Hey buddy,You have to be in the Christmas spirit

CHAPTER ONE — THE EVENT

The rundown community center at the edge of town wasn’t much, but to thirteen teenagers who lived for online chats, late-night calls, and the comfort of hiding behind screen names, it felt like a legendary meeting spot.

A faded banner over the doorway read “INDIE GAME FAIR — LOCAL CREATORS WELCOME!” but none of them were here for the games—they were here for each other.

Toady was the first to arrive, leaning against the brick wall with hands shoved in their hoodie pocket. They’d said nothing about themselves in chat beyond “I’ll show up.” The others assumed they were just quiet by nature.

Mewo arrived next, headphones around her neck, muttering under her breath about the line of posters taped to the entrance.
“Great. More pop-culture trash,” she grumbled. “If anyone tries to make me talk about Hazbin Hotel, I’m walking home.”
She brightened when she spotted Toady. “Hey. Thought I’d be the first one.”

Then came Nobleranger and Curator, arguing animatedly about which tabletop system had the worst rulebook, followed shortly by Cornball, who wore a grin like he’d already told himself three jokes before even reaching the doors.

Untitledgoober practically stumbled out of the bus, nearly dropping a worn paperback on the curb.
“Hi! Sorry! I got distracted!” they chirped, then lowered their voice. “There were dogs on the bus. I got scared. Not scared—flinchy. You know.”
Cornball clapped them on the shoulder. “Normal day for you, Goober.”

Shira and Corpse.Bride arrived together, Shira rolling her eyes playfully as Corpse.Bride argued passionately about the questionable ethics of a zombie dating sim she’d seen online.

Norther showed up with the confidence of someone who had rehearsed their greeting twice.
“Hallo! I brought snacks,” he announced proudly, holding up a bag full of German chocolates. “Also, if we discuss movies, I have many opinions. Many.”

Finally, Randomiser approached last, waving both arms dramatically.
“Sorry I’m late! I accidentally started organizing my closet by the emotional damage the clothes caused me. Anyway—did I miss anything?”

“Only everything,” Curator said, smirking.

The thirteen of them clustered together beneath the banner, awkward but excited. Meeting offline for the first time felt surreal. They were used to seeing each other as icons, not people with height differences and real voices.

Inside, the fair wasn’t large—just a collection of booths, homemade posters, and a stage that squeaked when anyone walked across it. But together, it felt like something monumental.

Mewo dragged Norther to an indie horror booth.
Untitledgoober wandered between displays, wide-eyed, occasionally startled by the loud demos.
Cornball tried every VR station whether he understood the game or not.
Shira, Corpse.Bride, and Curator debated story tropes at the snack table.
Randomiser collected free stickers like rare treasures.

And for a little while, everything was normal.

Until the lights flickered.

At first, no one paid attention—old building, old wiring. It happened.

Then all the lights died at once.

A low rumble vibrated through the floor, like a giant exhaling beneath the earth. The crowd murmured uneasily. Norther froze, chocolate halfway to his mouth.

“What was that?” Shira whispered.

Outside, a siren began to wail. Not an ambulance siren. Not police.

A long, rising howl—the kind people only heard during drills that teachers promised would never matter in real life.

Mewo’s eyes widened. “No way. No way this is real.”

The rumble grew. The windows shook. A blinding orange flash bloomed on the horizon, turning the glass into mirrors of impossible light.

Untitledgoober clutched Nobleranger’s arm.
“…Is that…is that what I think it is?”

Toady, usually silent, whispered the words no one else wanted to say.

“Nuclear. That’s nuclear.”

A second later, the shockwave hit.

why am i a woman

idk

Canon now