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]

[Karkat turns at the sudden voice, surprised to see another person beside him. He doesn't look like one of the other villagers, but who knew, what with all those animals around him. He frowned at the human, still trying to nudge the cat away from him.]

Oh good, I'm so fucking happy that I've got a beast communer here to tell me just what's going on with this stupid cat, and that it's not trying to size me up to eat me. How lucky I am.

[The sarcasm, it is strong with this one.]

[libero]

I wouldn't worry about that. He says tricksters probably taste sour so he wouldn't recommend it.

[Sarcasm goes whoosh past his face.]

But this one is called a cat? I see, so you really are a species I've never seen before...

[cancercarcino]

Well fuck him too. Lousy stupid goddamn cat.

[Nudge nudge to the cat, before he just gives up. Persistent little thing.]

What the hell do you mean by trickster?? Everyone keeps calling me that!

And are you serious? You've never seen a cat before?? I thought they were like, universal constants or something.

[libero]

[Though frowning at Karkat's poor choice of language, the cat didn't seem to think ill of him so N let it pass. For now.]

...I can't say for sure, but I have also been addressed by a name that is not mine. And as my friends would not lie to me, I believe it is the truth. Or at least in this town.

[Now there is a intrigued twinkle in his eye. Despite having many questions himself, he could not still his excitement of the possibility of meeting new creatures.] Though we are both foreigners you seem to know more about the creatures here than I do. It's strange... This cat here is similar to some Pokémon in Unova, but they are not the same.

[He then points to the bird on his shoulder.] What about her?

[cancercarcino]

Well it's annoying. I have an actual hatchname, you know.

[For a minute, Karkat just stares at the bird on his shoulder. Then back at the human. Just. Disbelieving.]

How the fuck do you expect me to know the name of every random Earth creature you humans know about!? Just because both our planets had cats doesn't mean we all had the same species! How in the sweet almighty taint-chafing fuck am I supposed to know which one of the six hundred and twelve names you call your featherbeasts??

[libero]

[N seems to blank out while he sinks in everything Karkat just said. He doesn't seem to be insulted, just confused.]

Fair enough. But I've been wondering... what are you exactly? You're obviously not human but you seem to share physical traits with flying creatures.

[cancercarcino]

Wow, congratulations! You managed to use the slime in your think sponge to come up with a coherent response!

[This guy's lack of being offended is kind of weird. Does he really not care that Karkat's insulting him?]

I'm a troll, nookwhiff. Why else would I have proper grey skin and horns and am not a fleshy pink squishbag like you? And before you ask, no, not all trolls have wings. I don't know why the hell I even have these things.

[He looks back at them, his expression a mix of exasperation and just plain weirded out.]

[libero]

[To be fair, he doesn't understand half of the things Karkat spouts out, but never really finds anything insulting unless it concerns his creature friends.

N pats the wings as if to make sure they're the real deal.] Then everything is normal for you except for these...

Can you fly with them?

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat's wings twitch a bit when N pats them, and Karkat snorts at him in response. Yep, he's got feeling in those things.]

Obviously. I wouldn't be flailing like a seadweller out of water otherwise.

[At his question, Karkat actually stops, looking at the appendages.]

I... don't know? I mean, I haven't tried.

[libero]

[Though N wasn't sure how to feel about an animal's abilities in a living being other than the creature itself, he felt somewhat intrigued.]

Though I don't know what, I believe there is a reason for these wings. Perhaps they actually work.

[cancercarcino]

You think?

[Karkat actually considers this, and he flexes his wings experimentally. They certainly were big enough to fly... or at least he thought so.]

[libero]

It couldn't hurt to try.

[Seeing his shoulder companion also flap it's wings, he smiled.]

Though I wouldn't practice in the way this one offered, however. Apparently they push their young off a tree at a very young age.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat makes a grimace, then glares at the bird.]

Well tell this little squawkbird that it can take its ideas and shove it up its nook, because I'm not throwing myself off of a goddamn tree.

[libero]

Well, then. Shall we try over there? [He points towards a grassy area nearby.] The grass is long and will serve as a nice cushion.

[cancercarcino]

How about we not try flying the minute I wake up with new appendages, huh? How about I master the incredibly difficult task of walking first?

[libero]

[He looked a tad bit disappointed at not being able to see Karkat's attempt at flying, but okay, maybe next time!]

I see, I did not consider that. But when you are strong enough I would also like to watch if you don't mind.

[cancercarcino]

I don't know why you'd want to watch me fall flat on my ass several times, but sure, why the fuck not? Come bear witness to the spectacle that is me failing to fly.

[By all accounts and purposes, he's not saying no to N's request.]