Holiday Event Results

[Sulley]

The Winners

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[/i] - Rohan
Holiday Quote Winner and Most Active Winner - Emby
Holiday Image Winner - Bella Dona
Holiday Song Parody Winner - Lucian[/ul]
Indeedy, those are our winners. . .and the only people who submitted anything. Nik sent in a last minute story that I wished he'd sent in earlier *cough cough* because then he would have been a part of the banner as well. Everyone who sent something in won because I was proud and happy with them for participating. To everyone else...I made rude gestures in your general directions last night.

Below I've posted the winner's work because they are worthy to be read. Additionally, there is Emby's Christmas Story and Nik's. I wanted to give their lovely site tributes some stage time.

As a side note and random comment, any time any of you feel like making something scrumptious in honor of the forum: please do! I appreciate it. Like a father whose kids give him their school projects. . .yeah.


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[Sulley]

Rohan's Holiday Story

Christmas in Freakopolis: A Three-Part Affair
December 25th. 6:30 pm.
Some idiot had created tiny flaming elves that ran through the streets on Christmas Eve, but the Progenitor had stopped his units from chasing them when he found out (the hard way) that they blew up on contact. Stern warnings were printed off and handed out by the clawful, but most people just glanced at the directives to Remain Calm and Keep Festivities at a Courteous Level before tossing them into the nearest wastebasket.

Most people had bigger problems to deal with.

Bigger problems that were infinitely small compared to the next guy’s, as far as he was concerned. Selfish idiots. The Progenitor was tired of hearing complaints. No one wanted to hear about his problems. Sure, that lady had a husband and kids outside who probably weren’t going to get any presents this year (though why she cared when she wasn’t ever going to see them again was beyond him), but the idiots in the cell next to his were going all out with booze and cake and whatnot—and they hadn’t invited him.

But why would they? He was respected across the city, but with that respect came fear and hatred. Mutations didn’t always do much for a person’s intelligence; there were a lot of idiots who could wreak unholy damage without meaning to. That was why he was needed. That was why he pushed away the lonely feeling of dejection that rose in the heart he didn’t admit having.

“Stupid meatbags,” the Progenitor muttered, staring over the desk in his office. He’d sent the bots out to guard the streets, leaving only his new creation, Mechanica, to keep him company. She was the most beautiful robot he’d ever made, and her obedient ways and ready compliance was a welcome break from the moronic humans that surrounded him.

Lucian laid a hand on Mechanica’s cold leg. Her head swiveled towards him Justice was a demanding mistress, and keeping order was a full-time commitment. A real woman… no. It was better this way.

“Merry Christmas, Freakopolis,” he said, but Mechanica’s cold lips were the only ones to answer.

---

December 25th. 8:00 pm.
He’d decided that he would dress up for Christmas, just to keep people on their toes.

It was by no means a spur of the moment decision. For one thing, it had taken him considerable effort to inconspicuously procure proper attire. There were far too many women in his life that would have loved the chance to doll him up in colorful ties and collared shirts, prissy little outfits that would take weeks to live down.

“You ready yet?” The tenor that called from the only chair in the cell inexplicably annoyed him.

“Shut up.” His fingers were stuck in the knot of his so-called tie. Who the hell came up with the idea of a noose as an accessory anyway? And feminists talked about women being subjugated.

The lounging man gave a mocking whimper. “Oh, be nice. It’s Chwissmas, Suwwey. Isn’t wou happy for Chwissmas?”

“I swear to God, Jett,” he answered, his eyes still fixed on the mirror. “One more word and I’ll slit your dumb throat.”

The other was up and across the room in an instant, grinning like a Cheshire and slinking like a pregnant tabby as he sidled up to stand beside the tie-tier. He only needed to take one look at the taller man’s beady little eyes to know that the anger was superficial. And why shouldn’t it be? Sulley was a troubled man.

“Here,” Jett said after a moment, turning towards the other and holding out his hands. “Let me. Didn’t your dad ever teach you how to tie this?”

“No.”

Jett glanced up, then decided to let the matter drop. “Over, around, up, and down . . . there ya go. Lookin’ good.”

