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.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Anonymous entries accepted.

pym_kitten:

Chris' eyes opened sharply, the trance over her breaking. The people at large, and most of the honor guard, had had their resolve shaken by the outsiders' actions. The connection with the energy that fueled their civilization was disrupted. The stream of light cut off abruptly, and Chris sat up.

"...what?" She blinked, holding her head. The rattling of the jewlery that had been placed on her prompted her to open her eyes. "I... where am I? Who the hell... this... why am I tarted up like tribal fetish Barbie?!" She screamed, rolling off the altar, transforming back to her human form in her disorientation.

nextgen_deviant:

The brides were clad in white and lined up in front of the altar. A semi-circle of priests stood behind the brides and were chanting. The magic in the air became more powerful as the priests chanted. A small circle appeared in the air before the brides and started to get bigger.

Standing behind the priests was a large group of deviants. They were witnessing the rebirth of their god into the mortal realm. It was an honor and privilege to be witness to this historic moment.

nextgen_holiday:

There were traditions around the holidays and then there were traditions. One such tradition on New Year's Day was a snowball fight at Xavier's Institute For Higher Learning. Each New Year's Day the students and faculty gathered on the front lawn and participated in a snowball fight. Snow was never a problem with the resident weather goddess and in later years hydrokinetics.

A fresh blanket of snow covered the ground thanks to Mother Nature.

High noon struck and the snowball fight was officially under way.

nextgen_misc:

At Elder Shadow's command, the honor guard threw themselves forward as the Ritual of Transformation began and the crowds pulled back. As light poured down from the cavern's ceiling onto the altar where Chris lay, each of the guard members chose an opponent.

dream_catcher:

Its a little before dawn. The circles are drawn, the spirits have been called. There's food and drink laid out for family and any friends who want to witness the ritual and who have been invited by Danielle, though everyone except Danielle has been instructed to remain outside the circle and keep any talk quiet and between themselves.

Lucas has been in meditation for over an hour, communing with the spirits of the area and one in particular, preparing the introductions and making sure he has the stories right.

At ten minutes before sunrise he looks to the gathered. "We have a few minutes. If there is any questions or concerns, now is the time. When Danielle steps into this circle, I must request we have no further interruptions or it risks everything. You may talk among yourselves, but not to either of us, and neither of us can leave the circle for any reason or the ritual will fail. We'll be here til sunset. Feel free to come and go, but please keep it quiet once the sun is rising. Everything is ready, and we have a few minutes. Any questions?"

nextgen_misc:

On the other side of a portal in the woods... there is a small empty cave, connected to a tunnel, descending deep into the earth. As the end of the tunnel comes closer, light grows brighter. The end of the tunnel opens into a cavern that seems simply too big to exist and not be known. The air is warm and humid, and there's light at the top of the cavern, like a miniature sun, but it doesn't burn the eyes to look at it. It seems to pulse and thrum with a gentle life of it's own, keeping life sustained here.

Those among the X-Men who have seen the Savage Land will feel much the same here. There are vast tracts of jungle, threaded through by areas of plain, with sandy shores along a huge lake that takes up it's own fair share of the cavern. At the center of the cave wall furthest from the tunnel's exit however, lies a village with dozens of huts, and smaller caves carved into the wall. These are all dwarfed by a ziggurat, rising up to an ornate platform. The base of the temple, and each ascending tier, are packed to the brim with bodies, arms and voices raised. Some are singing songs of celebration, some are arguing with one another. At the top however, lays Chris, still unconscious, body dressed in tribal finery that would leave her classified as indecent back in New York. Surrounding her are Elder Shadow and the honor guard that accompanied him.

By the time the X-Men could be within sight range of the individuals, the elder's voice rings out, magic carrying it to every mind in the cavern willing to listen. "My brothers and sisters, I speak to you, as ever, as the servant of your will! The spirits and our people's will have provided for us! We have brought the chosen one into our midst, and the time of alignment for the Ritual of Transformation is at hand. Although one of our kind was brutalized, and their blood perverted for the humans' science, we will not be like them. We will not rise and spill blood. We will make them as our own. They will hear nature's voices once again, and we will rise to live in peace with them!"

Another voice, that male with the moss and mud caked onto him, also carries, as if piggybacking on the magic the elder was using. "Even though there are those among us who feel the Ritual of Cleansing would be more justified, for the horrors the pink apes commit upon our mother... the greater voice of the people will be upheld.."

Elder Shadow wheels around, baring his teeth against the druid. "Cracked Claw, you are our most gifted life-weaver in three generations, and yet your mouth brings nothing but disasters and poison. You will stay your voice. The Ritual of Cleansing is an embarrassment in our people's history, and we will not speak of it."

