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Creative Corner => Events Board => Topic started by: wavewright62 on November 30, 2020, 02:52:44 AM

Title: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on November 30, 2020, 02:52:44 AM

The SSSS / ARtD / CoH Fan-Forum Advent Calendar 2020

8 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.60msg=176409#msg176409)oo	10 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.75msg=176530#msg176530)o	3 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.15msg=176310#msg176310)oo	1 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.msg=176271#msg176271)oo	6 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.45msg=176352#msg176352)oo	20 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.165msg=176855#msg176855)o
14 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.120msg=176686#msg176686)o	9 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.75msg=176497#msg176497)o	17 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.135msg=176765#msg176765)o	22 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.180msg=176917#msg176917)o	4 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.30msg=176330#msg176330)oo	11 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.90msg=176575#msg176575)oo
21 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.165msg=176878#msg176878)o	19 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.150msg=176800#msg176800)o	2 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.msg=176286#msg176286)oo	13 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.105msg=176644#msg176644)o	24 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.180msg=176950#msg176950)o	15 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.120msg=176718#msg176718)o
5 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.30msg=176343#msg176343)oo	12 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.105msg=176612#msg176612)o	16 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.135msg=176738#msg176738)o	7 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.45msg=176382#msg176382)o	23 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.180msg=176934#msg176934)o	18 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.150msg=176783#msg176783)o

25 (https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1160.195msg=176984#msg176984)

It has become an annual tradition here on the Forum to construct an Advent Calendar of fanworks in various media, based on Minna Sundberg's webcomics A Redtail's Dream and Stand Still Stay Silent, and her game development in progress City of Hunger. Perhaps we'll even see a submission for the so-far-nameless short comic with fluffy bunnies, that has only just been announced and is being developed as this calendar is being prepared?
Each day from 1 through 24 December, a new fanwork treat will be added to this thread, with the grid above becoming live with links to the post as the month progresses. Many of our finest artists and writers are preparing works for our delight, with many focusing on a festive theme.
The (general) target time to reveal each new work will be in the wee hours of Official Fan Forum time.

:squirrelcookie: :sigrun: :mikkel: :reynir: :emil: :tuuri: :lalli: :onni: :squirrelcookie:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 01, 2020, 12:08:39 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/olj7GB6.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 01, 2020, 05:51:07 AM

Is that Simon's cat in the background? Nice! (by the way, I sent you that thing you needed)

Reference:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 01, 2020, 07:14:16 AM

caAATs!!!! Thats certainly a lot of warm, occasionally scratch-y, fuzzies in that picture ;D. I love the pose of the guy doing the training!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 01, 2020, 11:47:16 AM

Haha, what a scene... and a brilliant cameo by Simon's cat!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 01, 2020, 01:35:22 PM

So many pretty kitties!!! XoX XoX XoX Lovely drawing wave!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 01, 2020, 02:25:57 PM

Happy Beginning of December, everyone!
Sadly, I cannot see your picture, Wave... :onni:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 01, 2020, 02:35:44 PM

Awww, adorable kitties, Wave! The poor trainer, though... :'D And I really enjoyed the Simon´s cat-cameo too!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 01, 2020, 02:53:54 PM

The cat trainer commented on Kitty's unfortunate tendency to ask for snacks after an exercise, and instead of showing Kitty asking for them like Simon's Cat (as she was in the first draft), I just included the actual Simon's Cat.
I am going to have figure something out for you, Annuil.... I sequester *all* of the calendar images onto my imgur. Does anybody have ideas what Annuil can do to her settings?

Edit: I've uploaded the picture onto my tumblr, which I know you *can* see, so here it is under the spoiler:

Spoiler: kitty training • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 01, 2020, 05:31:09 PM

Oooh! Thank you, wave, that is so great! I’ve actually never seen your drawings colored and it looks awesome! Nice one! ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 01, 2020, 07:50:18 PM

What a way to kick off the advent calendar, Wave! Those cats definitely made me laugh.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 01, 2020, 09:45:42 PM

Love the warm fuzzies, Wave! ;D I'm sure that suit can handle it, right?...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 02, 2020, 12:26:08 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/ZxZICxC.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Today's lovely treat comes to us courtesy of that fine storyteller, Grade E Cat, carrying on the continuing adventures of the Human!Kitty Katja. Thank you!

Spoiler: show

Katja’s birthday

According to the ledgers left behind by her parents, Katja’s birthday was just a few days after Jul. She made the cut for her birthday to be celebrated during the festival itself. Due to the circumstances in which she had grown up and her tendency to follow them to places she shouldn’t, this was going to be Katja’s first proper festival. The day before the festival, Sigrun asked him a question that she somehow hadn’t considered before despite the fact that they had both been Katja’s parents for close to a year:
-Hey, Mikkel, you know stuff, so maybe to can solve a mystery for me. Do you have any idea why children born up to six days after Jul get to be “Jul children”, but the acceptable “before” date is about half that?

-This one is actually quite easy. Old-world astronomers estimated that the actual solstice could be up to a couple days before the usual celebration. As for the “after” cut-off, I assume you remember that place where we got rid of the ghosts, according to Reynir. That religion had a widespread festival that took place the 25th of December, and sometimes required to have the following day to be taken off, as well. In many places, it got either combined with or outright replaced winter solstice celebrations. According to archives, when Jul became the sole winter solstice festival again and was moved up a few days, people in charge decided that the transition would be eased if people who had been used to the Old World festival also being their birthday party were allowed to celebrate it during Jul.

-25th of December, eh? How did that god not have this happen on purpose?

Both Sigrun and Reynir were insistent that Katja was meant to have a role in regards to that religion as it was. If neither of them asked about it specifically or found out on their own, Mikkel was going to keep what the 25th of December festival was meant celebrate from them for as long as his could. Even if they were right, something that was doubting less and less, having a guardian who didn’t make as much of a big deal of it as everyone else around her may make a great difference for the sort of childhood Katja would end up having. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It turned out be the mailman:

-A couple packages for you just came out of quarantine. There is another that will be out by tomorrow’s mail delivery, as well.

xxxx

One of the packages was from Reynir. He was sending over copies of all the books about that religion he could find in Iceland, and had gotten his hand on the latest one close enough to Jul to send it along with the small stuffed sheep that was his actual gift. If books on the subject produced in Denmark and Sweden had a “gods don’t actually exist anyway, but they make an interesting study subject” bias to them, the bias of those from Iceland could be summed up as “that god does exist, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to not worship them”. However, considering how thorough Iceland’s efforts to ban that god’s worship had been during the first few decades after the initial Rash outbreak, any surviving information was good to have. Besides, if any of the things denounced in those books were true, they would be clearly stated and explained mistakes from the past that Katja would later know to avoid if her supposed part in rebuilding that religion from the ground up ever came to be. The toy, meanwhile, was identical to one Katja had played with during her stay in Iceland, hadn’t been allowed to take with her upon leaving for various reasons, but hadn’t been reluctant enough to part with to change anyone’s mind. Emil had sent a small bag of expensive sweets that a bakery in Mora had started to produce within the last few months, and that were much appreciated by his younger cousins. A second item was found in the package from Emil: a cat figurine that had been sculpted in the most light-colored wood that one could find, painted with markings the same color as Katja’s hair. Its style was promptly recognized. It was very like those two to announce such news by sending presents together out of the blue. On Jul itself, a package from Finland was delivered. If Lalli’s present was accompanying Emil’s, that left only one person who knew Katja who could have sent it. The present itself, however, was something someone else entirely would have chosen: a “mechanics for beginners” book.

(Do check out Grade E Cat's previous Katja stories over on the SSSS Scriptorium thread!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 02, 2020, 12:51:10 AM

Grade E cat, I loved your story, and the thought you put into each of the gifts, as well as the consideration for what people would know of Christmas in the SSSS world.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 02, 2020, 03:08:30 AM

I have compiled the original "Katja" story here (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13718580/1/Silent-Child), by the way.

As for the other short fic involving her, I plan to publish all of this year's short fics as a single chapter of my prompt fic collection at the end of the year, with the story above included as well.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 02, 2020, 02:24:45 PM

Lovely story, Grade E cat, and excellent present choices! (I audibly squealed when I realized who would have picked out the last one. My mom asked me whether I was ok... :'D)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 02, 2020, 03:16:08 PM

I like this latest addition to Katja's story! I must go and refresh my memory of the backstory, thanks for putting them all in one place, Grade E cat. It's like an extra bonus advent story. :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 02, 2020, 04:49:52 PM

Nice Katja story Grade E cat! The presents were very well thought out!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 02, 2020, 06:50:52 PM

A lovely! Lovely story, Grade E Cat! And I really like her name ;)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 03, 2020, 12:20:31 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/QPzo8sd.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Today's treat has been contributed by the fabulous Vulpes. Put on the kettle (or your favourite scented candle) and enjoy this story!

Spoiler: a special re-creation • show

Year 93, early May – Måløy, Norway

Mikkel flapped the newspaper and folded it back on itself, the better to read it while sipping his coffee. Oskar glanced over from the table where he was sorting packages by destination, and wondered how it was that he seemed to do most of the work in the small shipping office. At that point Mikkel’s eyebrows nearly vanished into his hair, and his eyes opened wide. Oskar stopped sorting. This must be good.

“Well! That Danish expedition has located a small colony of survivors on the Isle of Man, just as predicted.”

Mikkel looked infuriatingly smug about this news. When the expedition was announced, Oskar had been skeptical. They had debated the odds of survivors at length, and Mikkel had an answer to any objection.

“They even have a fascinating breed of tail-less cat!” Mikkel continued. “And quite fantastical sheep. They’re taking some of the inhabitants to the Academy of Seiđur in Iceland. Apparently they have their own sort of mages.”

Oskar picked up a package to begin sorting again. “Fascinating story, Mikkel, but perhaps we should get on with…”

Mikkel launched himself out of his chair, saying, “I must go let Sigrun know about this! She’s bound to get some garbled story through the grapevine, and I should try to circumvent that – there are important decisions to be made around this!” And with that he strode out, banging the door behind him. Oskar sighed and continued sorting.

~ ~ ~ ~
Year 93, early June – Reykjavík, Iceland

As the Danish ship docked in Reykjavík harbour, Finola stood with the rest of the Manx mages staring at the town. The view seemed to her both foreign and familiar. She had seen that tall spire in a dream nearly a year earlier, and here it was, towering over the town. She looked forward to talking to the people at the Academy. But first, she was to meet the family who had agreed to billet her. She pulled out the paper with their names on it, silently sounding them out with her month-old knowledge of Icelandic: Árni Ragnarsson, Sigriđur Jónsdóttir. And their son Reynir Árnason, a mage. Scooping up her bags, she marched off the ship and onto a foreign shore for the first time in her 26 years.

~ ~ ~ ~
Year 95, mid-November – Academy of Seiđur

Finola was the last of the Manx mages still in Iceland, working at the Academy. She loved it there, sharing Manx lore and learning about Nordic magic. Reynir kept talking about Lalli and Onni, Finnish mages that he knew. Their magic was much different, and she dearly wanted to meet them. But they were far away, out of reach even in the dream world. Reynir hoped that they would visit, but from everything he said about them, she figured that was very unlikely.

