In the hallways of the Vanguard HQ, a bluish-white portal opened and two figures stepped out bearing packages. "Still don' see why we had to carry that git wiv us. . ." Nida Zbinden mumbled, motioning behind her with her head.
"Because I wasn't about to carry all of this stuff by myself." Grimm answered.
"Comrades, am having trouble being making it through. Portal!" Blackwulf's torso loaded down with presents hung in midair, the purple giant halfway through Z's spatial wormhole.
"I don't suppose you could make it any larger?" Grimm asked the avatar of space.
Z held her hand up to her face and sighed.
*********************
"What do you mean you're not going to the festival? They want someone from Vanguard to be the grand marshall?" Phil asked incredulously.
"That's far too public an event for me. Besides, my vacation starts today, Phil. I'm leaving for two weeks. And frankly, after all that business in Antarctica and Mandelovia, I'm surprised no one else is taking one." Grimm responded to the telekinetic over Z's smacking gum.
"But the grand marshal. . ." Phil began again.
"Let Kit do it. Or Miss X. Or Doc Quantos. Or you. . ." Grimm responded handing Phil a large present. "That's for you and Leslie, by the way. C'mon, Z, most of the rest of these are going under the tree." As the two avatars walked off towards the den area fixed up for the holidays.
Phil carefully opened up the package, to see a large, hardbound book with a red cover. He glanced over at the title. "Kama Sutra for the 21st Century Lovers?" He looked down the hall at the rapidly dwindling forms. "Since when did he become such a smartass?"
