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]

[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.]

[kutanagi]

( ... She'll probably learn a new language soon enough, with all these words being thrown around. But hey, he's walking at least. Which kind of reminds her of someone back at the school. )

Great! Looks like all it needs is getting used to. You should be okay from here on, I think.

[cancercarcino]

Yeah, I'd better. Fucking things are getting annoying...

[He turns back and makes his way back over to her, without falling over. Yay!]

[kutanagi]

( She'd congratulate him but she thinks he won't appreciate it. So she'll just stand back and let him do his thing. )

They're not twitching that much anymore. And at least you're able to get around now. Flying can come after that, I guess.

[cancercarcino]

How about I handle the incredibly difficult task of walking, and then we'll go from there?

[He's not even thinking of flying with the things, he's more concerned with how he'll handle them in everyday tasks.]

[kutanagi]

That's why I said it can come after that.

( She sighs. These hotheaded people, really. She wonders as well how they can function on an everyday basis. )

As long as you keep them folded, I don't think it's going to be that much of a bother anyway.

[cancercarcino]

Yeah, well I hope so. They're annoying enough as it is.

[But he makes sure they remain folded against his back. That's a good idea, keeping them folded until he figures out how to use them properly.]

[kutanagi]

Looks like you're set to go either way.

( She offers him a smile again, despite him being a grumpy person the entire time. )

I'm Yui by the way.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat looks back over to her at her name. He's still not going to get used to weird human names, but he doesn't comment on it.]

I'm Karkat.

[kutanagi]

( That's not necessarily a normal name for her too. Okay. )

Well, since it looks like you can walk now without falling over, I'll head off. ( To look around more and stuff. ) But it was nice meeting you, Karkat.

[cancercarcino]

Thanks for the concern, knowing I won't fall flat on my ass.

[It's said with a bit of sarcasm, but it's not as harsh as it had been when he had first met her.]

[kutanagi]

( She laughs at that while walking away, waving a hand in the air. )

You're welcome. My mind is definitely at ease now.