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

[kutanagi]

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. )

[offbeet]

[ 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.

[kutanagi]

( 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.

[offbeet]

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.