New Year's Eve (Open)

[Dreamchild]

There was nothing to do today. No villains to thwart. No egotistical plots of world domination to unravel. No bomb to defuse. Not even a report of pickpockets. It was the last day of the Gregorian year, December 31st. For a reason unfathomable to some men, people went out of their way to drink and party over a countdown to midnight. Why was this midnight so special among 364 other midnights?

That's what Dreamchild thought as she removed Christmas decorations in the Overlook's main hall. She held a cardboard box open to put the decorations in but cheated out of effort by using her telekinesis to move the decorations from their spots around the room and into the box. As she worked she muttered to herself about new year's. "I don't know if I will bother staying awake until midnight," she said to herself as some tinsel gracefully descended from the air into the box. "Even though I have been awake for much longer, I think I will catch up on sleep tonight..."

Dreamchild chose to take down the Christmas decorations because she wanted to do something. She spent a long time working up the courage to decline a trip home for winter break. She told her family through a letter that she would use her winter break for studies, when, really, Alice intended to use her extra time to fight more as Dreamchild. But since today was surprisingly slow for the Dream League, taking down flashy decorations was better than sitting down doing nothing.

[Bongo]

Bongo, meanwhile, was busy with some post-Christmas activities of his own - namely, pilfering the refrigerator for Christmas leftovers. Refrigerators truly were wonderful things, thought Bongo, who had only first discovered them since joining the Dream League. No more foraging for berries, trying to catch fish, or sticking your paw in a hive full of stinging bees - just waltz down the hall, open the fridge's door, and pick and choose whatever you want! Bongo had become so accustomed to this marvelous device that it often became a problem - the amount of food the bear sneaked from the fridge was quite disproportionate to the amount of Dream League members that resided in the mansion.

At any rate, Bongo leisurely strolled down the halls, a grin on his muzzle as he anticipated having more of that big old turkey. He wondered if it tasted even better when it was cold than when it was fresh and hot... As he turned around the corner into the main hall, however, he stopped and blinked with surprise as he felt a soft tingling sensation call over him. Examining himself, he realized that he had somehow become entangled in a line of shining tinsel - tinsel that Dreamchild was levitating towards some boxes for storage. He had quickly forgotten about the festive decorations that covered him when he noticed Dreamchild, however - he smiled, always happy to run into a fellow Dream Leaguer when out and about, most especially Dreamchild. With a wave of his paw and a light, friendly barking growl, he greeted the English girl to get her attention.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild heard the growl of friendly disposition. The English girl, still holding the cardboard box with her hands, shifted her weight to get a look at Bongo. Her white eyes immediately saw that Bongo, while happy as always, was tangled by the Christmas decorations.

"Oh! I beg your pardon, Bongo! I'm sorry. Here, let me help you." She used telekineses to untangle Bongo. The tinsel slithered in the air like an airborne snake and spiraled into the box. Dreamchild looked up from the box and smiled to the bear. "Happy new year's, Bongo. Are you bored because there's nothing to fight?"

Dreamchild, as well as all the Dream League, was fully aware that Bongo couldn't speak. To compensate, Dreamchild made a habit of asking Bongo yes and no questions, questions that can be easily answered by a nod, a shake, or a shrug. It was fortunate that the speechless Bongo could still understand what Dreamchild said.

[Sunshine]

The incomparable Sunshine entered the main hall with a smile on her deeply red lips, lips that shamed the rose. Her long, sunshine-gold hair danced happily with each dainty footstep she made, and her pink heeled boots click-clacked almost rhythmically. Just after entering the main hall, Sunshine noticed Dreamchild and Bongo together. She smiled merrily as she saw those two; Sunshine hadn't been one with the Dream League for long, but even then she recognized that Dreamchild and Bongo really enjoyed each other's company, and were already friends. There was no doubt that the friendship would only continue to tighten.

Sunshine, taller than both Dreamchild and certainly Bongo, invited herself to intervene in the conversation. "And what are you two dears up to?" the beautiful yet humble superheroine asked.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild recognized the voice immediately. She looked up to the tall and beautiful Sunshine. Dreamchild had only known this new addition to the Dream League for less than two weeks, but she was already an invaluable member of the team. Sunshine herself would always thank Dreamchild for breaking Mim's spell, and was eternally grateful. But Dreamchild would always downplay her role and try to be modest.

