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

[cancercarcino]

What the hell?!

[A loud yell shatters the peaceful atmosphere of this particular part of town, stemming from an unusual-looking youth with grey skin and bright, candy-corn-coloured horns atop his head. It was clear enough that the youth was not human, but being an alien being in what appeared to be a human-infested town was the least of his worries. Right now the youth was too busy scrambling on the ground after trying (and failing) to keep his balance.]

[The reason for his clumsiness? Probably the pair of jet-black, feathered wings on his back, which were currently flailing along with the rest of his limbs, kicking up feathers and dirt. By the way he keeps looking at them and flailing around, it's obvious he's not used to them.]

[kutanagi]

( Yui's seen crazier things - like real gods and Cerberus, for instance - but a guy with grey skin, horns and wings is certainly something that she hasn't encountered before, even in the garden. She winces every now and then as she watches him scramble on the ground, walking closer to see as to what's wrong. )

Are you okay? ( She holds out a hand to help him get up. ) Can you stand at least?

[cancercarcino]

[It takes Karkat a minute to see who's speaking to him, and when he does, he growls a bit. Great, was this another damn villager?? Because he's sick of having to deal with their overly-friendly greetings and praise.]

I'd be able to stand up properly if it wasn't for these fucking things!

[He stabs a thumb at his wings, which are dragging on the ground. He sees her offered hand and is tempted to ignore it, but decides better of it; he probably wouldn't be able to stand properly yet on his own anyway. He accepts her hand, struggling to his feet and ignoring the way his wings droop behind him.]

[kutanagi]

( She steadies him, glancing at the wings, as he stands up. It does look cumbersome to her and she isn't sure how she'd manage with those on her back so she's at least grateful she wasn't given a pair. Though that would mean that he's ... never had them before and only got them now, right? )

So you mean you've never had them before? Your - ( ... ) - These wings, I mean.

[cancercarcino]

Congratulations, you actually managed to connect two and two together into that under-developed thinkpan of yours!

[The sarcasm, it is thick with this one. Though that's probably because of his frustrations.]

No, I didn't have these damn things before.

[He keeps glancing down at them, and it can be briefly seen that he's less frustrated at their appearance and more weirded out by them.]

[kutanagi]

( It's all right. Yui's used to a sarcastic, hotheaded sea god as well, though it's obvious that she grimaces at it for a moment. )

I see. ( She doesn't really know how wings work but she guesses it's liking biking, haaaaha. ) Have you tried, uhm, moving the muscles on your back or your shoulders to see which one of them can control it? I'm guessing it's connected to one of the muscles on the back that's why it twitches.

[cancercarcino]

[He just fixes her with a look that boldly shouts "Seriously?!" before letting out an exasperated sigh.]

Yes, I've tried figuring out what bones move what things. It's a lot harder than it looks, you know.

[kutanagi]

I'm just trying to help. I'm not sure where we can go either for help with it.

( She's out of ideas anyway since she has no idea how wings work so she'll just hold onto him until he's managed to walk or stand properly without falling over. )

[cancercarcino]

I don't know either. Stupid things...

[He does hang onto her hand until he's confident in his ability to stand upright. His wings flail a bit before he finally manages to fold them against his back.]

[kutanagi]

( Oh, that looks better. She watches him from her spot beside him, noting the folded wings. )

Do you think you'll be able to walk now? Without me holding your hand, I mean.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat gives her a frown, crossing his arms defiantly.]

Of course I can! I'm not some wiggler just learning how to use their legs!

[kutanagi]

( Yui lifts an eyebrow at that. With a nod then, she pulls back her hand, letting it fall down her side, and waits curiously. Not because she's actually daring him to do so (he can stand up properly already, after all) but if he needs help if he stumbles again. )

[cancercarcino]

[Almost to show her he's serious, Karkat plants his feet once she pulls back her hand. He stands for ten seconds before he puffs out his chest.]

See? Told you.

[kutanagi]

You're not going to get around just by standing.

( She inclines her head slightly as a gesture of "go on, walk and I'll wait here." )

[cancercarcino]

I'm going, I'm going! Jeez, you're not my fucking lusus.

[And Karkat does go, taking careful steps. Maybe more careful than he'd normally use. But at least he's walking without falling over.]

[youdidwell]

[The yell catches his attention but when he looks over, what he sees makes Kageyama stop. As if waking up in a weird place isn't enough now there's this guy and Kageyama doesn't know what to make of him. Some sort of demon???????

So yeah, he'll just stand here and stare intently (he's not even going to bother hiding the fact that he's staring) instead of offering his help.]

[cancercarcino]

[It takes Karkat a few minutes, but eventually he manages to stand on his own, wings flailing behind him. It's then he notices that someone is staring at him, and he glares at the person.]

Is there something I can help you with, asshole, or am I just here to entertain your ganderbulbs??

[youdidwell]

[Oh, glaring. Kageyama can glare too.]

Hah?

[He's not entirely sure what ganderbulbs is but he'll just go with it.]

I dunno, isn't it natural to stare at things you find strange.

[cancercarcino]

Well, I'm sure there's a whole town's worth of strange things you can go entertain yourself with it, so why don't you just fuck off and pay attention to one of them??

[youdidwell]

[Wow and everyone usually thinks he's the bully. They should take a look at this guy.

He shrugs but frowns because he doesn't think what he did warrants that kind of reaction.]

If you don't want me to stare then I'll stop but out of everything, a grey guy with orange horns and wings is kinda hard to beat.

[cancercarcino]

And a squishy pink human who looks like the ass end of a hoofbeast is pretty strange to me, but you don't see me gaping like a slack-jawed moron.

[No stopping this trainwreck so might as well keep going.]

[youdidwell]

[He still has no idea what half the things coming out this guys mouth is.]

Okay??? I said I'd stop but you're obviously too stupid to understand human words too.

[cancercarcino]

I'll stop when you go and fuck off to stare at some other unfortunate nookwhiff around here!

[youdidwell]

[Kageyama ruffles his own hair in annoyance. Shit, why is everything in this place stupid.]

Fine and you can continue acting like a dumbass who doesn't know how to use his own limbs.

[cancercarcino]

Well maybe I don't know how to use a pair of limbs that just apparated into fucking existence onto my exoskeleton without warning!!