Sulley turned back to the mirror and adjusted his tie and collar himself. “Thanks. Now get out of here.”

Jett smiled and gave a mock salute, his smile only hinting at the sadness he felt. But it was a harsh world, and even here there were people like them who weren’t tolerated.

“See you after your little rebel party,” Jett said, and only brushed his hand across Sulley’s shoulder before he left the cell.

“Yeah,” Sulley said softly, his gaze still fixed on his own face in the mirror. “I’ll see you then.”

---

December 25th. 10:00 pm.
“Girls, are you ready?” Mara’s voice had always been good at carrying, and it reached every ear in the room despite the murmur of frenetic conversation.

“Are we,” Rosenna muttered. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, but with the front door just feet away, she could feel a cold draft leaking into the party room. She heard a nervous giggle and looked sideways at Faith, who was standing next to her, doe eyes wide with terror.

“All right, now, don’t forget the plan,” Mara called. Christmas cider made her loud. She stood with her hands on her hips, as if the cold air from the doorway didn’t bother her. “Down the street, turn left six blocks down, and loop around to get back here. Last one back buys the first one here a new outfit!”

Rosenna glanced back wistfully at the pile of jeans, shirts, socks, and undies that lay on the floor behind them. This was stupid. There were at least ten women here, and not one was wearing a scrap of clothing. Wasn’t this illegal in the real world?

But this was Freakopolis. Anything could happen here.

“Oh, and by the way,” Mara added, her eyes glinting, “all powers are allowed!”

Kita was bouncing on her toes. “Emby, would you calm down? Stop making it so darn windy! I’m freezing my t—”

“GO!”

And they were off. Naked women poured out of the doorway like rabbits from a smoked burrow. There were squeals and screeches ahead of her, and Rosenna swallowed hard as she took the first painful step out the front door and started running.

“Excuse me!” Rosenna heard Sarah’s voice a moment before a pair of brown eyes lurched by, followed by a high-pitched scream as Kita, also invisible, dashed through the snow after her. One of them fell down, leaving the imprint of a hip and thigh in the snow before she was up and going again.

All powers are allowed. Rosenna wished she’d objected. A trail of tracks were all that were left of Mara (Go figure), and Rosenna had the feeling that the Siberian Husky leading the way up ahead was Silvia.

Rosenna looked at the person beside her and nearly screamed when she saw a fat hairy man running at her side. His belly jiggled as he ran, and every lift of his flabby arms revealed a forest of hair in his armpits.

“Who the heck are you?” she yelled.

“Alex,” answered a high-pitched female voice from behind the scraggly beard.

“No fair!” Star wheezed from Rosenna’s other side. “Can I have a piggyback ride?”

“Nuh uh,” Alex said. “I’m only doing this to save my dignity!”

Rosenna wanted to ask about her own dignity, but saved her air instead. Everyone wasn’t out on the streets on Christmas, but there were enough people staring that she wished she’d locked herself in the bathroom when the streak was suggested.

“Whose idea was this?” Star wailed.

Rosenna glanced back towards the party house and saw Manisha leaning out of the doorway with a beatific smile on her face and her shirt hanging from the hand that she waved after the streakers. Now that she thought about it, didn’t that girl have some kind of mind-controlling ability?

She didn’t have long to ponder. There were robots and pervs to dodge, and she was pretty sure her limbs were going to start to freeze and crack off. Trees and rocks exploded as they ran by, but nobody had the breath to tell Bex to calm down. And then there was Zillah, skipping along through the freezing cold and barefoot over the frozen snow as if nothing in the world could hurt her.

Oh, right.

Rosenna’s face was red as people on the sides of the road stopped to stare at the naked women. She upped her pace in an attempt to get ahead to make sure that no one got near enough for her to kill, but anger boiled up in her throat. Liliana looked to be on the verge of tears, and oohs and aahs of the crowd followed her as she slipped on the ice she accidentally created from the snow beneath her feet.

And then, out of the corner of her eye, Rosenna saw a slicked head and a pair of spandex-clad legs that were pounding to catch up.

“Oh no,” Emby groaned. “It’s him. Run faster!”