Dreamchild's face exuded playfulness as she gestured to Bongo as she answered. "We're not deers, Ms. Sunshine; Bongo is a bear!" Dreamchild's wit was commendable for a 12-year-old girl. After her tongue-in-cheek response, Dreamchild stole a glance at Bongo. "I was just removing the Christmas decorations, and Bongo, well, I'm not sure."

[Sunshine]

Sunshine's smile warmed and a soft giggle slipped her mouth at Dreamchild's retort. The masked princess was truly growing to love her teammates. She took turns looking at both Dreamchild and Bongo, and she stepped closer to Bongo and affectionately rubbed her index finger's tip and thumb under Bongo's chin.

"You're right, Dreamchild! He is a bear. And a handsome bear, too." The eyes behind the purple eye-mask shot warmth at Bongo, as did her sliced fig of lips. Sunshine's fingers were warm and delicate to the touch, as though her skin was unusual of ordinary women.

[Bongo]

Brushing leftover pieces of tinsel off of his fur and clothes, Bongo then looked back up to Dreamchild and made a casual waving motion with his paw, indicating that no harm was done. In response to her question, he simply shrugged - he was a little bored, to be truthful, but he certainly didn't mind this peace at all. He always savored having time to relax and be as lazy as, well, a bear.

Bongo's fuzzy ears twitched at the sound of a new voice - Sunshine, the newest member of the Dream League. Quickly, he turned to show his happiness in seeing her with a smile and a friendly wave. Bongo wasn't there when the Dream League's other members broke the sleeping spell cast on her, and helped her defeat that witch, but he had quickly become accustomed to her presence; like Dreamchild, she was a polite human, and very kind towards him.

The little bear hadn't expected the pretty young lass to step closer to him and give him a gentle chin rub - but certainly didn't object to it. A wide enamored grin grew across his muzzle, as he leaned forward and uttered a sort of purr-like growl in pleasure.

[Powermouse]

Attracted by the sounds of happy chatter, the ten-inch high heroine known as Powermouse padded towards the main hall, garbed in her violet and silver powersuit. She was a sociable creature, and found herself wanting some company.

At the sight of the trio gathered together, a warm, genuine smile crossed her face. Powermouse had not been with the League for long now, but already she immensely liked her teammates (for the most part, anyways), including these three. Being a mouse, people tended to have a difficult time initially spotting Powermouse and just as hard a time hearing her voice, so, using her powersuit-enhanced leaping abilities, she jumped up onto the black soldier's hat of a large nutcracker decoration nearby so that everyone would be able to better see her (though she figured that Bongo would probably be able to smell her perfume).

“Hello, Bongo, Dreamchild, Sunshine.” She cheerfully greeted her teammates, nodding to each in turn.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild heard the Hungarian-accented voice close-by. She looked around quickly until she spotted the powersuited mouse on a decorative nutcracker's hat. She smiled as her pure white eyes (white because of her blue, cloud-shaped mask) looked up at the feminine mouse in the powersuit.

"Oh, Powermouse, it's you. Hello!" Dreamchild shimmied the box she carried to restore a firm grip on it. "I just started taking down the decorations. What will you do this New Year's Eve?"

[Sunshine]

Sunshine could recognize that Hungarian accent from anywhere. It belonged to the ever-gracious Powermouse. Powermouse, Bongo, and Sunshine shared a special connection: it was the bear and Sunshine (along with Duck Avenger) that met Powermouse, back in Pleasure Island II not that long ago. Since then, Powermouse has proven herself dependable and stylish, and she quickly grew in popularity among the team.

Sunshine stopped stroking Bongo and looked to where she heard the voice: on top of the nutcracker's helmet. "Hello, Powermouse!" she exclaimed warmly. Sunshine was more than half of a foot taller than Dreamchild, and she definitely towered over Bongo. That's why Sunshine was compelled to stoop just to speak to the powered mouse properly.