"But Elder Shadow, they--"

The old male takes a hard step towards the younger, arching his back. "You wish to challenge my place as our people's guardian, kitten?" He does not yell, but his voice speaks with the force of a thundercloud, looking at Cracked Claw with shame and disappointment.

"...no, Elder Shadow. Your voice is the people's voice." His ears flatten, as he lowers his body towards the stones of the temple, before taking his place in a ring around the altar Chris is laid upon.

The elder turns his face out to the crowd. "If there are any who should speak against the great Transformation... now is the time to speak."

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.

1407 Graymalkin Lane is well decorated, and snow covers the grounds. A massive tree stands in the mansion's living room, and ribbons or pine line stairwells or the walls. As for the X-Men themselves...

quadrimanial:

It was so good to be back. Sylvie was making her way across furniture and particularly sturdy bits of wall decor, everything just like it was supposed to --  Oh. They moved that chair in the front atrium. She couldn't reach it now.

"The nerve, not preserving everything, amberlike, to await my return," she joked to herself as she climbed down and made her way across the floor. For good measure, she grabbed the chair with her top arms and very slowly but surely dragged it towards its more convenient spot.

nextgen_deviant:

It was time to bring Set back into the world and bring about a new age for the Earth. Mammals would no longer be the dominant species and humans, those foul evolved apes, will be slaves once more. Slaves like they used to be before the accursed Celestials wiped out most of the deviants and lizard men.

The priests knew what needed to be done. One of the special deviants, those modified to better fight for Set, would accompany them and take the brides into custody. Teleporting was much easier now that Set’s influence in the world was getting stronger. The priests did it now with very little effort.

The priests teleported in near the brides, they were marked and easy to find now, and once they were alone, a small spell was cast and the bride went unconscious. The priest’s escort picked her up and the trio teleported back to Lemuria.
It had only taken a matter of moments to retrieve all seven brides.

Once they were back in Lemuria, the brides had been dressed in white dresses and cloaks and prepared for the coming of their lord Set. They were then arranged around the serpent crown and the ritual began.

nextgen_parent:

The Moonlight Flit, the private -- and very discreet -- plane of the Muir Island Research Center, started to touch down at the appropriate landing area at the Xavier Institute.

Danielle's tail was already wagging as several of them waited for the plane to open up.
And when their family comes out, there is some mutual pouncing.

"Mummy! Da!"
"My Stars," Hrimhari greets them enthusiastically, first hugging Moira tightly before shifting down to full-wolf form to nuzzle at Danielle.

The temporary neglect of others present is not intended to be a discourtesy, certainly.

nextgen_misc:

"They sense us, we have no more time to delay." The magus seated himself on the forest floor. Their numbers had gathered, and they were ready to retrieve the chosen one. The others would not let her go without a fight though. They would need to be isolated.

He reached a clawed hand into a deerskin pouch, retrieving a handful of small bones and scattering them across the circle he had seated himself in. He chanted under his breath, calling on not only the primal spirits, but the collective energy of his people. Slitted eyes came into focus, showing a youth of mind that the grayed fur around his face obscured.

"Scatter."

He, and those around the circle, vanished.

~~~

A wave of magical energy came towards the Xavier Institute like a tidal wave, a roar to those who could perceive it. It came through the walls and struck at Chris and those around her. They all vanished from sight, reappearing in various locations. They would each find an opponent waiting for them as well.

The invaders... well, there was no way around it, they looked like Chris. From ears to tail, they were built on the same model as her hybrid form. A mix of colors, ages, and body-types, but they were fighting a bunch of cat-people.

nextgen_misc:

"It is agreed then. The time is now."

A ring of faces nod agreement, each speaking one by one.

"They imprison one of our scouts and pervert our blood for their monsters."

"We only wish to live peacefully, and keep our own domain."

"They hunt and murder their own kind for skin color, powers, beliefs."

"We can make them better."

"One race. One people."

"There will be no bloodshed, only transformation."

The tallest of the group stands, holding up a totem. "The chosen one has already been found. She has the gift to make herself one of them with no aid from our magics. Her coat is the color of royalty. She will be the centerpiece of the Ritual of Transformation. For now, watch her. Take her to come among us when the time is right." The totem blazes to life, and two of the members of the group assume human form. Attendants step forward with clothes for them, and they depart.

"No bloodshed. Only transformation."

~~~~~

Two pairs of eyes follows Chris Grant-Pym as she walks through town with her friend.

little_gabriel:

The warmth of the sun beat down on Gabriel's back as he flew high into the sky.  He'd had a few days to process the information Leech had given him about his mother.  She had... captured his father and brainwashed him into having relations with her.  To his very core, Gabriel was displeased with the actions his mother had taken int he past.  And to make matters worse, Gabriel's vision of starting a relationship with his long lost father had shattered.  Additionally, he had a sister.  "Should I tell her?" he asked himself as he reached somewhere around ten thousand feet above sea level.

nextgen_misc:

The city of London was seeing something straight out of a few horror films. A combination of a Romero zombie film and An American Werewolf in London, sort of. Zombies shambled and shuffled through the streets of London searching out delicious, juicy, squishy brains. Howls drifted up over the sounds of the city from North Surrey in the south to Enfield in the north part of the city. Werewolves and zombies littered the streets and the citizens rightfully locked themselves inside. Any civilian outside was considered fair game and prey to the monsters now roaming the city.