It was him. Rosenna obeyed. Demetrio stayed a safe distance away from her, but his grin was evident even from afar as he caught up to the streaking flock. “Merry Christmas, Double Ds!”

“Go away!” Several of the women shouted.

“What? I’m just out for a Christmas jog. Ho ho hos, eh?”

A studly young man they passed couldn’t hide a guilty smile beneath his blush when they went by. “You ladies are all looking quite lovely this evening,” he flustered.

“Shut up, Aiden,” Rosenna yelled. “You are so lucky .”

“Hey, we’re just enjoying this blessed season,” Demetrio protested. Two pale figures appeared out of thin air as he drew closer. Sarah and Kita squealed in horror, and the hairy man next to Rosenna abruptly returned to her female state.

Demetrio was laughing too hard to keep up. The girls sprinted past him as he stopped, still screaming even when their powers started working again.

Out for a late-night skulk, Rohan’s eyebrows went up as the women went by, and he made sure to get a healthy eyeful before he cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered, “What, there isn’t a dance to go with those great costumes?”

“Nuh uh,” Bex yelled back as she rounded the corner. “We’re saving that for New Years!”

[Sulley]

Emby's Holiday Quote

"Santa embodied all that annoyed her during the Christmas season. It wasn't the promotion of children behaving themselves in order to get the presents they wanted, oh no. What Kita disliked so much about Santa Claus was that the old fat man crept into people's homes late at night and apparently knew what the kids were doing the time - sleeping or no. Keeping such tabs on a person wouldn't be accepted from a normal human being. A restraining order would be slapped on him in no time. Yet the world's parents allowed their children to be stalked in such a way. How else would he know if the child was naughty or nice? Someone had to be watching day and night to see every good or bad deed, when they were sleeping or awake. Creepy pervert."

~Kita a.k.a. Soffy's Creation

[Sulley]

Bella Dona's Holiday Image

[Sulley]

Lucian's Holiday Song Parody

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mutants

It’s beginning to look a lot like mutants,
Everywhere you go,
Take a look at the servitors that are lurking past your doors,
With metal claws and lensed eyes aglow.
It’s beginning to look a lot like mutants,
All behind these walls,
There’s a creepily crawling lad whose eyes are rather mad,
He’s been here since fall.

Freedom from this place and to break the guards’ face,
Is the wish of the rebellion,
And to keep all in line and to maintain things fine,
Is the protectors’ wish, then.
And Lucian’s servants can hardly wait to have more metal again.

It’s beginning to look a lot like mutants,
Everywhere you go,
There’s a tree in the central square, and you’ll find that Santa’s there,
Big and fat with beard as white as snow.
It’s beginning to look a lot like mutants,
Patrols will start, my friend,
So keep the kids inside and make sure that they abide,
Or they'll not be seen again.

[Sulley]

Emby's Holiday Story

Emby Foster, a young blonde, woke up early Christmas morning. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was because on every other Christmas she had been the first one up, eager to open presents. No presents this year. She got up from her bed, if it could even be called that, and stretched. Her shorts and hand-made t-shirts from Madam Weaver did little to keep her warm. She quickly moved to the pile of clothes in the corner of her cell, picking up a pair of dark jeans and a long sleeved red shirt. She might as well try to be festive. She slipped on an old pair of black boots she had bought in the marketplace that were starting to grow on her. She sighed, not sure what Freakopolis would be like today.

She stepped out of her cell and looked down the hall. It must have been early because no one else was up. She took advantage of the moment and walked down the deserted hall, her boots leaving an echo that bounced off the bare, concrete walls. Her echoes grew louder and louder and stopped, knowing her ears weren’t playing tricks on her. Hands settled on her shoulders and pulled her backwards, pressing her against a familiar form. “Jacob!” She turned around, a smile now on her face as she hugged him. His arms found their way around her torso. “Merry Christmas, Emby,” he whispered into her hair. She pulled away, slightly amused. “So I’m not the only one who remembered?” she asked, chuckling softly. “No. Not at all.” He took her hand and led her down the hallway, the opposite direction she had been going.

