Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[direhit]

[When Mei finds him, it's by the bench, although it wasn't as if she purposely seeked him out. No, she was a little more enthralled by the ducks actually. Their different coloured plumage intrigued her, and when she approaches quietly with Hibiscus in tow, she kneels down to examine the birds.]

These Duckletts look really odd.

[timefather]

[ The ducks are fairly used to other animals around the city, but they still eye Hibiscus with some uncertainty, their noise picking up. Father Time remains seated on the bench, hunched forward with his chin in his hand. ]

I wonder on occasion how ordinary they are, but I haven't found anything to suggest otherwise.

[direhit]

[Hibiscus is equally wary of the ducks, although whenever she feels it is safe, she gets a little closer. Perhaps she can figure out why these Ducklett are so weird looking.]

Well, they might be ordinary to you, but back home, the kind I know are blue and can throw water at you. These guys just look different. And sometimes that makes things more special.

[timefather]

I don't recall ever seeing ducks that were blue. A blue ox, on the other hand. I've seen one of those.

[ He's pretty hard to miss. The ducks are looking for food now, since nothing seems to trying to eat them instead. ]

[direhit]

A blue ox? [She gets up from kneeling and staring at the ducks. Meanwhile, Hibiscus is nudging her way closer to the ducks, now curious about the bread he was feeding them with.]

Where would the blue ox be?

[timefather]

Oh, you'll know when you see him. He's very hard to miss.

[ Why spoil the surprise? The ducks get much noisier with her around, waddling out of the way to avoid her without just leaving. ]

[direhit]

[Hibiscus glances at the ducks with an unimpressed look. Come on, you silly Duckletts. It's not like she's going to eat you or anything. She just wants to try some of the bread herself.]

Oh, well okay. [What exactly did that mean anyways?] Then you're from around here right? Who are you?

[timefather]

Yes, I live right over there.

[ He points to the tower, by far the tallest structure in the city. ]

You can call me Father Time.

[direhit]

[Father Time? An odd name, and an odd place to live in, but she's not about to judge too much.]

Ah, it's nice to meet you!

[She would normally try and introduce herself, but she might end up just being called Alice by this man. It probably would just be safe to not mention her real name.

Hibiscus does think that this is odd, and glances at her trainer curiously though. Why are you acting weird, girl?]

[timefather]

It's nice to meet you, as well! Are you settling in well?

[ He looks genuinely curious, and concerned. ]

[direhit]

Ah, I think so. I still haven't looked at the whole entire town just yet, but this place isn't so bad.

[She sounds polite. Maybe overly so. But she doesn't want to offend his hole.]

...Are you the one that brought us here?

[timefather]

[ He wouldn't be offended if she had much worse to say. The question makes him smile. ]

One among many. I couldn't do such a thing alone.

[direhit]

I see. [He still does have some power to bring people here. That alone is amazing in Mei's eyes.]

...You don't mind if I ask a few more questions do you?

[timefather]

Not at all. That's what I'm here for.

[direhit]

Okay. [Her smile is a little shaky, and eventually fades.]

Is there a way to go home?