A seedy looking man stood outside of Lillywhites in Piccadilly Circus holding what looked to be a piece of very old parchment. He read the page and the unlucky citizens that happened to be passing by transformed into werewolves or zombies.

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_media:

“We interrupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you breaking news from Times Square. An apparent bank robbery gone wrong has resulted in the deaths of at least eleven people at the 1515 Broadway branch of Bank of America. Witnesses report that a masked man entered the bank and held the patrons at gunpoint. The details of what happened next aren’t clear, but it appears the robbery was stopped when a mutant teenage boy lost control of his powers and killed everyone in the bank. The boy fled the scene and remains at large. If you see this boy please contact your local authorities immediately and do not approach him. He is considered extremely dangerous. “

“As you can see behind me, crews are still cleaning up the site and authorities have the area cordoned off and are prohibiting anyone from approaching the bank. Traffic is at a crawl through Times Square and police are suggesting that commuters seek alternate routes.”

“Anti-mutant demonstrators and pro-mutant demonstrators are already on the scene. Police are trying to keep the demonstrations peaceful, but tension is running high.”

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.

Xavier's mansion was decorated appropriately to celebrate the holiday. Spiderwebs (fake of course), jack-o-lanterns, ghoulish dummies of witches, mummies, vampires and other images right out of horror movies were strategically placed. Artificial smoke floated inches above the floor and swirled around objects and legs. There would be very few trick-or-treaters because of the relatively remote location of the mansion, but it didn't stop the inhabitants from celebrating.

princess_mutt:

Moira sat under a tree, staring at her arm and frowning. She shifted to half-form to see if the snake was still there under the fur whe nshe did. It was. A slight growl.

_tsunami_:

The Ides of October found Cait in the kitchen at Xavier's baking various types of cookies and even a few pies. The Ides weren't something they celebrated here in the States, but back home they still kept a few of the traditions alive by celebrating. The Ides of October were always her least favorite. The chariot race was always fun, but the slaughtering of the October Horse was not and Cait hated it.

This year instead of watching a horse get killed, she was in the kitchen baking.

dream_catcher:

Having helped with the car washing for a while, a slightly troubled Lucas has moved off to sit in the grass, discarding his sirt and jacket - easier to meditate that way. He chants softly, almost inaudibly, pausing every now and then to look about, or cock his head as if listening to someone or something.

mishaloganovich:

As a reward for being a good little mutant and submitting to Xavier's psychic help and Dad's daily work outs, Misha was allowed to mingle with the student body. No sparring, no teaching, no weapons training, but by God he could now talk to them without the fear of hurting somebody. They still couldn't tell him what would trigger an attack other than the obvious Romanov one, but since Mom wasn't around and as far as he knew Anya, James and Eliza were still in SHIELD custody, that didn't appear to be a problem.

It was a nice afternoon, so he pulled Dad's jeep out of the garage to wash it. Darlene was still in his parking spot in the city and from the messages left on his phone, not happy she wasn't getting more air time.

nextgen_adult:

Dr. Moira Ann Kinross MacTaggert had been busy. Her primary research concern lately had of course been her granddaughter Danielle's condition.  Retrovirus-mediated therapy was looking like the best possible solution, but making <i>that</i> work with Danielle's physiology was going to be tricky. She'd need to see her again soon. Still, progress.

A telephone rang at the Xavier Institute.

_tsunami_:

The air was warm and the sun was bright making it a perfect day for a cookout to celebrate Labor Day. Classes would start on the 8th (for those going to college they started a week ago) and it was the last chance to kick back and cut loose before hitting the books.

At Xavier's Institute For Higher Learning tables had been placed out around the pool and the large grill fired up. Burgers, hot dogs, sausage, 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.

Cait had even gone as far as going into the woods yesterday and made some garum. It was a surprise for her brother, the twerp liked the stuff, and making it near the mansion was not an option. It was currently in a small container on the table.

She stood on the edge of the pool and made different water sculptures unpon request. Yes, once and awhile a sphere of water would "just happen" to get out of her control and soak someone.

dream_catcher:

Lucas studied the regulations carefully, and spoke a little with a couple of the more reasonable advisors. No, they really shouldn't be on a planned, unsupervised co-ed camping trip. But nothing is stopping them from both happening to go camping in similar locations on the same summer weekday. As such, Lucas has left a note for Moira on his plans to go camping, and where he'll be without officially inviting her.
He's packed enough food and supplies for two - with enough homemade oat cakes for four or five, at least, and headed deep into the woods, after informing Logan of his location so someone can check in if needed and no one will get too stuffy or worried about them going missing.

