

Franklin had talked about the prospect of moving in with the Defenders with his parents.  They reacted as he thought they would, but they eventually saw his side of the issue.  He figured it was, in part, because both of his parents realized that there was nothing they could do to stop him from doing what he felt was best.

Sydney, the den mother, had been informed before Franklin arrived.  He had been given her e-mail address prior to leaving, in order to contact her about when he was going to arrive.  Of course, it wasn't guaranteed that he was moving in with them.  The visit was just to see how he vibed with the Defenders.  If they had problems with him being there, it wasn't going to happen. 

That being said, Franklin doubled-checked himself before knocking on the door to the main building.

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_holiday:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." JFK

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.

sydney_ashcroft:

Syd made sure she kept track of all the Defenders' birthdays. Even if she didn't, Sarah would have made sure to remind her that it was Griffen's birthday. Syd helped with decorating the cake that Sarah had baked. Zoey had helped pick out Griffen's gift from the two of them. This year they had gotten him a new top of the line laptop. Zoey had helped wrapped it and made Griffen a card.

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_holiday:

It was a perfect Southern California day. The sun was warm and bright and the water was nice and cool. Traditionally the large bbq pit would be fired up and food slow cooked over it all day, but today the Defenders went for something different. Two very large grills were carried down to the beach along with tables and all of the food. The Defenders' Labor Day celebration would be a beach party.

The volleyball net was strung up and the surf board were carried down. Two brand new jetskis were also purchased and taken down to the beach.

Massive amounts of food were prepared to satisfy godly appetites. A whole pig was set up over a pit and put on a spit, burgers, hot dogs, sausage, barbecued ribs, corn on the cob, pasta salad, salad and fruit salad were just some of the food available to eat. Soda, water, fruit juice and other beverages were on ice.

It was a day of rest and relaxations for those who put their lives on the line for others.

team_mascot:

Zoey was bouncing from the second she got up. Today was HER BIRTHDAY! She was turning seven today and seven was a big birthday. Or so she thought. She had been looking forward to this day ALL SUMMER! Birthdays were special and Mom said she could have a big party, minus the zombies and undead soldiers of course.

She zipped around all day, with the dogs following of course, and helped wherever she could. She helped Sarah make the cake, helped put up decorations and she helped arrange things on the table. She bounced the whole time. When Sarah told her to go get ready, Zoey raced up the stairs to get changed.

She raced down the stairs when she was ready.

It was FINALLY time for her party.

nextgen_adult:

In a flash a white a portal appeared in the middle of the defender’s front lawn. A moment later a large man in a dark blue cloak with red Celtic designs on it step through. He then confidently walked up to the main doors of the central building and knocked on them.

word_of_law:

A few nights after their date, allowing for both of them to get their lives on track and such, Avery calls Sydney to invite her to dinner at his place. He keeps the affair simple, with some wine and Thai Food ordered in from her favorite restaurant, and waits for her to arrive.

He's really trying to make this less about their time from the other night and more about settling into a dating rhythm. They have a lot of other things to talk about as well, so he doesn't want to make things awkward for her.

He's wearing a blue polo shirt, blue jeans and brown boots, and praying he's not under-dressed for a casual meeting. Of course, Sydney could show up in a bathrobe and she'd look amazing, but that's beside the point.

He really tries to push the image of Sydney in a bathrobe out of his mind as he waits.

sydney_ashcroft:

Last night hadn't gone exactly to plan, but it had been a wonderful night. The exhibit had been wonderful, dinner excellent and afterwards...Syd blushed at the thought. She had woke up this morning snuggled up next to a warm body and with a smile on her face.

She would have stayed in bed if she could, but an eight am meeting on the East Coast meant a five am meeting on the West Coast. Syd rolled out of bed at 4:30 and got dressed and caffeinated before her video conference with Mr. Stark. After the meeting she started a batch of blueberry muffins and scrambled up some eggs. Pancake batter was made and ready to be cooked when people filtered into the kitchen.

The residents and their guest would be waking up soon and it was best to be armed with food. She smiled at the thought of two dogs, a tiger and a kid jumping into bed with Avery.

sydney_ashcroft:

The black strapless dress fit just right and Sydney looked at her reflection in the full length mirror. The clock showed 5:45. Nervousness gripped Sydney as she turned to look at her side and back. The dress had been a spur of the moment purchase during a shopping trip and now Syd was glad she had made it. She had bought it for a date with Simon, but now it was being used for a date with Avery. How fast things changed.

Syd put on a little makeup just to shake things up. She didn't normally wear it, but this was a formal date after all. With Avery. If she was moving on from Simon, she was going to do it right. Was she moving on? Had Simon already moved on? She hadn't seen him and she wasn't going to go out of her way to see him either.

Syd wiped her sweaty palms off on the side of her dress and then chided herself for doing it. Oh man was she nervous. She couldn't remember the last time she was this nervous. It was just a date. Right?

Syd slipped her feet into a pair of black heels and took a deep breath. She could do this. One last glance in the mirror and another deep breath.

word_of_law:

"Hey, Syd...can I see you? I really need to talk to somebody about this, but I don't know who else to call." Avery says, rubbing at the beard he's managed to grow over the last few days. He hasn't been back to work since news broke about the devastation in Fargo, Georgia. 

