notinplainsight:

Kalypso had told Jack she would set something up for him to meet her brother Dae and she had done just that. She went with dinner at a casual place, nothing fancy, and a place that served nothing too exotic. She knew of Jack's sensitivity to strong tastes and smells and she wasn't sure of Dae's preferences. The two siblings were still getting to know each other and it would take some time. So simple fare at a small bistro it was.

Kal and Jack were a few minutes early and were shown to a table.

notinplainsight:

Kalypso fell on her bed and had never been so happy to do so. The past weeks had been taxing even to an Eternal. She helped drive the deviants out of Olympia and then had stayed around for a bit to help start rebuilding the city. The effort had taken every bit of strength and energy she had and then some. There had been a few breaks to recharge, but even they were short and rebuilding had taken so much energy.

Now she was back in New York in her mother's place and she was planning on sleeping for a few days.

nextgen_parent:

In Antarctica Ikaris and Eros led the group of Eternals, Titanian and Earth, toward the city of Olympia. Their home had been overrun by deviants and it was time to take it back. While they were here, another group of Eternals were taking Polaria back from the deviants. The ancient enemy would be driven back into the depths of the ocean.

They teleported from Titan to a location a hundred miles from the city. They took some time to recuperate and once they were ready, Ikaris and Eros led the group toward Olympia.

nextgen_eternal:

Zuras and Mentor led the group of Eternals, Titanian and Earth, who would be fighting to retake Polaria. They had gathered a hundred miles south of the city after teleporting from Titan. There they waited while they recuperated from the strain and exertion of teleporting.

When they were ready, they started flying toward Polaria.

notinplainsight:

Titan was a haven of peace and knowledge and Kal loved being there, but lately even the ravages of war have disrupted the peace and tranquility. The Olympian Eternals were still comatose, the cities of Polaria and Olympia were lost and there had been bitter and heated debate about what to do next. Druig and his faction had been doing nothing but opposing Mentor and the ideas put forth. Kal thought it rude for guests to act so toward their hosts, but this was cousin Druig. Kal didn't expect things to be any different than normal.

Her family was plain crazy.

Kal was in the gardens enjoying some of the peace Titan had to offer when the warning sirens began to sound.

blinkandmissme:

Eli and his cousins appear in the home of his father, Druig of Nightmares, moments after their gathering on Titan. They quartet find Druig in a roundtable meeting with other luminaries of the Eternals, engaged in some manner of heated debate.

"Father, I have returned. I have brought aid with me, as you asked." Eli says, gesturing to his cousins.

"You finally grace us with your presence, Eliosha." Druig says, his tone less than warm and inviting. "But I do not understand what you mean by 'as I asked'. I have not asked you to bring anything, or anyone, to me. I have left you to your aimless wandering among the human rabble. Tell me, have you learned anything worth reporting?"

Eli seemed stricken for a moment, before speaking. "Father, you asked me to return home with aid for--"

Druig raised a hand to silence him. "I asked for no such thing, boy. If I wanted help from outside Polaria, I have <i>capable</i> messengers to send. Why have you interrupted us now?" Druig said, his tone annoyed.

"Father, I've...we have come to tell you that Olympia has fallen to the Deviants. Polaria could be next." Eli finishes, suddenly looking as though he wishes to be anywhere but here.

notinplainsight:

Kal and the others had spent quite a long time explaining to Mentor and the other Titanian Eternals what had happened in Olympia. Unfortunately they had arrived after the Uni-Mind had been disassembled and didn't know what had really happened. The comatose Eternals had been moved to the medical facilities. Kal hoped that something could be done for them. She wanted her mother back.

Titan was beautiful as always. The place was designed for meditation and the pursuit of knowledge. Given differnent circumstances, Kal would have loved to spend a few centuries here and learn more about her father's people and the universe. It was not to be. Her stay here would be brief and she would return to Earth soon and the war with the Deviants would intensify.

For now she would enjoy the peace and serenity Titan had to offer. It also gave her a chance to get to know Eli and Dae, who was apparently her brother. With this in mind she went looking for him.

nextgen_misc:

Smoke rose up into the air from various parts of Olympia, the Eternals' city. The once pristine and beautiful city was almost in ruins. The Eternals themselves were lying on the ground in comatose states. Their ancient enemy, the deviants, move about the city destroying as much as they could. They had beaten their hated enemies and were celebrating.

One Eternal fought inside the city, while four had just gathered outside.

nextgen_deviant:

The Eternals had always been a race that sought out the cold. It didn’t come as a surprise that their two cities of Olympia and Polaria were situated in the coldest climates on the planet. Olympia was in Antarctica, well secluded in a very desolate location. Only the most hardy and stubborn of humans would hope to find the city and even then the residents didn’t like interlopers.

The Eternals were a reclusive race, but there were a few who ventured out to mingle among their cousin humans.

Another race, the deviants, were another creation of the Celestial, were the enemies of the Eternals. They wanted to enslave the humans and rule the Earth. The deviants had always been stopped by the Eternals, but the shift of power was now changing.

The Deviants were stronger than they ever had been. They didn’t have the numbers they had had in the past, but now they had powers they never had. Powers that could now help them stand up to the accursed Eternals.

They climbed out of the cold waters and onto the ice shelf and headed for Olympia. An ally waited for them not far from the city.

Today was the day the Eternals would fall and the Deviants would start their rise to power.

notinplainsight:

Enough time had passed and Kal had decided that it was time for lunch with her two cousins. Eli needed to meet Iason and vice versa. They were family after all and they would be dealing with each other for a VERY long time. It was best to get to know each other now.

Kalypso picked a small delicatessen in the Village. It was small enough that it wouldn't be crowded with people and yet have a wide variety of foods. The three of them were curious about humans and new experiences so Kal picked a place that would give them a variety of things to try.

She was early for a change. Mom always advised being fashionably late, but Kal thought that it was only okay for parties. For meeting friends and family it was just rude. Kal grabbed a cup of coffee, a table and waited.

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.

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:

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.

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:

Three teens were being held by SHIELD and two had been sent to the Eternals' city of Olympia...

ng_zodiac:

Mikel wasn't dumb enough to strike directly at the Avengers despite having the full force and might of SHIELD at his disposal. They weren't called Earth's Mightiest Heroes for nothing and if he could do this without a direct confrontation, the better his chances were. The best way to take out the Avengers was to divide and conquer one by one and he knew exactly how to do that, starting with the kids.

One by one he would take them out and then use them as leverage against the adults.

He walked into the United Nations headquarters on First Avenue between 42nd and 48th Streets armed with files of information. Information was the best weapon and Mikel had enough to hopefully bring down the Avengers without a single punch thrown. Confident of his plan, he walked through the front door to keep his appointment with the Secretary General.

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.