~ :sigrun: ~ ~ :sigrun: ~
Year 98, early September – Dalsnes, Norway

Mikkel was opening mail among the breakfast dishes, while Sigrun honed her favourite knife. On unfolding one letter, Mikkel’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened. Sigrun paused – this must be good.

“Emil appears to have suddenly become sentimental. He would like to have a reunion among our little crew.”

“Fantastic!” yelled Sigrun. “I’d love to see my former right-hand man again! What about the pipsqueak? And freckles?”

“Evidently he has already convinced Lalli, who has arm-twisted Onni… or perhaps it is the other way around.” He flipped the letter over. “No mention of Reynir.”

“Christmas!” Sigrun declared.

“What?”

“Christmas! Let’s have them all here for Christmas. We have lots of room. It’ll be awesome!”

“I suspect that Emil intended that we visit him…”

“That’s settled, then. I’ll see about getting someone to look after the cooking, they won’t come if they think you’re in charge of the kitchen. We’ll have to get the biggest tree…”

~ :reynir: ~ ~ :reynir: ~
Year 98, late September – Brúardalur, Iceland

Reynir had just received a most surprising letter. “Remember those adventures I told you about, in the Silent World? Sigrun and Mikkel are inviting me to Norway for a reunion at Christmas. Both Lalli and Onni will be there.”

Finola’s heart leapt, then fell. A crew reunion… they wouldn’t want outsiders. Reynir clearly felt otherwise.

“You must come! Nobody will mind. I’ll let them know there will be two of us.”

“If you are sure. I will bring a gift – oh, I just think of the perfect one!”

“What is it?”

“You will see. It’s from the Isle of Man, I never hear of it here.”

In her room, she dug out her mother’s recipe box, and found the one for plum pudding. The last time she made it was years earlier, with her mother, and of course there were several ingredients they couldn’t get. But here the greenhouses produced spices and citrus fruit. There were much nicer brandies, too, than Uncle Loghlan’s rotgut.

She scanned the ingredients – yes, she would actually be able to make it according to the recipe. With all those spices and fruits from the greenhouses, it was going to cost her a month’s wages, but it was well worth it to re-create the traditional pudding for the first time in nearly 100 years.

~ :mikkel: ~ ~ :sigrun: ~
Year 98, 20 December – Dalsnes, Norway

Finola and Reynir lugged their bags to the door, which Mikkel threw open as they approached. He looked the same as always, with perhaps a touch of grey at his temples. Unusually, though, his eyebrows went up and his eyes widened – at which point Reynir realised that he may have forgotten to post that letter mentioning that Finola was coming.

“Mikkel! Here’s Finola, who I mentioned in that letter I sent.” He smiled a little too broadly.

Mikkel supressed a sigh. “Delighted to meet you, Finola. Welcome to our home. And it’s wonderful to see you, Reynir, you haven’t changed one bit,” and gave him a hard look.

Once they were settled, Finola told her hosts what she had brought as a gift and asked if she might serve it at the Christmas dinner they had planned.

“More food is always good, little Manx mage!” bellowed Sigrun, giving her a friendly cuff on the shoulder, nearly knocking her over.

~ :emil: ~ ~ :emil: ~
24 December

They spent Christmas laughing, eating, and taking short walks to justify eating more. Gifts were opened and exclaimed over, and finally they sat down to the festive meal. They worked their way through crispy ribbe, tangy sauerkraut, Christmas sausages, potatoes and the rest, toasting one another with aquavit along the way.

Finally Mikkel said, “Finola has brought us a Manx Christmas treat for dessert.” All eyes, some slightly unfocused on account of all the toasting, were on her.

“This recipe is very old. This is first time I have some… makings… ingredients! Nobody made it proper since almost 100 years.”

She rose, and asked if someone could give her a hand. Mikkel prodded Emil in the ribs, making him jump. Finola smiled at him, and beckoned him to follow.

“I can barely understand her!” he hissed to Mikkel.

“I think she merely requires someone to carry it.”

In the kitchen, a large, dark mound sat on a heavy ceramic serving dish. Beside it sat a bottle of brandy, a box of matches, a small cooking pot, and a bowl. Finola took the pot to the stove to warm. She gestured to the brandy, mimed pouring it on the cake and putting a match to it. Then she turned to stirring the sauce.

Emil felt relieved. This task involves fire – perfect! He poured some brandy on the cake. Was it enough? He looked over at Finola, but she was frowning and stirring vigorously so he didn’t want to interrupt her. He sloshed more on.

“Ready?” She had the sauce in the bowl, and gestured with her head toward the cake.

He struck a match and touched it to the pool of alcohol in the plate.

~ ~ ~ ~
In the dining room, Lalli was nodding off among the detritus of the main course. The rest of them were half-pickled, having a boisterous conversation. Even Onni was wrangling with Mikkel about something. Lalli didn’t do well without his usual routines, and even the small amount of aquavit he’d had went to his head. The whole evening was taking on a dream-like quality. What happened next did little to allay that impression.

The door from the kitchen opened, and a strange glow appeared. Everyone stopped talking. First the dish appeared, bearing a large shape enveloped in a bluish flame that reached some 50 cm above it. Then Emil appeared, holding the dish at arm’s length, leaning back slightly to avoid singeing his hair. Finola followed, carrying a small bowl.

Sigrun broke the silence. “Now that is my kind of dessert!”

~ :sparkle: ~ ~ :sparkle: ~
Lying in bed, Finola thought about her pudding’s success. None of them had ever heard of flaming plum pudding, so of course they wouldn’t know that it wasn’t meant to be a towering inferno. And once the flames died down, it was as delicious as she had hoped, and the hard sauce was a hit as well. Something didn’t add up about the evening, though. As she dozed off, it came to her – when Emil brought in the pudding, Mikkel’s eyebrows hadn’t gone up, and he had his usual calm, impassive look, with maybe just the hint of a smile.
(https://i.imgur.com/3c5TACS.jpg)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 03, 2020, 04:04:54 AM

Hahaa Vulpes, Mikkel pulling the strings again :mikkel: Great stuff!

The Katja story and Wave’s art are also delightful!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 03, 2020, 06:01:28 AM

These are all wonderful! And Manx culture is half Nordic anyway, as is their language and political structure. Such of their our-world magic and folklore as I know is also a Celtic/ Nordic fusion, so the Manx mage may find her studies go better than she expects!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 03, 2020, 06:39:32 AM

Vulpes, I loved that story! Manx culture has always interested me a bit since a few of my ancestors were Manx (they came to Australia back in the 1800s though, and nothing's really been passed down), but y'know, it's enough to give me a passing interest.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 03, 2020, 07:55:02 AM

Have Emil carry the thing that's been set on fire on purpose... of course.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 03, 2020, 07:55:32 AM

aah Vulpes, that story was a delight to read!! my family has had flaming pudding for Christmas once or twice, but never with such spectacular flames as here ;D

and Grade E Cat, the Katja story was great! it took me a second to figure out who the last present might have been from, but I almost squealed like Mirasol when I did

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 03, 2020, 09:46:03 AM

Great story Vulpes! I've never heard of flaming pudding, but it sounds good, I might have to try that recipe!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 03, 2020, 10:32:58 AM

Thanks everyone, glad it was an enjoyable read.

Disclaimer: I have never made the recipe, and to the best of my knowledge, neither did my mother! She must have asked Aunt Ilda for it, but then lost enthusiasm. So I have no idea if it works. Also many instructions are left out; I know that plum pudding is steamed in covered molds, but those details are not given in the recipe.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 03, 2020, 10:33:58 AM

Oooh, Emil with the flaming cake! Such a great story, Vulpes! I love it! ;)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 03, 2020, 12:58:47 PM

Ah, such great stories the past couple of days! :D Grade E cat, I also enjoyed reading about the gifts, and the ending, gasp :O And Vulpes, such a lovely reunion! Loved how Emil got the honor of lighting that thing up.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 03, 2020, 01:40:45 PM

Oh Finola, you should know that if Emil gets his hands on the matches, it´s always ment to be a towering inferno. :'D :emil:
Great story, Vulpes, it really made me laugh!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 03, 2020, 04:12:40 PM

I was sort of reading from between my fingers thinking OMGs his gonna get his hair singed, but luckily Vulpes was being Christmas generous and didn’t :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: gjuerne on December 03, 2020, 09:15:15 PM

Thank you, Minnions!

Wave, your sad Cthulhu imitation troll made me burst out laughing 😆 and I adored the Simon’s Cat shoutout. A stellar beginning to this year’s advent calendar!

Grade E Cat, what a lovely array of presents! Especially the last gift, such a perfect ending. (ps, wave and cat, maybe the centering isn’t working in the story because the Forum might need this kind of bracket < and > instead of these [ and ] … and nope. The usual html didn’t italicize *something* correctly either ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .)

Vulpes, 🤣🤣🤣 we all knew *something* would happen if Emil went in the kitchen … the anticipation made it even funnier! I love the idea of Isle of Man survivors, more please!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 04, 2020, 12:25:46 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/agUGGi3.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 04, 2020, 05:56:57 AM

Woah, especially the sky looks amazing, Alkia! XoX I love the way you did the northern lights!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 04, 2020, 09:00:27 AM

That's really pretty Alkia! The sky in particular looks lovely!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 04, 2020, 09:01:36 AM

Alkia, that's beautiful! Okay, it's a bit weird that I'm calling three hideously diseased bears "beautiful", but such is SSSS. Lovely to think of the poor things actually enjoying themselves. Mmmm, marshmallows!

And thanks for the nice words about my plum pudding story. Jitter, how could I possibly have Emil singe his hair?? The horror! This is a cheery Christmas tale, after all.

gjuerne, I have an enormous back-story about the Isle of Man. Maybe I'll break it up into some small stories. Last year during the Advent Calendar, something reminded me of this event from my childhood*, and I thought it'd make a fun story. But where would the knowledge of plum pudding arrive from? That led me to the Isle of Man, and I spent the past year thinking about it off and on, building a very complicated story about the colony, its discovery, Finola's adventures in Iceland, and the rest...

*Substitute 7 year old me, groggy from being up too late, for Lalli, and a cousin for Emil. My aunt pinched some pure ethanol from the lab, the cousin probably thought it was ordinary booze of some sort and put a generous amount on, assuming it was 100 proof. It was 100%. Clearly I was impressed by the result.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 04, 2020, 11:48:19 AM

Alkia, this is so beautiful! I love the northern lights and marshmallows! I only wonder what does that headless bear use as a mouth?.. As I think about it it seems so disgusting... how did you manage to make such a beautiful holiday picture using monsters... but as Vulpes said, such is SSSS :'D

Also, Wave, that’s a nice one! I love that duskling! It looks a little like a hedgehog, but it’s adorable, if one can such such a word to describe a monster ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 04, 2020, 02:58:38 PM

Alkia, I remember your piece from last year! :) Love the new take on it, those northern lights really do look incredible.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 04, 2020, 10:18:45 PM

aah, thank you for all the kind comments, everyone!!!! And Annuil, funny story, I actually based the headless bear's mouth on no-face from the movie spirited away (where it is not located where one might expect)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 04, 2020, 10:25:23 PM

Ahaha, Alkia, now I see it! :'D A great idea!
(Spirited Away is one of my favourite movies ever!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 05, 2020, 12:16:49 AM

(https://i.imgur.com/H7HWzTG.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Are you ready for a literal treat? Everybody's favourite living treasure, Róisín, invites you to her table for a feast!

