[network] @CaptSteveRogers; video; Afternoon 103; We're halfway out of the dark [open]

[starsandtights]

[Steve looks a little tired, and solemn, what with all the death and chaos that's been happening, but he's slightly less brusque and businesslike than he often is when making PSAs.]

Good afternoon, Norfinbury. ...So, uh, since I arrived here I've been keeping really close track of sunrise and sunset times... best as I can, anyway, with the weather. After today, I'm certain—the days are getting longer again. Far as I can tell, we passed the winter solstice three days ago. This is good news—we'll have more and more daylight hours from here on out, and eventually better weather and warmer temperatures.

This also tells us a little about where we are. Winter previously told me that Norfinbury is near a town called Kotzebue and that we're in the Northwest Arctic Borough; America was able to tell me that Kotzebue's on Alaska's west coast, about thirty miles north of the Arctic Circle. Since we never had a day of no sun, this puts us by definition south of the Arctic Circle, and south of Kotzebue. We ought to be fairly near the coast as well, which is a good thing, although what that could mean in terms of actual mileage is anyone's guess.

[Steve pauses for a moment, and his face takes on a softer, kind of wistful expression.]

...All of this also means we know the date. If the solstice was three days ago, then today is December 24. Tomorrow is Christmas. [Tiniest of slightly sad smiles.] Merry Christmas, everyone, and God bless you.

Those of you not from Earth or a version of Earth I'd recognize... Christmas is one of our most important holidays. It's a time for peace and goodwill to all people. A time for giving. A time to show love and kindness to each other.

I pray that we can all find just a little bit of that peace this Christmas.

Comments

@gardenGnostic; video

[eclecticbassist]

Whoooa, that means my birthday was a couple of weeks ago! I guess that technically makes me, um... seventeen!

@determination, video THREADJACK IF THAT'S OKAY...

[despiteeverything]

Wait really? Me too!

[Toriel had been right!]

Um. About my birthday I mean. I'm not seventeen yet.

video

[starsandtights]

[Steve is very happy to have a reason to smile and mean it. DEAD PEOPLE, WHAT DEAD PEOPLE.]

Congratulations, Jade, and happy birthday!

[He thinks about this a little, getting a funny look on his face.]

...I guess it depends on what the date was for you when you were brought here. Does it really count when you skip ahead in the calendar several weeks or months?

[He sure as heck doesn't count all the time he spent in the ice as years added to his age. ...Jeez, time travel is confusing. He shakes his head a little and smiles again.]

What the heck, I think you should definitely celebrate anyway. [He still celebrates on his birthday.]

@determination, video

[despiteeverything]

[Frisk's been a bit on edge lately, but from how they understand it they should be seeing Toriel soon. And that, along with this...]

It is?

Um... Merry Christmas, everybody!

[Maybe they should sing songs n' stuff....]

Voice, @Grieverì

[canyouhandlethismany]

Merry Christmas to you, champion.

video

[starsandtights]

[Another soft smile.]

And Merry Christmas to you, Frisk.

@Ecks | text

[ecks]

Merry Christmas

Text, @Griever

[canyouhandlethismany]

I will never stop to be amazed by the insane number of worlds where Santa can travel to bring his festivity... but happy Christmas, everyone.

text

[starsandtights]

[Steve blinks, surprised.]

They have Christmas and Santa where you're from?

...I guess now that I think of it I don't know much about where you're from, Leon.

Action; morning 104

[1946redvelvet]

[It's Christmas. It's hardly believable, even less festive than any of the Christmases they had on the front. Back then. at least they'd have some lights, a tree, a proper roast dinner, and a Christmas truce. The thought, as Peggy wakes up, brings tears to her eyes. They made do, and it was so, so difficult, but back then they had such a good group of people, these strong, fierce men that would follow Steve anywhere, everywhere. They were all exceptional, and they always could make her laugh, with a quick pun or a silly bet.

It's hard to think that this place, here, in this time, means that they're all gone. It's just Steve left, wearing scars she's not been around to help heal, wearing their deaths and a whole slew of other memories around his neck like so many boulders, like he's responsible for them, when he saved them all, gave them the chance of a life without Hydra.

It's Christmas. Rolling her shoulders, Peggy brushes a hand against Steve's hair, smiling at his still sleeping form, and pads out to her backpack, finding her little makeup pouch and determinedly applying makeup in a way she hasn't done much since they got here. A lack of time, energy, and Steve's determination to smudge it all to hell with kisses made her give up on the effort.

She brushes her hair, making a face at herself in her compact mirror; she could use with washing the frizzy mess again, but she still manages, with the help of too many bobby pins, to tame it into something sort of acceptable.

It'll be the best she can do, and it's the only present she can give Steve. She chuckles to herself, a little hollowly, at how shallow it is, but it also makes her feel better, more alive, more like herself.

Sitting back on the bed, Peggy leans over Steve, fingers carding through his hair again.]