That all done, he's shed most of his clothing and traded it for his ceremonial garb, and begun crafting a new dream catcher, sitting cross-legged at the edge of a stream running through the woods, his supplies laid out around him.

princess_mutt:

Danielle was resting after another blood test. Vicki wasn't far from her if she needed anything.
There'd been a great deal going on, and Moira had several things on her mind, only some of which she wanted there.
So that afternoon she called up an old pal.

dream_catcher:

Lucas is usually the picture of self assurance. He doesn't seem to have 90 percent of the awkward of the typical teenage male. Learning a degree of mastery over telepathy and magic at the same time, while being fairly physically adept and active for his age has a way of helping. There's one thing that he hasn't got quite the same degree of confidence on though - girls. There just weren't many his age on the reservation, and he's had to spend a lot of time on his studies.

So its with an unusual bit of hesitance that he heads into the girls' wing and lounge during the day, when its proper to do so and all, obviously in search of someone or something.

ng_mojoforce:

It had been a long two weeks in New York, but in the end they had managed to get quite a few recruits for the new shows. Now that they were just about done here in New York, they'd be heading off to Los Angeles. There were always people looking to be the next big star in that town and recruiting should be easier.

The screening process was slow because the boss didn't want just anyone in the shows. He wanted people that would deliver action and most importantly ratings. Not your everyday ordinary Joe Schmoo off the street would do. The boss wanted people with charisma, or ones who could provide a lot of action. Mutants were great for the latter and they couldn't just come out and ask people if they were mutants. There was a battery of very specific questions and then a small "screen test" to see what they could do.

So far the boss had been pleased with the ones that had been found and sent back.

They had two more days here in New York and then it was off to Hollywood where the pickings would be better and easier. Sweepzweak couldn't wait to get to Hollywood where sun and beautiful women awaited.

sandcastlegod:

Once Corey and David had reported what they'd realized to the Professor and Uncle Scott, Corey was left with the fact that there he couldn't think of anything useful to do until the staff figured out a little more of what had happened to Cait and the others and where they could be found.

Announcing with agitation that Cait and the Gileses and others had been missing for day and to let people know felt only marginally helpful.

He sat in the hallway, thinking.
...Please let there be some answers before he called Mom and Dad.

princess_mutt:

Moira Hrimharisdottir, in human form, wearing plain brown clothes and a leather coat, crouched beside her sister near the lake at Xavier's. Granny -- that being Lady Doctor Moira Ann Kinross Mactaggart, Midgard's Greatest Physician as she'd proudly told the children of Asgard a thousand times -- was inside talking to the Professor. She and Danielle had thought it best to let them discuss some things alone.

If Granny thought it would be best for them to stay here, she must suspect anything she could do for Danielle would take a while, Moira knew. No quick fix, even from Midgard's Greatest Physician.
Danielle nuzzled her a little, obviously nervous, and Moira silently scritched her behind the ears.

nextgen_misc:

It was just another normal day at Xavier's Institute For Higher Learning. Or was it?

nextgen_misc:

Every year at the end of the school year there was a dance held at Xavier's Institute of Higher Learning. It wasn't a prom so to speak because all the students were invited, not just the juniors and seniors. This year the students were asked what they wanted to do and the consensus was that they wanted to take a trip instead of holding a dance.

Their destination, they decided, was Rome and they would be there for a week.

Rome provided many museums and historical sites for an educational benefit, but it also had many clubs and other spots for entertainment. The days would be spent taking tours around the historical sites and museums around the city. The students would be allowed to go out at night. The older kids would be allowed out on their own, while the younger ones would be allowed out with a chaperone.

Logistics were worked out and a floor of a hotel in the heart of Rome was reserved. Airline tickets were purchased and the students were transported to the hotel.

Ten hours later they stepped off the plane in Italy and were taken to their hotel to freshen up.

_tsunami_:

Caitlyn was sitting on the shore of the lake and playing with the water. She spent more time down here than she spent in her room and she liked it that way. One could never practice with powers too much. Today she had a dozen small spheres of water orbiting around her as she sat and thought about how she was going to tell her parents she didn't want to go home to Nova Roma for the summer.

She loved her home, she just found New York to be more exciting. Professor Xavier said she could stay here for the summer and be an X-Woman now that she was graduating. There was also the option of college. She had been accepted to two smaller schools in the area and one in the city. She just had to decide on one and what she wanted to do.

Cait hated making decisions. She was a more of a "go with the flow" kind of girl.

She concentrated and increased the speed of the spheres as they orbited around her.