Spoiler: an aussie feast • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 05, 2020, 02:47:38 AM

Man, Róisín, you've made me hungry for Christmas lunch now! As another Australian, I can confirm that Róisín's recipes are standard Christmas lunch fare (although in WA we tend to do without the Moreton bay bugs)

Alkia, I love your artwork!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 05, 2020, 11:30:41 AM

Oooh, these all sound delicious, Róisín!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 05, 2020, 11:54:18 AM

Oh, a whole menu! It all sounds so good and refreshing. Always making me hungry, Róisín. :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 05, 2020, 05:20:36 PM

Okay, I just ate, and a decent large meal, too, but I'm still feeling hungry after reading Roísín's feast!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 05, 2020, 08:20:49 PM

Seconding you, Vulpes! I did have a good dinner just a few moment ago as well! Róisín, this is such a feast! Truly a good one to celebrate Christmas! ;D
Also, it’s really interesting to learn about Australian traditions! Thank you for sharing with us! :))

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 06, 2020, 12:34:32 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/xpgM8TK.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

In Finland, 6 December is a special day. Pull up a pouffe or other comfy seat while Jitter shares how this day is celebrated by our protagonists!

Spoiler: flag day • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 06, 2020, 02:35:02 AM

Wow, Jitter! I love your writing, and it was really interesting learning about Flag Day!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 06, 2020, 02:53:47 AM

Back in 2017, one of France's biggest national celebrities died relatively late on December 5th. That resulted in the 6th being the day news channels forgot anything else was happening to pay homage to him. Part of me is still wondering if Finland's 100th year of independence would have been covered (at least on the channel I usually watch) if it weren't for that.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 06, 2020, 05:39:32 AM

Good story. And a good Independence Day to all!

Also glad that people enjoyed the recipes!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 06, 2020, 06:10:09 AM

Thank you! Nowadays it’s called Independence Day, but I’m not sure the name would have survived as it hardly has context in the Y90 situation. Sigrun is onto something with her comments about the date, the weather is crap today! Plus here in Helsinki it’s 6 hrs 9 minutes from sunrise to sunset, getting shorter the more northern the location (5 hrs 27 min in Keuruu). So yeah. No wonder carrying torches is a thing, while party on the streets isn’t.

Unfortunately the day has been embraced by far right movements in recent years. Now that we don’t have the Handshake Galore, I’m afraid they’ll get more visibility. The same people tend to be the ones who don’t care about masks or distancing. But that’s another issue (and should go into the politics board anyways) so let’s not dwell on it.

We don’t have a flagpole but at least I can see the neighbors’ flag. Glad I took the photo on Father’s Day, the weather was nicer then :)

And thanks Wave for the 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 06, 2020, 08:14:42 AM

I looove it, Jitter! And thanks for the dialogs in Finnish, it was so great to read them! (I’m too bad in Finnish to understand them fully but I could get the general idea which was very fun!)
It’s so interesting to hear about traditions of different countries ;D
And yes, your writing style is really easy to read, that’s great :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 06, 2020, 08:48:18 AM

Wonderful Flag Day story, Jitter. Trust Lalli to be grumpy about it - not even a low-key, solemn celebration for him, thanks! I so enjoy the Finnish dialogue you include in your stories... and the translations, because my knowledge of Finnish is progressing very slowly. Or maybe regressing? Anyway, nice to recognize a few words.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 06, 2020, 10:39:16 AM

Seconding Annuil and Vulpes, trying to understand what the Finnish said was really fun, and so was learning about Finnish traditions! Nice story, Jitter! :))

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 06, 2020, 01:10:10 PM

Wow, that's all so amazing!

First, my apologies for arriving so late at the party. I've been quite busy lately and I'm sure you noticed my relative absence here at the Forum, even if I've managed to keep myself above the water in the comments section.

That said, here we go with a few words:

Wave, your cats are amazing! And a great idea to have Simon's there :) Luckily the trainer is well protected...

Grade E Cat, I loved Katja's story (well, I love all your stories). Very well done. I'm looking forward to read more about her.

Vulpes, that is an awesome story! And that final wink with Mikkel is fantastic! (more fuel for our conspiracy theories around Mikkel ;) )
And please give us your stories! I'm sure they will be fantastic!

Alkia, your bears are so cute and lovable that we tend to forget what they are and want to share the fire with them for a few seconds before being eaten... and the background is beautiful! I hope this new tradition lasts for many many years!

Róisín, what a great menu! Makes me remember a bit of Brasil, where I grow up. It's also hot in December there, and we had a few Christmas at the beach... I feel tempted to try your pavlova recipe, even if I seldom cook. I'll tell you guys how it worked...

Jitter, still haven't had time to properly read your story, so I'll comment later. However I'm sure it's fantastic as usual. :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 06, 2020, 02:36:10 PM

Jitter, that was amazing! Very interesting and informative, and of course I loved all of the conversation. So generous of Mikkel to sacrifice some of his candle stash ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 06, 2020, 03:23:01 PM

Jitter, that was so much fun to read!! As all the others have said, its cool to learn about Finnish (and a little bit of Norwegian) festivals

And Roisin, man, those recipes look tasty! I took a screenshot so I can remember them when it gets hotter here in the northmen hemisphere

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 06, 2020, 06:15:16 PM

Róisín, I must try your recipes, they sound very tasty!

Jitter, it was really interesting to learn about a Finnish festival; nice story!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 06, 2020, 08:20:04 PM

Thanks all! I love to muse on how various traditions might change! And I’d love to see Sigrun in bunad (as would Mikkel I’m sure).

Grey, I know all about busyness at the end of year... quarter past three AM and I’m working (although I am at my best late at night so I’m actually doing Monday’s office day now and will sleep in the morning).

And good new, apparently zero conflicts with the far right clowns! This was the most peaceful Independence Day for many years. 🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 07, 2020, 12:15:52 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/OWx6ubR.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 07, 2020, 04:58:28 AM

Yeah, um, ok! I know she said she likes Onni’s art but... yeah.

Is that Puppy Fox in the tree, or Reynir’s monstrous sauna hair?

Great details! I especially appreciate your take on just how much she likes the grosslings in a tree theme!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 07, 2020, 09:16:03 AM

Lovely picture, Luna Fowler, I love the colors! Certainly the kind of decorations Sigrun would use... :sigrun:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Luna Fowler on December 07, 2020, 10:42:08 AM

It's a very disgruntled kitty.

Thanks, I thought it would fit her most, though I was debating a bit about the hat since it just covers so much of her hair.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 07, 2020, 11:19:59 AM

Love the drawing Luna Fowler! I've gotta say, my favorite part is Sleipnope pulling the sleigh :'D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 07, 2020, 01:12:14 PM

Haha, Luna Fowler, this is great! I need to make one of those grosslings for my Christmas tree! As Jitter said, good details ;)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 07, 2020, 01:31:43 PM

Luna Fowler, love the whole scene you have going on here! Those ornaments are... unique :o and what lovely presents under the tree!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 07, 2020, 01:50:08 PM

Sleipnope as stand-in reindeer is clever! But I'm curious about how anybody got Lalli to dress as an elf?! O_o Am I seeing right?

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 07, 2020, 02:45:51 PM

Quote from: Vulpes on December 07, 2020, 01:50:08 PM

But I'm curious about how anybody got Lalli to dress as an elf?!

I think chloroform may have been involved.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 07, 2020, 09:43:05 PM

I love your artwork, Luna!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 08, 2020, 12:39:58 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/NQv6gVm.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 08, 2020, 02:45:43 AM

<3 <3 <3

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 08, 2020, 07:05:02 AM

🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩

Awwww Johannabelle that is so sweet! And the picture is beautiful in itself, even without the context.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 08, 2020, 07:25:18 AM

Johannabelle, that artwork is so sweet and lovely!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 08, 2020, 07:54:32 AM

eee Johanabelle, this is amazing! the colors, the composition, the feels!

and Luna Fowler, I /love/ this idea-- like Lallicat said, I think the Sleipnope pulling the sleigh is my favorite part ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 08, 2020, 08:25:02 AM

<3 <3 <3

Johanabelle, that hit me right in the feels. It's so pretty and the colors are amazing!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 08, 2020, 09:20:08 AM

Johannabelle, aaah, it´s so beautiful! XoX The composition, the colors, everything!
(note to self: don´t think about the sad implications!!!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 08, 2020, 01:13:25 PM

Quote from: Grade E cat on December 07, 2020, 02:45:51 PM

I think chloroform may have been involved.

:)) :))

Johannabelle, your vignette is so sweet and gorgeous! The pose... the colours... the light... aaaaah! <3

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 08, 2020, 05:45:19 PM

Thanks, guys! ^-^ <3 I was just thinking it'd be cute if Onni's luonto and Tuuri's spirit bird could hang out, however that would work.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 09, 2020, 12:16:41 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/tSU9mXi.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

We have perhaps a bit of a cat theme emerging on the calendar this year? Maybe that's wishful thinking on your humble mod's part, but, courtesy of first-timer for the calendar, Lallicat, enjoy today's punctual treat!

Spoiler: meowy catmas • show

Meowy Catmas

Or a story about Kitty and Dagny getting up to some shenanigans while Sigrun and Mikkel are gone containing an ungodly amount of cat puns.

It was not unusual for the humans to leave the house for long periods of time. And while Kitty sometimes longed for the days in the wild, there was something appealing about relaxing while curled up on the rug in front of the fireplace. So when the humans left once again, she was purr-fectly content to take a catnap on a couch pillow. However, Dagny had different ideas. Sigrun had brought back the tiny ball of energy sporting a Grade A collar one day, and he had proceeded to make Kitty’s life as difficult as possible ever since. He was a positively clawful nuisance. But she loved him anyway. However, when he was jumping on her while she was trying to sleep, it was easy to lose sight of that fact. She angrily swatted him away, giving him a warning nip on the ear. She didn’t want to play with him. He didn’t relent. However, after a minute of him batting her in the face, she decided to put herself out of her mew-sery and slowly opened one blue eye. Then the other. She stretched, causing Dagny to topple off the couch. She flicked her tail while yawning, which, as everyone knows, means “okay, I’m up, what do you want to do?” in cat language. Dagny led the way towards the kitchen. There was an open bag of cat treats on the counter.

“AT LAST!” yowled Dagny, most likely talking to the high countertop. “A MOST FUR-MIDABLE FOE! I WILL DEFEAT YOU!” He proceeded to try to jump onto said countertop. His attempts were fruitless, as he was much too tiny. Kitty gave a snort of disapproval. She leapt up onto the countertop in one jump.

“Amateur,” she scoffed. “Purr-haps you should leave the high climbing to me.” She batted the bag off the counter. “Mew are fur-tunate that I’m feline nice. It was a paw-sibility for me to keep them for meow-self.” Dagny rolled his eyes.