Merry Christmas, Steve.

action

[starsandtights]

[For a few seconds Steve is floating in that place between sleep and wakefulness, smiling fuzzily and humming, turning his head into her fingers like a cat. The next second he's entirely awake, blinking up at Peggy, and smiles big and sunny to see her.]

Merry Christmas, Peggy. ...Wow, look at you. We going somewhere fancy? I didn't bring a suit.

[He pushes himself up to sitting, reaching up to brush the backs of his fingers over one cheekbone, then leans in to press a kiss to her other cheek. He's not entirely sure she'd appreciate him mussing up her lipstick when she's clearly only just applied it.

...Christmas. Wow. It's probably the least festive Christmas he's ever had, camped out in an abandoned house in a broken town, no lights, no tree, no Christmas feast, and if the day goes well he's going to have to fight someone tonight. But he's here with Peggy, and that's better than all of the Christmas presents in the world.

His eyes light up as he remembers.]

Oh, hey! Got something for you.

[He grins and scrambles out of bed, grabbing and throwing on an extra layer or two so he doesn't freeze before going to his pack and digging out his StarkPod and earbuds. He's not sure Peggy's ever even seen it, much less knows what it is. When they've been together he hasn't needed it; she's been plenty distracting all by herself.]

C'mere.

[Still grinning, he takes Peggy's hand and leads her out past the end of the bed, where there's some room on the floor. Ignoring her curious looks, he turns on the music player and quickly scrolls to his favorite song—still his favorite song, even with everything the 21st century has offered him. He adjusts the volume, tucks one earbud into his ear and very carefully tucks the other one into Peggy's, pressing play and slipping the player into his pocket. As the first notes ring out, he slips his right arm around her to press his hand gently to the middle of her back and lifts his left hand, inviting her to place her hand in his. He smiles at her, a little softer than before.]

Peggy Carter, may I have this dance?

Video | @Summoner

[ninjainviolet]

If that date's right...

Then I'm 20 now.

action,

[canyouhandlethismany]

[He gives a gently bump on her head, you can read it as a hug... probably.]

Well, looks like you're an adult now. Happy birthday, whenever it was...

video

[starsandtights]

Another December birthday? Happy birthday, Sheena.

@Ecks | text

[ecks]

That is not what holidays are for where I am from.
What is the catch?

@Griever; voice;

[canyouhandlethismany]

You have to accept that once a year a fat guy in a red suit that knows everting you did during the year will sneak in your house when you sleep to leave presents.

I don't complain about the presents or the unwanted visit, it's the fact that he spies on everyone that's disturbing.

text

[starsandtights]

There isn't any sort of catch. It's a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, an important religious figure on Earth. Jesus preached love and peace and acceptance, so we try to honor that on his birthday. Usually people get together with family and loved ones and have a big feast, and people give each other presents. It's the best day of the year.

I'd take what Leon says about Santa with a grain of salt. I mean, I guess I have to assume that what he says about his world is true, but it's different where I come from. Santa Claus is a figure associated with Christmas, and he's supposed to do all of those things Leon says, but in my world he's mythical. It's a bit of fun make-believe for the kids, and I guess kind of a way to get them to behave. Santa doesn't actually leave presents, parents do.

...What are holidays for where you're from?

@fenrir; voice;

[meteorrains]

Sounds like you've had a lot of time on your hands.

[The sass, it never stops. Not even on Christmas.]

@Griever; voice;

[canyouhandlethismany]

Well, at least he has beed useful.

[He doesn't even know this Cloud and Leon is sure the man is helping around (Heck, he will never admit it but he enjoys the rivalry he has with his world's Cloud) but- it's the force of habit that forces him to reply like that. Sorry.]

Voice | @Summoner

[ninjainviolet]

[ Whether over Leon's tablet or hers, Cloud will hear some friendly chuckling on Sheena's end. ]

voice

[starsandtights]

[Amused.]

Do you know anyone here who doesn't?

...Anyway, you telling me you're not interested in knowing where we are and how much winter is left?

video, @frfujimoto

[lionson]

Christmas?

[Welp. From his count, based on the date when he was taken from his world, it should have been early May.]

Damn, there's no way I'll find a birthday gift for Yukio in just a couple days.

@snailfan98, voice

[inruins]

It isn't much, but I do have paper and some art supplies, so you can always make a card?

@snailfan98, voice

[inruins]

Christmas, goodness... I suppose a first christmas is not meant to be all that exciting, hm? [The news does little to actively cheer the monster up.] Merry Christmas to you as well, my friend.

Voice @Enoch

[warriorscribe]

I never thought I would be this happy to see a solstice pass.

[He sounds so relieved he could collapse.]

When the days barely have any sunlight at all...oh, it feels like the dark has leeched into my bones some days.

text - @claytonator

[dr_unconscious]

God bless. Goodness knows we need it.
Take it easy, everyone. (That means you too Steve.)