mythmaking | Once upon a time...

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Once upon a time...

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

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[ Waking up somewhere new was indeed exciting, but waking up somewhere new without a recollection of falling asleep made it less exciting and more curious. And awakening with a large hat on her head was even more curiouser.

Luna pushes herself up into a sitting position, realizing she is in a flower patch, and next to her is a very long tea table.]

Well, this is certainly new.

[ she tilts her head and the hat falls off onto her lap. Aside from a tag sticking in the band reading IN THIS STYLE 10/6, there isn't anything identifiable about it. She sighs, standing up and looking at the tea table again. It's long, set up for tea and snacks, and set for more than a dozen people. There's a kettle in the middle ]

No one will be able to drink this much tea before it goes cold.

[ priorities, Luna ]

[He wasn't sure what possessed the new 'Beast', but he had to stop at the sight of such a spread. The tea smelled so good, and the snacks reminded his stomach that however long he was out, he'd taken a long nap because he was starving.]

[But he started when a girl stood holding an odd hat, and he was reminded of the Alice in Wonderland story, another he'd read many interpretations of as a kid. shit, there went any plans to sneak a quick cup of tea before heading onward to look around. ...Wait. A girl?]

...You the Hatter, or are you like me and you're the Hatter now?

[ Luna had to admit, the question was unexpected. Which would have been interesting, if she wasn't concerned with the possibility of being kidnapped again. Though at least this time she had a hat.

She stares at him for an almost uncomfortable amount of time without blinking, reaching a decision: ]

I'm sorry, I don't think I'm like you at all.

[The staring was beyond uncomfortable, and a small frown formed. What? What was she staring- he jumped when she replied, and the frown grew.]

Huh? So... you always lived in this Marchen place. I always thought the Mad Hatter was a guy.

Uhh, where's Hare n' Dormouse? They're supposed to be here at the party!

Oh no, I've just woken up here. It's strange...I thought I stopped falling asleep in flower beds years ago...

[ she shrugs. Whatevs. ]

Really? I do like parties when I'm occasionally invited to them.

[That made everything click. So she's the new Mad Hatter, then.]

Well yeah. The Hatter's in the middle of another tea party with Hare n' 'Mouse when Alice shows up. Somethin' about unbirthdays.

[A blink, and he gestures to the table.]

If you're tired, you should sit yer ass down n' have some tea, y'know?

[ she looks at her hat. Looks at the table. Looks at the hat again. ]

I'm not sure if I'm tired or perplexed. Both have the same effect on my mind after a while.

[ she sits down at the table, and wiggles in the seat: as if she's testing it out ]

I have a hat, but I'm afraid I'm not feeling particularly festive at the moment. [ her eyes widen in realization: ] Though today is probably not my birthday. [ she turns to him ] Is it yours?

[Luna, you seriously fit in at this table.]

Huh? Nah, it's in January. But unbirthdays're the other 364 days when it ain't your birthday, so the tea parties happened every day.

...Shit, so today's both our unbirthdays, ain't it?

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Tea? Aen't that whit the nobs drink? [Yeah, Gavroche is just wandering now]

I've never heard of nobs, but I imagine yes, they drink tea. Most everything does.

Nobs, erm, posh people. You know.

[ she stares at him vacantly, the smile of an oblivious person on her face ]

I do?

[Where there is food, there is also Eponine, staring longingly at the feast spread before her. To her, it seems to be a slight miracle that a table has appeared in the middle of a flower bed, and that nobody seems particularly bothered by it. Why are people not eating? She licks her lips. She can practically taste the biscuit, sweet, perhaps. Except, she doesn't know what biscuit tastes like any more. But it looks delicious. She moves forward until she's mere inches away, looking in awe at the vision. Her stomach rumbles and she quickly hugs her book to her chest, trying to dull the sound. How long has it been? Two days? Three?

The lady can only say no, can she not?]

Think of me - think of me, Mademoiselle, if there is anything to be spared after your party.

[ Luna slowly stands from her sitting position, still holding on to the ridiculously over-sized hat ]

I suppose it is a party, isn't it? How interesting. Though I don't believe it's mine. I would have remembered cutting off all those crusts on the sandwiches.

[So great is her hunger that she hadn't even noticed that the sandwiches had crusts cut off them. What a waste, anyway. Eponine would quite happily eat the crusts. Still, she cannot hide her disappointment.]

Well then, Madame, I wish you well to find the owner, for you are surely invited if you have a seat there.

I'm not sure if I do.

[ she looks at Eponine ]

Though perhaps we should make our own. If someone left all these uncrusted sandwiches sitting, they're most likely intending to share.

Why should they share with me? With anyone? People do not share until they have eaten their own fill, Madame. And perhaps then they will throw their crumbs at me.

[But the temptation is so great]

Do you really think that we might eat? And you would not mind to share with me?

[ she shrugs ]

I think it is in our capacity to do so. I eat things all the time, you know.

[ she walks over to the table and hands her a sandwich ]

The best solution for that would be to invite others to tea, don't you think?

( Yui offers her a slight smile before she holds out a hand for her to pull her up. She's been walking around for a while now and this is the first table she's seen set up like this so far. She hasn't touched anything on it though, a bit wary still of the food and drinks served to them. )

[ she accepts the hand and stands, brushing off her school robes with the big hat as she stares at the newcomer and the table in speculation ]

I suppose tea in this capacity is produced by someone who wouldn't miss a cup or two.

Do you think they have plum? I find it to have quite the lightening effect on any mood.

( Yui also turns towards the table, eyeing each and every teapot and teacup. There seems to be more teapots and teacups than the number of people not from this world she's met so far. )

I'd imagine so. With this amount of tea, there should at least be one of every type or flavor available. I've never had plum tea before though.

It is quite an experience, particularly if it's been seasoned with dirigible.

[ she sits down at the table and takes a sip of tea. Shakes her head. ]

Pumpernickel.

[ another sip from a different cup ]

Herring.

[ she looks at all the tea cups ]

This may take a while.

[It's been a while since they've woken up, and probably even longer since either of them have eaten anything. When Mei spies the table full of tea and treats, Mei makes a beeline for it, leaving Hibiscus in the dust, hissing irritatingly at her trainer.

The girl instantly notices Luna the minute she gets closer and stops by her side. For some reason, she feels as if this belongs to her.]

Oh... sorry, are you hosting a tea party or something?

[ Luna looks at the newcomer, staring for a long time before shrugging ]

It seems like I am. I've been trying to determine it for certain.

[Hibiscus slithers to her trainer's side, eyeing the other girl carefully to make sure that she wasn't dangerous.]

Weird. I wonder why its out here then. This stuff certainly smells good though.

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