“Yes, yes, I know, you’re so claw-ver. Purr-haps you should stop congratulating yourself and get down here before I eat all of these. I already know that mew are a paw-some fur-end.” They feasted victoriously on the treats until they felt like their bellies would burst. Then Kitty finally took that nap she had been wanting to take, Dagny curled on top of her. The door creaked open; Sigrun and Mikkel walked inside, shaking snow from their hair.

“Aww, look at them,” Sigrun whispered. “They’ve been perfect angels.”

[center]~*~*~ A few days later ~*~*~[/center]

“Mikkel, where did you put the cat treats?”

Was this story an excuse to exercise my pun-writing muscle? Yes. And I regret nothing.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 09, 2020, 03:40:58 AM

That was a sweet story, Lallicat, and very funny (punny?)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 09, 2020, 09:07:51 AM

Lallicat, that's a punishing amount of puns to pack into prose. Perfect!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 09, 2020, 10:19:33 AM

Lallicat, cute story! :) Not gonna lie, that was an impressive amount of puns that I was not prepared for. (fur-midable was my personal favorite. or fur-end?)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 09, 2020, 11:41:26 AM

Heh, amazing Lallicat, or should I say purr-fect! :'D Aww, the Kitty and Dagny-interactions are adorable, and this is indeed an impressive number of puns.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 09, 2020, 04:45:26 PM

Aww, thanks guys! It was fun to make!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 09, 2020, 08:18:52 PM

Oooh, goodness, Johannabelle, this is adorable and a bit sad! But the colors and the composition... Touching... <3 :sparkle:

Ahah, Lallicat, purr-fect, as Mirasol said! I love this story! Ah, snow! They are shaking the snow off of their hats! I miss snow so much this year... It snowed two times here in mid-Michigan, during nights and in the mornings we would get like a centimeter of snow on the ground..
But your story is just great! :D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 10, 2020, 12:16:14 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/20gr8Vl.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 10, 2020, 01:55:39 AM

Beautiful! Especially the colors are lovely!

What is the thing Emil is bringing? And Onni is of course crying only because of the onions, right?

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 10, 2020, 04:19:57 AM

Quote from: Jitter on December 10, 2020, 01:55:39 AM

Beautiful! Especially the colors are lovely!

What is the thing Emil is bringing? And Onni is of course crying only because of the onions, right?

Reynir brings the hannukiah, ready with the first candle, which will be lit from the center candle. Have you figured out yet what Emil is hurrying over with? >:D

Sigrun is wiping the floor with Tuuri in a game of dreidel. At one point, teaching Hebrew or Judaism was forbidden, so some bright spark came up with writing the letters on a spinning top. If they were raided, they would say innocently that they were just playing a gambling game. Gambling was extremely popular, after all. It's come to us with 4 particular letters and is a gambling game again. (I'm used to using chocolate coins for the betting.) I've been told that the four letters were for A Great Miracle Happened Here, meaning the oil lasting 8 days, as a way to teach that story. Gimel is the letter associated with Miracle, and it means you get all the coins in the middle. (Also, Hei means you get half, Shin means you pay in an extra coin, and Nun means nothing happens and you move to the next person.)
Lalli, naturally, has a jelly doughnut.
And Onni... well, yeah, onions.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 10, 2020, 06:20:04 AM

That's a wonderful artwork, Wave! And thanks for sharing the history of dreidel.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: JoB on December 10, 2020, 06:55:22 AM

Quote from: Vulpes on December 07, 2020, 01:50:08 PM

Sleipnope as stand-in reindeer is clever! But I'm curious about how anybody got Lalli to dress as an elf?! O_o Am I seeing right?

In Germany, St. Nick's day (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolaus_von_Myra#Brauchtum) is the 6th of December. Maybe he's a day late here because Sleighnope had a little side job to do first? >:D

Quote from: Keep Looking on December 09, 2020, 03:40:58 AM

That was a sweet story, Lallicat, and very funny (punny?)

"Phunny"? (Yeah, mew spell gud.)

Quote from: wavewright62 on December 10, 2020, 12:16:14 AM

Therefore the celebration of the festival has come to include the eating of foods fried in oil, such as jelly doughnuts and potato pancakes.

... so, there's Rievkooche (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartoffelpuffer) only once a year? O_o And I thought that my consumption is amazingly low (for someone hailing from the Rhineland) ...

(I actually prefer pear compote with them, but it's gotten quite difficult to come by in recent years. And, of course, slices of Schwarzbrot, though I refrain from buttering those like a "real" Rhinelander would.)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 10, 2020, 09:33:32 AM

Haha, I love all the details! Like Jitter, I'm trying to figure out what Emil's got, and also whether his hair is on fire or that merely indicates his enthusiasm for all things flamey. It looks like he's holding an ammunition belt or something, I hope he's not bringing explosives anywhere near the open flame. :o

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 10, 2020, 10:57:18 AM

You always have such great details, Wave! :) Don't worry Reynir, you can trust the professional to handle the lighting. Also, I just love Onni's face. (and I learned something!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 10, 2020, 01:05:03 PM

Wave, you made the food look so well that I can feel the smell of it! And I love the expressions!..
Oh, how I understand your enthusiasm, Emil! :emil: I looove lighting up the candles too! :'D
And Onni... it’s really weird, but I can start crying just because my mom is cutting an onion in the kitchen (which is on a different floor than my room)! I feel for you! :onni:
Such a wonderful work! :D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 10, 2020, 01:23:37 PM

Oh that's great Wave! And I can sympathise with Tuuri, one of my friends always beats me at dreidel. I'm starting to think they rigged the top :'D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 10, 2020, 04:18:57 PM

It still looks like an ammunition belt. Or perhaps the incendiary devices / small grenades he seems to always have at hand. It could also be a loop-shaped jar (of lamp oil I would presume) but that wouldn’t explain the rectangles. Anyways it’s clearly something related to fire :)

🔥:emil: 🔥

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 10, 2020, 04:35:46 PM

Lots of good work so far! Punny story and potato pancakes are especially delightful. Wave, your recipe for potato pancakes looks very much like how my Jewish cousin makes them, except that he adds marjoram and a tiny pinch of nutmeg ( cousin is a doctor, but he is nevertheless a very good cook).

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 10, 2020, 04:37:04 PM

Well, it's *meant* to be Emil's bandoleer of incendiary fluid, and little flames of anticipation. :emil: :emil: Ah well. Sorry it wasn't clear.
And of course you can have these at any time of the year. You can feel that happy justified glow of observance this week. There are zillions of versions, with pretty much anything you can get to stick together long enough to fry. A bit of parsnip is nice mixed in, kumara/sweet potato tastes nice but is difficult to get crispy.
Slathering of butter would fall under observance of another Jewish holiday, Shavuot - when Moses came down from Sinai with freshly minted laws of kashrut, they realised that the meat prepared for the camp's meals were not in accordance, so they (so the story goes) had vegetarian and dairy meals instead. Naturally, that translates to cheesecake and cheese blintzes with sour cream.

Fun fact: I was always on grating duty in my household, because I can process onions all day with no tears. Only if the onion is really fresh do I get slightly affected.

Spoiler: not so fun fact • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 10, 2020, 06:21:14 PM

No, Wave, that’s exactly what it looks like! I just had hard time believing even Emil would bring copious amounts of lighter fluid inside the home at a time for candles. But that’s just me being ever the hopeful person!

I don’t know what Vulpes was thinking but I sort of read his message as being in the same lines as mine.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 11, 2020, 12:24:57 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/ZNRGNH8.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 11, 2020, 09:12:32 AM

Annuil, that's beautiful - the shadowy candle-light is gorgeous. And of course Sigrun would be yawning! I'm imaging sometime in the next few seconds she says, "Great story, can we eat now? Whatever Mikkel made actually smells not terrible."

Edit to add - Yay, I did interpret what Emil's holding correctly! I was hoping the flames were enthusiasm, not flaming hair, thank-you wave for not setting Emil on fire. :))

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 11, 2020, 09:14:58 AM

That's really pretty Annuil! The glowy effect looks so cool!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 11, 2020, 11:02:35 AM

Wonderfully funny drawing, Wave (oh look, another winter-celebration getting ready for a towering inferno! :emil:) The recipe sounds delicious too!

And Annuil, wow, the lighting and athmosphere in your piece is simply beautiful!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 11, 2020, 11:22:58 AM

Annuil, absolutely love how atmospheric your art is!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 11, 2020, 06:10:07 PM

Aah, thanks, guys! ;D So many kind words! I’m glad you liked it! <3

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 11, 2020, 09:35:03 PM

Annuil, your artwork is lovely!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 12, 2020, 03:37:14 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/RMfb3cD.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

I am privileged today to present to you a moment brought to us by another first-timer, Mirasol who has delved deeply into a cultural artifact.

Spoiler: the secret • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 12, 2020, 04:57:53 AM

Mirasol, that was a very amusing and creative story!! I enjoyed it.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 12, 2020, 06:10:56 AM

Mirasol, that is absolutely brilliant! Very sweet of The Baker to distribute all the way to Iceland too! Did Tuuri decide not to tell the secret or was she made to forget by The Baker?

Annuil, your art is beautiful and touching, as always! Reynir would be the one to get interested, he was already wondering about the crosses in the bookshop they all visited.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 12, 2020, 12:17:31 PM

Eeee, thank you! :)) I´m glad you enjoyed it!

Quote from: Jitter on December 12, 2020, 06:10:56 AM

Mirasol, that is absolutely brilliant! Very sweet of The Baker to distribute all the way to Iceland too! Did Tuuri decide not to tell the secret or was she made to forget by The Baker?

She did in fact forget it, but whether that was because it was a dream or because the bakers made her, who knows... ;)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 12, 2020, 12:19:45 PM

Mirasol, that was incredible! I loved how the squirrels making the cookies definitely felt like a fever dream. :'D And the fact that there is a squirrel network making cookies everywhere. Also, AH the mystery of the crunchy bits remains unsolved!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 12, 2020, 12:44:55 PM

Mystery of the squirrel cookies solved! ...kinda

Great story Mirasol!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 12, 2020, 01:03:28 PM

Ha, Mirasol, brilliantly clever story! Very generous little squirrels to make cookies for the entire Known World. ;D. I'm glad you left the mystery of the crunchy bits unsolved.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: JoB on December 12, 2020, 01:44:16 PM

Quote from: Johannabelle on December 12, 2020, 12:19:45 PM

And the fact that there is a squirrel network making cookies everywhere.

... and I was already pondering whether, for reasons of secrecy, these local squirrels might be running a fleet of submarines to do deliveries to Iceland ...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 12, 2020, 05:44:58 PM

Quote from: JoB on December 12, 2020, 01:44:16 PM

... and I was already pondering whether, for reasons of secrecy, these local squirrels might be running a fleet of submarines to do deliveries to Iceland ...

I´m honestly not sure whether that is a stupid or an absolutely great idea. But I´m leaning towards great. ~~I should draw that...~~ Wait no I´m too busy right now. :'(

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 13, 2020, 01:19:19 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/iHtXBAu.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Halfway through, can you believe it?
Our super skald Keep Looking brings us a remembrance of the darkness, and a small flame surviving therein.

Spoiler: year 0 • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 13, 2020, 02:34:27 AM

Keep Looking, that is beautiful and moving. Thank you!

