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

[gardienne]

[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.

[offbeet]

[ 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.

[gardienne]

[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.

[offbeet]

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.

[gardienne]

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?

[offbeet]

[ 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 ]