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

[timefather]

[ Father Time, as he's most often called, could be found sitting on a bench, feeding a flock of (non-speaking) ducks. He can also be found in the market, shopping for chestnuts and sweet potatoes. Once again, he can be found exiting the bank, counting a handful of silver coins. In fact, he can be found in each of these places at the exact same moment of time, or perhaps in reverse order. There's a lot to be done in a single day, after all. ]

[seventhsimon]

[ When Simon seeks Father Time, he always seeks him in the market. If Simon is meant to find him there he will, and since Simon often does business when he wanders intot he market it makes more sense that he simply get them both done at once, and not waste the time.

Not that it matters much this day. He knows that being present for the festival is something he will have to endure, as much as he would like to hide among the nearly-harvest ready of his crops. He did what work he could this morning, and resigned himself that he would not do much else.

Still, it is always something strange to meet the man buying sweet potatoes.

It is phrased as a statement, but Simon's tone makes it clear that it is more a question that lingers in his mind. ]

You are certain this is wise, sir. [ The first title that rises to his lips is Your Majesty and he must swallow it down. Not that he holds his own king in such high regard, but more that it is a solid reminder that they are all not here. It rankles. Slightly. ] I...

[ still hold my doubts. But such is not his place to say.

He makes a poor face for cheering and celebration, as grim as he feels.]

[timefather]

Oh yes, quite certain.

[ He waits to look up, handing two fresh sweet potatoes to the merchant. The words are out of his mouth almost before Simon has finished. ]

But your doubts are not unfounded. The possibility of failure is always present when dealing with such grave circumstances.

[seventhsimon]

[ Failure is not the greatest of his concerns, not truly, but Simon believes he out stand silent, in this. It is not wise to judge others lives and tales by his own alone, and Father Time would know better than most.

He waits a moment, and purchases some potatoes (not sweet) of his own. ]

Are we to rest that on these strangers' shoulders?

[ For one who has lost his own home, it seems cruel to pull others from theirs for anything less than a certainty. ]

[gardienne]

[A pair of hungry eyes watch Father Time as he leaves that bank - a pair of eyes which focus solely on the coins, watching carefully as he counts, where he puts them. And then Eponine slips after him, shadow-like on her bare feet. If she could get a coin, just one, or perhaps two, she could feed herself for a whole day or more. And how glorious food would be after a day or so of not eating.

So she slips after Father Time, watching patiently for a chance to relieve him of a bit of his change.]

[timefather]

[ Ten, twelve, they settle on fifteen. The coins go into a small drawstring pouch, which goes into the inner pocket of his coat as he heads for the park. If he's noticed her, he makes no moves to call her out. ]

[gardienne]

[She can't get those, then. Eponine's face registers disappointment as the coins disappear into the man's coat, and she falls back. But, she reasons, if he has coins, he might have other things she could sell or trade in his other pockets. She follows him to the park, and once close enough, goes to slip her skinny hand into one of his pockets]

[kutanagi]

( After walking around for some time (and getting stopped several times by people), Yui finally finds a spot to sit in - a bench occupied by someone else. She warily approaches it, still getting used to people trying to shake her hand or hug her. She can only hope this person doesn't do the same but a few minutes later she deems it safe to sit in and plops down on the bench with a huge sigh, smiling briefly at the man.

She's exhausted, mentally. Taking this all in (and with so little information to go off with) is simply too much for her to handle, especially when her mind too is busy with other thoughts not belonging to this place. What of the garden? Did Zeus already send her back? If so, why here?

She snaps out of her reverie when one of the ducks peck at her hand. )

Er ... ( She pats her uniform pockets for anything but all she has is the Kusanagi. ) I don't have anything with me, sorry.

( And the journal and quill, of course. ) And I don't suppose you can eat paper.

[timefather]

[ He doesn't move when she sits, not until the speaks to the ducks. That earns her a friendly trail of laughter, and he sets a small bag between them. It's filled with seeds and grains. ]

Why don't we share?

[pishirogane]

[Away from the park, Naoto's getting herself lost in the crowds, stepping away from people who seem to recognize her still as 'Beauty'. But that's not her name. Her name's Naoto; it has been Naoto since her parents gave her it at birth.]