Everyone, all your works have been marvelous, touching, clever, wonderful! Some hilarious, some poignant, some uplifting....
What a community of talented, generous folk!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 13, 2020, 06:58:03 AM

Keep Looking, this poem is so beautiful!!! I keep on rereading it!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 13, 2020, 10:41:12 AM

Keep Looking, what a beautiful poem. <3 Melancholy and hopeful.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 13, 2020, 11:00:59 AM

Lovely poem, Keep Looking. The structure, the language, the emotion - all excellent!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 13, 2020, 11:22:23 AM

Keep, that is so beautiful! The final ”sing their songs with tightly shuttered eyes” put tears in my eyes. Truly lovely!

Also I hear it in my mind read aloud by you, I remember the poems you posted some time ago. Very well done!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 13, 2020, 04:59:33 PM

Wonderful poem Keep Looking!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 13, 2020, 06:05:12 PM

Our Forum makers are so brilliant! Keep Looking, that is a dark and beautiful poem, and sums up the story so well! And Mirasol, that story is sweet and funny. Crunchy bits, indeed!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 13, 2020, 07:37:19 PM

Thanks all for your kind words!! Y'know, Jitter, you got me thinking - it can't hurt to have a recording of this poem, too - I'll see about making one.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 13, 2020, 09:25:16 PM

I made a recording!

https://soundcloud.com/user-621540133/advent-calendar-2020-entry-13

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 14, 2020, 12:11:36 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/t4ZSYSZ.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 14, 2020, 12:32:09 AM

Ooh! Guardian GI, that's a very creative and interesting artwork. And it's good to have some City of Hunger content in here!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 14, 2020, 10:24:36 AM

Yay, CoH-content! And it´s beautiful too! Great work, Guardian GI!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 14, 2020, 01:12:31 PM

Now, there's a Christmas tree one wouldn't have to worry about being knocked over when the cat climbed into it!

Beautiful work, Guardian GI!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 14, 2020, 01:21:00 PM

Ooh, CoH fanart! Wonderful piece Guardian GI!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 14, 2020, 03:11:10 PM

CoH! :D Fantastic work Guardian GI, I love how intent Lalli looks.

and Keep Looking, I appreciate your recording ^^ You have a lovely voice.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 14, 2020, 03:40:14 PM

Keep, that was lovely! Thank you for the recording!

Guardian, a great concept and beautiful piece!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 14, 2020, 06:08:59 PM

Ah, lovely bonus, Keep - beautifully read.

I'm not that familiar with the CoH universe, but it's nice to see a contribution based on it. Great effect on the tree!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 15, 2020, 12:28:10 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/LW0pVDi.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

For all the execrable times Year 0 dumped on our Prologue cast, Vulpes reminds us that the Known World arose from the fertile soil of adversity.

Spoiler: wisdom of the elders • show

Wisdom of the elders

This wasn’t how I thought the world would end.

I had always imagined that the world would end with a bang, not a whimper. Nuclear conflagration, perhaps, or space aliens would turn out to be real, and obliterate the planet. If I imagined disease, then it was influenza run amok, or extra-strong Ebola or cholera or something. In my wildest dreams I hadn’t imagined anything like the rash disease, and the terrible monsters it produced.