“You know those Dreamer people? Demetrio and Bex?” He asked. She nodded her head, a guilty blush forming on her cheeks. “What’s wrong?” He asked. She shook her head. “Continue.” He sighed but continued anyway. “They’re throwing this small party in Bex’s cell. Anyone’s invited but I figure at one point they’ll have to shoo people away. A cell can only hold so many people. I wanted to get you over there before they did.” He smiled at her and she grimaced. “I didn’t even brush my hair.” He raised his free hand and ran it through her long hair. “Its fine. Now come on.” She sighed and followed him into Bex Lee’s cell.

Her eyes widened at what she saw. The cell was colorful. Hand-made garlands hung around the roof, and paper snowflakes were being hung on the wall by Maku. A box of felt Santa hats were sitting the corner, waiting to be grabbed. Bex and Demetrio were converting Bex’s bed into a food table and random people were just hanging out so far.

In the corner were Curtis and Liliana sitting huddled together and near-by was Silvia and Aidian and a little robot dressed as Santa which Emby knew belonged to Lucian. She shuddered but otherwise smiled at the going-ons at Freakopolis. It seemed Demetrio and Bex were done setting the table up and cookies and drinks were being placed upon it. She wondered how all of this was possible in Freakopolis. Jacob squeezed her hand and pulled her arm slightly. “What?” she asked. “Look,” he nudged his head in the direction of the door. Emby watched in amazement as a non-too-happy Sulley walked in with a small tree, carried by the top. Mara followed in behind him. Sulley walked over to Bex and dropped the tree at her feet. “I don’t owe you anything anymore. Not like I asked you to pull me out of the water anyway,” he sniped. Bex grimaced, a bit of fear in her usually calm eyes. Mara remained silent as Sulley turned to leave.

Demetrio stepped forward. “Won’t you stay Sulley, Mara?” He asked and Sulley just sneered, and left with Mara in tow. Emby watched them leave, a certain longing to go with them to see where they were going but Jacob’s hand was tight around her own and she didn’t know whose pull was stronger. Jacob’s or Sulley’s. Jacob half-dragged her over to the tree. “We can set this up guys.” Bex nodded her head, Demetrio’s hand rested on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Thank you,” he said and Jacob picked up the tree and went to the corner were the empty tree stand was set up, just waiting for it’s purpose. “Emby go get the pine combs for the tree.” It was hard to find decorations in Freakopolis. She went off to go get the box as Jett dragged Manisha through the door. “I am here, dear Bex. Now we can party!” He said. Emby gave him a long, confused look then moved on to Manisha. She seemed more out of place then Emby.

Emby picked up the box of white dusted pine combs and walked back over to Jacob. “I got them,” she said while looking over at Jett, Manisha and Bex. Bex was warily eying Manisha while she talked to Jett. Emby’s eyebrows knitted together, knowing there was definitely more to that situation. Jacob knocked on her forehead gently, trying to get her attention. “What are you thinking about, huh?” he asked. She shook her head. “Nothing.” Her face was still tense with thought. Jacob leaned forward, leaving a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Whatever you say, hm.” Her face immediately slackened as she looked at Jacob in disbelief. She soon blushed and dug into the pile of pine combs. This was definitely not like the Christmases she had back home.

Emby looked over her shoulder, looking to where Jacob directed her attention. In came Sulley with a small tree with Mara right behind him. He went over and dropped it at the feet of Bex, mumbling something to her that Emby couldn’t here. A spark of fear lit in Bex’s eye but otherwise, nothing else was done or said. Sulley turned to leave but Demetrio stopped. “Don’t you want to stay Sulley? Let Mara enjoy the food, hm? You can at least stay for her.” A growl came from Sulley and Emby moved closer to Jacob. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth but Mara didn’t reach for any food. Demetrio, however, poured her a cup of some red liquid Emby assumed to be punch, distracting her for a bit from Sulley. Sulley walked away and rested his back against a wall.