[It's while she's backing away from a few individuals that she accidentally bumps into an older man doing his shopping. Chestnuts and sweet potatoes...]

My apologies, sir. [Anything he dropped (if he did), she would do what she could to compensate.]

[timefather]

[ A small bag full of chestnuts, but that's not much at all. He doesn't seem bothered in the least, and seems more concerned about her. ]

No need, no need. Are you well?

[lil_sunspot]

[Fifteen minutes. No, no. Don't think about time. Kiri is still milling about, searching and calling her name at relatively steady twenty second intervals. The boy finds Father Time sitting on a bench.]

Hey. Y'seen a girl around? She's got blue hair... Dresses like it's always winter.

[timefather]

[ Both eyebrows lift at the sudden questions, but doesn't seem startled otherwise. ]

No, I'm afraid not. Late, perhaps?

[cancercarcino]

[With a new equilibrium established thanks to his new wings, Karkat had been pointedly trying to avoid as many of the townsfolk as he possibly could. It was getting annoying being called a name that wasn't his, or praise when he wanted to be ignored. It took a fair amount of dodging (and even more yelling and swearing) before Karkat finally found some peace away from the crowds.]

[Exhausted of everything that's happened, Karkat slumped down on a lonely bench. The only ones in his vicinity was some old human on an identical bench across from him, feeding a flock of quackbirds in front of him. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.]

Fuck me, what the hell am I going to do now?

[timefather]

[ The old man across from him seems wholly relaxed with his arrival, and not at all surprised by his profanity. He sits up straight, calling over to him. ]

I supposed the sudden manifestation of a pair of wings such as yours will take several days to master. If it helps, you won't be the only one.

[ The ducks, used to people sitting on the bench being a prelude to free dinner, spread out in Karkat's direction. ]

[big_n_tall_paul]

[As he approaches the walls of Märchenstraße, Paul's excitement bubbles up and out of his lungs. He cups his hands around his mouth and bellows-]

Hey Old Man, the festival's looking great. D'you think there is room for me and Babe?

[timefather]

[ Paul is always a welcome addition to a crowd, in Father Time's opinion. Hearing the loud, booming voice easily brings a smile to his face, and he raises his own to be heard. ]

Of course! Just be mindful of our new friends. They aren't quite as familiar with you, you know.

[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.

[topgun_textiles]

[He's having trouble at the market, digging for change in his pocket and trying to pay for an apple, only to be given a strange look from the merchant who has never seen the bits of copper pressed in this fashion. Ah, right... different place. With a sigh he pockets the change and decides he'll go without. But he notes the old man with the chestnuts and sweet potatoes.]

...S'it New Years here or somethin'?

[He was holding the primary ingredients for Kuri Kinton, after all. He fell asleep in spring and woke up here, where it was chilly and crisp like it was late in the year. But it wasn't THAT late, was it?]

[timefather]

Not just yet. However, I often find myself mixing the appropriate seasons with their dishes.

[ Which is a fancy way of saying "I do what I like". The perks of existing as he does. ]

[bellbound]

[Following his conversation with Naoto, Mogget goes in search of Father Time. It's not an easy task, as the description he was given was quite vague, but when he sees the old man sitting on the bench, Mogget's fur ripples. A sense of power, perhaps.

He's in cat form, strolling towards the old man almost nonchalantly, as though he's more interested in the ducks than anything else. They fly away as Mogget approaches. He stops a short distance away, tail twitching. Tense.]

Are you Father Time?

[timefather]

[ He'd already packed his bag of feed aside, as if he anticipated the leave of the ducks. Mogget is met with a kind, patient smile. ]

That would be me. Did you have much trouble in your search?

[peckish4action]

[ Dick looks for Father Time, once he has a slightly better idea about what questions to ask - and when the panic has calmed down, some. Fear is never a good adviser. ]

[ It takes him a while, but he finally sees the old man feeding the ducks. The way he's not at all confused by what is happening, and even his excitement seems to be... well, less than most of the local residents. So he shrugs. No harm in asking, is there? He does take off the glasses, though, it seems sort of right. ]

Excuse me, sir. Are you Father Time?

[timefather]

[ Right on time. He looks very much like he was expecting him, although he doesn't turn to smile at him until after Dick has already spoken. ]

I am. Can I help you?