I certainly didn’t think that I would survive the end of the world, to see what would grow from the ashes.

~~~~

That I survived at all was a matter of chance. First, my shift placed me on the ferry bound for Rønne when they cancelled all further trips. Second, an obnoxious passenger started making a fuss, and Piotr begged me to handle it. The upset passenger was quite the piece of work, a big man with an ego to match, full of self-importance, demanding that the ferry be turned back for his urgent business meeting. I fobbed him off with humour, which he didn’t appreciate. Then Piotr came to get me to deal with the man again, because his blubbering was bumming everyone out. Turns out he’d got himself fired, and was beating himself up for being fat. I could relate to getting fired, and felt a tinge guilty for thinking of him as ‘the fat loud guy’, so I sat down across the counter from him to try to cheer him up.

He eventually stopped the pathetic moaning, then insulted me. Success! I’d snapped him out of his funk. He introduced himself as Michael, and his cat, who he was blaming for the whole mess, as Magnus. He had been taking Magnus to stay at his sister’s farm for a few days, and was now facing an unknown period of feeling obliged to muck out barns in return for a place to stay. We chatted for the remainder of the crossing, until the chime sounded and they announced that the boat would be docking shortly. After the usual reminder to passengers not to leave any personal belongings behind, they instructed staff to assemble at the bursar’s office after all the passengers had disembarked.

“Well, I’d better go make sure the rest of the staff don’t try to take all the tips for themselves,” I said, sliding off the stool. Michael looked startled, a little panicked. He suddenly reached across the bar and put his hand on my forearm, gently pinning it.

“Come with me!” he blurted. I stood there frozen, with my mouth open. He blundered on. “You said they’ll make you stay on board – that’s inhumane! There’s tons of room at the farm, you’d have a nice room to yourself and there’s always plenty to eat, Mathilde will make you help out but you can’t be any more useless than I am, I’ll try to keep her from making you clean the barn…” he trailed off, a blush rising from his collar. “That’s probably not a great selling job, is it? But please, you can’t stay here…” waving his hand vaguely at the rapidly emptying benches behind him.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Okay. But I’d better go by the bursar’s office and make sure they aren’t handing out free hotel chits or something. I’ll meet you by the main terminal entrance.”

At the bursar’s office, they were not handing out chits. People were phoning family – “I’m stuck on the boat until the borders re-open… yeah, they’ll feed us, don’t worry…” I went to the lockers in the crew area and grabbed my coat and small overnight bag.

“Signe! Where do you think you’re going?” It was the cafeteria manager.

“I’m staying on someone’s farm.”

Her eyes widened. “You? On a farm? Please. Besides, you have to stay here and help with food service for the rest of the crew.”

“No I don’t. I quit.” I turned and stomped off, milling crew-members splitting like the Red Sea at the sight of my scowl. Sometimes it helps to have a bit of a reputation.

“Signe! Get back here! You can’t just quit! Signe!” This was an interesting change from being fired. I followed the last of the passengers off the boat, and found Michael waiting by the doors. We walked along the line of waiting vehicles to a slightly muddy older model Land Rover. He opened the front passenger door and poked his head in.

“Marianne! I’ve got a guest. This is Signe.” He stood, and gestured into the car. “Signe, this is my sister Marianne. Hop in! I’ll take the back seat.” Marianne was staring curiously, clearly desperate to grill her brother, but managed a smile and a welcome.

It was a good thing it was a large farm-house, almost the entire family was there. Mathilde had been deeded the farm because, in their parents’ words, she was “the only one of you who has settled down and produced any grandchildren.” However, Kirsten and Morten still lived there. There was a partly separate wing, which Mathilde, husband Per, and children Mete and Marcus occupied. Marianne and Michael got their old bedrooms, and I was put in a small guest room.

It quickly became obvious that this was not going to be a short stay. One by one, services that we had taken for granted, like phone, power, and radio, vanished. There was some hoarding, but mostly people pulled together. Shore patrols were organized to keep boats, and later sea beasts, at bay. We adjusted to a strange new normal.

I had never been on a farm, let alone lived on one. Michael was right, Mathilde certainly put me to work, although he kept his word and convinced her not to assign me barn-cleaning duty. We all had to adjust to everyone else’s near-constant company. It was a long, hard winter, but we survived and eventually spring came.

One warm morning I was outside digging in the vegetable garden with Kirsten. When we had turned all the soil and cleaned up any weeds and debris, she took the wheelbarrow and said to me, “Grab those shovels and come with me. I’d like to show you something.”

We walked briskly along the cow path, past several fields, and then turned into a greening hay field. In the middle was a disused barn with large, open doors. Kirsten made a beeline to it, turning impatiently at the door as I caught up. I must have looked as quizzical as I felt.

“This used to be pasture, and this was the field barn. Cows could come in and shelter when they liked, and there was always a little hay in case they needed it in early spring or fall.”

What I had taken to be open doors were simply doorless openings. The lower level had an earth floor trampled by generations of cows sheltering from the weather. We stepped inside, pausing a moment to let our eyes adjust. Some piles of ancient hay still lay in the loft above us. Kirsten walked deeper into the barn, poking the ground with her toe here and there.

“Ah, here we are.” She knelt and motioned for me to join her. There was an air of reverence about her manner, as though she was about to reveal a great secret of the universe.

I knelt beside her, wondering what wisdom she was about to impart. She dug her fingers into the soil floor. A rich smell rose, and I realised that the dirt floor was paved with a thick layer of very well-aged cow manure. Kirsten lifted out a handful of it, dry and crumbling, and let it fall in fragments, golden in a shaft of sun that shone through a gap in the boards.

“This…” she said, “this is good shit.”

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 15, 2020, 03:22:11 AM

Ah, how a radical shift in our frame of reference redefines values! Kirsten surely did reveal a treasure!
Well done, Vulpes!

Keep Looking, you have a good voice for reading those verses. Thank you for making that recording!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 15, 2020, 06:50:18 AM

Vulpes, I really enjoyed your story! (and the ending). Signe is a really interesting character, so it was cool that you chose to explore her.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 15, 2020, 11:42:13 AM

Vulpes, great story, loved seeing Signe! A beautiful ending :'D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 15, 2020, 11:54:15 AM

Signe was my favorite prologue character. Great story Vulpes!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 15, 2020, 12:28:40 PM

Oh, I completely forgot to comment on your recording, Keep Looking. It´s lovely!

And I really enjoyed your story, Vulpes! (on my first readthrough someone was talking to me at the same time so I didn´t really pay attention to it, and I gotta say, I did not see that ending coming. :'D And I enjoyed it even more when reading with full focus!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 16, 2020, 12:32:54 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/isW9Zzz.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 16, 2020, 01:29:18 AM

Ooh, Vulpes and Grey, what wonderful works! Both put a smile on my face, the conclusion of Vulpes’ story may have made me chuckle aloud ;D

Vulpes, I very much like how you describe Signe’s thinking about her accidental survival.

Grey, I love the details, the translucent reindeer, the ears on everyone, Emil’s sparkle... and poor Onni, he just can’t catch a break, always the braidy one gets him!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 16, 2020, 02:10:05 AM

Ooh, Grey, I love your artwork, it's very sweet

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 16, 2020, 05:26:11 AM

Thanks Wave, Jitter and Keep Looking! I'm happy that you liked it!
I'll be out today, so I can't comment on the other great works from the last days yet. But tomorrow, I believe, I'll have some more time.
Butter Good!

Note: I'm curious to see if something that's very obvious to me in the drawing is also for you...

Spoiler: show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 16, 2020, 05:38:09 AM

No it wasn’t!

Spoiler: show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 16, 2020, 06:22:21 AM

Quote from: thegreyarea on December 16, 2020, 05:26:11 AM

Thanks Wave, Jitter and Keep Looking! I'm happy that you liked it!
I'll be out today, so I can't comment on the other great works from the last days yet. But tomorrow, I believe, I'll have some more time.
Butter Good!

Note: I'm curious to see if something that's very obvious to me in the drawing is also for you...
Spoiler: show
You realize that the reindeer is really a Tuurindeer, right?

I was just about to comment whether that was your intention. :'D Wonderful drawing, Grey, I love all the details!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 16, 2020, 06:55:46 AM

I noticed the reindeer was a spirit, but I think my brain still treats her human form as the "default" from which all alternative appearances are derived, while the "default" here is definitely her spirit-bird form.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 16, 2020, 08:27:24 AM

Oh grey, that looks really good! I love the way you drew Kitty perched on top of Mikkel's head!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 16, 2020, 09:33:13 AM

Aaa, grey, that's awesome! I did not spot the reindeer detail, and should have... I was thinking, "There's someone missing..." I love the lads all dressed as elves - I chuckled aloud at that.

Thanks all for the kind words about my story. I was intrigued by Signe too - interesting mix of salt and empathy. But let's be honest... it was just an elaborate set-up for a stupid punch-line! ;D

Jitter, I'm glad you liked her thoughts on survival. I'm fascinated by how it must have been for them all, but she seems to me to have been especially lucky. The Norway group were in a isolated town, which I suppose is pure luck, although you could argue that they chose to live in an awkwardly remote place. The Swedish and Finnish groups were actively choosing to escape. Signe and Michael survived purely through a series of lucky coincidences.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 16, 2020, 02:34:23 PM

Love your drawing, Grey! Their little elf ears are so cute :'D and RIP to Onni, I imagine being on the receiving end of that braid is an unfortunate ordeal.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 17, 2020, 12:10:16 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/4loidfB.png)

Spoiler: Open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 17, 2020, 01:27:34 AM

Ooh! Johannabelle, that is such a lovely artwork!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 17, 2020, 01:29:26 AM

I am all for artworks of happy Lalli 😍

<3 :lalli: <3

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 17, 2020, 05:26:58 AM

Really Wonderful work, Johannabelle! I'm in love with the colours!
It seems that candy is Lalli's weak spot! :lalli: :V J
:D

Many many thanks to...
Jitter! Well, after finishing it I thought to myself that the hair should be more evident, because those antlers (that I really loved to draw with those stars in the background...) stole the show :D
Mirasol! As you can imagine I also delighted myself in those details :) Too bad it's a time-consuming delight, or I'd dwell on it more often...
Grade E Cat! You're right, but for some reason I imagine her spirit as capable of shapeshifting according to necessities. :)
Lallicat! Yes, Kitty has a particular taste for that. maybe she's half-bird or something like that (at least I've never seen any cat doing that in real life... except for brief moments when one deeply regret not cutting its claws more often...)
Vulpes! She's well disguised (that's, of course, my excuse for not being able to make it more evident), so your's not the only one :) And I'm glad that I made you chuckle aloud!
Johannabelle! You're right, poor Onni! And for some reason he always gets hit in the eye...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 17, 2020, 07:27:57 AM

Johannabelle, your art is always so pretty! I love the colors! :lalli:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 17, 2020, 10:17:33 AM

What a gorgeous Lalli, Johannabelle! Your art has such wonderful light.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 17, 2020, 01:35:38 PM

Thanks again, you guys <3 :sparkle: happy Lalli is a very special thing indeed!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 18, 2020, 12:06:24 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/jn6NiGR.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Jitter gave us all such a great peek into Finnish Flag Day celebrations, and now she gives a second look into Michael and Signe and their Danish festive preparations! We're so lucky!

Spoiler: Julhygge • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 18, 2020, 05:26:23 AM

Here is the reference piece: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28056672/chapters/68737032

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 18, 2020, 11:54:00 AM

Oh Jitter, I loved your story! Umbrellas sure are proving to have more and more uses post-rash... protection from rain, troll-distraction, way of confessing...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 18, 2020, 01:03:27 PM

Someone wrote a story about how the team are going to Sigrun’s, and Mikkel collects them under an umbrella and shepherds them safely there. I’m pretty sure that was this same umbrella! It’s very high quality, you know.

EDIT found it! https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1144.45

@Lallicat is it Signe’s umbrella? From London, no less!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 18, 2020, 03:50:06 PM

Lovely story, Jitter! It wasn't in my Signe-and-Michael story, to keep it to a sane length, but I also assumed that Signe was a terrible cook. ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 18, 2020, 06:27:03 PM

Jitter, a sweet story! Loved the line about the wrapping cloth, gotta use what you have :'D

“everybody hates it and it’s really awkward, but they still do because that’s what you do at Christmas.”
tis the spirit of bonding ;)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 19, 2020, 12:10:36 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/9fBdnO7.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Sometimes the sheer amount of details involved in holiday celebrations can be overwhelming. Lallicat knows that it can all be managed, with a little help from your most best crewmates.

Spoiler: show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 19, 2020, 02:04:57 AM

Jitter and Lallicat, I loved both your stories! Lallicat, yours was very funny (I especially laughed at the bit where Onni arrives, without a RSVP), and Jitter, you write Michael and Signe really well.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 19, 2020, 05:27:43 AM

Hahaa Lallicat that was hilarious! Why do you have a... never mind. Reindeer, check.

I wonder if Emil is also planning a wedding, as he immediately thinks of flower arrangements when speaking about a party. Also, are Reynir and Emil living together? With or without Lalli?

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 19, 2020, 06:23:57 AM

Lallicat, that was hilarious! :'D I´m not even surprised Sigrun decided to be Santa...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 19, 2020, 10:35:33 AM

Haha, awesome, more Emil fire disasters! Great story, Lallicat. I now have a very weird mental image of Mikkel as Mrs. Claus. O_o

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 19, 2020, 02:07:49 PM

Lallicat, awesome story! Emil sure knows how to throw a party to remember :'D Onni showing up out of nowhere was great.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 19, 2020, 11:58:10 PM