Emby turned toward Jacob. “I’ll be back.” Jacob gave her a weary look. “I’ll be fine.” She squeezed his hand before letting go. She walked over to the box of Santa hats and picked one up. She then proceeded toward Sulley. She stopped in front of him, messing with the puff ball on top to avoid looking him in the face. “I’m not wearing that, Emby,” he said softly. She looked up to him, eyes as wide as can be. “Please? Come on. It’s Christmas.” He shook his head. “Ya know, my dad used to dress up as Santa every Christmas before…before I came here.” She said, avoiding telling him the fact that her dad was dead. He snatched the hat from her hands, placing it on his head. She gave him a smile. “Thanks.” A bit of his sharp hair had ripped through the sides. “Be careful. I’m sure Bex and Demetrio worked hard on those,” she told him. “Do you want me to wear it or not?” He growled. She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Merry Christmas, Sulley.” She then turned from him and walked back to Jacob, who put a protective arm around her and pulled her close.

[Sulley]

Nik's Holiday Story

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Red and Green. The colors of Christmas. But as always this scrooge named Aidian Thomas ignored the requests of those Dreamer fools. He ignored Silva’s requests. He ignored the guards that poked fun at his scrooge like attitude. He’d get the Guards back later. And he hadn’t completely shot down the girls that asked him. He just politely declined the requests to wear Christmas colors and to decorate his cell with some stockings or something.

As usual he was humbugging. Sitting alone in his cell leaning against the bare stone wall his glasses covering his eyes as usual. His leather jacket was held tightly around him by two thin arms. Of course the Guards would mock them by starting a blizzard outside in time for the Holiday that held so much hope for the other, less intellectual, mutants. Especially the children. He couldn’t stand to see there sad faces when they saw they couldn’t make it to the Dreamer party because of the Weather. He had such a soft spot for them. Lightly the boy pushed off the floor and shuffled over to his little radio that belonged in the late nineties. He pulled his old worn and torn copy of Three Days Grace One-X album and popped it in. He’d managed to find a copy in all the trash at the market, He pretty much grabbed every CD he could when there was an option.

Lightly he skipped to the track Never to Late. He leaned back up against a wall and closed his eyes his lips moving but no sound coming out. He heard a light shuffling of feet to his left. It was a small blonde haired girl. Lightly Aidian removed his glasses and looked at her as if waiting to speak. The young girls face was so sweet. So innocent. What did she do to get in here? Then he looked at her. Under her eyes scales rested. They were thin and shimmering. Beautiful silvery colors bounded off her solemn eyes. Her small white dress revealed the thin scales going down her arms though skin still remained? What would this girl become in the future only God knew.

Lightly the girl lifted her head before walking towards his boom box. Lightly she knelt down and hit the off switch cutting the song off at the chorus. She turned her beautiful face to look at his troubled features once again. “ You should listen to something more lively Mister. The others are already sad because they can’t go to Miss Bex’s party. All the other Adults left us here to go. ” She looked down as if upset. “ Christmas isn’t the same without the cheerfulness. Your music upsets all of us sir. ” She looked back up at him again wiping a single tear from her silver scales.

Aidian’s heart was melting. He felt his soul turn to mush as he stared at this girl. “ How many kids are there? ” he heard himself ask. But he didn’t realize he was asking them at the time. It was sort of a reaction. He slowly rose before shuffling through his CD’s. Lightly he shoved one into his back pocket.

The girl looked up again. “ Three or four of us. But there is also that nice man Curtis. He didn’t make it out either. ” She looked up at his curiously as if pondering him on some deeper level than even he could comprehend. “ What are you planning Mister? ” she stood up to her full height which was about three and a half feet looking up at the seventeen year old.

“ Have Curtis and the other Children meet me by the door. I’ll get you all to the party. ” Was this hopeful future Rebellion member actually pledging to give this girl and the other kids a lift to the party? Aidian just hoped this act of kindness didn’t effect his chances with the Rebellion. Lightly the boy pulled off his Leather jacket. It was his only jacket and only protection against the cold. Lightly he pulled on hi white V-neck. It wouldn’t help at all but it was for protection. Lightly Aidian left his cell block not bothering to see if the girl left. It was her choice. If she wanted to get to the party with the other kids she’d show.