Avery was as shocked as anyone upon hearing about the damage to the small town, but nothing really hit home until his saw his cousin, Adrian Carver, reporting on his show Adrian Carver 720. The damage to the city was catastrophic, and the death toll heartrending. But it hurt Avery all the more because he recognized the damage the moment he laid eyes on it.

It was the city from his vision during dinner with Sydney. The man he saw in the vision was there and now that city was destroyed. Rarely did he see the direct results of his visions come to pass so quickly, which now meant that he could no longer ignore or push away what he'd seen.

Avery now found himself trying to live with the guilt of knowing that he could have said something, anything, to the authorities to stop it.

He waits for Sydney in his house, hoping she doesn't bring Zoey with her. He wasn't sure he could face his little girl tonight in his current state of mind.

ohu_amane:

It wasn't expected.

Ohu Amane received an unusual phone call today. And now his room is empty.

It's abrupt, but Ohu Amane has never done anything in half-measures.

He goes from room to room, seeking out the Defenders one at a time to say his goodbyes.

nextgen_parent:

It felt good to be back on Earth again, but Simon had some mixed feelings about coming back home. He felt like a heel with the way he left. At Grace's graduation no less. His daughter had graduated from high school and he couldn't even stay for the whole thing. There were probably a dozen angry voicemails from Carol on his cell phone and another dozen from Sydney. Though he did deserve every single angry voicemail. That much he would admit to.

He managed to get inside the main building and to the door of Grace's room without anyone stopping him. He didn't even see any sign of Sydney or the godlings. Normally he would think it werid, but today he was thankful he didn't see any of them. he wanted to talk to Grace before anyone else.

He knocked on Grace's door.

marlow:

Downtime after the Defenders/Offenders war gave Marlow plenty of time to think about the spells she'd used and their effects. She'd knowingly overreached several times for magic she didn't think she should be able to wield and had done so easily. It was something she had to figure out before their next battle. She tried to contact Clea but those particular spells weren't working so well. Perhaps it was something she could talk to Matt about since he was the only other magic user she knew that might not get agitated when she said power surge.

Sure, there was Dawn...or was it Aslief? Who knew anymore. One was nice but untrained, the other expert and dismissive. While the others merely overlooked her, Aslief literally did not see her until there was a need for another sorceress.

Barefoot, wearing a boy's black tee shirt and faded to nearly white jeans, she made her way from the bungalow to the main house for a late breakfast. A ball of pulsing light hovered a few inches above her open palm.

sydney_ashcroft:

Of course it had to be one of those days where Sydney was running late for everything. Zoey was late getting to school because of some issues finding her sneakers this morning. Then Syd's car had issues and wouldn't start right away. She finally got Zoey to school thirty minutes late.

Which made Syd late for her karate class. She had things to discuss with the instructors after class, which made her late for lunch with her sister. Lunch ran late which meant she was late for a conference call with Mr. Stark and the board. The universe was just out to get her today.

The one thing she was on time for was picking Zoey up from school, but then Bryn was late picking Zoey up, which made her late for dinner with Avery on top of traffic.

Syd walked into the Thai restaurant twenty minutes late.

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.

shessomarvelous:

Bendy-timed to before a couple of days before Loki showed up

Grace fidgeted with the sleeves of her black robe. The gold tassel from her cap dangled in front of her face.

She was graduating from high-school. Sure, it wasn't the school that she had started out at, but she did it. She'd put in the hard work, and she'd soon have the diploma to prove it.

The speeches having been over and done with, Grace stood in line with the kids from her row to get her diploma. As long as she didn't trip, everything would be perfect. Dad and the Defenders were somewhere in the crowd. She'd even told Zoey to invite Avery along. Her Mom had flown in from Boston to see her daughter graduate.

Grace could feel her heartbeat start to speed up, as she got closer to the platform.

"Grace Elizabeth Danvers!" Her name was called out by the vice-principal and she walked across the stage, taking her diploma from the principal, a wide grin on her face.

When all the names had been called and all of the seniors had officially graduated, Grace tossed her cap into the air along with the rest of the students. Then, picking it up, she rushed off to find the Defenders and her Mom. Mom had booked a room at a local restaurant for them to have all of them to have a nice dinner.

sydney_ashcroft:

Thankfully Sydney had swapped important information with Avery when they were synchronizing their calendars and it had given Syd the head's up that Avery's birthday was coming up. She knew Zoey would want to give Avery something for his birthday. Zoey had made him a card and Sydney took her shopping.

Just what did one give someone one didn't know too well for their birthday?

Syd racked her brain to find something, then she remembered Avery liked music. So she suggested a guitar to Zoey and they went shopping to find one for him. Syd didn't know if he still played, but it was the only thing she could really think of. Zoey liked the idea and of course now wanted to take guitar lessons too.

The man at the shop had been so helpful. All guitars looked the same to Syd, so she relied on the sales clerk to help her. They found a nice acoustic guitar and wrapping it had been a task, but in the end they managed it.

With card, gift and a cake made by Sarah in hand, Syd and Zoey went over to Avery's house.