(http://i.imgur.com/rIeFirE.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 20, 2020, 07:01:48 AM

It´s so sparkly! XoX :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:
And Sigrun is selling Squirrelcookies, I love it, Gwenno! :squirrelcookie: :sigrun:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 20, 2020, 08:05:49 AM

Ooh, Gwenno, that's such a lovely artwork - you've really captured a sense of the atmosphere. Christmas markets sound lovely, I'm sorry they couldn't happen this year!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 20, 2020, 10:11:58 AM

All these works are lovely! And Gwenno, you catch well the atmosphere of the seasonal markets. Our special Christmas Twilight Farmers Market is still going ahead, hooray! (Usually they happen on Saturday mornings, but the Christmas and Easter ones are in the afternoon and evening. Ours is on the 23rd December this year. Let us hope it is as much fun as this one appears to be!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 20, 2020, 03:23:14 PM

Gwenno, lovely atmosphere! Helsinki has also had a nice Christmas market for about a decade which I have loved to visit, but not this year. Lovely to see Sigrun’s squirrel cookie stand in a picture ar least :) And like others have said, you got the light and ambience just right!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 20, 2020, 07:37:51 PM

People! You are truly amazing! I’m sorry, I had to do a lot of school work and make some presents for my family members, so I couldn’t reply earlier! But I looked through all of the contributions and they are just great! You all are so talented, it’s such a gift to have this calendar going and seeing all these fine works! ;D :reynir:
(Oh my, every sentence with an exclamation mark haha!)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 20, 2020, 09:28:58 PM

Gwenno, such beautiful art! Lovely colors, and all those lights look so gorgeous and inviting. And is that trdelník I see?(along with squirrel cookies, of course ;))

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 20, 2020, 09:41:28 PM

Beautiful work, Gwenno! Bright and sparkly, so cheerful!

Everyone is doing such lovely projects, whether images or words!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 21, 2020, 12:09:26 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/zp2UDMv.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 21, 2020, 04:21:13 AM

Wow! Róisín and Mirasol, this is an amazing collaboration!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 21, 2020, 04:44:07 AM

Thanks, glad you like it!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Lallicat on December 21, 2020, 09:14:42 AM

Johannabelle, such a pretty Lalli!

Jitter, I loved your story, it's always so interesting to speculate on what happened to the prologue characters! (And I'm assuming that the umbrella became some sort of family heirloom, so definitely the one Mikkel used!)

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments, the story was fun to write!

Gwenno, such a pretty scene! The sparkles, and the lights, and the squirrel cookies are just so perfect! XoX

Róisín and Mirasol, you did such good work together! The poems are absolutely gorgeous and the art fits so well!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 21, 2020, 11:51:54 PM

Róisín, Mirasol, your combined work is the sort that brings tears - not from sadness, but from being overwhelmed with beauty.

That's not an adequate description, but it's all I can do tonight...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 22, 2020, 12:22:33 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/oskdaVS.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 22, 2020, 01:17:41 AM

Lovely Petrarchan sonnet (Petrarch would be proud). The form is sadly neglected these years, and I am glad to see it.

And thank you for the praises for the piece Mirasol and I did.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 22, 2020, 02:27:46 AM

Wonderful poetry and art, Róisín, Mirasol nd Keep! :sparkle: :sparkle: :sparkle:

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 22, 2020, 06:44:07 AM

Thank you so much for the nice comments on Róisín´s and my pieces! :))

And another amazing poem, Keep Looking!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 22, 2020, 10:37:01 AM

Got busy with things and haven't stopped by in a few days - how could I let that happen?

Gwenno, I love your market scene. I spotted the squirrel cookies right away, but Johannabelle drew my attention to yet another new baked good in my universe (trdelník). This is why I enjoy the forum advent calendar - not only do I get to enjoy wonderful creations by you talented folks, I always learn about something new! And often edible. ;D

Róisín and Mirasol, a beautiful collaboration. I really like that both hemispheres are represented. I need to go back and read again with more care, and stare at the artwork a little longer.

And Keep teaches me something else new! I'm decidedly not literary, so I know very little about sonnet forms. However, reading a bit about them makes the poems all the more enjoyable. Lovely imagery.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Buteo on December 22, 2020, 10:04:40 PM

Another beautiful and elegant poem, Keep Looking!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 23, 2020, 12:13:56 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/MdYoNGu.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 23, 2020, 02:21:00 AM

Meanwhile, on the other side, Kitty is trying to climb up the tree and whatever effort is made to keep her from toppling it is going to be very conter-productive.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 23, 2020, 09:16:34 AM

Haha, yet another Emil fire-related near-disaster! GaelleDragons, I love your style. And for reasons I can't quite explain, I particularly like that Mikkel is wearing plaid. He could be any one of my neighbours. ;D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 23, 2020, 11:27:32 AM

Hahaa, Mikkel to the rescue. As always!

Did you know by the way that a significant proportion of Danish households still use live candles in the tree to this day? This as the unfortunate consequence that Christmas is a busy season for Danish fire brigades. Mikkel would definitely err on the side of caution in this matter (too), and make sure safety comes before festivity!

Our tree is in and this year it smells really nicely of forest. Haven’t started decorating yet. We have a real tree, like many families do in Finland (I couldn’t find any figures though) and the smell is lovely! We had to move furniture into weird places to make room for it :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 23, 2020, 01:01:19 PM

My own tree-decorations still reside in their box, but I´m glad that these right here won´t be destroyed by the inevitable fire, thanks to Mikkel. :'D Great and hilarious piece, GaelleDragons!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: JoB on December 23, 2020, 03:22:01 PM

Quote from: wavewright62 on December 23, 2020, 12:13:56 AM

"Fortunately Mikkel is always there to keep things from going boom, even if Emil calls him a killjoy."

New headcanon: Mikkel picked up this habit after the one time he allowed Emil to get the CatTank's stove going while Mikkel was not yet finished chopping some ingredients.

The electric stove in the fully electricity-powered CatTank.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: GaelleDragons on December 23, 2020, 05:51:44 PM

Thank you everyone! I'm glad my artwork made you smile! ^^

Quote from: JoB on December 23, 2020, 03:22:01 PM

New headcanon: Mikkel picked up this habit after the one time he allowed Emil to get the CatTank's stove going while Mikkel was not yet finished chopping some ingredients.

The electric stove in the fully electricity-powered CatTank.

So are we to assume Emil couldn't be trusted with putting electric fake candles on the tree as well?

Quote from: Jitter on December 23, 2020, 11:27:32 AM

Hahaa, Mikkel to the rescue. As always!

Did you know by the way that a significant proportion of Danish households still use live candles in the tree to this day? This as the unfortunate consequence that Christmas is a busy season for Danish fire brigades. Mikkel would definitely err on the side of caution in this matter (too), and make sure safety comes before festivity!

I did not know that! Well that explains why Mikkel was so quick at stopping Emil then : he's seen a christmas tree burn before. :mikkel:

(also I wanna thank all the contributors so far (and we're almost at the end, so that's a lot) for all their wonderful contributions! I've been staying silent on the forum lately due to school kicking my ass but I still managed to see all the stuff that has been posted and aaaaaaa it's good! So uh yeah, good job everyone, and happy merry christmas! ^^ )

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 23, 2020, 11:03:58 PM

Gaelle, that's a wonderful and very amusing artwork! Alas for Emil's hopes and dreams.

Because in Australia we don't live in a climate where you can grow fir trees (is it fir trees that people traditionally use?? I just call them all pine trees usually, which isn't really accurate), my family just uses a plastic tree (the same one we've had all my life). We set it up a few weeks ago, and as normal decorated it with the usual assortment of Christmas ornaments - weird trinkets my brothers and I made in primary school, assorted boxes of baubles or figurines, pine cones spray-painted silver and painted gumnuts. It has a really specific smell, this one plastic tree, and that's the smell I associate with Christmas.

I did have a friend in my old town whose dad would go out to the pine plantations every December (we had a lot in the area, mostly Pinus Radiata) and collect (probably not legally) an entire sapling to bring home (usually several metres tall - they had high ceilings). But we were never really that extravagant.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 24, 2020, 12:11:21 AM

(http://i.imgur.com/AIEE6lU.png)

Spoiler: open the door • show

We have arrived at the 24th! Let us all thank lucky last gjuerne for this sweet sweet Scandinavian treat.

Spoiler: julbord • show

Spoiler: gosh golly gee • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Grade E cat on December 24, 2020, 02:38:46 AM

You seriously *didn't* expect the calendar to trollify in 2020? o_O

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: JoB on December 24, 2020, 03:50:27 AM

Quote from: Keep Looking on December 23, 2020, 11:03:58 PM

Because in Australia we don't live in a climate where you can grow fir trees (is it fir trees that people traditionally use?? I just call them all pine trees usually, which isn't really accurate)

As it happens, Germany has downright pro-con/popularity lists of tree species (https://www.meinetanne.de/weihnachtsbaum/weihnachtsbaum-arten/) to use for a Christmas tree.

Spoiler, to paraphrase: show

So, firs make up a significant part of the list at least, and it's common to call the Christmas tree "Tannenbaum" - i.e., "a fir" - as well, while pine trees ("Kiefer", which also means "jaw") occupy just one entry on the list.

By the way, plantation owners here have started to treat not-yet-ready trees with some stuff that starts to stink when you bring it into a warm room so as to reduce the AWOL rate. >:D

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 24, 2020, 10:14:48 AM

Oh my gosh, more delightful things to bake! That tray of goodies looks irresistable, I would be fighting over it with Onni and Lalli. ;D

We don't bother with a Christmas tree - our house is small and there are two very curious cats - but we live in a rural area surrounded by fir trees so we don't really need to. And sometimes decorations show up in the neighbourhood!

(https://i.imgur.com/uT7Uow8.jpg)

Thanks again to all the contributors, have a Merry Christmas... or whatever else you might celebrate, or not!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: gjuerne on December 24, 2020, 11:05:59 AM

A huge THANK YOU to wavewright62 for organizing our Minnion Advent Calendar! Not only organizing, but contributing such delights! I am still chuckling over the Cat Training entry!

This has been one of the busiest Decembers of my long-ish life, and although I only had time to reply once, every day I would find a few minutes to view the Advent calendar entry. You are all such talented folks! Delightful art, poems, stories, menus, and lovely comments. So a huge THANK YOU! as well to all my fellow Minnions 🥰💖

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 24, 2020, 12:50:11 PM

Sounds delicious, gjuerne! Let me join Vulpes and the Hotakainen-boys in the food-fight...

Quote from: Keep Looking on December 23, 2020, 11:03:58 PM

[...] as normal decorated it with the usual assortment of Christmas ornaments - weird trinkets my brothers and I made in primary school, assorted boxes of baubles or figurines, pine cones spray-painted silver and painted gumnuts.

Ah yes, you have just precicely described our own decorations...

Merry Christmas, or whatever you may celebrate, to everyone!

And this Advent Calendar was absolutely amazing, thank you Wave for organizing it! And all you Minnions who participated are so talented! I enjoyed every single day! I can´t believe it´s over already...

Quote from: wavewright62 on December 24, 2020, 12:11:21 AM

Spoiler: gosh golly gee • show
Gosh, we've come to the end of the Advent Calendar for the year. How is this possible? Gosh, I wish there was more to come, don't you?
*pokes empty calendar*
*calendar pokes back*
!!!

Huh? :o (Now I have this weird image of a trollified calendar in my head... :'D)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 24, 2020, 04:18:57 PM

On the subject of Christmas trees. The fir (Abies) is the “classic “ Christmas tree, and has the beautiful overall form and strong branches to make it ideal for decorating. I think no firs are native to Finland, so our Christmas tree is the Norway spruce (Picea abies) It is indeed unfortunately prickly but the smell is the only one that is just right for me.

When I was a kid, the spruces for sale were either naturally grown young trees (sparse weak branches) or top parts of big trees felled for timber (sparse strong branches). Farmed fir started to be available about 20 years ago when me and my husband were starting our own Christmas traditions, but at that time they were all imported. Nowadays fir are available, but also the spruce for sale for Christmas trees are farmed and cut repeatedly during their growth, so they are thick and strong and “Christmas tree shaped”. So, the trees we have nowadays are like a dream compared to what they were like when I was little :) I don’t think anyone really uses pine (Pinus sylvestris, the Scots pine) as Christmas tree here, it’s completely different in both overall shape, branches and needles.

Here is our tree. This is about half of the ornaments, too bad we don’t have room for two trees!

(https://i.postimg.cc/k53r07Hq/7-B29-FEF0-5424-49-A3-B1-E0-540-A8-CA1-C412.jpg)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Johannabelle on December 24, 2020, 06:01:44 PM

Another successful advent calendar! :) It's always such a delight to see what everyone comes up with, and thank you wavewright62 for doing such a great job organising!

Róisín and Mirasol, beautiful poetry and beautiful illustrations to go with it! I really love the colors that were used.

Keep Looking, I had no idea what a Petrarchan sonnet was but the explanation really does help me appreciate the poem more.

GaelleDragons, good on Mikkel for preventing disaster :'D Also I love Emil's sweater, why is it so adorable, gosh

gjuerne, those look incredible, can't even remember the last time I had a spritz cookie. Tragic.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Gwenno on December 24, 2020, 06:16:13 PM

Thank you to everyone for your contribution this year, and an especially big thanks to Wave for organising it all! It's been such a treat to see everyone's entries, and I thoroughly enjoyed creating my own too :D I hope your Christmas market went well on the 23rd Róisín, and Johanabelle, you have a good eye (and knowledge of baked goods!), it is indeed trdelník, one of my Christmas market favourites :P

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 24, 2020, 08:04:13 PM

(https://64.media.tumblr.com/282d8d5d3f2828c65c595cca183b818c/3ecb15efda65efad-d7/s540x810/4881ccb4941478086f4bf9eb312700cd88b9c05b.png)

No, the Calendar is not trollified, but it isn't quite empty yet!