In about five minutes Aidian and Curtis were standing in front of the other kids jump around excitedly. Aidian had already explained his plan. Curtis was in a warm hoodie and holding a flannel blanket and an extra jacket. Aidian knelt down to there height. “ Alright kids. Here’s the plan. Me and this Indian kid- ” Aidian wasn’t as rude as usual but he still wasn’t in the Christmas spirit. “ Are going to help you get to the party. There are fur of you so he’ll carry two of you and I’ll take two. Now two of you go to him and tow come to me. One jumpy scared boy and girl jumped into Curtis’ zone. Curtis looked up and shrugged. What could he say? Aidian scared them.
The young girl with darling shimmering scales moved towards Aidian holding another boy’s hand. Lightly he picked the two up and wrapped his jacket around them. “ Hold onto this. It’ll keep you warm as you can be out there. The kids obeyed and Aidan turned to look at the door. He quickly kicked it open with a loud crash. The frigid air hit his skin and made him cringe. He couldn’t shift now. He only had metal on his back and that was going to get cold fast. Lightly he pushed into the wind fighting the elements as he trudged through the snow.

He felt the kids shiver. He couldn’t even see Curtis in the weather. But he did see the light of the Dreamer’s headquarters ahead. Squinting he pushed forward holding the shivering kids close as he fight against both wind and snow. Oh how those Guards would pay for this.

After a ten minute walk through the snow Aidian walked up the three steps to the door way. He slowly reached the open the door but found it locked. He growled loudly hitting it with his foot once before someone answered. Who else would it be but Curtis. He was wet but he had made it there quickly. Lightly Aidian released the children before stepping inside. The warmth of the room melted the snow on his arms quickly. He turned to see the two kids he had brought here giggling and shaking the snow off their heads as they pranced around. Aidian slowly placed his jacket on a chair. His shirt was two wet to wear. Lightly he pulled it off before dropping it on a table. He ignored the sighs of the adults as he pulled on his jacket again. Just a leather jacket and jeans made him look like a stripper. Lightly the man leaned against the wall. He couldn’t venture back to his place without Christmas anytime soon unfortunately. Lightly the boy looked around before spotting her. The brown haired woman named Mara he’d met earlier. He smiled at her only to have her look away as if annoyed. Oh well at least he’d tired. Jacob and Emby were snuggling in a corner. Curtis and Liliana side by side and even Mara was with Sulley. Ha of course he was alone

Aidian shook his head looking at the floor only to feel the CD in his back pocket get suddenly removed. He looked up his face filled with rage as if his prized possession had been stolen. Metal seeped down his arm and he his hand closed into a tight fist. He was surprised to see Silva there staring at it. “ Who is…. Owl city? ” Aidian slowly relaxed before looking at him All eyes were on him. Even Mara’s penetrating glare led him to believe that if he attacked this girl he’d regret it.

“ A band…. A lively band. I know for a fact you don’t have any Christmas music for this lunatic party so I thought I’d bring something a little…. Lively. ” Aidian looked to see Bex coming. She without a word grabbed the CD before looking at it. “ Thanks Aidian. Your gesture is most appreciated. ” The room untensed as Aidian calmed down and Owl city popped in. Soon people were dancing and Mingling and Aidian found himself in front of Mara. He smiled politely before scratching the back of his head. Her arms were crossed and she didn’t look amused. “ Want to dance? ” Aidian asked already knowing the answer.

“ In your dreams meat sack. ” the jaded woman replied solemnly. Aidian caught a glare form a grumpy looking Sulley and lightly turned his head away. Whatever it was Christmas. He didn’t care. Slowly he shoved his hands into his pockets before moving towards the door. He had music in his cell waiting.

“ Wait. ”

The voice reached him lightly. It was Bex again. “ Everyone has a present. Here’s yours. ” She pushed a box into Aidian’s fingers before looking at his face. Hesitantly he opened the box. He blinked. A small carving of a raven was in the center of the small box. “ Merry Christmas. ” she said before moving away to attend to some other guest. Aidian observed it for a moment before smiling. Yes actually smiling. “ Yes… A Merry Christmas indeed. ” What were the odds that he’d get his first gift in Freakopolis. He’d cherish the small and simple gift. “ Yes! Merry Christmas and to all a good night! ”[/blockquote]