It's the 25th in some parts of the globe, and still the 24th in others. For some of us, it's a time to relax, maybe have some special sweets, or delicious smorgasbord, or perhaps just a soupçon of wine and cheese.
Speaking of cheese, I have some to offer you...

Spoiler: grandma got what now • show

*holds finger to lips* Now folks, don't you touch that dial, we'll be back at midnight for some extra Calendar uh, goodness...

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 24, 2020, 08:23:51 PM

This gift just keeps on giving!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Annuil on December 24, 2020, 10:29:42 PM

Merry Christmas, people! Time zones do not matter on this wonderful day of the year! :sparkle: Merry Christmas! :sparkle:

(I will come back to write some more, I promise)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 25, 2020, 12:13:44 AM

(https://64.media.tumblr.com/e2a00901e1f0134fe44ffc2eced1132f/3ecb15efda65efad-e7/s540x810/b0a38eeb55fa2fed85d75f218ca61f7580b2f70f.png)

The mod comes in and sweeps up the shavings and the squirrel cookie crumbs and wipes the rings from the mead glasses off the table, delighted that everyone is replete with fandom goodness.
As she folds up the Calendar for another year, it seems a bit heavier?
It's....not fully empty?
What's this? It's a little door in the back?

Spoiler: open the door • show

Just when you thought it was all over, thegreyarea emerges to send us off with a story. Can you spot the references?

Spoiler: a midsummer night dream • show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 25, 2020, 12:27:06 AM

Quote from: Jitter on December 24, 2020, 04:18:57 PM

On the subject of Christmas trees. The fir (Abies) is the “classic “ Christmas tree, and has the beautiful overall form and strong branches to make it ideal for decorating. I think no firs are native to Finland, so our Christmas tree is the Norway spruce (Picea abies) It is indeed unfortunately prickly but the smell is the only one that is just right for me.

I am much relieved. I tried to come up with a spoiler label for Guardian G.I.'s marvelous City of Hunger tree projection, and spent some time on Google trying to research what species it was likely to be, based on actual Finnish trees. I'm glad I guessed correctly.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Keep Looking on December 25, 2020, 01:30:25 AM

Wow! What an end to the calendar!

Gjeurne, your recipe looks delicious, and it's really cool learning what other people eat at Christmas-time! Wave, your song was very funny (and I actually knew the tune! I heard 'Grandma got run over by a reindeer' one time on.. the radio? A random spotify playlist? Anyway, I did hear it once). And Grey, that was a really charming story - with a cliffhanger, too! I wonder what's gonna happen next.

A huge thanks to Wave for organising all this - after doing Chapter Break Fillers, I know how much work goes into this kind of thing! And you do a wonderful job of it.

And thanks also to everyone who shared information about Christmas trees - it was really interesting, particularly as it was an area that I know basically nothing about!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 25, 2020, 01:51:30 AM

Now. The time has come for me to make my thank-yous, to all of the lovely Minnions who have contributed to this year's calendar. Many of you stepped up twice, when we did not reach 24 sign-ups. A massive effort, folks, and I am deeply honoured to curate this again this year.

To Grade E Cat: longtime Minnion but first-time Calendar contributor - your story is a delight, with your human!Kitty character so beguiling.
To Vulpes: You brought us amusing tales of a Manx mage OC, a flaming pudding, and some awesomely good Bornholm <redacted>, fit for raising a civilisation on.
To Alkia: Your heartwarming vignette of 3 bears under the Aurora Borealis was a fitting sequel to last year's troll-cocoa scene.
To Róisín: The Founder of the Feast as it were, taking us far beyond the famous 'shrimp on the barbie' by sharing with us the menu for a proper Aussie feast, and then returning with a diptych of your gorgeous poems celebrating the soltstice.
To Jitter: A double dose from you as well, starting with Tuuri celebrating the Finnish Flag Day (I reallly love getting these insights into other cultures, don't you?), and returning with a totally Danish celebration of Julhygge, and an umbrella.
To Luna Fowler: inspired (and hilarious) casting of our heroes and antagonists alike in an alternative Christmas tableau!
To Johannabelle: All the Hotakainen sweetness! You brought us Tuuri and Onni cosying together, and then submitted a surprise bonus image of lolly-loving Lalli, which I ended up needing.
To Lallicat: your first entry for the calendar brought us a sweet tale of our once-precocious Kitty getting her comeuppance from the new kit on the block, amidst more cat puns than a Miraculous Ladybug fandom event! You followed that up with the eternal question, 'why does Reynir have a reindeer costume?' to bring the crew an update on the holiday party season.
To Annuil: you also contributed for the first time this year after bursting on the scene a few months ago, and gifted us a solemn look at the reason for the season.
To Mirasol: so many of us long-term Minnions have made our uneasy peace with the squirrels and the squirrel cookies, but your astonishing maiden effort in the calendar burst open the secret of these for all to see, and then you followed that up with a collaboration with Róisín, setting her poems into a diptych!
To Keep Looking: twice breathing life into poetic forms, casting Year 0 in haunting light and shadow, and then the second time setting quiet songs and warm ~~wax~~ soup as comfort in the dark of the year.
To Guardian G.I.: you could not gift a Secret Santa this year, but did gift all of us our only City of Hunger tribute this year, with a fascinating look at this AU and its origins connecting Lalli back to Scandinavia - tech ftw!
To thegreyarea: first you brought us that utterly charming picture of the crew as Santa and elves bringing Christmas cheer, and now are in the process of revealing the literally 'charming' story behind it, extending calendar treats for us all! (No, I haven't seen the rest yet, folks, I don't know what's happening next! But, I heard a song on the radio earlier today, "All I want for Christmas is another day of Hallowe'en," and I am totally getting that vibe from part 1 of this story.)
To Gwenno: my fabulous fellow mod gave us the warm glow of a festive Christmas market and its tempting wares, even while many of us have been deprived of such experiences this year.
To Gaelle Dragons: the best eyebrows of the year, no doubt in my mind about that, in your giggle-inducing look at Emil attempting to light the tree Danish-style, only to be calmly thwarted by the resident Dane.
To gjuerne: taking time out from a busy busy phase to bring us your yummy julbord recipes (your suggestion about the cold fruit soup may fit right in with Róisín's warm-weather holiday barbecue, d'ya think?).

And thank you to those of you who got a chuckle out of my not-remotely-Christmasy cat training and Hanukkah images. Even my silly filk takes a Christmas song and renders it non-seasonal. I guess I represent a bit of a minority viewpoint, and I write this alongside my own dinner of a little salad and some leftover braised chicken livers. Bringing together this fandom celebration is my Christmas (along with playing for numerous brass band carolling gigs through December).
Thanks for tuning in, and stay tuned in for the rest of thegreyarea's story. (grey, you don't need me anymore - just go ahead and post the rest of the story directly, thanks!)

A Happy New Year to all of us, good riddance to 2020!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 25, 2020, 07:33:21 AM

Thank you thank you thank you Wave for organizing this again, and for everyone for the lovely contributions and comments!

This has been a delight, and even more important than at an average year as a way of bringing community and camaraderie into the middle of all the distancing and restrictions on meetings!

Ps Grey I can’t wait for the continuation! No, strike that off, I can. Take time to celebrate with your family first!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 25, 2020, 09:49:19 AM

pff, I didn´t know the song before, but your last contribution was hilarious, Wave! :'D Who would have guessed a Rubiks Cube of all things would save the situation...

And Grey, what an awesome story! And what a cliffhanger! O_O I´ll be looking foreward to the continuation!

In repeating myself: Thank you so much, Wave, for organizing this event!!! And thank you for letting me be a part of it! :))

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 25, 2020, 10:29:00 AM

Oh my, all the extraordinary extras! Wave, as if you didn't do enough organizing this, you come back and give us a wonderful filk and drawing. And grey, that is one spooky Christmas tale - I'm eager to read the conclusion. Double cliffhangers - here and in the comic. O_O

Thanks again to all for the great stories, art, and recipes, and Wave again for organizing. I don't do Christmas, other than taking a break and eating too much, so like Wave, this is my Christmas. It's such fun seeing everyone's take on the comic, and various traditions from around the world.

Here's to a less fraught 2021!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 25, 2020, 11:37:22 AM

Hello my friends! I'm out of the cave where I've been working these last days to bring you the second part of my story.

I've been working hard to finish it, so I didn't had time to properly introduce it. The story name is "A Midsummer Night's Christmas Dream" *gets slapped by Shakespeare's ghost* playing with the title of that amazing work. *ghost laughs and fades away* I'm glad he had a great sense of humour...

It was inspired by my previous contribution for this calendar (see day 16) and I just had to write it... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and I wish you all an amazing Christmas, Holidays, New Year, Easter, Midsummer and on and on... :)

I didn't had time to get my poor daughter to proofread. Wave was kind enough to check the first part, but parts 2 and 3 will be posted here "as they are". So please accept my apologies and please forgive my crimes against the English language.
Later I'll post the complete, fully proofread story on AO3.

Part 3 will be posted tonight.

So here it goes:

Spoiler: show

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Alkia on December 25, 2020, 05:55:37 PM

I’m afraid I’ve been quite the lurker for the latter most of this advent calendar, but I have been enjoying the art, recipes, and wonderful stories immensely!! Thank you so much Wave for again organizing this and bringing so much holiday cheer (especially during such an eventful bad year), as well as that heart-warming thank you at the end (you may have melted my heart there a bit), and everyone who contributed (especially those that did two things!)!!!! Not enough exclamation marks to express the gratitude!!!!!! Happy holidays everyone!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 25, 2020, 06:28:54 PM

This whole thing has been amazing! Thank you to all the contributors for your beautiful and heartfelt works. And a double helping of thanks to Wavewright for organising this again - it has been great!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 25, 2020, 08:31:44 PM

Hello again my friends :)

As promised here I am to deliver the final part of the story and become guilty of a few more crimes against the English language. (where one applies for a Christmas Pardon?)

As I said I'll post later (hopefully in a few days) the complete, fully proofread story on AO3.

So here it goes:

Spoiler: show

Thanks for all for the kind words about the previous parts! :) I love to write stories for you, my friends!
And thank you Wave, for organizing this! It was fantastic!
May we all have a time of renewed hope in the end of this hard year.
Butter Good! :)

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: wavewright62 on December 25, 2020, 09:50:52 PM

*applause* Bravo! A wild ride, my dear grey one, but well worth it !
Mikkel as a flawless dancer, eh?
Thank you again!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Róisín on December 26, 2020, 12:40:50 AM

Grey, this is heartrending and beautiful!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Jitter on December 26, 2020, 06:16:40 AM

Ooo Grey! What a surprising, beautiful and profound story! Especially Peter’s and Anne’s exchange about the possibility of existence of God in the Christian sense is impressive. I am personally more a spiritual than a religious person, but it resonates with me ans I’m sure Peter’s doubts echo the thoughts of many during this difficult year, and any year in the middle of all the strife and sadness that riddles our world.

The first part was funny, the second part scary and the finale is deep and a little bittersweet. Did you say you started this only after you had drawn the picture? Wow, just wow!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Vulpes on December 26, 2020, 01:33:00 PM

Thanks grey for a wonderful story! Nicely tied to canon events, too. Don't worry about crimes against English, it deserves it, wretched mongrel mess of more exceptions than rules that it is. Your English is worlds better than my grasp of any of the languages I've attempted to learn! It certainly didn't distract from the excellent story.

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: thegreyarea on December 26, 2020, 03:09:49 PM

Thank you so much, my friends! I'm so happy that you liked my ~~mad~~ humble attempt at writing!

Sorry for not commenting more on so many amazing works, but I will, and will post here but also send my comments by PM to each author.

Back to the story...

Wave, Mikkel as a flawless dancer may have three explanations:
1 - It's a dream, so we get a lax implementation of common laws of physics
2 - It's a dream, so Mikkel's desires have an influence over it
3 - It's a dream, but none of the above apply and this is another clue that Mikkel is hiding his cards and probably is a secret agent in disguise, a theory that has some fans among Minnions, myself included :)

Róisín, I hope the heartrending in not too intense ;) but I'm happy that it touched you. It touched me too.

Jitter, yes, I'm sure that many questioned how so many bad events can happen, particularly those that affect innocent people. It's been a recurring interrogation, even among very religious people and theologists, for centuries, with growing intensity when very bad things happen, like wars, natural disasters and, of course, plagues... I'm glad that it resonated in you because it deeply resonated in myself.
Anne, as a member of the clergy, provides a vision that I've heard, in different forms, from religious people that are humble enough to avoid dogmatic explanations, but also one that I believe is compatible with a reality where multiple religions coexist and are simultaneously valid.

I really wrote the story in 8 or 9 days, stealing every bit of time that I could (and some that I shouldn't ;) ) because there's an obsessive writer living inside me, and sometimes the muses show up, making almost impossible to resist. It was hard, but incredibly fun! :)

I also struggled to keep the tone in harmony with the season, avoiding some dark paths that I didn't felt as appropriate, and tried to keep the focus of the story, that is the perception of this time as a moment of hope despite the hardships felt on previous times (like this terrible and complicated year).

Vulpes, tying the story with the canon was also fun, but wasn't something that I searched for since the beginning. It was more like seizing an opportunity that somehow showed along the process. You know, just to make it even harder... :)
And later I got the gift of Mikkel slapping Reynir on page 377, which happened 1 or 2 days before I wrote that part, allowing me to create another link with the main story through the picture that inspired it. I'm lucky or not? :)

Also I'm very glad that my ~~hideous crimes~~ mistakes didn't prevent enjoying the story!

Thank you all! You are the best readers I could have dreamed of!

Title: Re: The Forum Advent Calendar 2020
Post by: Mirasol on December 26, 2020, 03:44:50 PM

Oh, Grey, that story was amazing! The set-up was incredible (I nearly shed a tear at the host and his family´s backstory), and like Jitter these questions resonated with me too.

And yes, that slap was a really nice coincidence. :'D

The Stand Still, Stay Silent Fan-Forum

Creative Corner => Events Board => Topic started by: wavewright62 on November 30, 2020, 02:52:44 AM